Solomon Ortiz

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the provision regarding troops on the border. Our servicemen and -women are simply spread too thin. But one of the things that we need to remember is that we are in Iraq fighting a war in order not to fight in our homeland; that we need to fight the terrorists in Iraq. Well, just from the beginning of the year to today, we have had over 17,000 OTMs, other than Mexicans; and most of them are from Brazil. If you go to Brazil, you do not need a visa to go into Mexico. It is good to see that we have given the border patrol 1,500 more border patrolmen, but we have no detention centers. If you have no detention centers, the illegals come in knowing one thing: when they come to the border, they turn themselves in to the border patrol. And you know what they ask for? I want my walking papers. I am not a Mexican; I can stay here, and I can appear before a judge. I would like to engage my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), for a few moments because he was the border patrol sector chief in McAllen. Not only that, we are beginning to see gangs coming in, the Mara Salvatrucha gang, and many other people. And unless we build detention centers, they are going to continue to come. My friend has talked to some of the border patrol officers down in the McAllen sector.

Mr. ORTIZ. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I just want to say something. We have had experience. About 12 years ago, we had 57,000 individuals, illegal, come from Central America when Attorney General Meese said if you fear for your life, come to the United States. My colleagues, we had to put up tents, and my colleague from Texas remembers that; 57,000. It impacts on your infrastructure, on your highways, on everything else. So this is one of the reasons I oppose this bill. We need to build detention centers, otherwise the problem will never be solved.

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by the gentleman from New Hampshire, Mr. Bradley and join him in his concerns about conducting a BRAC right now. There are a number of concerns that I have about conducting base closures during a time of war, and without the benefit of global forethought. I have spoken to the need for this Nation to be more focused and more careful about how we proceed. We are conducting a global war. We are closing bases overseas. We are just one year out from our QDR to establish our global strategic footprint. It is folly to proceed with domestic base closures while we are at war and unclear of our global military presence. It is akin to replacing a hot engine in a flying plane--we ought not do it.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, as so many of you know, I represent a border district and am a former law enforcement officer. For the last year, I have been talking to a number of you about my concerns about border security, based on things I am hearing from border law enforcement officers. I rise in support of the gentleman from Mississippi's substitute, which contains the amendment the Rules Committee yesterday disallowed from consideration by the House. Mr. Thompson's substitute draws from some ideas included in a border security bill I introduced earlier this year. So many of my constituents--and our colleagues here in Congress--are profoundly frustrated with the budget-driven nature of our border security. This amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop and implement a Comprehensive Border Strategy to secure U.S. borders--one that focuses on the needs of our national and border security rather than on the cost. This amendment seeks a comprehensive approach that considers: staffing, infrastructure, technology, coordination of intelligence among agencies, legal responsibilities, jurisdictional issues, apprehension statistics, budgetary consequences, and the impact on the flow of commerce and legitimate travelers. It also requires implementation of the ``American Shield Initiative'' to address vulnerabilities between the ports-of-entry, which remains largely unaddressed since 9-11. I urge all of us to focus our attention on a comprehensive border security policy by both authorizing and appropriating the funds necessary to secure our borders. The men and women who protect our border do an extraordinary job. We owe them full funding of the security initiatives we determine are necessary for the protection of the people and places that we hold dear in the United States. It is simply not enough to talk about border security, it is an urgent matter for us to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to protecting our borders and our Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment--and I thank Mr. Thompson, Mr. Stupak and Mr. Reyes for their leadership on this issue.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the wartime supplemental that includes urgent funding for our soldiers and sailors now prosecuting the global war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. This bill also has important additional funding for border security, and language important to South Texas shrimpers that will make it easier for them to hire workers for the coming season. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know our soldiers can do anything. Yet that truth does not mean that the Congress should skimp on our financial obligations to our fighting men and women. They run out of money altogether at the end of this month, so I am pleased we are finalizing this bill today. As a border Congressman, I am grateful that the conferees included desperately needed funding for border security. I have been relentless in talking to so many of you about my concerns related to spending on border security matters. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Obey, for his work in getting negotiators to include this spending. While this is a good start, it still comes up short of both what we need and what the Intelligence Reform bill mandated we do. The Intelligence Reform bill passed by Congress last year mandated 2,000 Border Patrol agents a year for the next 5 years. The President came to the table with only 210 in his budget; today we are adding another 500. That's still over 1,000 short of what this government agrees is the very least we should do to protect our border and stem the tide of releasing OTMs--illegal immigrants that are ``other than Mexican''--into the U.S. general population. Given our border security is entirely budget driven, this is a rare victory for those of us who have been talking about the need to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to protecting our nation from terrorists that may be trying to enter the country through the loopholes in our border security policy. We are sending our young soldiers to fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan and we justify that by saying we are fighting the war there so we will not have to fight it here. We may very well be fighting a war over there and letting terrorists in our back door. As so many South Texans and my colleagues know, I have been lifting my voice about how border security is profoundly lacking. Currently, the United States does not have room to hold the large number of OTMs, caught by border law enforcement. While I know that most of these immigrants are merely seeking a better life, it is the few--the handful--that may be entering our country to do us harm. That is whom we need to worry about. So we are releasing, on their own recognizance, into the population of the United States very large numbers of OTMs. What happens is our border patrol agents routinely call detention facilities and discover there is no room to hold OTMs. So, they process these immigrants, many times without even getting fingerprints or running them through our national databases to see if they are on watch lists, and release them into the general population with a notice to appear at a deportation hearing a few weeks later. Law enforcement officers then take the released OTMs to the local bus station by the vanload, where they head elsewhere in the U.S. The number that never appear for deportation is over 90 percent of those released, a number now probably over 75,000. Already the number of OTMs captured and released is more, so far this year, than for all of last year. It is little wonder that private citizens are taking the law into their own hands to try to stem the tide of OTMs coming into our country. But private militias, operating without the color of law, are not the answer. We must secure our borders so private citizens do not feel the need to do so. As a former law enforcement officer I know if we don't have the border officers to stop the OTMs crossing the border, if we don't have the room to hold the ones we catch, if we don't put our money where our mouth is, we continue to send a dangerous signal to those who may wish to do us harm. Until we send a signal that those who cross our borders illegally, until we send a signal that when we catch you we will hold you until you are deported, until we honestly face the amount of money it will take to deal with these things, OTMs will continue to flock to the U.S., quite possibly populating terror cells already operating in the United States. Unfortunately, the Leadership decided to include many controversial provisions that members wouldn't otherwise support if they weren't linked to funding our troops. I do not agree with some of the so-called security provisions in this bill, mainly the stricter asylum laws and national standards for drivers' licenses. A country like ours that believes so greatly in freedom and the protection of the oppressed should be a safe haven for refugees that are being persecuted by their governments because of their race, religion or political beliefs, which is why we are fighting the war we fund in this bill. I am also disappointed Congress has gone one step further in creating a national ID. Many would suggest that a drivers' license is the way terrorists are infiltrating our country. That is simply not the case. Standardizing a drivers' license would not have precluded the 9/11 terrorists from entering this country--immigration reform and better border security practices would have. Today's bill is a start in putting our money where our mouth is, but it is still insufficient to the monumental border security task before us and I ask our appropriators to ensure the necessary funding is included in the fiscal year 2006 appropriations bill.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a unique and distinguished woman from Portland, Texas: Dr. Anne J. Matula, who is greatly admired for her leadership in education and who is retiring from her work in education and service. Dr. Matula is the former Dean of Business Career and Technology Programs at Del Mar College. Presently, she serves as an assistant to the Vice President of the university, and as an adjunct instructor at the University of the Incarnate Word. Her deep conviction and strong character were apparent even when she graduated as the valedictorian from Odem High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, Summa Cum Laude (the highest honors) and a master's degree in Business Administration from Texas A&I. Following that, she completed a Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at the Texas A&M Universities at Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas. Her educational background clearly supports her firm belief in education. Thriving to pursue this endeavor, she devoted a major part of her life to teaching. She began her teaching experiences at H.M. King High School in Kingsville, TX and Gregory-Portland High School in Gregory, TX. Just right after, she began teaching at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi as an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor. Later on, she became an adjunct instructor at the college as needed. Dr. Matula served a tenure of 23 years at Del Mar College, which she led with incomparable competence. She was also an adjunct instructor at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. Her participation in a number of civic organizations, such as the Coastal Bend Council of Governments and the San Patricio Economic Development Corporation, reflect her commitment to help the community. She has given many years of service on boards and forums, including the Junior League of Corpus Christi Advisory Board, the Regional Community Leaders Forum, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the Board of Trustees of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District, on which she served for five elected terms. Dress for Success South Texas is another important board on which she served and of which she was the founding member. She has also been distinguished for her membership in various professional organizations, such as the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (Gamma Psi Chapter), Phi Alpha Kappa, the Texas Association of School Boards, the Texas Community College Teachers Association, and the Texas Association of College Technical Educators (TACTE). As a woman of great talent and dedication, Dr. Matula has been recognized and presented with various awards and prominent recognitions. It is a pleasure and privilege to honor Dr. Matula, whose passion and dedication to help others is immeasurable. Her years of commitment to higher education make her a distinctive and unique voice in our community. Dr. Matula is loved by all the students whose lives she has touched and will remain in their hearts as a prominent figure in their education and future success. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Anne J. Matula on the occasion of her retirement.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Obey motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1268, Wartime supplemental, to insist on the highest possible funding for more border patrol agents and to insist on the Senate provision calling for requests for future funding for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to be included in the annual budget of the President. As a member representing a border community--and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee--I am grateful for Mr. Obey's leadership and his work to include these important provisions in our Wartime supplemental. As so many of our colleagues know, I have been lifting my voice to get the word around to members that our border security is profoundly lacking. Members can go to my web page for more information about the dangerous practices ongoing along the U.S. Mexico border. Currently, the United States does not have room to hold the large number of illegal immigrants--called OTMs, Other than Mexicans--caught by border law enforcement. So we are releasing--on their own recognizance--into the population of the United States--very large numbers of OTMs. Very few released OTMs return for a mandatory deportation, meaning there is a large number of OTMs at large in the U.S., immigrants who have passed through the hands of law enforcement. Border law enforcement officers routinely call the detention centers, discover there is no more room to hold OTMs, so they are processed and released into the general population on their own recognizance. The OTMs are given a ``Notice of appear,'' paperwork that allows them to travel freely in the United States through the time they are to return for deportation. Law enforcement officers then take the released OTMs to the local bus station by the vanload, where they head elsewhere in the U.S. The number of ``absconders''--those who never appear for deportation--is over 90 percent of those released, a number now estimated to be approaching 75,000. Already the number of OTMs captured and released is more so far this year, then for all of last year. The Southern Border is being left utterly unprotected, and there is the real possibility that terrorists can--or already are--exploting this series of holes in our law enforcement system along the southern border. These are the things we know. There is no way of even guessing how many others are entering the country, but who are not passing through the hands of government law enforcement officers, so Mr. Obey's instructions to our appropriators is extremely timely. This is a clear and present danger inside the United States, and the number of released illegal immigrants not returning for deportation grows by the hundreds each week. This is willfully ignoring a complex problem that undermines our national objective: to take the war to the enemy so we do not have to fight the war on terror inside our country. It is little wonder that private citizens are taking the law into their own hands to try to stem the tide of OTMs coming into our country. But private militias--operating without the color of law--is not the answer. We must secure our borders so private citizens do not feel the need to do so. Our budget reflects the values and priorities of the American people. Consider what the 2005 budget did not include: The Intelligence Reform bill that became law in December, 2004, mandated 10,000 Border Patrol agents over 5 years, 20,000 annually. The President's budget funded 210 BP agents, the senate added 1,050 agents. The House must stand up and add the full 2,000. Intelligence Reform mandated an increase of 8,000 beds in detention facilities annually for the next 5 years, still not nearly enough to hold all those coming in the U.S. . . . yet the President's budget proposal provides for only about 1,900 new detention space beds--over 6,000 beds short of the congressional mandate passed in December, 2004. We can add all the Border Patrol agents we want, but without a place to hold these OTMs, the problem remains. Grants to reimburse local law enforcement officers that also hold illegal immigrants for the federal government were slashed, adding to the problem. I was a law enforcement officer in my previous life. If we don't have the border officers to stop the OTMs crossing the border . . . if we don't have the room to hold the ones we catch . . . if we don't put our money where our mouth is, we are sending a dangerous signal to those who may wish to do us harm. Until we send a signal that those who cross our borders illegally . . . until we send a signal that when we catch you we will hold you until you are deported . . . until we honestly face the amount of money it will take to deal with these things, OTMs will continue to flock to the U.S. We must send that signal today. Homeland security must be about the security of our people and our property, it cannot be budget driven as it is today. Lastly, as a fiscal conservative and member of the Armed Services committee, I know it is ultimately the responsibility of Congress--not the Administation--to properly spend money on military operations. To that end, I thank our Ranking Democrat on appropriations for including in this motion a provision requiring future funding for our military operations to be included in the President's budget. All the money we appropriate here is the people's money and we must be good stewards of it. To rush through special bills to fund the military when committees of jurisdiction have not had the opportunity to review the bills is an abdication of our responsibility. I encourage the members to support this motion to instruct our conferees on the Supplemental appropriations bill to include funding for border security and to require further military funding requests move through our regular authorization process for the fullest scrutiny by the authorizing committees.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow Texans--and many around the Southwest and the nation in paying special tribute to Laura Canales, a very special artistic pioneer, and a talented South Texan, who accomplished great things throughout her lifetime of performing. Before there was the phenomenon of Tejano giant Selena, there was Laura Canales, who paved the way for a number of Tejano artists in the late 20th Century. She contributed much to our culture and to the music industry, and became known as the ``Barbara Streisand of Tejano music'' and as ``Reina de la Onda Tejana,'' (queen of the Tejano wave). Tejano is a popular type of music in Texas and the Southwest that has become a huge industry with its own category in the Grammy Awards. Tejano is a combination of rock-n-roll and German Conjunto music. Some of the cultural influences on Tejano music include: Anglo, African, German, and Italian. Tejano was originally dominated by male performers and it was nearly impossible for women to break through in this genre. Laura Canales, with her unique voice and love of performing, became the first woman to enjoy real success in the world of Tejano, and was honored as the first woman to be inducted into the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame in Alice, Texas. This museum is the only one that is entirely dedicated in honoring great Tejano music figures. Laura's influence on Tejano music became readily apparent during the 1970's and 1980's. With her distinctive voice and popularity, she released various albums that became hits, including her debut album, Si Vivi Contigo. Her numerous accomplishments include a dozen Tejano music awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Female Entertainer of the Year. This Kingsville, Texas, native also understood the value of education, earning a bachelor's degree in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University and pursuing a master's degree. Laura Canales proved that a woman could be successful in the Tejano music industry . . . she broke the gender barriers that existed at the dawn of the emergence of popular Tejano . . . and she and paved the way for future, female Tejano performers. This Tejano legend and daughter of South Texas will truly be missed, although she will live on in her music, to be enjoyed by many future connoisseurs of Tejano. I ask my colleagues to join me in keeping her family--and her many fans--in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my South Texas colleague, Ruben Hinojosa, in asking the House to pass H.R. 1072 to name the Post Office in Goliad, Texas, after Judge Emilio Vargas. A child of our times, Judge Vargas, a first-generation American, was born in Goliad and attended segregated schools because he was Mexican. He overcame the disadvantages inherent in segregation by graduating from Bee College and serving in the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he came home to spend his life laboring to improve the lives of South Texans. During the 1960s, Judge Garza was a civil rights pioneer. He fought the evil of the poll tax that flew in the face of democracy and he worked to persuade more Hispanics to participate in government. He knew that education was the magic bullet for improving a population. He devoted much of his efforts to service on the Goliad Independent School District Board of Trustees. His inspiration--and his work on local education issues--resulted in many young people from Goliad going to prestigious colleges and universities, including the U.S. military academies. Judge Vargas served with the Texas Department of Human Services helping those who had no money and no hope. His work with the Job Corps program helped train new workers, teaching people to help themselves. Also devoted to the rule of law, he has served as the Justice of the Peace for Goliad County and for 9 years was a Reserve Deputy for the Goliad County Sheriff's Department. Goliad is rich in the history of both Mexico and the United States. Goliad was the birthplace of Mexican General Zaragoza who defeated the French Army, for which we celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Goliad also played a significant role in the War for Texas Independence. For his life's work in championing the better angles of our democracy and our community, it is a just reward for the Goliad Post Office to carry the name of this unique American Patriot.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I think the gentleman has done a great job in describing the contributions of two great giants from south Texas. I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and all those involved who helped expedite this bill. This is not the first time this bill has been before the House. It has passed two or three times, but it has stalled in the Senate. This bill would rename the Brownsville courthouse for two legislative giants from south Texas. This bill will rename the courthouse the Reynaldo G. Garza and the Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse. We have a wealth of riches in south Texas, including these two giants of men. Reynaldo Garza was the first Hispanic appointed to the Federal bench by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and Judge Filemon Vela was appointed to the Federal bench by President Jimmy Carter back in 1980. Both of these men have become legends in the south Texas area by virtue of their commitment to education and to our community. Both heroes passed away last year. This legislation is noncontroversial, and I hope the Senate will quickly consider and pass this as well. I thank the House and my friends for helping expedite this bill again to get to the floor.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to travel delays from my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall vote, No. 90. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in paying special tribute to a unique patriot and a great American. Tillie Fowler was known as a ``Steel Magnolia'' because she was a grand class act with enormous strength of character. Tillie and I worked together on a host of defense-related issues, including the Depot Caucus which I co-chair. In a world of Republicans and Democrats who often see only the worst in each other, Tillie stood out as a hard-nosed realist and a reliable partner for any Member of Congress who stood with her on an issue. She didn't see party affiliation as the most important aspect of a colleague; she judged each of us individually, by how we worked on issues important to Florida, the district she represented, and to the nation. We served together on the House Armed Services Committee, and we traveled together on behalf of the House of Representatives. She cared deeply about the national security of the United States and about her constituents in Florida. She was a remarkable public servant; she broke the mold, becoming the first woman and first Republican to serve as council President of the Jacksonville City Council in 1985. She was a woman of her word--here in Congress and with the people she represented so well here. When she first ran, she pledged to only serve here for 6 years. Very few members who make such a pledge actually keep it in the end. But Tillie did. She was as good as her word on any matter. She made the most of her service here, becoming the 5th ranking Republican in the House by 2000. After she left the House, she remained actively engaged in matters of national defense. In 2001 she was appointed to the Defense Policy Advisory Board by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. She also continued to be involved in local civic and business affairs. She always took on the hard issues, investigating sexual assaults at our military academies and torture at prisons in Iraq . . . both difficult and thankless jobs. Tillie was a rare breed--a class act and a scrappy fighter. Tillie was the picture of grace and compassion. Public service was genetic for her; her father was former Georgia State Sen. Culver Kidd. I will miss my friend; I fully expected to be working with her in the upcoming BRAC deliberations this year. She was tenacious, she was gracious and she was a beautiful soul. Her family--her husband, Buck, and their daughters--will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Armenian forces occupy the mountainous region of Nagorno Karabagh, as well as seven additional regions, resulting in a million refugees and internally displaced Azerbaijanis. Located between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is an important partner and ally in the international war against terrorism. While bilateral cooperation on terrorism-related issues between the U.S. and Azerbaijan started well before September 11, they intensified with Azerbaijan offering unconditional support to the coalition and becoming the first Muslim country to send troops to Iraq. While there have been several attempts to find a resolution to the conflict under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Process, little progress has been made. However, the U.S. continues to work towards the end. According to a recent State Department statement: ``The United States does not recognize Nagorno- Karabakh as an independent country, and its leadership is not recognized internationally or by the United States. The United States supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and holds that the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a matter of negotiation between the parties. The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the Minsk Group process. We are encouraged by the continuing talks between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.'' On January 25, 2005, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution on the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, which concluded that ``considerable parts of Azerbaijan's territory are still occupied by the Armenian forces and separatist forces are still in control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.'' Additionally it asked the co- chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to expedite an agreement on the issue and urged the parties concerned to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions by refraining from any armed hostilities and ``by withdrawing military forces from any occupied territories.'' Mr. Speaker, this shows the international community is ready for a resolution of the conflict. I welcome the initiatives by the Council of Europe and the statement by the U.S. Administration, and I urge my colleagues to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important Pacific Rim relationships is the one between China and Taiwan. I want to commend both nations for their work to find common ground. I am so pleased that cross-strait relations have been improving in recent days. On January 15 of this year China and Taiwan agreed to direct flights during the Lunar New Year holidays and both sides agreed to continue to work toward restoring direct trade, transport and postal ties--the ``three links''. Moreover, the economies of China and Taiwan have grown increasingly interdependent as Taiwanese businesses have invested as much as $100 billion in China and as many as one million Taiwanese now live and work on the mainland. For the last several decades, U.S. policy has been to encourage amicable relations between Taiwan and China so that they may work out whatever differences they may have through peaceful means. We in the international community should make sure the peace and prosperity of the 23 million people in Taiwan is maintained.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), my good friend, for introducing this amendment, but I would like to touch on another area that is also very, very important. Let me say that the Border Patrol need all the help that they can get. We have another serious problem that I hope that we can touch on, and that is what is known as the OTMs, or Other Than Mexicans. My district includes a portion of the McAllen Border Patrol sector. Last year, in the fiscal year, almost 17,000 OTMs came across through that Border Patrol sector, representing at least anywhere from 76 to 80 countries coming across into the United States. This worries me about the security of this country. As I talk to the Border Patrol officials, they know one thing, that we do not have sufficient detention facilities. So what happens to them? They come across. They do not have to be picked up by the Border Patrol. They surrender themselves to the Border Patrol and say, I am from Colombia, I am from Egypt, I am from any other country; and they know that they do not have sufficient facilities. So what happens? They go and process these individuals, and they come in clusters from Mexico. When they come across, it takes 10, 12, 15 Border Patrol people to come and bring them to the facilities to process them. It takes 2\1/2\ hours to do that. When this happens, in the meantime, the border is completely open, because those Border Patrol people were removed to process these individuals. What happens next? After the 2\1/2\ hours, they go and take them to the bus station, and they give them a little piece of paper that says, you are supposed to appear on the 15th of whatever month, 60 to 90 days from now. One of these guys just finished paying $900 to be brought across. Do my colleagues think he is going to come in? This is another issue that we need to study about.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to our departed college, Bob Matsui. Bob was an extraordinarily talented patriot and Member of this House. Bob's generation of House Members struck out to change the world--or at least change their government in the aftermath of Watergate and the abuses of power in the Nixon administration. He did change the world, representing a district in California and representing the House on the world stage. He was a unique political mind and political talent. While he was passionate for caring for the less fortunate in our society, he was also pragmatic about how democratic ideals and reforms come about on the world stage. We shared the philosophy that world trade engenders better relationships between nations and offers a greater opportunity to spread democracy to developing nations or nations that were not traditionally democratic. Bob's greatest legislative talent--and there were many--was his down- to-earth ability to comprehend and explain in laymen's terms all matters related to Social Security. In this political season when the President has made clear his intention to raid Social Security, we will most certainly miss Bob's leadership in this important and fundamental debate in Congress. Today the Nation says goodbye to a decent and big minded colleague. Bob was not afraid to learn. And he was not afraid to forgive. Even after his family was interned as a child--with Japanese Americans at the outbreak of WWII--Bob forgave the people who imprisoned his family. He forgave his country, then he went on to serve this Nation with enormous talent. Bob wanted to make the world better. He did make the world a better place and he made the House of Representatives a better place given his presence in it. He deeply believed in what he said, but he was open enough to listen to--and hear--the ideas of others, as well. I will miss him . . . we will all miss him. And we offer our deepest condolences to his dear wife, Doris, and his son, Brian.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great American patriot, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Zachary A. Kolda of Corpus Christi, Texas, who gave the last full measure of devotion to the country he loved and served when he was killed in combat in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on December 1, 2004. He served with the Marine Reserves' 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. This 23-year-old Marine, who taught others how to live and enjoy life, left his studies at the University of Texas at Austin this spring when called to active duty for deployment to Iraq. Those who knew and loved him described him as a compassionate, funny, and lively young man who was always encouraging his friends and family to live life to the fullest each day. That is a fitting legacy for this brave young Marine, who hailed from a family of military service. One grandfather served in the Navy for 28 years, while the other grandfather served in World War II. Cpl. Kolda was mischievous, fun-loving, and forever cheering up his family and friends. He was an artist, peppering friends and family with cherished drawings and cartoons. He was proud to be a Marine, proud to serve this Nation in battle. His gentle spirit was uplifting and an inspiration to those who knew and loved him. He had a sweet soul and he saw the best in people. He had a gift for cheering people up, making them laugh and see the silly side of life. He was friendly, engaging and straightforward. Cpl. Kolda, who was majoring in international business at UT, lived with his wife, Arleen, in Austin. They were married in April, 2004, after a year-long engagement. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering with gratitude this great, sweet, funny patriot; his sacrifice on behalf of all of us; and the family he leaves behind in South Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great American patriot, U.S. Army CPL Isaac E. Diaz, of Rio Hondo, Texas, who gave the last full measure of devotion to the country he loved and served when he was killed in Afghanistan on December 1, 2004. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light) from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He had been driving military vehicles in the Army for several years. Like so many young people, Corporal Diaz wanted to find a way to go to college, so he joined the military in 1998, after graduating from Rio Hondo High School. Yet, the 26-year-old never enrolled in college. He was killed in Sharona, Afghanistan, when his Humvee rolled over while on routine patrol in the Paktika province. In a sad--but brave--irony, after Corporal Diaz completed his initial three-year tour of duty at Fort Campbell, KY, he reenlisted for another four years to financially support his wife, Amber, and their infant son, Aaron. Those that knew him well in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas spoke of his quiet intensity and his hard-working nature. The Rio High School Principal, Juan Montez, remembered Corporal Diaz as a studious teenager, the sort of student educators enjoyed having in class. He worked hard and didn't complain. He was an excellent soldier. He was serving in the front of this war that is closest to the hiding places of Osama bin Laden and the al Qaida leaders who plotted the attack on this nation on September 11, 2001. Corporal Diaz's service was honorable, as was his life. We all mourn the loss of this young American, whose life was cut short, leaving a hole in our hearts and forever altering his young family. I want Corporal Diaz's son, Aaron, who is too young now to understand the depth of his father's sacrifice, to one day appreciate that his father loved this country--and him--enough to go in harm's way to protect our democracy. I ask my colleagues to remember this great patriot, his sacrifice on behalf of all of us, and the family he leaves behind in South Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great American patriot, Army Major Horst Gerhard ``Gary'' Moore of Los Fresnos Texas, who gave the last full measure of devotion to the country he loved and served when he was killed in Iraq in November. He was a child of the Army, following both his father and his grandfather in the uniformed services. Roaming the Nation at the whim of the U.S. Army as a child made him yearn for a home in which to grow old with his beloved wife, Raquel Vallejo-Moore. He came home from Iraq for a while and, before returning to the war zone in September, he and Raquel bought their dream home. Major Moore was killed in a mortar attack in Mosul, Iraq; he never even spent the night in their new home. He felt strongly about getting his family moved in and settled there. The last conversation with his wife was to wish her happy birthday. Major Moore served with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division for about a year, then he was deployed to Mosul, Iraq, in October to replace the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. He served in the Army 17 years and was considering retiring when his tour of duty ended in about 3 years. Soldiers who knew and served with Major Moore spoke candidly about the human side of this tough soldier. He was known for his kind and caring manner, and his absolute love of Raquel and their 2-year old daughter, Sophia. Like so many of our soldiers, Major Moore had a mindset that he could do anything. He lived life to the fullest, and often spoke of living in the moment and making the best out of life's challenges. I want the Major's daughter, Sophia, who is too young now to understand the depth of her father's sacrifice, to one day appreciate that her father loved this country--and her--enough to go in harm's way to protect our democracy. I ask my colleagues to remember this great patriot, his great sacrifice, and the family he leaves behind in South Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a unique American patriot and pioneer in the Tejano recording industry and the world of radio and broadcasting, my friend from our hometown of Robstown, TX, Humberto Lozano Lopez. Humberto was just inducted into the Tejano Hall of Fame in Texas for his lifetime of excellence in broadcasting and for the extraordinary addition he has made to the tapestry of our lives through broadcasting--both music and community interest programming--composing, promoting Hispanic talent, and finally obtaining and operating the Lopez Broadcast System that now consists of several South Texas radio stations. His introduction to radio came in 1955, while he was still in high school, conducting the American GI Forum Weekly Program on KCCT in Corpus Christi, TX. After graduation he continued this work he loved, and it took him all over south Texas and northern Mexico. In the early 1960s, he moved the family to San Antonio, where he branched out to television, and worked in the first U.S. Spanish Radio station, KCOR, and the first U.S. Spanish Television station, (KWEX). His voice won him voice-over roles in some classic American movies-- for voices of Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Anthony Quinn, and many more--and he dubbed several Hollywood movies into Spanish for broadcast into Mexico and Latin America. For his work in this venue, Humberto picked up an award for ``Best Performance in Dubbing.'' In the early 1970s, he returned to live in Robstown and work in Corpus Christi. He began as program director for KCCT, spicing up the classic station with a new motto, ``Radio Jalapeno--Caliente.'' While in Corpus Christi, he worked for a while in print journalism for the Corpus Christi Sun Newspaper, as sales manager and columnist. In the early 1980s, he longed to put his management skills and talent to use in a larger sphere, and applied with the FCC to own his own station. He quickly began acquiring radio stations in South Texas under the Lopez Broadcast System, which currently includes: KTMV-TV, Corpus Christi; KTMV-TV, Victoria (UPN affiliate); KTMV-TV, San Antonio; KMIQ 104.9 FM, Robstown-Corpus Christi; KINE 1330 AM Robstown-Kingsville; KXTM 107.7 FM, Benavidez; KHMC 95.5 FM, Victoria; and KLMO 98.9 FM, San Antonio. He continues to explore expanding Lopez Broadcast System into other markets such as College Station, San Angelo, and Houston. Humberto's most memorable experiences included interviewing the widow of Mexican legend, Pancho Villa; Texas' first Hispanic Congressman, Henry B. Gonzalez; and the members of Battalion 201, the World War II Mexican Battalion. Easily, his most rewarding experience is the continuing success of the Lopez Broadcast System, which serves our home community in South Texas. Humberto's philosophy is: ``It's not about how much money someone may earn but the accomplishments and lives you touch--which leaves a legacy of hope.'' He is supported by the love of his life, his wife Minerva Rodriguez- Lopez; their children: Mario Humberto, Luis Homero, Larry, Manuel, Carlos, Humberto II, Ernesto, Mena Lamar, Melinda, Ray, Lisa, and Mary Helen; their 27 grandchildren--Mario Humberto II, Michael Anthony, Marissa, Celina, Carissa, Crista, Lizette, Lynsey, Ashley Nicole, Manuel Omar, Mireya, Alejandro, Gabriella, Laura Lynn, Carlos Eric, Crystal, Katherine, Ernesto Nicholas, Raul Jr., MiaMar Minerva, Isabella, Giselle Fey, Cristian Esai, Ray Jr., Amy Desiree, Nayeli, and Orlando DeLeon II; and their 2 great grandchildren, Mario Humberto III, and Michael Anthony. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending my dear friend, Humberto Lozano Lopez, for the amazing achievement so far in his lifetime and for his recent induction into the Tejano Hall of Fame.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished Members of Congress from Texas who will not be among our number in the 109th Congress . . . and to thank these notable public servants for their service to the nation, to the House of Representatives, and to the great State of Texas. In the next Congress we will be without the considerable talents of the following members: Martin Frost from Dallas, Charlie Stenholm from Abilene, Ciro Rodriguez from San Antonio, Max Sandlin from Marshall, Jim Turner from Crockett, Nick Lampson from Beaumont, and Chris Bell from Houston. All together, when the House reconvenes in January, the State of Texas--and the House of Representatives--will have lost 86 years of experience and seniority in tending to the peoples' business here in Congress. Marty Frost has been the dean of the Texas Delegation Democrats for a long time and is an extraordinary leader for us in Texas and as Caucus Chairman for the Democratic Caucus. His work on the Rules Committee led the House Democrats in fighting for the rights of the minority party in the legislative process. Charlie Stenholm is the dean of the House conservatives, a leading moderate whose fiscal discipline was stamped on budgets throughout the 1990s--the last time we ended our spending seasons with a surplus. This House--which desperately needs moderate voices now more than ever--will miss Charlie's influence. His work for the rural communities and farmers of the nation, from his seat as the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, will be sorely missed by all our rural states. Ciro Rodriguez, the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has been a forceful champion of the rights of Americans of Hispanic descent during his tenure in the House of Representatives. He has represented the interests of border communities in Texas, and his home city of San Antonio, with excellence and distinction. Max Sandlin, an illustrious former East Texas judge, brought tremendous understanding and judgment to the debates in this House that come from his front line experiences with how the laws we make in Congress are practically applied beyond the beltway. He knew intimately how what we did here would affect people's lives. Jim Turner, a former state legislator and another much-needed moderate voice in Congress, understood how our work in Congress affects states, state budgets and practical policies. Jim's tenure as top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee leaves a big hole in the influence of Texans in the sphere of the defining interest of our time. In Nick Lampson's work on the Science Committee, he was a valuable advocate of Texas interests in the space program, which is the leading frontier of science for the nation and a reliable source of jobs and industry in our state. His work in the House will be sorely missed by both the nation and the state. Chris Bell's experience as a city councilman provided an excellent view of how our work in Congress affected local governments, and his service on the Financial Services Committee in the House was valuable to the nation and Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me in offering our respect and our gratitude for the outstanding service to the nation by these 7 Members of Congress who left an indelible mark on this nation, within this chamber and for the State of Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to attendance at a funeral in my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 532, ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 533, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, this week my heart is heavy with the sad news of the passing of a unique and beloved patriot, Raul A. Besteiro Jr., known affectionately throughout South Texas, and around the world, as ``Mr. B.'' His death has devastated the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where he was simply a legend. Mr. B was just an exceptional human being. He did in the course of his life what all of us want to do, he literally changed people's lives . . . locally, nationally and internationally. His name was so synonymous with Brownsville that many people actually thought that ``Mr. B'' meant ``Mr. Brownsville.'' He touched the lives of thousands of young people in Brownsville as an educator and school administrator in his early years. He was their role model, surrogate parent, teacher, inspiration, motivator and champion. He was a force within the national business community in persuading the Congress to pass NAFTA, giving South Texas the economic opportunity and the development tools to attract more commerce--and better jobs--to Brownsville. He was my powerful ally in working to improve the economic circumstances and vitality of the Rio Grande Valley. Over the last decade, with NAFTA in place, he turned his attention to harnessing global trade routes to the Valley and the Port of Brownsville, a task now only partially complete. He remained an important part of improving the lives of young people in South Texas--and the Nation--through his work with the University of Texas at Brownsville, and with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's intern and fellowship programs. I loved Mr. B so much, and relied heavily on his counsel and his friendship. He loved trains; whenever I see a train, I think of Mr. B. I will miss him personally and professionally. Yet it is the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and the Port of Brownsville that will miss the presence of his sweet soul most profoundly. Brownsville has lost three legends in 2004: Senior U.S. District Judge Filemon B. Vela, U.S. Circuit Judge Reynaldo G. Garza, and now Mr. B. Brownsville Public Utilities Board member Cris Valadez offered a beautiful tribute when he said, ``In Spanish there's an old saying that we don't bury men like Mr. B; we plant them in hopes that others like him will grow and be here with us because it will be a better world.'' Mr. B gave so much of himself to his community; he was a principled example to all those around him. He was the principal of Brownsville High School; he was superintendent of the Brownsville Independent School District; he was elected president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; he became director of the Port of Brownsville; he was the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Distinguished Alumnus in 2000; he was named to the Legends of Texas Hall of Fame; he served as Chairman of the Board of the International Bank of Commerce for Cameron County; he was vice chair of the Brownsville & Rio Grande Railroad; he was a member of the Institutional Development Board at the University of Texas at Brownsville; he was a member of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership; he was board president of the Historical Brownsville Museum; he was elected vice-chairman of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board in 2004; and he was a leader in the local Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way of South Texas and the American Cancer Society. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I hope when you say your prayers tonight, you will ask God to bless Mr. B's family--his beloved wife Mina and their children--as they learn to live without him; and pray for the community of Brownsville which has lost such a dear pioneer of our city.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, because of business in my district (27th Congressional District of Texas) I was absent for rollcall vote Nos. 509-530. If I had been present for these votes, I would have voted as indicated below: 509--``Yes''; 510--``Yes''; 511--``Yes''; 512-- ``Yes''; 513--``Yes''; 514--``Yes''; 515--``Yes''; 516--``No''; 517-- ``Yes''; 518--``Yes''; 519--``No''; 520--``Yes''; 521--``Yes''; 522-- ``Yes''; 523--``No''; 524--``No''; 525--``Yes''; 526--``No''; 527-- ``No''; 529--``Yes''; 530--``Yes.''