Solomon Ortiz

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by my friend from Texas, and the co-chair of the House Border Caucus, Mr. Bonilla. Let me begin by thanking the gentleman for his hard work to find a way to stop the current ``catch and release'' policy propounded by this government . . . by releasing many of the illegal immigrants we are catching into the U.S. population. This is frightening for all of us. Now, the basis for this ``catch and release'' policy is a lack of beds for the Department of Homeland Security to hold these illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico (OTMs). The gentleman's amendment today specifically addresses this shortcoming and I join him in advocating it to the House. We are apprehending an alarming number of OTMs with not enough space to detain them--forcing us to release them into our community--we need additional beds. The gentleman's amendment is certainly a good beginning and I am grateful for his efforts to end this policy.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. We are all proud of the tremendous sacrifice our military members make for the defense of our country. Our 1.4 million active duty service members, and an additional 875,000 citizen soldiers--National Guardsmen and reservists--are serving the nation under the most arduous of conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines a tremendous debt of gratitude for the service they provide in our defense. Their sacrifice is an honor to our nation; it is our responsibility to provide for their readiness. I would also like to take time to recognize the thousands of government service civilians and private individuals who support the readiness of our service members and our military. Their sacrifice is sometimes overlooked but their jobs are vital to the continued success of our armored forces in this time of war. We could not fight and win without them and I thank them for their dedicated service to our national defense. This act provides for the immediate needs of our Armed Forces and we have proactively considered their future needs as well. In this global war, we must not lose sight of the challenges we face in maintaining our readiness in the future. Our military has been engaged in combat for nearly three years. The equipment and weapons systems our service members fight with has taken a tremendous beating in the harsh conditions of Iraq and Afghanistan. As this conflict drags on we must remain steadfast in our resolution to fully man and equip our maintenance and support activities to deal with battle damaged and worn out vehicles and weapons systems while at the same time we begin to transform our forces to new weapons and mobility systems. I am very pleased that we were able to eliminate the cap on the privatized housing program. I was a co-author of the original provisions to establish the privatized housing program in the 1996 Defense Authorization bill. This is a ``win-win'' program that builds quality family housing for our troops and their families much more quickly than we could through the regular family housing construction process. The Budget Committees put this program in grave jeopardy by refusing to include any way to eliminate the cap in the budget resolution, but I am proud that our committee, on a bipartisan basis, was able to save the program. If we had not found a way to eliminate the cap, new housing for almost 50,000 families over the next two years would have been delayed indefinitely. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the House did not stick to its position, validated by a bipartisan majority on the House floor, to delay BRAC for two years. The Army is in the midst of restructuring itself. We are bringing two divisions home from Europe. We are revising our warplans to support new strategies and are still reviewing the division of labor between our active duty forces and our reserve components. Last but not least, we are still at war in Iraq. With this many unknowns, I think it is irresponsible to push forward with BRAC. The House position to delay it for two years was the more prudent and responsible approach, and I am sorely disappointed that this provision was dropped in conference. Mr. Speaker, we have done our best to provide for the Readiness of our Armed Forces who so selflessly serve in the defense of our Nation. I commend our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians and thank them for their service. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this act and I yield the balance of my time.

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am so disappointed in the result of the conference report, whereby they caved into the Senate language on BRAC, when the House made a significant statement to delay BRAC for 2 years. We passed that matter by nearly 100 votes in the full House. Yet the conference ignored that. I am deeply disappointed. Since we conceived BRAC in 1989, the United States has sent troops abroad 24 times . . . to nearly every continent on the planet. Our interests in democracy, in protecting other democracies and allies, in our own self-defense, as in Afghanistan . . . or building democracies as in Iraq . . . are global. That means our military forces stand on the wall far and wide in a dangerous world . . . and our interests are everywhere danger can gather. We are at war . . . and there is a lot of uncertainty over the resources we need. Congress cannot fly blind, we need to fully evaluate our global posture situation . . . and we must hear the analysis on that before we allow BRAC to proceed. The war in Iraq--and the war in Afghanistan--are not the only unknowns we face. As Chairman Hunter advocated and I supported--this bill increases our troop levels by 39,000. We are also considering major movement of troops from South Korea and Europe back to the U.S. . . . So, where will we put them? You do not close major components of your military infrastructure while you are still unsure if you need it . . . and world events yet to happen over the next few years will dictate that need. The most-often heard arguments in favor of BRAC are that there is excess space we do not need, and it will save us money. I respectfully disagree with both prospects. As for excess space . . . that could be a possibility in peacetime . . . maybe . . . but not now . . . not when the nation is at war. It's not entirely accurate to say we have excess space--does anybody know the current workload for our maintenance and repair? There is no excess space at the depot in my district. That will likely not change if the operations tempo continues at the present pace. While I know we hear about cost savings associated with BRAC, I profoundly disagree with DoD estimates . . . mostly because they are not all-inclusive. For instance, in a recent GAO Report, the opening letter notes that DoD calculates net savings based on eliminating/ reducing personnel and base ops . . . and the cancellation of mil con projects. That's it. Really? So the math doesn't include the astronomical cost to clean up the surrounding environment? The cost of clean up continually streaks upward. I suppose if you leave out all the costs, it would appear to save money. But Congress should insist the Pentagon include all those costs if we are serious about understanding any savings in this. A GAO report presented to my Readiness Subcommittee says: ``BRAC rounds have generated substantial net savings . . . for the Department. We have . . . viewed these savings estimates as imprecise for a variety of reasons, such as weaknesses in DOD's financial management systems that limit its ability to fully account for the costs of its operations; the fact that DOD's accounting systems . . . are oriented to tracking expenses and disbursements, not savings; the exclusion of BRAC-related costs incurred by other agencies; and inadequate periodic updating of the savings estimates that are developed.'' As a member of this Congress, I'm more interested in the savings TO THE TAXPAYER than to the Department. So while the math provided by the Pentagon certainly shows on paper what they think will be savings, that math is only as solid as ALL the information on which they base decisions. Another consideration in this discussion is the fact that the Department of Homeland Security has not nearly grown up into what it needs to be. It is a brand new, major reorganization of all the national assets that protect our families and the country. DHS may need to use some elements of the current military infrastructure as they determine future needs. It will be much harder to reacquire a property for the government if we dispose of it through BRAC. At the end of the day, we'll be OK in this war--but we need ask the question: are we going to need additional training facilities? Training has been a concern in Iraq . . . we may need facilities a BRAC could close to use for training. When Congress designed a BRAC for 2005, we were at peace. Now we are at war, and near a BRAC that could very well dispose of military assets we will need again--either for a growing military or for DHS. We didn't have to be tied to this schedule . . . we should not be sheep. This is the most bipartisan of matters. After many years in politics, I've discovered when friends on both sides disagree with you . . . you've hit the middle. On another matter, I am pleased that the conference did restore funding for Military housing. The idea for public-private military housing was born in Kingsville Texas--after BRAC 95. The community wanted quality low-cost housing for area Naval bases. The idea was this: private developers would build quality homes for sailors and their families--and sailors would pay rent through their housing vouchers. The program was so wildly successful; in 1996 Sec. Perry implemented it service-wide. The need is still enormous--service members and their families are still often in condemned or insufficient housing. It is a shame we had to beg and beg to get the conference to include this provision to keep our brave soldiers--and the families they leave to fight in wars beyond our shores--in housing that is not condemned. I reluctantly signed the conference report, because it's too important not to. But I remain deeply offended that the House position on the matter of delaying BRAC was ignored by the conference.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill to reinstate a military draft in the United States. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this position . . . but it is not a matter of needing a draft . . . this administration has not managed our resources and our troops well. We went into the Iraq war with no exit strategy, and the current military reinforcements are coming from the administration's backdoor draft via calling the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) back into service. The IRR are those who have already fulfilled their active duty service requirement to the United States. The Nation does not need a draft for an all-volunteer force. We need to wisely and effectively manage or troops and our resources in the theater. Charging into Iraq with insufficient troop numbers--against the advise of the Army Chief of Staff--and allowing an insurgency to fester, have combined to put our troops in far more danger than need be. Even our distinguished former U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, said just yesterday that the United States ``paid a big price'' for not having enough troops on the ground after we overthrew Saddam Hussein. Bremer said when he arrived to head the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad in early May, 2003, there was already ``horrid'' looting occurring. I agree with Ambassador Bremer when he goes on to say: ``We paid a big price for not stopping it because it established an atmosphere of lawlessness. We never had enough troops on the ground.'' Now, our current method of retaining a list of people for the Selective Service, for registration only, is important tool to retain should we ever need an enormous, rapid infusion of manpower in the military. Let me say to my colleague from New York, Mr. Rangel, our distinguished friend who introduced this bill to illustrate the point that many of our service men and women today are in the military because they have very few economic choices in their lives. I join you in urging all the sons and daughters of America, rich and poor, to be part of the uniformed service. We cannot have one class of Americans to fight our wars and another class of Americans benefiting from those wars. Freedom isn't free--for any of us. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a politically motivated diversion. It is not well conceived . . . it did not get a hearing in our House Armed Services Committee and it's not a serious attempt--for if it were, it would have gone through our process here and would not be destined for defeat as a ``non-controversial'' bill. General Leave

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ``Marriage Protection'' Constitutional amendment. In the past, I have supported legislation that defines marriage, and keeps the control of the institution of marriage within each State in the Union. I don't believe in gay marriage, and supported the Federal statute Congress passed in 1996 making sure one State does not have to accept a marriage license not issued in their State. Amending the Constitution is a grave matter, given it's only been amended 27 times in the history of this Republic, actually, 17 times excluding the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution were adopted along with the original Constitution. I am opposed to amending the Constitution generally, and remain concerned about the repercussions of opening up our precious founding document to amendments about social issues. But I have heard from thousands of my constituents in south Texas who believe the matter of marriage raises to the importance of including this definition as the 28th Amendment of the Constitution. I have heard the voices of south Texans on this matter. We can never legislate the way people are born or the way they will live their lives. But we can make a statement today on the importance of marriage by passing this amendment and urging the Senate and three- fifths of the States to do the same. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment as well.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, this bill is good news for veterans around this great Nation, and it is particularly very good news for South Texas. It recognizes a fundamental truth: The population of veterans in the South Texas area is exploding and the services we currently offer simply are not enough to adequately serve veterans' needs in the 21st Century. Veterans across South Texas have joined me in talking to DVA in forums and conferences around our area--that one-on-one illustration of how veterans were being served had a large impact on the legislation we are considering today. I have hosted an annual South Texas Veterans' Fair for the last several years, bringing together South Texas veterans with concerns about the health services and the policy makers at DVA. Earlier this month was the most recent fair I hosted, in Corpus Christi. The most often-repeated concern, as always, was with how to address the lack of in-patient hospital services in South Texas. Nothing will ever be enough for our veterans--and change can never come fast enough, but this bill, with specific directions on in-patient hospital care and funding for the Secretary to lease medical facilities, is a considerably better place to be than we were before. Those who wear the uniform of the United States serve this Nation; it is our duty to serve them.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank very much the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for bringing this bill to the floor, as well as the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the gentleman from Tennessee (Chairman Duncan), the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and members of the staff for quickly bringing this bill to the floor. I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) for also speaking on this matter. Mr. Speaker, today we are passing long overdue legislation that names the United States Federal Courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, the Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse. Earlier this year, Judge Vela sadly passed away, and 2 weeks ago Judge Garza also passed away, leaving behind two distinct and honorable legacies in South Texas. These two men were judicial stalwarts. Individually, they were trailblazers, pioneers, and an inspiration for many Hispanics, particularly Mexican Americans from the Rio Grande Valley. Together they are an enormous wealth of riches we want to forever remember. Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for their action on this bill, and ask that we pass it unanimously Mr. Speaker, I provide the following for the Record: Quorum Report Brownsville native described as trailblazer, judicial legend Tributes have been pouring in for Judge Reynaldo Garza, the nation's first Hispanic federal judge. The Brownsville native and son of Mexican immigrants died Tuesday at the age of 89 after battling pneumonia. President Kennedy appointed Garza to the federal judgeship in 1961. President Carter appointed him to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In between, he turned down an opportunity to be Attorney General under President Johnson because he liked being a federal judge and did not want to be away from his family. ``Judge Garza was a trailblazer, a pioneer who set the stage for all those that followed,'' said state Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville). ``He was a man of great stature. He lived life as he preached it, as a devout Christian. He had a tremendous work ethic and was an inspirational speaker. He gave you a big grin that made you feel good. You just knew he cared.'' Lucio said he knew Garza all his life. Garza officiated when Lucio took his oath of office as Cameron County Treasurer in 1971. ``I remember seeing him around the county courthouse when I was a young boy and he was still practicing law,'' Lucio recalled. ``I am proud to say that he and my father were the two most influential men in my life. He preached Americanism and patriotism.'' U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) said South Texas has lost a friend, pioneer, hero and judicial legend with his passing. ``Judge Garza became a legend in the South Texas area by virtue of his commitment to education, community and family . . . and in the evenhandedness of how he dispensed justice,'' Ortiz said. ``Judge Garza's wit, workhorse energy, pointed candor, and razor sharp focus on questions of law won him an amazing number of fans in Washington and elsewhere in the legal/ judicial establishment.'' Ortiz said Garza's granddaughter had worked as an intern in his Capitol Hill office this summer. Ortiz said he was working in Congress to name the new federal courthouse in Brownsville partially in his honor. ``I have talked to members on the Committee where the bill is being held, appealing for them to move quickly to pass this bill. Its rapid passage would be a great tribute to Judge Garza's life work,'' Ortiz said. Garza's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at the Fort Brown Memorial Center in Brownsville.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) that this bill has some good items in the bill, but I think that the heart of the bill was in housing. And I do not know whether we have thought about what are we going to do with reenlistments? How are we going to do with retainment? The first time the young men and women enlist in the military they enlist on their own. Once they serve 2, 3 years in the military, then they marry. Then the second time they are going to reenlist, they reenlist their families. That is why this bill, the family housing portion of this military construction bill, was the very center of this bill. The idea was born about private-public housing in my district in Kingsville because we saw the need to free loose some of the moneys for other purposes, and this is where this came about. In Kingsville, Texas, this idea was born, and we have been able to save millions and millions and millions of dollars. I am concerned about whether we are going to be able to retain these young men and women if we do not provide adequate housing for their wives, for their children. I have four military bases in my district. Thank God that we do not have a seriousness yet in housing. But right before 9/11, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and myself, we visited 25 bases in 4 days. I hope that some of the Members have been with us to see the deplorable conditions of the housing that we have throughout this Nation. I think that we are beginning to see retention numbers coming down. We are going to be able to see within the next few months that reenlistment will come down.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, when we look at the issue today, it is very simple. It is so simple. Private industry is putting a lot of money out so that our soldiers and their families can have adequate housing. But let me look at the other side. When the pilots that we train, when the helicopter pilots leave, when the tank drivers leave, do you know how much it costs to train them? Private industry, my friends, they do not put one penny into that. It comes strictly from the taxpayers. We know that a lot of the more senior members of the military are coming out, because the terrorist environment is blooming and they are getting out of the military so that they can get better paying jobs, and we are forcing them to leave the military because their families do not have adequate housing. I have talked to helicopter pilots, and they tell me that they get calls in Iraq about the plumbing in their homes not working, about the electricity having been shut off because of the wiring. Mr. Speaker, let us do something that we need to do now and support our soldiers. It will take millions and millions of dollars when those senior members of the military get out, because their families do not want them to stay in the military because they do not have adequate housing. Mr. Speaker, I promised the soldiers that we were going to correct that. Now I feel kind of embarrassed that we could not deliver to them what they need. I feel like my colleague. I am ashamed that we were not able to help our soldiers, those who are being wounded, those in the different hospitals.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to business in my district last Friday, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall Votes. Had I been present I would have voted: No. 355, ``yes''; No. 356, ``yes''; No. 357, ``yes'', No. 358, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of our small businesses and in favor of my colleague's amendment. If we are going to keep America strong--we must make sure that we keep our small businesses strong. Our current contracting practices will not keep our small businesses solvent. As many of you know, small businesses employ almost 60 percent of our private, non-farm work force. They generate more than half of our Nation's private, gross domestic product, and create a major share of our new jobs every year. This is why our continued efforts to bundle more and more contracts for federal services concern me. Of course, it is easier to give more work to a smaller number of contractors. That means there are fewer contracts to work and less time spent in administration, but this is only half of the issue. While we are making life easier for the contract administrators, we are limiting the number of companies competing for these larger contracts. Small businesses are unable to compete for most of these bundled contracts because the contract amount is too large or because the contract covers too large of a geographic area. In the end, there is a loss of competition and an environment where a few large businesses control the market. The Federal government should not abandon the competitive and pioneering small business market for more convenient contract administration. This is not good for our small businesses or for our country. I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this amendment and our small businesses.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Moody Trojans, winner of the 2004 Texas High School Class 5-A Baseball Championship. These young players came heartbreakingly close to the championship as runners-up in the 2000 tournament, but this year the prize was all Moody's. Moody baseball is not only a community tradition in South Texas, but also a family tradition. The players are an extended family, reading each other's minds and anticipating each other's moves. This is a group that sincerely loves to compete. The amazing skill of this team won the recognition of coaches, resulting in the Trojans finishing second in the nation in the Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association poll released Monday. This season for ``Moody Magic'' has been one for the record books. This is an aggressive, confident team, whose amazing baserunning in the title game was a large part of their victory. Of course, with these young people, that attitude is pervasive not only on the baseball diamond, but in all that they do. Moody's fans are as relentless as their team. They were over 75 percent of the crowd, cheering the players on, chanting, blowing horns, yelling, clapping and stomping feet. Like the Trojans of old, they didn't give up until the battle was done. Over 1,000 fans met the team when their bus got back to Corpus Christi. The crowd rushed to the field as the players placed their trophy on the pitcher's mound. The Moody Magic is part inspiration, part hard work, and part spirituality that draws this team close. They pray together, win together and lose together; but they keep their faith. Four years ago, they prayed even while their opponent was awarded gold medals for the championship; they prayed that the experience would make them better people. It did, and 2004 was their year to win the gold medals. These young people have learned the very best lessons sports can teach. They learned that winning is great, but winners on the field are made from teamwork and faith; and winners in life are those who master the fundamentals, never lose their faith, and put their whole effort into all they do. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in commending this outstanding group of young champions from ``Moody Magic'' who have learned--and lived--the most important lessons of competition, faith and dignity. Mr. Speaker, these young people have inspired us and made us exceptionally proud.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the community of Harlingen, Texas, where area children are recognized for doing good deeds in their homes, schools, and communities. With school resources so overtaxed, our community has partnered with the Concerned Businessmen's Association of America to sponsor the Harlingen area's Set A Good Example Contest, offered to all children from the surrounding communities. The original school contest was launched in 1982 to recognize schools supporting student-oriented programs that positively influence other students by promoting moral values such as honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, competence, and fairness. The Concerned Businessmen's Association of America is a non-profit educational organization incorporating successful business strategies to combat the social ills and problems that face young people. We watch our children with new eyes every day, wondering what is going on inside their minds and what motivates them. The Harlingen community's parents, business people, educators, counselors--and most importantly, children themselves--are working together to ward off problems that are plaguing society today. The best messenger for young people is other young people. There will never be one single answer to preparing our children to withstand the complex social issues they encounter each day. But future behavior, future understanding, will be based on the foundation our communities provide now. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the people of Harlingen, Former Mayor Connie De La Garza, and Mayor Rick Rodriguez for their efforts to be part of the solution to a problem that affects all of us in America. I thank them for leading the way to a better world for us all.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a unique American patriot, Francisco Saldivar, a man who, after having spent over 40 years with the Brownsville Independent School District, has recently retired as principal of Yturria Elementary School. Mr. Saldivar comes from an educator's background. His mother, a teacher from Mexico, helped make an early impression on his life-long desire to educate and give back to the community. To this end, Mr. Saldivar has served in a number of roles and duties within the school district, from teacher to administrator. Mr. Saldivar spent over 12 years teaching fourth grade before becoming an assistant principal at Victoria Heights Elementary. Since then, he has also served as an assistant director of adult education as well as the principal of several elementary schools, most recently with Yturria. With each new role he took on, Mr. Saldivar invariably displayed his selfless dedication to providing a well-rounded and worthwhile education. Indeed, as principal of Yturria Elementary, Mr. Saldivar still managed to take the time to help ease the transition of transfer students. And after 6 years as principal of Yturria, Mr. Saldivar is finally retiring; and while he will certainly miss his old position, we will miss his commitment to our children's education even more. There is no question that the education of our young people constitutes an important priority in our society. Education does more than simply impart knowledge; it prepares our children for the challenges they will meet in adulthood. Mr. Saldivar has worked with children for nearly half a century; he knows the problems they face, and has actively worked to alleviate them. Our Nation is strengthened by dedication of educators like Mr. Saldivar in our school systems. The origins for our Nation's future will always lie within our youngest generations. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Principal Francisco Saldivar, for his indelible influence over the young minds in the Valley. His legacy is in the bright young minds he touched and shaped. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, my memories of Ronald Reagan are much like the memories of so many of those who met President Reagan and who were absolutely charmed by him. Ronald Reagan wasn't just called the ``Great Communicator'' because he could give good speeches; he was a brilliant communicator on all levels. He understood how the everyday person on the street understood issues, and he framed things in such a way that people believed him. He presented his ideas simply and eloquently. He was also excellent one-on-one. His Irish charm was all encompassing. That charm made him an agreeable opponent when we disagreed on issues. He welcomed opposition on a matter; he understood that democratic societies only flourish when both sides of an issue are clearly heard. He relished debate. President Reagan's acting career was helpful to him in his political career, although his detractors often denigrated him for it. But he was a good actor; his performance in Kings Row was widely hailed. But World War II intervened and his advancing career was diverted to military service, making movies for the troops. My personal memories of the President were times we saw each other in the White House or the Capitol. The first time we met, my 10-year-old daughter, Yvette, accompanied me to the White House party for new Members of Congress. After being rebuffed by a security guard when she asked if she could get Reagan's autograph, the President found out and obliged her with his autograph. I remember another meeting with him that was rather high stakes on the international stage. I'd just returned from El Salvador in the mid 1980s with a CODEL of House Members where we'd sought to bring back good information about the rebel uprisings in Central America, particularly there in El Salvador. Talking about--and debating at points during the conversation-- international policy with the President of the United States in the Oval Office was a heady moment. We marveled that a migrant worker from Robstown and a lifeguard from Illinois would wind up in this room, talking about such important things. He loved this Nation and felt a great responsibility to it. When his tax cuts and economic policies produced mountains of massive deficit, he stepped up and reversed his policy, raising taxes higher than any president before him--or since--has ever done. His insistence that the Soviets tear down the Berlin Wall rang truer than anyone would have believed at the time. He had a sweet soul. This was one of the central tenets of the man. He loved his wife deeply, and the entire Nation has come to love her even more after they left the White House. Nancy Reagan's monumental strength in the face of facing her dear husband's illness, without him entirely with her, might have broken lesser people. One of the President's greatest contributions to humanity, and to this Nation, may have come after he left office to begin the long dark walk away from us, and his beloved family. That this strong, vigorous man was so removed, so empty, was chilling for all of us. The eyes that danced with Irish charm began to narrow with confusion. The Nation was deeply moved watching this much-loved president face the indignities of Alzheimer's so bravely and with such conviction. We have been moved to seek new science and new treatments for the cruel disease that claims the last decades of many Americans, and drains their families. For all we have said here today, Ronald Reagan will be remembered most profoundly as an eternal optimist, embodying the quintessential American spirit. At our core, we are all optimists, thinking about tomorrow. Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once illustrated President Reagan's indomitable optimism with a story the President told him. President Reagan compared himself to the kid who walks into a room full of horse dung, and asks excitedly, ``Where's the pony?'' I join the House of Representatives today in honoring the life and service of Ronald Wilson Reagan and offer my condolences, those of my family, and those of my South Texas constituents, to Mrs. Reagan and the rest of their family. May the Lord bless President Reagan's soul, and comfort Mrs. Reagan and their family in this time of loss.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, this is a time to step back and see what is being done, to look at, like we say, the whole ball of wax. The base closure legislation was created back in 1989. We are now involved in two very serious wars. We are going to increase the troop level by 39,000 people. We have now begun to rely so much on the National Guard and Reserve. We have got 40,000 contractors all over the place. Is it not time to step back and look at what is happening? When the service Secretaries appear before us, we ask them, Which base do you want to close? They have yet to name one base. Savings? If there were so much savings, how come we have got a $419 billion budget? Let us do the responsible thing and vote against this amendment.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I have the utmost respect for my two colleagues, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), but we have a great stake in impartial diplomacy when it comes to Taiwan and China at every level. I think that I am one of the Members who has been to Taiwan more than anybody else, at least 40 times because of the business we do with them, and I love the people of Taiwan. I have traveled extensively in the Far East on military trade missions and love the people of both China and Taiwan. Taiwan is still working through a very divisive presidential election which has only further strained the relationship with China, and of course, we were able to see democracy in action by the people of Taiwan voting. As one of the few Americans who has traveled to North Korea and talked to officials there, I remind Members, we have multiple dangerous strategic concerns in that area, and China has been kind enough to help us set those meetings with Japan, South Korea and the United States. So I have to oppose this amendment.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Memorial Day, 2004, we honor both the veterans who fought America's wars, and those who stand on the front lines of today's combat engagements. Each day it seems, news from Iraq carries the awful news of combat deaths as we try to quell a nation and leave it in better hands than before. Most importantly, our troops are still pursuing al Queda and Osama bin Laden in the mountains of Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world to root out the entity that attacked us on 9-11. This generation's solemn mission is to undermine and eradicate the terrorist movement, which continues to grow and evolve, from the face of the Earth. Today we honor all those who fought for this nation throughout our history. Americans all over the world are remembering friends, family members and countrymen who made the ultimate sacrifice for liberty and democracy. In South Texas, the list of young people lost in the global conflict with al Queda, and now in Iraq, is becoming longer than we can bear. We continue to welcome home other sons and daughters who were injured or captured. Please remember these brave young warriors and their families on this Memorial Day. As a member of Congress who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, I know what we ask of people in uniform, and I know the difficulties of service. As a veteran, I know what is expected of soldiers and sailors in combat--or in the possibility of combat. The very least we must do for the men and women who serve this nation is provide adequately for their health care now and in their later years. The attack on our nation on 9-11 served to remind us that firemen, law enforcement officers and doctors also stand on the front lines in the first war of the 21st Century. The world has entered this century through pillars of fire, and the United States is called to fight a global war again, this time against al Queda and the terrorism they sponsor and continue to inspire. Americans, as always, fight for this country, and South Texans always make an extraordinary contribution to our military force. Today, let us pledge anew to face the challenges of our world with compassion, strength, and understanding as we stand on the watchtower of freedom. On this Memorial Day, let us remember the heroes of our history as we wish for peace as the poets and the dreamers do--but remain ever ready to fight the battles that are righteous, where the values of freedom and democracy are at stake. Please take a moment of silence and remember the South Texas heroes who answered this nation's call to military service, especially those who gave this nation the ultimate measure of devotion. We remember them all and their families today and always. Our South Texas heroes: Killed aboard the USS Cole: Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronchester Santiago, 22, from Kingsville and Fireman Gary Swenchonis Jr., 26 from Rockport, TX Army Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, 24, from Los Fresnos, 3rd Combat Support Battalion from Los Fresnos; he went missing on March 23, 2003, when his convoy was ambushed in Iraq; his remains were recovered on April 24 1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, 43, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, from Robstown; he was killed on April 28, 2003, when he was struck by a civilian vehicle in Iraq Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr., 20, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from San Benito; he was killed in action on April 8, 2003, in central Iraq Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, 40, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from Corpus Christi; he was killed when his military convoy came under fire north of Hawd, Iraq on July 24, 2003 Spc. Jose A. Perez III, 22, 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade, from San Diego, Texas; he was killed in an ambush of a convoy on May 28, 2003, in Taji, Iraq Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, 34, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from McAllen; he died from injuries sustained during combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on April 14, 2004 Sgt. John W. Russell, 26, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Portland; he was killed when two 101st Airborne Division UH- 60 Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over Mosul, Iraq, on November 15, 2003 Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, 18, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, from Edinburg; he died due to injuries sustained from enemy fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on April 1, 2004 Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr., 21, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, from San Diego; he died from combat injuries in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on April 17, 2004 May the Lord bless their souls, and make strong their families, who must live forever without them. And may this list grow no longer . . .

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Missouri for the fine work that they have done in putting this bill together; and, of course, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Readiness, I am pleased to join the gentleman from Colorado in commending H.R. 4200 to my colleagues' attention and urge them to vote for this great bill because we have worked together as a nonpartisan group. We have every reason to be proud of this bill as a whole and the readiness-related portions in particular. It reflects fair and thoughtful leadership and a lot of hard, bipartisan work on the part of the committee. Again I thank the gentleman from Colorado for that. Also I want to say thank you to our staff because it is not easy when you are working on a $400 billion bill to be able to put everything together and bring it to the floor. So to the staff, thank you for a great job. I would first like to say how proud I am of our military forces and of the thousands of civilian workers who work night and day to support our military. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service. Mr. Chairman, we are a Nation at war. This bill that we have put together is a prudent way to approach the difficult balancing of competing demands to assure that our troops have what they need for success. To that end, we have authorized nearly $120 billion for their peacetime operating and maintenance requirements. But, of course, we are not in a peacetime environment. For example, the Army testified that coming into this fiscal year it had $1.2 billion of unfunded maintenance requirements as it began bringing its equipment back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only that, we are now depending a little too much on the Reserves and the National Guard. It has come to my attention that sometimes this equipment stays behind. They do not bring it back with them. The gentlemen who serve as National Guardsmen and Reserves are first responders in our communities. When they come back, they might not even have the equipment to train with because it is left behind. H.R. 4200 makes some progress on those concerns, but we know that we can expect a significant bill to come due when we begin to reset the force, repair the equipment as it returns from the war, and restock our prepositioned assets. That bill will be billions of dollars. Today I ask my colleagues to support this bill. It is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. This is exactly what our troops need.

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, with all my respect to my good friend from Virginia, I understand about our borders; but there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. To begin with, I think that my ranking member just stated that we are moving 3,600 troops from Korea to Iraq because we do not have enough troops. Can you imagine what kind of signal this is sending to our friends in South Korea, what kind of signal it is sending to our friends in the Pacific Ring, that we are removing those troops because we do not have enough now? I have been on both sides. I have been a law enforcement official, and I have been in the military. The Border Patrol has an extensive training school to deal with human beings. As a military guy, when I was in the military, they trained me how to kill people, especially the enemy. So I do not think this is the way to do it, with all due respect. If we think we need to protect our borders more, the answer is hire more Border Patrol personnel or immigration.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I share the revulsion of my colleagues, the House of Representatives, our friends and allies around the world-- indeed of the entire human race--over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers . . . or in the presence of American soldiers. We are obliged to investigate this event; it has given our great Nation a black eye around the world, particularly in the Middle East where our efforts have been to help them find democracy. We are a humanitarian nation and a signatory to the Geneva Conventions. We depend on the protections the conventions offer to our own POWs . . . and we may have broken that assurance now. We shouldn't need to train our soldiers in basic humanity; the other 99.9 percent of our soldiers know this is inhuman behavior. If not for an American soldier burdened by conscience we might not know this today. This is not a reflection of our professional military--it's an aberration. The action of the soldiers who have candidly come forward-- even at the expense of their own careers--are the example of our professional military, and of the high standards democracy demands from those who serve in uniform. The actions of a few have sullied the reputation of our all-volunteer fighting force, our mission in the larger Middle East, and the standing of the United States as a democratic, humanitarian Nation. There is simply no excuse for this inhuman behavior. We are a superpower; we should be setting the example, not acting like barbarians. I hope desperately when the investigation is completed that it will expose the guilty parties, each and every one, who must be punished so the world will know that this Nation finds this behavior aberrant. I thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for bringing this issue before the House of Representatives today. This is very much an American issue, not a partisan issue. We must demand and expect that the people--all the people--with any responsibility for this are punished to show the world that this is not American. And we must never, ever, put this irrational, inhuman behavior on the young men and women serving honorably in the uniformed service of the United States.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American patriot, cultural icon, and leader in our South Texas community: Freddy Fender, an accomplished artist whose appeal is ageless. Freddy proved his everlasting influence in 2002 when he won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album and again this year, as the Texas Folklife Resources celebrated 50 years of Freddy's music with a concert as part of its Folk Masters series on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. A San Benito, Texas, native and legendary performer, Freddy was born Baldemar Huerta. He began his career as teenager recording popular English language songs in Spanish that found an audience in Mexico and Latin America in the 1950s. In the 1960's his career took off in the United States with the hit, ``Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.'' Those wild, early days eventually put him on more disciplined path. He went back to school and worked as a mechanic, but he continued singing. His number one hit, ``Before the Next Teardrop Falls,'' was his re- entry into popular culture. That album went multi-platinum, and Fender won best male artist of 1976. In the latter part of the century, he spread his wings, expanded upon his talent and worked with Robert Redford in the movie The Milagro Beanfield War and other non- traditional projects. He found his stride, working in different parts of the entertainment industry. But he never strayed far from the bounds of music, working with The Texas Tornados. Freddy and his family have been tested in the fires of a near-death experience. After a protracted illness, Freddy received a kidney from his daughter, cheating death, and still singing and writing his songs. Freddy's Grammy Award-winning album in 2002 captured the yearning for a simple, romantic return to youth. The cover has a 4-year-old Baldemar Huerta dressed as a cowboy astride a painted pony. ``La Musica de Baldemar Huerta'' is 10 boleros with little accompaniment. Boleros are poignant ballads generally featuring sophisticated guitar picking and sensual rhythms. The biggest thing for which Freddy is known in South Texas is his generosity of spirit in establishing a scholarship fund for average students. An average student himself, and an avowed troublemaker in his youth, he has a unique understanding of the challenges before a young person who has either made a mistake, made only average grades, or both. I ask the House of Representatives to join me--and the Texas Folklife Resources--in honoring Freddy Fender a great American treasure, a South Texan, a friend, and lifelong cultural icon in North American music.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who selflessly dedicated his life to aid those who need it most. Wayne Potter of Harlingen was a man who went to great lengths to improve the community. He took the time to volunteer. Even when his health was failing, he still found the time and energy to keep up with what was so important to him: his mission of volunteering. His life was an example we should all aspire to emulate. Mr. Potter aided those patients who are mentally ill. He also served as volunteer board member of the Family Crisis Center, the Public Library, the Retired Teachers Association and the Rio Grande Valley Museum. As a public official he was Harlingen City Commissioner and served a term as Mayor Pro Tem. His presence and his energy in the community have been sorely missed since we lost him last year. Wayne Potter was a philanthropist for his country, his fellow teachers, neighbors and friends. As a math and science teacher, Mr. Potter ensured children's concerns were not overlooked; he served as a mentor and counselor to them in their time of need. During War World II when his country was in need, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Mr. Potter's service and volunteer efforts are greatly missed in The Rio Grande State Center. Since the center opened its doors, Mr. Potter volunteered his time and served as an officer of the organization. By the time of his passing, he had given 20,000 hours of his personal time to others. Mr. Potter leaves a legacy we all admired; as the Good Book says: ``It is better to give than to receive.'' That's how Wayne Potter lived his life. Mr. Speaker, the volunteering community of South Texas will honor Mr. Potter's memory and lifetime of service by naming the 55-bed mental health unit at the Rio Grande State Center the ``Wayne Potter Memorial Building.'' His volunteering efforts will now live on through his name on the Center, which was so important to him, and his spirit of generosity. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending the life and service of Mr. Wayne Potter, and in paying tribute to this great example of a man whose efforts and dedication made a difference in his community, with his students, and in the lives of those less fortunate than most of us.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Brownsville, Texas, Lopez High School Lobos for their victory last weekend at the Class 4A State soccer championship, winning the game 2-1 and finishing their season at 25-4-1. No team is greater than the student body and parents who support them, and that was Lopez' not-so-secret weapon. Over two-thirds of the crowd was there to support the Lobos, and their chants of ``Si se puede'' (we can do it) inspired this victory. Lopez High School brought home to Brownsville the first championship title in UIL soccer. To find Brownsville teams that won State titles, you have to go back to 1985 and 1967 (both were cross country championships). Lopez won seven playoff games for the right to compete for the State championship. Awful weather even played a part in the tournament. The title match was originally scheduled for the week before, but heavy rain and lightning postponed the championship game to another site and another time. As any athlete can tell you, the rhythm of your game is a large part of the overall effort, and being mentally prepared for a game on a certain date--then having to postpone the game--can play havoc on your rhythm. But not for these young athletes; for them it did not matter that their shot at the title was postponed for a week. They redoubled their efforts and practice . . . and played with purpose, endurance and confidence. Lopez High School Principal Maggie Gutierrez summed up the lessons for the team to learn in this sweet victory. ``This team has a spirit of never giving up no matter what,'' she said. ``Lopez Lobos are born to succeed, and no one else will tell them any different.'' These athletes learned an important lesson in this championship: They are absolutely capable of doing great things; my prayer is that their imaginations will be their only limits in this world. I offer my proud congratulations to each member of the team, to the coaches and their assistants, to the parents who must endure the practices and the injuries, and to the principal and teachers who set the example of combining education and athletics. Mostly, I want these young people to understand that they won far more than the respect that comes with a championship . . . they now know that dreams can come true. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in offering our best wishes to the Lopez High School Lobos for their hard-fought and well- deserved victory at the Texas Class 4A State soccer championship.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3550, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users . . . and I commend Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Oberstar for their leadership on a difficult bill before the House. I also thank Chairman Petri and Ranking Member Lipinski of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines for their hard work on this legislation the last couple of years. Despite the funding level limitations placed on the committee the committee has done an outstanding job in bringing a good bill to the floor that provides $275 billion for highways and transit. I was hopeful we would be moving the bill preferred by the Senate, with a higher investment in national transportation system. By improving our infrastructure in the United States, we grow our economy. This is the best sort of job-creation bill. With the Southwest international border shouldering a greater and greater load of NAFTA commercial traffic, there is a greater and more urgent need for an interstate highway corridor down to Southern border. The border corridor infrastructure will help our local communities through which so much of the commercial trade passes. Investing in these inter-modal improvements means investing in the future of efficient movement of people and goods in the 21st Century to remain competitive, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, and provide for the safety of everyone traveling along our roads and highways. Investments to improve the security of America's critical infrastructures, including passenger rail and public transit, will benefit not only our national security but also our economy and the safety and reliability of systems that Americans rely on every day. This bill provides important funding to the state of Texas and my district. While there are still issues to be resolved, in particular the donor-donee issue, I am confident that this will be addressed as we move this bill further along through the process and on to the conference. Transportation is literally the lifeblood of trade and commerce that winds its way through South Texas, creating and supporting a number of jobs. The funding the Committee included in the bill for our neck of the woods will help with a number of safety issues, as well as generally contributing to creating new commercial opportunities for our area. The Committee included several public transportation projects for our area. Utilizing public transportation helps move people around more economically, it reduces pollution, and it reduces traffic in the area . . . all of which will go a long way to provide congestion relief for area commuters and a new level of safety for South Texans.