Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) advocates for the silent voices of crime victims. Jim Costa (D-CA) and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. On behalf of Congressman Costa (D-CA) and myself, we are proud to recognize an organization that makes a big difference in the San Joaquin Valley: Court Appointed Special Advocates also known as CASA of Merced Country. Nominated by Congressman Costa, the CASA of Merced County is the recipient of the VRC Allied Professional Award. With a mission to place every child in a safe, loving, and permanent home, CASA relies on the work of volunteer advocates for the interests of children overlooked by society. In order to ensure that every child is properly taken care in the eyes of both the law and the community, these volunteers provide judges with detailed information of a child's home life and legal situation to help judges better understand each and every child's unique story. The Executive Director, Shar Herrera and her staff work diligently to support children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Sadly, children who are victims of neglect and are in the foster care system are too often in a situation where they do not have a single person in their life that they can trust and rely on. But Merced CASA has changed that horrible reality for hundreds of children throughout Merced County. CASA volunteers are often there for the children beyond just the courtroom; they are friends, mentors, and confidants for the children they support. The volunteers who are trained by CASA for Merced County change children's lives for the better every single day. CASA and their advocates have done right by their community, and, most importantly, right by children in need. I am proud to recognize them as the recipient of the Allied Professional Award. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) is a proven and effective leader in advocating for crime victims. Jim Costa (D-CA) and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first elected to Congress. During its 10-year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. The Lois Haight Award for Excellence and Innovation pays tribute to California Judge Lois Haight. She was the Chair of President Ronald Reagan's 1982 President's Task Force on Victims of Crime. Judge Haight led pioneering efforts on behalf of crime victims that resulted in significant public policy advances to promote crime victims' rights and services. The honoree who receives this award is a professional whose efforts have had a significant impact on local, state, national or international public policy development and implementation that promote dignity, respect, rights and services for victims of crime. Yasmin Vafa embodies the vision, drive and accomplishment of Judge Haight. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Rights4Girls, a human rights organization focused on gender-based violence against young women and girls in the U.S. As the award recipient that my office nominated I am proud to recognize her significant contributions in advocating for Victims' Rights. She is a fearless fighter against injustice, educating not only my office, but offices across the Capitol about the scourge of human trafficking--especially on the unique needs of domestic victims and the need to prosecute buyers. The voice of survivors like ``T'' Ortiz Walker Pettigrew that Yasmin and Rights for Girls brings to the Hill changes the conversation on human trafficking. Yasmin knows and works with these survivors both in DC and around the country through advocacy, trainings, and survivor retreats, and won't stop until victims are treated as victims and we put all the bad guys where they belong. Yasmin's principled passion, activism and persistence have been critical in the passage of a number of bills to fight human trafficking and protect vulnerable women and girls. One bill especially close to my heart, which would not have crossed the finish line without her help is the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Yasmin helped conceive, advocate and fight for the bill through ups and downs until the right thing was done and the bill became law. In addition to the incredible accomplishments she's had for victims of crime on Capitol Hill, she has also designed and implemented a national judicial institute on child trafficking, co-authored a seminal report mapping girls' unique pathways into the juvenile justice system: The Sexual Abuse to Prison Pipeline: The Girls' Story. She also currently serves as a faculty adjunct educator and consultant for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, served on the Advisory Board for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Girls Initiative, and was as a member of the Department of Justice's National Task Force on the Use of Restraints with Pregnant Women and Girls under Correctional Custody. Yasmin is so deserving of the Lois Haight Award for Excellence and Innovation Award, we are grateful for her persistence and passion. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) advocates for the silent voices of crime victims. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. On behalf of Congressman Costa (CA) and myself, we are honored to present Sacramento resident Beth Hassett with the Ed Stout Memorial Award. Nominated by Congresswoman Doris Matsui of the 6th Congressional District of California, Beth is incredibly deserving of this award. The award honors the memory of Ed Stout, the Director of Aid for Victims of Crime of St. Louis, MO, one of the nation's three oldest victim assistance organizations--who died in 2005 following a 30 plus year career of inspiring crime victims and those who serve them. The honoree is a professional or volunteer whose efforts directly benefit victims and survivors of crime. Beth has been an outspoken and effective champion for women and children in Sacramento through her leadership as the Executive Director at WEAVE. Beth leads a team of advocates who share a common goal of creating a community that does not tolerate domestic violence and sexual assault and offers victims the support they need to be safe and thrive. Established in 1978, WEAVE is Sacramento's oldest and most comprehensive domestic violence agency and sole Rape Crisis Center. The agency provides in-person and telephone support to more than 12,000 survivors each year. For 23 years, Beth has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in the Sacramento Region. Beth has been an active volunteer in our community, received several community leadership awards, and served as the Governor's appointee to the statewide Domestic Violence Advisory Committee from 2010 through 2015. She has made it her mission to educate our community and spread the word about violence prevention and intervention. Her leadership on behalf of survivors has made such a difference in Sacramento. She could not be more deserving of the Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) advocates for crime victims. Jim Costa (CA) and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. On behalf of Congressman Costa and myself, we are proud to honor Maureen Mahoney with the Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. Nominated by Congressman Seth Moulton, Maureen is recognized for her efforts in preventing domestic violence. This award is named for Eva Murillo--an individual who cared deeply about advocating for victims and survivors of violent crime. Each year, an award bearing Eva Murillo's name recognizes an individual--or pair of individuals--who utilized his or her experiences to triumph over personal tragedy and raise awareness for the needs of crime victims. Maureen tragically lost her parents, Dr. Hugh and Ruth Mahoney, and her brother John to an incident of violent crime in December 1975. On the 40th anniversary of this tragedy, Maureen and her family organized a community event in Tewksbury, Massachusetts to celebrate and honor the lives of their parents and brother. This event tribute was dedicated to addressing domestic violence, as Maureen recognized that violent criminals are often impacted by domestic violence situations in their youth. Maureen donated all of the money raised at the event to local organizations in the Tewksbury area, including the Center for Hope and Healing, The Michael B. Christensen Community and Family Support Center, The United Teen Equality Center, and the Tewksbury Police Department. Maureen's own experiences translate in her work as a life coach, where she works with survivors of tragedy like herself. I am proud to recognize her efforts today with the Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) works as a advocate for crime victims. Jim Costa (CA) and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. On behalf of Congressman Costa (CA) and myself, we are proud to honor Lane Judson with the Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. Mr. Judson was nominated for the Unsung Hero award by Congressman David Reichert of the 8th District of Washington. This award honors the memory of Eva Murillo, a prominent crime victim advocate in the state of California. Murillo, who passed away in 2005, was best known for her twelve years of distinguished service to the Kings County Victim Witness Assistance Program, where she pioneered efforts to help women in abusive relationships. The honoree is a crime victim or survivor, who has experienced a personal tragedy and triumphed over adversity. This award recognizes a person who has utilized his or her experiences as a crime victim or survivor to promote public education and awareness, public policy development, and/or greater awareness about crime victims' rights and needs. Through his or her efforts, the recipient has given hope to other crime victims and survivors. Mr. Lane Judson has done just that--on April 26, 2003, Lane Judson's daughter, Crystal was fatally shot by her husband who also happened to be the Police Chief of the Tacoma, Washington Police Department. The shooting came one day after city officials publically announced that Crystal's claims of abuse and threats would not be investigated because it was a ``private matter.'' After losing his daughter, Mr. Judson dedicated his life to helping and supporting victims of domestic violence. He was instrumental in the creation of the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center in Tacoma, WA, which was established in 2005 to serve the needs of the domestic violence victims and their children by providing comprehensive victim services in order to help families heal and bring them hope. Mr. Judson also led the fight to incorporate the Crystal Judson Domestic Violence Protocol Program into the 2006 Violence Against, which created a grant available to law enforcement agencies to use in training their officers in the area of domestic violence. Mr. Judson has turned unimaginable tragedy into positive action to advocate on behalf of all domestic violence victims. Mr. Judson is an incredible person. We know his daughter's memory lives on in his fight to end domestic violence. We are proud to honor him with the Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there are some truly remarkable women in history. History helps us learn who we are, and where we came from. Margaret Utinsky is one such woman. In the heat of an August summer of 1900 Margaret Utinsky was born in St. Louis, Missouri. 40 years later, World War Two broke out. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines on January 2nd, 1940 Margaret was serving as a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross. As all strong women seem to do, she worked not only as a nurse, but also became the manager of the servicemen's canteen. My mother, Dorrace Poe, served as a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross during World War Two in Temple, Texas. Nurses like my mother and Margaret were called upon by Congress in the 1905 congressional charter to ``furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded of armies in time of war'' and to ``act in matters of voluntary relief and in accord with the military and naval authorities as a medium of communication between the people of the United States of America and their Army and Navy.'' As the U.S.S. Washington sailed off into the murky ocean waters, Utinsky stood resolved. She did not leave with the Army wives, ferried off to safety. Her husband returned to serve in Batann as a civil engineer, safe from harm. Utinsky is best known for her work with the Filipino resistance movement to provide medicine, food, and other items to aid Allied prisoners of war in the Philippines during World War II. As the Japanese took the capital city of Manila, Margaret rushed off, hid in an abandoned apartment complex, and stocked it with food and medicine that she stole from the Army and Navy commissaries. For 10 weeks she hid out, desperate to save herself from the internment camps, teaching herself to type and listening to the radio. Undiscovered after ten weeks in hiding, Utinsky ventured out and sought help from the priests at Malate Convent. Through her various contacts, she obtained false papers, creating the identity of Rena Utinsky, a Lithuanian nurse. (Lithuania was a nonbelligerent country under armed occupation by Nazi Germany.) With her new identity she finally was able to find work in a Red Cross unit that was headed to Bantaan. Upon her arrival she was able to help American Soldiers who were captured by the Japanese. While treating the soldiers, she found and concealed an American flag and documents describing spy activity. After witnessing the Bataan Death March, she resolved to do all that was in her power to aid those in need. She helped build a clandestine resistance network that provided food, medicine and money to those in the POW camps at Camp O'Donnell and then later at Cabanatuan prison camp. After learning of her husband's death in a prison camp she redoubled her efforts, determined to avenge her husband's death. Suspected of aiding and saving prisoners, the Japanese arrested her. She was subjected to 32 days of torture at Fort Santiago prison. She survived daily beatings, was hung with her arms tied behind her back and was sexually assaulted. Cold bloodily, five Filipinos were beheaded directly in front of her cell. On another night, an American soldier was tied to her cell gate and beaten to death, his body disintegrating as they beat him. She then was confined to a dungeon cell, starved and malnourished for four days. Not once did she reveal her true identity. She was finally released after signing a statement attesting to her good treatment. Utinsky spent six weeks in a hospital recovering from a multitude of injuries. The doctors wanted to amputate her gangrenous leg, but she refused, terrified that she would reveal secrets while under anesthesia. The hospital was full of Japanese spies. She directed the surgeons to remove the gangrenous flesh without any type of anesthesia. Despite not having fully recovered, she left the hospital and escaped to the Bataan Peninsula. She continued to serve as a nurse with the Philippine Commonwealth troops, moving from camp to camp until liberation in February 1945. When the Allies arrived, Utinsky was taken through the Japanese lines to the Americans. She had lost 45 pounds and an inch in height. Her hair had turned solid white and she appeared to have aged 25 years. Within a few days she wrote for the Americans a list from memory, of soldiers she knew had been tortured, the names of the torturers and the names of collaborators and spies. In 1946, Utinsky was awarded the Medal of Freedom for her heroic actions, defending the lives of Americans abroad. Strong women like Utinsky are the backbone of America. They fought valiantly against those who seek to kill, destroy, and harm our men. They are unsung heroes of the Second World War. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus (VRC) is a proven and effective leader in advocating for crime victims. Jim Costa and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus. On behalf of Congressman Costa (D-CA) and myself, we are pleased to honor Ms. Blanca Kling as this year's Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award recipient and recognize all of her hard work for the community. Nominated by Congressman Chris Van Hollen of the 8th Congressional District of Maryland, Ms. Kling is deserving of this recognition for all of her hard work in her community. This award honors Suzanne McDaniel, one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and in the nation. McDaniel created Harris County's first community interagency council on sexual assault and family violence and the first rape exam protocol for Houston Hospital and Medical Associations. She also formed the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the first statewide resource in the nation, and helped draft and pass the Texas Crime Victim Bill of Rights, the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Act, and the Texas Constitutional Amendment on Crime Victim Rights. McDaniel passed away in May 2012 after an eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer. This honoree is an individual or organization that has used her voice, throughout the media, to promote and to bring about change at the National level for crime victims. Ms. Kling's role as the Hispanic Liaison for the Media Services Division of the Montgomery County Maryland Police Department qualifies her for this distinguished recognition. Since 2005, Ms. Kling has worked tirelessly to develop open and productive lines of communication between the police department and various communities, particularly to the Hispanic community. Previously, MCPD recognized that there was significant distrust between their department and the Hispanic community. This caused a detrimental impact on the effectiveness in responding to crime and community issues. Ms. Kling conducts outreach to more than 170,000 Hispanics who live and work in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is instrumental in supporting the Hispanic community, particularly newly arrived immigrants who face challenges in assimilating to a new culture, language, and legal system. Thanks to her outstanding work, people are less fearful about reporting crimes that have been committed against them or that they have witnessed. These efforts have had a significant impact on individual and public safety in Montgomery County. Ms. Kling has been extremely effective in disseminating information to Spanish-language media in order to provide support to victims and prevent crimes in the Hispanic community. She has also worked with local, national, and international leaders to ensure that they have the tools to ensure safety for their constituencies. Her work as a media spokesperson, community leader, and a victim rights advocate has helped thousands of victims and survivors of crime, and their families. On behalf of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, I would like to congratulate Ms. Blanca Kling and the Montgomery County Maryland Police Department for all that they do to keep our communities safe, each and every day. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this resolution.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 658, condemning the series of terrorist attacks in Belgium carried out by Islamic extremists yesterday. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 658) condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, 2016, which murdered more than 30 innocent people, and severely wounded many more.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of the time. Mr. Speaker, our hearts do go out to the people of Brussels and the people who were killed and their families that are throughout the world, including those that are injured from the United States. We cannot bring back those lives from yesterday, but we can do something about the murder that occurred yesterday in Brussels. Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that the ISIS terror network is successful. ISIS exists for one reason, to murder people and, because of that murder and violence that they incur, to scare and to bring fear and terror to countries that are attacked by ISIS. As I mentioned earlier, they have committed terror attacks in now 20 countries. To some extent, it seems to me that it is working because every time there is a terrorist attack, free people react in the sense that we find more security. I am concerned that we are getting into the bunker mentality, people afraid to go anyplace and afraid to leave. Why? Because some terrorist attack may occur. It is obvious that we need to react to the crimes and these murders as a people that are affected by it. But we can't just be defensive against ISIS and other terrorist organizations. We can't just defend ourselves. We have to eliminate ISIS. They are at war with the world and people who don't agree with them. They are at war. Now, we probably need to understand that their goal is to not only kill and maim, but to cause fear--fear--individual fear. They use every possible way they can do it, from social media to bragging about the murders on YouTube. So we, as a people, need to understand that we are going to have to eliminate ISIS. We are going to have to track them down, go get them, and eliminate them. You can't negotiate with these people. That is out of the question. So we either just react and try to defend ourselves when they commit crimes or we go after them. So I hope that the United States presents a better strategy and lets those folks know that, to just kill anybody that disagrees with ISIS, their days are numbered because we are going to go eliminate them. We have to. Because they have attacked us, our response must be more than defensive. We must be offensive. We must let them know: you can't do this. You can't kill people because you don't like them, no matter where that occurs in the world. So I would hope that the United States, with our partners in other countries, finds an overall strategy that is successful and that eliminates these people who kill because of a perverted sense of their religion. But today we do mourn the loss and we show the support of our country with our neighbors across the seas for the crimes that have been committed against them. As the ranking member has pointed out, this is an issue that is totally supported by both sides of the House. The Foreign Affairs Committee works together on almost all issues, and this is another example of that. With that, Mr. Speaker, that is just the way it is. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) for his comments, for his support of this legislation, and also for the privilege to work with him on our Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee, where we have had numerous hearings on the issue of ISIS and other terrorist groups that are lurking throughout the United States and the world. Mr. Speaker, the attacks began shortly before 8 a.m., with an explosion at a departure terminal at the Brussels Airport. The area was between two American airlines--American Airlines and Delta Air Lines-- American companies. It was believed to be a luggage bomb, followed by another bomb shortly thereafter. Then, at 9:11 a.m., Brussels time, a bomb tore through the last car of a subway train as it was pulling out of a station in central Brussels. Belgian officials have said that the bombings killed at least 10 at the airport and at least 20 at the subway station. More than 230 others were wounded. Details are still surfacing, but we now know that at least 10 Americans were wounded in the attacks. One of those was a member of the United States Air Force. Later in the afternoon, a news agency affiliated with ISIS issued a report bragging and claiming responsibility for the murders. Reports said that the attacks were in retaliation for Belgium's participation in a coalition against ISIS. Mr. Speaker, ISIS, this group that is relatively new in the terrorist industry, has already committed 70 terrorist attacks worldwide in 20 countries, as of January 1 of this year, and yet this is one more. These attacks in Belgium occurred just 4 days after the capture of one of Europe's most wanted terrorists, Salah Abdeslam, the sole survivor of the 10 men who carried out the November horrific attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. The attacks in Belgium made it clear to all that ISIS still maintains operational networks in Europe, capable of carrying out attacks abroad, even as security services are on highest alert. The bombing in downtown Brussels occurred just steps away from major institutions, as the ranking member, Mr. Keating, has pointed out. Brussels is the capital of Belgium. It is the headquarters of the European Union. It is the headquarters of NATO. This bombing attack occurred near the U.S. Embassy that is there. This area, Brussels, Belgium, stands and represents, really, the free world's endeavor to work together under democracy and liberty and those ideals that we value. It was no accident that Brussels was picked for the attack. The fact that ISIS could operate cells in Europe and manage to strike at the heart of European society only a few months after the Paris attacks should make us cognizant that our current strategy against ISIS is really not successful. ISIS has been able to hold on to territory for close to 2 years. It is from this territory in Iraq and Syria that it trains its fighters, recruits foreigners, and plans to launch attacks against not only Europe, but other countries, like the United States. Words claiming progress and success against ISIS are meaningless when confronted with devastating carnage like what we saw in the United States, in San Bernardino, and what occurred in Paris and now in Brussels. The United States must change its strategy against ISIS. We must allow ISIS no safe haven anywhere in the world. We must take away their capabilities to strike American cities. This resolution shows that the people of the United States stand alongside our European and Belgian allies in solidarity. The American people extend their deepest sympathies to those affected by the tragedy. Let the people of Belgium know that the United States will support them through this time in every way possible, and we must be more united in the face of this terrorist onslaught that threatens the very freedoms that we hold dear. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Nick Castle was a bright, energetic 23-year-old who decided to teach in China, following his graduation from UC Berkeley. Tragically, Nick became seriously sick after becoming a Peace Corps volunteer in China in 2012. He was the victim of an inefficient, under- equipped, and unresponsive Peace Corps-led medical team there. After being prescribed a broad antibiotic, Nick began to experience drastic weight loss, but was told he was fine. He was then confined to bed, but his doctor never recommended he go to the hospital. After experiencing dangerously low blood pressure, Nick was finally sent to the hospital. As the ambulance made its way to him, it got lost. Then, after picking him up, Nick stopped breathing before the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Nick died a few weeks later, in early 2013. Investigations revealed the Peace Corps medical team misdiagnosed his illness. This heartbreaking death of a young man serving our country and the world could have been avoided had the Peace Corps staff assisted in having a properly trained, equipped, and responsive team. Mr. Speaker, Peace Corps volunteers are America's angels abroad. They are some of the best that we have. They are the spirit of humanitarian assistance, and America must make sure to take care of these amazing people when they serve in lands far, far away so that there are no more deaths like Nick Castle's. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as passengers boarded their early morning flights and commuters boarded the train to work, multiple bombs exploded in Brussels. Days after Belgian law enforcement captured alive ISIS terrorist Salah Abdeslam, one of the suspected ringleaders in the Paris attacks, ISIS terrorists struck again. At least 30 civilians were murdered and more than 200 others were injured. Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the U.S.' current strategy against ISIS, which has allowed terrorist organizations to retain havens from which to plan and launch attacks for nearly 2 years, is inadequate. Empty words claiming progress, containment, and success are meaningless. The latest attack is not surprising. Attacks will come to our soil if our leaders continue to refuse to define the enemy--radical Islam. Jihadists have promised to bring terror to the United States. They will deliver on that promise if we do not use our full resources to eliminate them. They are at war with us. Whether we are at war with them is still very unclear. So as we mourn for the people of Belgium, the United States should work with all free people to eliminate this evil group, this terrorist group, ISIS. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the chairman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, during the peak of World War II, Sandy Thompson, now a Houston resident, left her teaching job and received her aviation wings on September 11, 1943. She had just volunteered for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, known as the WASPs. These pilots had towed targets for live antiaircraft practice. Think about that, Mr. Speaker. They are in the air, and these young teenagers are learning how to shoot antiaircraft guns and to aim them at the targets behind these female pilots who are pulling these--a dangerous occupation. These pilots helped deliver planes to overseas bases, and they tested new aircraft that was used in the Pacific and used in Europe, and, of course, they trained male pilots who went overseas. Of the 1,000 women who were WASPs, 38 were killed during their missions, and 16 of these original pilots of World War II now live in my State of Texas. They were considered civilians until 1977. Then Congress gave them veteran status. In 2002, the WASPs were allowed to be cremated and have their ashes placed in Arlington National Cemetery--right down the street from this building. Now bureaucrats have decided that these veterans are not worthy of a proper military burial, and they have revoked the burial rights at Arlington because of space. This is disgraceful, shameful, and is a sorry excuse to dishonor them. Find space to permanently honor these women. As a former member of the United States Air Force Reserves, I urge that we show respect to these pilots--give them proper burials, and pass this legislation. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from New York. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here, as the gentleman says, to recognize the people who have influenced our lives. Of course, we are talking about the women who have influenced our lives to help us be what we turned out to be. I want to talk specifically about some Texas women whom I consider to be a rare breed. They are tenacious, strong- willed, nurturing, and also kind. One of those is my mother. I am blessed that my mom and dad are both alive. They are 90 years of age. My mom was a Red Cross volunteer during World War II. She met my dad. He was in World War II, in Germany, coming back to the United States. He was being re-equipped for the invasion of Japan. They met at a Wednesday night prayer meeting. We call that ``church'' in Texas. They got married, and they have been married now for 70 years. She not only started out as a volunteer, but she has done all remarkable things, including being a schoolteacher, raising my sister and me, and doing other wonderful things. In the State of Texas, we are proud, as other States are. We have many modern-day influential women, including former First Ladies Laura Bush and Barbara Bush and our late Governor, Ann Richards. These women were influential, powerful, and successful in their own right, but they were not the first of their kind. There was another generation of pioneers who came before them, women like my grandmother, Lady Bird Johnson, and Ma Ferguson, who paved the way for future generations of Texas women. My grandmother, really, was more influential in my life than were my own parents. She lived to the age of 99. She raised me to be in public service, and I always have been in public service because of her: I taught school; I was in the Air Force Reserves; I was a prosecutor; then I was a judge and a Member of Congress--all because of my grandmother. She taught me many lessons, and she made it very simple. Not only did she inspire me to be in public service--I took that good advice--but she said, until the day she died, that she had failed, for my grandmother was, as we say in the South, a Yellow Dog Democrat. She could not believe that I had crossed over to the other side and become a Republican, and I am not sure that she ever forgave me for being a Republican. She was a strong-minded, no nonsense individual. She used to always say, ``There is nothing more powerful than a woman who has made up her mind,'' and that is true. For a woman who has made up her mind, get out of the way. We find that true even today. That has proven to be one of the most valuable lessons she ever taught me. President Lyndon Johnson was a hard-nosed politician, but his contributions to Texas as President were really surpassed, in my opinion, by his dogged First Lady or, as we called her, Lady Bird Johnson. She was one of the finest Southern and politically astute women we have ever had in the State of Texas. While she is best remembered for her love of the environment and the preservation of our natural resources, she was no wallflower in the business and political world either. She was her husband's strongest supporter and was with him, giving advice, step for step, throughout his entire career while, at the same time, carving out a path for herself in the business world. She turned a debt-ridden Austin radio station into a multimillion- dollar broadcast empire. Her resume reads like that of a superwoman. Among her many achievements, she played a pivotal part in shaping legislation by lobbying and speaking before Congress in support of the highway beautification bill, better known as Lady Bird's Bill. She oversaw every detail in the creation of the Presidential library, which became a model for other Presidential libraries today. Of course, she served faithfully, and often in awe of her colleagues, as a regent of her alma mater, the University of Texas. Every spring--this time of the year--people head up from Houston to Austin on Highway 290. They see the wildflowers, and there are bazillions of them everywhere at this time of the year. Every bluebonnet we see throughout Texas Hill Country and every tree we plant here at home, along a place called Will Clayton Parkway, is a tribute to Lady Bird Johnson and her determination that we are going to keep Texas beautiful. Before there was a Lady Bird, Texas was home to another fiery, inspirational woman. You may have never heard about her. Her name was Ma Ferguson. The year was 1899--over 100 years ago--when Miriam Amanda Wallace married James Ferguson, who later became the Governor of Texas. Ma Ferguson served as the first lady of Texas from 1915 until 1917, which was about 2\1/2\ years, until Pa Ferguson got himself in a little trouble. He was impeached by the State of Texas and the legislature during his second term and was barred from ever running for office anywhere again. Then Ma changed history. She did the unthinkable and ran for Governor of Texas--as a woman. Texas had only been run by men before, but Ma didn't care--she was going to run. She ran on a platform of two Governors for the election of one. Of course, Ma was not in prison like Pa was, but, apparently, they did work together. She ran against Klan- supported Felix Robertson in the Democratic primary and claimed victory with the Democratic nomination. Back in those days, there were no Republicans in Texas. Everybody was a Democrat. The handful of Republicans never admitted it. Winning the Democrat primary was tantamount to winning the general election in November. Ma later became the first female Governor of Texas and only the second female Governor of the whole United States. She defeated a little known candidate in 1924 called George Butte, a Republican. The two Fergusons became known as ``Ma and Pa,'' and--no surprise--Ma ran the show. However, Ma's Governorship was tainted by the criticism of her loose policy of pardoning people in the penitentiary. She was not above her critics--she pardoned thousands of inmates during her Governorship. To many, the motive behind the pardons was a little questionable, and allegations of bribery, ultimately, led to her next Governor's race and its defeat. After she lost the next election, Ma continued her political fight, and she regained her Governor's seat in 1932--again, for a second term. One of her best achievements was the signing of Texas House Bill 194. It established the University of Houston as a 4-year institution. Now, Mr. Speaker, I went to the University of Houston Law School. I am glad it got established. Ma would be proud to see the University of Houston today. The Ferguson name lived long after the retirement of both Ma and Pa. My grandmother, Lady Bird Johnson, Ma Ferguson, Ann Richards, and the Bush women came from a generation of women that were strong and influential. They possessed the grace of an angel, yet led with both forceful and effective political genius. Few women of their later generation worked outside of the home, but few men succeeded without the backing of those ladies. These women did it all. They effortlessly backed their husbands while changing the world all at the same time. March, this month, is Women's History Month. So it is time we honor those women who lived years and years ago, honor those women who lived back during the Greatest Generation's time and, of course, the women who live today. All those women now are in every profession, as stated earlier, including the legal profession, acting as judges and prosecutors and, not only that, Members of Congress, Members of Cabinets, and ladies that give a lot of their time and money to the community. So we are thankful for them. I appreciate the time that the gentleman from New York has given me so we could talk about some of these iron-willed, strong-willed women that have made up their minds.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York. I agree with him. A month is really not enough time to celebrate and honor women in our history that just made a big difference in a lot of people's lives.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the men and women of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community are peaceful followers of Islam. Ahmadis around the world work tirelessly to counter violent extremist propaganda and defend their religion against terrorists. But for years they have suffered systematic oppression, ruthless attacks, and false imprisonment. Since 2008, the Ahmadiyya community has been the subject of deadly attacks from militant Islamists in Indonesia simply because they have different beliefs. Following a Presidential decree ordering the Ahmadiyya community to ``stop spreading interpretations and activities that deviate from the principal teachings of Islam,'' Ahmadis in Indonesia have faced escalating threats of violence. In the most recent attack on Bangka Island, top elected officials told the Ahmadiyya community that they must convert to Sunni Islam or be forcibly removed from the island. This campaign of intolerance was compounded by letters warning that Bangka residents ``won't want to be held accountable if ugly things happen'' should the Ahmadiyya refuse to leave. The government followed through on these expulsions and on February 5th eleven Ahmadis were forced to leave their families and homes. Nine other victims remained behind and are currently living at the Ahmadiyya Secretariat Office, unable to return to their homes out of fear. The rights of all Indonesian citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, should be protected. The right to worship is not a right granted by man but by our Creator. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this commonsense legislation. Thousands of Europeans who have traveled to fight alongside ISIS and other terrorist groups throughout the world pose a serious threat to our national security. One of the problems is making sure that those terrorists who go fight in Iraq, Syria, and other places don't go back to their home countries in Europe undetected because, once a person gets in Europe, it is easier for Europeans to travel to the United States from Europe than it is from some other countries. Terrorists often travel through a number of countries before they get home, and some of these countries have very good border security and others not so good. The United States has the technology to help our friends and our allies track down these bad guys. But our bureaucracy, of course, has gotten in the way of national security. This bill expedites the process, cutting through the red tape and giving our partners the tools they need to track terrorist travel throughout the world and in their countries. Terrorist travel is not a problem we can solve by ourselves. We must stop terrorists before they show up in America. We must work with our partners overseas. I strongly support this legislation. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a satellite flying in space over the Super Bowl, a long-range missile test, 15 other missile launches, the test of a so-called hydrogen bomb, and threats to destroy Manhattan. This is North Korean saber rattling in 2016 alone. It is safe to assume the Iranians were on site as witnesses to these latest violations of international law. Why? Because the Iranian scientists have been present nearly every time the North Koreans have issued or launched missiles for decades. The rogue nations of Iran and North Korea have been working together since the 1980s on missile development. During the 1990s, they started developing long-range ballistic missiles. By the 2000s, the Iranians were giving North Korea sensitive data from their own tests to improve North Korean missile systems. Mr. Speaker, North Korea already has the ability to attack South Korea, and Iran has the ability to attack Israel. These long-range missiles are intended for the United States. The American people should understand the threat we face. We should be prepared. Our Nation must sanction these belligerent powers and develop a robust missile defense system to protect our homeland. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the issue before us today is whether the U.S. Constitution will be followed by the President or not. That is the issue. That is why we have this unusual situation, where the House of Representatives, by this resolution, is joining in on a legal action to let that be resolved by the judiciary branch of government. It all started in November of 2014, when the Department of Homeland Security wrote out a memo and sent it out to the fruited plain and said that the Department of Homeland Security would no longer enforce U.S. immigration law. The Department of Homeland Security is a branch, a portion of the administration. This unprecedented, unilateral action by the executive branch was a nullification of immigration law of the United States. And it was not done by Congress. It was done by administrative edict that came from the White House. Article I, section 8, clause 4 states that Congress--that is us--has the power ``to establish an uniform rule of naturalization'' in the United States. So what value is the law or the Constitution if the executive, who is supposed to enforce the law--not make it, as we all learned in ninth grade civics--sends out a memo saying it will no longer enforce the law? The law of the land is repealed by the administrative pen because the President doesn't like the law, as written. Repealing a law is supposed to be a legislative action--that is Congress--and is not supposed to be an executive action; that is, if the Constitution is followed, which it is not under these circumstances. This illegal executive action will place a burden on the States that the action is taking place against, such as my home State of Texas, where the amnesty proclamation by the executive branch, through its memo, has been in effect. The Federal Government is not going to pay for the benefits of these 5 million-plus folks. The States will be forced, required, and obligated to pay for that. So the States will pay for the driver's licenses, government benefits, and health care benefits for these newly legalized individuals. All of the money the State spends will be taken away from the ability to provide services for U.S. citizens and residents who are already legally in the U.S. This action is in direct contravention of U.S. law. Texas, my State, will be one of the hardest-hit. That is why the Governor of the State of Texas was the first to file a lawsuit--this lawsuit--against the unconstitutional action by the executive branch of government. And that occurred in 2014. The Constitution, to me, is very simple. It lays out an outline for democracy. Congress makes the laws; the executive branch faithfully executes the laws; and the judiciary resolves disputes between government, other entities, and between the branches of government. So, if U.S. immigration law is going to be changed, the Constitution states that it should be changed by the U.S. Congress. That is us.