Ted Poe

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), the author of this resolution.

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of House Resolution 937. This measure recognizes the vital communication services provided by the American Red Cross to U.S. servicemen and servicewomen serving overseas. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the American Red Cross provides notification of family emergencies and other important events as to birth and death notices to our forces that are in the field in lands far away. Whether it be in Iraq or Afghanistan or aboard a ship in the Indian Ocean, the Red Cross messaging system can communicate between members of military families where other civilian means of communication cannot. American Red Cross officials are able to verify emergencies and relay information that is critical to a commander's decision whether to release a servicemember to allow him or her to return home during a time of family hardship. In addition to providing notification, the Red Cross often provides families in crisis with support until a servicemember can return home. I want to thank the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), for giving us this opportunity to commend the American Red Cross for its outstanding service to our country's troops and their families. The people of the United States are grateful for the dependable support that the American Red Cross has provide us in times of crisis for the past 127 years. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 937. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 344, which recognizes the impact that the global food crisis will have on vulnerable children in the developing world. This resolution reminds us all that the children of impoverished families are suffering even more today as a result of the rapid worldwide increase in prices of basic foods in recent months, such as wheat. All of us are facing rising food and energy costs in our own homes and families, but for many around the world those changes are a matter of life and death. When we see newspaper photos of dying children, we see the urgency of this crisis for countless families throughout our world. I am pleased that the President and the Congress have taken concrete steps to help poor people facing this dire reality by increasing America's food aid. Notwithstanding the challenges we face in our own communities, it is a testament to the enduring generosity of the American people that we remain the largest donor of food assistance in the world. Americans give of their wealth throughout the world, especially to people in need. Many of the poorest people in developing countries work extremely hard to earn just a dollar or two every day, and then have to survive off that meager sum, managing somehow to find affordable food. It may be hard for some of us to imagine how difficult that is in other countries. This resolution describes the food crisis and the many complications that children suffer as a result of lack of proper nutrition. It notes that 5\1/2\ million children under the age of 5 die each year due to malnutrition caused by chronic hunger. It reminds us that even if malnourished children don't starve to death, they face a heightened risk of dying of numerous infections, as well as lifelong impacts on their physical growth and intellectual potential. With that in mind, this resolution states the nutritional needs of children must be a humanitarian priority in our response to the current global food crisis. I commend the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee) for introducing this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, there has been another tragic misapplication of the word ``honor.'' In Pakistan a 17-year-old girl was killed by her parents last week because she wanted an annulment from an arranged marriage, a marriage that she was forced into when she was 9 years old. That's right, 9 years of age, the age when most girls still play on the playground, enjoy cartoons, stickers, and still play with dolls, the age when little girls are still just little girls. Instead, at 9, Saira Bibi was robbed of her childhood and compelled to become the bride of a 45-year-old male. After turning 17, Saira wanted out of her shotgun wedding and marriage; so she filed a legal suit, and eventually a judge granted an annulment. Unfortunately, Saira was only able to enjoy her newfound freedom for moments because the very same parents who stripped her of her youth stripped her of her life. These parents hired killers who gunned down their daughter Saira as she was walking out of the courthouse in Pakistan. This is only one example of many so-called ``honor killings'' in Pakistan recently. Mr. Speaker, there is no honor in killing your children or murdering women in the name of religion. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. We have no other speakers. I support the adoption of this immediately, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, we're back. After a 5-week break, Congress has returned to do the people's business. The number one concern among Americans is the high cost of energy, especially gasoline. Americans want Congress to come up with an energy plan to make our Nation independent from energy control of foreign powers. We send millions of dollars a day overseas to countries that don't like us and hold us hostage until we pay the ransom for that crude oil. But Congress is not going to deal with energy legislation today. In fact, our first priority, our very first order of business after this long recess is to name a new Federal building in Virginia. And the second thing we're going to do is name a new Federal building in New York. So no votes today on offshore drilling, no votes on drilling in ANWR, developing clean coal technology, building nuclear power plants, or anything else regarding energy. For 5 weeks the lights were off in the House of Congress, and while we were gone they stayed off. We might as well leave them off now because Congress is still in the dark about energy independence. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, ``Where oh where has Congress gone, Where o where can they be? With gas so high and this recess so long, Where oh where can they be?'' Where oh where has Congress gone? Well Madam Speaker, they're not here, they've gotten out of Dodge. They have left the American people behind in a cloud of dust and high gasoline prices. Congress is on the run; it has not dealt with the energy crisis and not attempted to solve high gasoline prices. So it's sneaking out of town for five weeks-gone on vacation. The American people won't be going on vacation, because they cannot afford gasoline to take a family trip. My 83 year old parents who are on fixed incomes cant even afford gasoline to go to church. So what is Congress' answer? Leave town in the darkness of the night? The question Madam Speaker is why? Why don't they stick around and let us vote on taking care of America? For example, let's vote on offshore drilling--most Americans favor it. We are the representatives of America. Let's vote, up or down, on offshore drilling. It's an environmental myth that we cannot drill safely offshore. We need to drill in ANWAR. Why didn't Congress stick around and vote on drilling in ANWAR? The American taxpayer shells out 425 million dollars a day to Saudi Arabia for crude oil. We pay this ransom because Congress won't take care of America. The United States is the only major power in the world that does not use its own natural resources. This is nonsense and rather than deal with this crisis Congress has turned its back on the American people--dispersed to parts unknown throughout the fruited plain and fled town. This is shameful conduct. The President should use his constitutional power and call for a special session of this Congress to deal with energy. We should round up all those members of Congress that have fled the scene, bring them back and solve this energy crisis--specifically high gasoline prices. ``Where oh where has Congress gone, Where o where can they be? With gas so high and this recess so long, Where oh where can they be?'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the lifetime of service given by Maurine Gray, longtime director of the Beaumont, Texas, Library. She spent almost 40 years serving the city and helped turn their public library system into one of the best in the State. Enid Maurine Gray was born in Galveston, Texas, in 1943. An only child, she moved to Beaumont before her third birthday so her father could work as a family physician at a local refinery. After her high school graduation, she continued her education and received her BA from Northeast Louisiana State College and her Master's Degree in library science from North Texas State University. She returned to Beaumont in 1966 to head the city's then fledgling library system. At the time, there were two libraries. Under her vision, the City of Beaumont established an additional four libraries, including a new main Library. Maurine was employed by the City of Beaumont from 1966 until her retirement in November of 2006. Never one to rest, she was hired back after retirement as a part-time consultant on projects including the expansion of Terrell Historical Library. Numerous professional accolades were awarded to Maurine throughout her life. She was elected the secretary/treasurer of the American Library Association in 1972 during their annual convention. North Texas State named her a Distinguished Alumnus in 1980. In 1992, the Texas Municipal League named her the Library Director of the Year. She also received the Athena Award in 2005, which is presented to a woman for her professional achievements. Maurine was the Library Director but she also wore many other hats. She worked with United Way, the Humane Society, the Beaumont Rotary Club where she once served as President, the Beaumont Civic Opera, and the Beaumont Heritage Society, to name a few. She was affiliated with the Texas Municipal Librarians Association, Junior Roundtable of Texas Library Association, and was a member of the Texas State Library Advisory Council. Enid Maurine Gray passed away on June 21, 2008. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud Maurine Gray on her lifetime of dedication and service to the community. She has made Southeast Texas a better place to live.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, James DeLeon is one this year's 2008 high school graduates. The difference is he is 83 years old. He was born in Goliad, Texas, and when World War II broke out he dropped out of Ganado High School, lied about his age and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. His 16-year-old brother, Charlie, did the same thing a few weeks later. James was part of the 6,000 Marines sent into battle at Guadalcanal in the South Pacific in 1942. There, they seized the island's airport and never relinquished it. He was also in the invasion of Okinawa--the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II--where he remained until the end of the war. He had served 34 months in the Marine Corps. Then, James returned to Texas and married his sweetheart, Susie Marie Elizondo; raised seven children and worked for 36 years at the Port Arthur, Texas, Texaco refining plant. Recently, his daughter Theresa located a lost letter from the Marines to Ganado High School dated 1947 stating that DeLeon met all the requirements to earn his diploma. She mailed it to the current principal and James was then honored with his own graduation ceremony. James DeLeon is yet another successful member of the Greatest Generation that answered America's call in time of need. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the Steinhagen Oil Company, for their commitment to community service has earned them the 2008 Spindletop Award for outstanding corporate citizenship. The Steinhagen Oil Company is a third generation, family owned business that owns over 25 gasoline stations across Southeast Texas and supplies numerous others with unbranded fuel. E. Harvey Steinhagen founded the company and began selling fuel in the 1930's. They currently employ over 200 workers across the region. The Steinhagen Family has a long history of community service. Mark Steinhagen served as Chairman of the Board of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce from 1970-71 and encouraged a focus on economic development efforts. His son Roy is the current Chairman and Chief Operations Officer for the company. He helped raise $2.6 million for the construction of a new Salvation Army building. Roy is currently the President of the Lamar University Foundation and is a member of the Texas State Bank advisory board of directors, the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society, and the advisory board of trustees of Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud the Steinhagen Oil Company on its outstanding achievement. They have helped make our world a better place to live, and I applaud their unwavering service and dedication to the community.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to pay tribute to Kendrick Perkins, the former basketball standout at Clifton J. Ozen High school and the starting Center for the 2007-2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Kendrick was born in Nederland, Texas, in 1984. According to his grandmother, he played football and baseball as a young boy but would fall asleep at night holding a basketball. He attended Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School throughout elementary school and was one of the tallest altar boys they have ever seen. So tall, in fact, that they had to have a robe specially made for him. He continued to serve the church until his high school graduation, even while scouts and agents were vying for his services. Perkins attended Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas and left quite a legacy on the basketball court. He led the team to three Class 4A Sate Championship games in three years, winning the title as a sophomore in 2001. During that run, his Panthers were a combined 111-4. As a senior, the 6-foot-10 Kendrick averaged 27 points, 16 rebounds, and almost 8 blocked shots per game, easily making him one of the nation's top high school prospects. After graduating from high school in 2003, a number of elite colleges recruited him and he was considered by some to be the best high school center in America. He was ranked alongside LeBron James as the nation's top recruits, but so far advanced was his game that he spent that summer traveling to tryouts with a number of NBA teams. He was drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft with the 27th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics, one of the most successful franchises in all sports. Kendrick played a support role as the team's ``enforcer'' during his first few years in the league, earning a reputation as one of the tougher players on the team. He would eventually work his way up the depth chart to starting center. In 2007, the team made a number of off- season moves that would leave the Celtics as the favorite to win the title. The team had the best record in the league during the regular season and had home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The playoffs were more difficult than they would have hoped. Their first two series both went to seven games but they were able to pull through. Kendrick and the Celtics beat former prep-rival LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to bring the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance since the 1985-86 season. Their opponents were the Los Angeles Lakers, facing each other in the Finals for a record 11th time. There was genuine buzz and excitement around the NBA for the first time in recent memory and Kendrick would have a chance to shine. The first few games saw the Celtics dominate the series at home. The Lakers were able to win one when they returned to their home court and had a chance to win Game 4 before the Celtics made the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history to win the game. Perkins injured his shoulder and sat out Game 5. He was doubtful for Game 6 but showed the toughness that has come to define him and played through the pain to help the Celtics win their 17th overall championship. Perkins averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds to lead his team to the 2007-08 NBA Championship. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud Kendrick Perkins on his outstanding achievements. He has been successful on and off the court, and I applaud his dedication to his community and to his team. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it was 213 to get out of town and it was 212 to stay here and do our job, which is to pass an energy bill for Americans. So the 213 that won this vote, at the end of the day tomorrow they're getting out of town. But you see, back home where I live, people can't even leave town because they don't have enough money to pay for gasoline for their vehicles. It's a shame on Congress that we are going in recess when we have to deal and have not dealt with the issue of high energy prices. So let's bring a vote up today on whether we should drill offshore or not. Let Congress decide--no politics, up or down vote--whether we should drill offshore and get America back to work by lowering gasoline prices. That's what we need to do rather than get out of Dodge--or should I say Washington, DC. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, flying the friendly skies seems to be increasingly out of reach for most travelers. I, like many other Americans, am a frequent flyer and have been fortunate enough to have always arrived at my destination safely. Because of the quick action of pilots Captain David Skidmore, 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. and the crew of Continental flight 458 on July 22, 2008 this statement still holds true. Captain David Skidmore, has worked for Continental Airlines for seven years and recently completed his Captain's training in December of 2007. 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. has been with Continental since May 2008. When our plane suddenly lost altitude and cabin pressure on Tuesday afternoon, the pilots regained control of the aircraft without hesitation. As I, along with the 117 other people, including 6 other members of Congress, aboard the D.C.-bound flight from Houston, TX put on our oxygen masks we imagined the possibilities. While the plane took a steep dissent at rapid speed, Captain David Skidmore and 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. remained calm under the pressure. Although faced with a possibly dire situation, the pilots were able to safely make an emergency landing in New Orleans. We landed with the fire trucks lining the runway-just like in the movies. From the time when our flight began experiencing difficulties to when we were on the ground 20 minutes later, the pilots and crew flawlessly executed their emergency procedures. Continental Airlines made travel arrangements for all 117 passengers and put us on three different flights to D.C. We arrived in Washington about six hours later. The members of Congress did miss votes however. Ironically, one bill was to upgrade aviation safety. The bill passed unanimously without the missing seven members of Congress. No doubt, if present I would have voted yes on this bill H.R. 6493. The pilot's combined experience, along with the flight crew's quick action, is truly commendable. I am fortunate, as a passenger, to have been in the care of such capable pilot's as Captain David Skidmore, and 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the life of Mr. Alvin G. Randolph who passed away June 23, 2008. Mr. Randolph was a businessperson, a fine father, and served his community. He also played a role in desegregating the Lamar State College of Technology in 1956, giving a countless number of youth an equal opportunity for education no matter their race. Alvin was born in Orange, Texas, as the third of eleven children. He graduated from high school in 1943 and enrolled in Prairie View College shortly afterwards, where he worked as a repair person for room and board. He put his education on hold to serve his country when he was drafted into World War II as an officer candidate. After his service to his country, he returned home and attended Jefferson Junior College where he earned his real estate broker's license. At the same time, there was a tremendous social revolution happening in the United States. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education, naming separate educational facilities inherently unequal and setting the stage for integration and the Civil Rights Movement. This opened the doors to schools and universities across the nation but there was still a segment of the population that was set on keeping them closed. As African-American students walked up to the doors of their new universities, they were often greeted with protests and picket lines and Lamar State College of Technology was no different. Nevertheless, Alvin and 25 other black students enrolled and were accepted to Lamar's campus of 5,455 students. They battled the almost riotous conditions and paved the way to an equal education for a student of any race. Randolph earned his business degree in 1958 and went on to study property law at Texas Southern University. He worked as a real estate broker, homebuilder, and life insurance underwriter. With his wife Jerodine, they had five children. He was active in both the Northside and Eleventh Street Churches of Christ and served on the Board of Directors at the L.L. Melton YMCA. He passed away at the age of 80. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I honor Mr. Alvin Randolph for his courage in the face of tremendous adversity. He helped make our world a better place to live, and I applaud his unwavering service and dedication to the community. Alvin Randolph is a true American hero.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I rise in total support of this resolution today. And I want to thank the chairman for including language from one of my proposals regarding worker exploitation to the bill being considered today. Having been to China, I have seen firsthand how the Chinese government runs roughshod over its people and abuses their basic rights. Earlier this year, Madam Speaker, I introduced a resolution condemning the government of China for not only its inhumane working conditions, but also for the exportation of unsafe goods like lead toys and pet food to the United States, and for the poor environmental policy that affects the entire globe. I hope the committee will soon consider the Chinese policy of exporting harmful products to the United States and other parts of the world. However, the Olympic Games begin next week, and I believe it is critical to remind the government of China that it is a member of the world community, and the world is watching how China treats its citizens. China has a social and moral responsibility to provide basic rights to all of its citizens, especially in the workplace. In June of 2007, it was discovered that hundreds of people, including women and small children, were forced to work in hot brick-making factories, suffering from brutal beatings and confinement equal to imprisonment. According to Amnesty International, there are instances where Chinese companies withhold wages from the workers for months at a time, refuse to give them ID cards. Without an ID card, it prevents that worker from securing work someplace else. In the city of Shenzhen alone, in an average day, 13 factory workers lose an arm or some other body member, and every 4 days a worker dies in a workplace accident. And Madam Speaker, this is just in one city in China. I stand with the Chinese people who have been subjected to inhumane working conditions, and call on the government to end the dangerous conditions faced by these workers. If China expects to gain the respect of the global community, China must earn that respect from its own citizens first, and that requires reforming their inhumane working conditions and respecting basic human rights of their own people. And once again, I want to thank the chairman for bringing this to the House floor.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, journalists should be able to report the news without having to worry about getting arrested for not revealing their confidential sources. Our Nation needs a Federal shield law to further protect the freedom of speech and press. Recently, several journalists have been arrested and jailed for not disclosing their anonymous sources. These arrests did not occur in foreign countries run by dictators but happened here in America. Putting journalists in jail for not confessing their sources tramples on the Nation's freedom of speech and freedom of the press. These freedoms in the first amendment are first because, without them, the rest are meaningless. More than 30 States so far have passed laws that protect reporters from being required to testify and name confidential sources, but there is no Federal law. The job of a journalist is to report the news and not be an arm of the government or controlled by our government. Law enforcement officials should not force journalists to gather information or find witnesses. A free press means free and independent of government intrusion into the sources of reporters. Madam Speaker, the country needs a Federal shield law because, instead of getting a reporter arrested, the truth should set them free. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to honor Dr. Mark Kubala, M.D., for being named Outstanding Neurosurgeon of the Year by the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons, the latest in a long line of awards given to this extraordinary physician. The award was given to a man that has spent his life displaying excellence in his field and commitment to his community. Dr. Kubala graduated from the University of Texas in 1955 as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society, considered one of the most prestigious American college honor societies. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch--Galveston and served residencies at the Baylor College of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic. He has engaged in private practice in neurological surgery since 1966 and is Chief of Surgery at all three Beaumont hospitals. Dr. Kubala has a long history of leadership. He has been a member of the Texas Medical Association since 1969 and has served as the Association's President, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and has served on numerous committees. He helped create the TMA Foundation, their philanthropic association, and served two terms as President. He served as President of the Texas Head & Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Foundation for 7 years. He also has the unique distinction of serving simultaneously on three different school boards in the 1970s. Dr. Kubala is a very busy man. His honors are numerous, including the Texas Medical Association's 2006 Distinguished Service Award, their highest honor, for his tireless advocacy for patients and physicians at the local, state, and national level. His peers at the University of Texas Medical Branch--Galveston awarded him the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award. He was presented the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 1998 as well as the Dr. J.C. Crager Award for community service from the American Heart Association. On behalf of the entire Second Congressional District of Texas I would like to congratulate Dr. Kubala on his latest award and thank him for his many years of service to the Southeast Texas Community.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor long-time restaurateur Don Pittman, as he was inducted into the Texas Restaurant Association Hall of Honor in June 2008. From Bar-B-Q to fresh seafood to Cajun delights, Texans take their food very seriously. For Don to receive this honor, he must have done some significant work. Pittman has been in the restaurant business for almost forty years. His career began in 1970 in Fredericksburg, Texas. He spent some time in Austin before deciding that he should branch out and carve a place for himself. He searched for a location with a community with a positive attitude and decided that Southeast Texas was the best place to start. Don moved to Beaumont in 1985 and opened eight Short Stop Burger locations across Southeast Texas. He operated these restaurants in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange until the late 1990s. In 1998, he opened a Schlotzky's Deli in Beaumont and another in Port Arthur in 2002. Pittman will serve as President of the Sabine Area Restaurant Association beginning this August. This will be his second term, as he previously served from 1991-1993. The Texas Restaurant Association Hall of Honor is the highest recognition that a member of the Association can receive. Winners are selected by a committee made up of past TRA presidents and Hall of Honor members. Individuals are honored for their commitment to the foodservice industry, the Association and their communities. This year, they chose to honor Don Pittman for his continuing excellence in serving Southeast Texas. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud Don Pittman for his dedication to serving some of the best food in the entire State of Texas.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, each fall, students arrive on college campuses and universities across the Nation to further their education. There is a general excitement about campus life and the opportunity to live away from home for the first time with little to no rules. However, the harsh reality soon becomes evident--that campuses are not immune from the threat of crime. Recognizing the very real presence of crime on college campuses and universities across America, I am a cosponsor of H. Res. 1288, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month. This resolution designates the month of September as the National Campus Safety Awareness Month in partnership with hundreds of colleges and universities in the Nation. As the co-chair and founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus, I strongly believe that we need to raise awareness about crime issues present on campuses, such as sexual assault, stalking, hazing, and alcohol and drug abuse. This resolution encourages our Nation's colleges and universities to promote campus safety and crime awareness prevention programs. I am proud to know that several colleges and universities from my home state of Texas participated in the National Campus Safety Awareness Month last year, and my hope is that even more campuses and universities participate this year. The facts are before us--from 2004-2006 there were 8,114 forcible-sex offenses, 8,923 aggravated assaults, and 37 homicides on college and university campuses. Although we would like to think that these higher education institutions are immune from such heinous acts of crime, sadly they are not. I join with Rep. Sestak in support of H. Res. 1288, the National Campus Safety Awareness Month, because although there is a lot of work to be done to make our campuses a safer place, this resolution is a step in the right direction.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, the Greater Houston Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) was created to help provide resources to assist surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This noble organization helps rebuild the lives of those they help, and provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues. They also educate the public on ways to show support for law enforcement professions and their survivors. The Greater Houston C.O.P.S. instituted two programs that the public can join to show support for the fallen officers and their families. Project Blue Light gets residents to place a blue light in a window of a home or business. By keeping the blue lights burning, it is a constant reminder to everyone that law enforcement officers serve and protect the public ``every day, every minute, and every second of the year.'' The Blue Ribbon Program encourages the public and law enforcement personnel to tie blue ribbons to their car antennas during National Police Week. C.O.P.S. hopes the blue ribbons are a reminder to the public that many law enforcement officers have already paid the ultimate price and given their lives in the line of duty. They also encourage the public to display their blue ribbons outside of National Police Week, to honor those officers who are in our communities each day, putting their lives on the line to keep the public safe. The Greater Houston C.O.P.S. is an active chapter of the national organization of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. and continues to advocate for citizens in the Greater Houston area to support the law enforcement officers lost, still serving, and the families of these officers. I applaud C.O.P.S. and Greater Houston C.O.P.S. for their dedication and commitment to law enforcement and their families. Senior Police Officer Gary A. Gryder assigned to the Southeast Division, Paroled Offender's Unit, while directing traffic was struck and killed at Katy Freeway West service road at Highway 6 on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Officer Gryder was a twenty-three (23) year veteran of the Department joining on January 7, 1985, entering Police Academy Class No. 126. He is survived by his wife, Retired Senior Police Officer Debra L. Gryder, who served the Department for over twenty- seven (27) years, his son, Austin A. Gryder and a daughter, Jennifer Streeter. He is also survived by his Father-in-law, Retired Police Officer Alfred B. Lewis, who retired from the Department after serving over thirty-one (31) years, on March 2, 1981. Madam Speaker, I attended the funeral of Officer Gryder along with hundreds of other citizens. His wife, Debbie, and his family now join the ranks of C.O.P.S. Our communities need to constantly remember our fallen police and their families that will need to continue on without their loved ones. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to recognize one of boxing's most feared fighters, Mr. George Foreman. We are near the same age, and I have been a fan since I was a kid. A product of a less fortunate family, Houstonian George Foreman was in constant trouble with the law. He vowed to make a better life for himself and later joined the Job Corp. While stationed in Oregon, Foreman became infamous for picking fights with fellow trainees. It was then that his fighting skills were noticed and he was introduced to the sport of boxing, which he grew to love. Foreman got his start as an amateur from the AAU in San Francisco. At the age of 19, Foreman won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. He won his first fight on points and then three fights by stoppage--including the final title bout against the favored Soviet fighter. After winning the gold, Forman walked around the ring, holding high a small American flag following his victory. Some people chastised him for his display; others, however, lauded him for being a patriotic American during a time of political upheaval and strife. Madam Speaker, this was the most patriotic moment I had ever seen. Foreman, after an amazing amateur record of 27-0, turned professional in 1969 with a three-round knockout of Donald Walheim in New York. He had 12 fights that year, winning all of them, 11 by knockout. Among the fighters he defeated was Cookie Wallace, who lasted only 23 seconds. In 1970, Foreman continued his journey toward the undisputed heavyweight title. In 1971, he won seven more fights. After amassing a record of 32-0, Foreman ranked as the number one challenger by the World Boxing Association and Council. In 1972, his string of wins continued with a series of five consecutive bouts in which he defeated each opponent within three rounds. Still undefeated, and with an impressive knockout record, Foreman was set to challenge undefeated and undisputed world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Foreman knocked down Frazier six times in two rounds to win the championship by knockout in one of boxing's biggest upsets. In what was HBO Boxing's first broadcast, the call made by Howard Cosell became one of the most memorable in all of sports: ``Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!'' Before the fight, Frazier was 29-0, with 25 knockouts, and Foreman was 37-0, with 34 knockouts. Equally memorable was Foreman's final punch, an uppercut, landed with such force that it lifted Frazier off his feet before sending him to the canvas for the sixth and final time. As he had done following the previous knockdowns, Frazier managed to get to his feet, but the referee called an end to the bout. Nevertheless, Foreman went on to defend his title successfully twice during his initial reign as champion. His first defense, in Tokyo, pitted him against Puerto Rican heavyweight champion Jose Roman. Roman was not regarded as a top contender, and it took Foreman only 55 seconds to end the fight, the fastest-ever knockout for a heavyweight championship bout. Foreman's next defense was against a much tougher opponent. In 1974, he faced the highly regarded Ken Norton who was 30- 2, a boxer notorious for his awkward boxing style. Norton's ability to ``take a punch'' was suspect, and Foreman put him to the test. In an astonishing display of aggression and punching power, Foreman knocked out Norton in just two rounds. The win made Foreman 40-0 with 37 knockouts. After losing his title to Muhammad Ali in 1974, Foreman remained inactive during 1975. In 1976, he returned to boxing in Las Vegas against Ron Lyle. After a very intense and extensive struggle by both fighters, the fight was stopped and Foreman was declared the winner. For his next bout, Foreman chose to face Joe Frazier in a rematch. Frazier at this point was 32-3 and Foreman was 41-1, but people doubted Foreman's ability. Unable to mount a significant offense, Frazier was eventually floored twice by Foreman in the fifth round and the fight was stopped. Next, Foreman knocked out Scott Ledoux in three and Dino Dennis in four to finish the year. Foreman fought five men in one night in a 1975 exhibition. He won five straight knockouts on the comeback trail before being decked and decision-ed by Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico in 1977. Foreman stated that he saw God in his dressing room following the defeat and announced he was going to become a preacher and retire from boxing. He became a born-again Christian, dedicating his life for the next decade to Christianity. Although he did not formally retire from boxing, he did stop fighting, became an ordained minister of a church in Houston, Texas, and devoted himself to his family and his parishioners. He also opened a youth center that bears his name. Foreman continues to share his conversion experience on Christian television broadcasts such as The 700 Club and the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and has joked that Young ``knocked the devil out of him''. When Foreman decided to return to the ring to raise money for his church; experts laughed, but he racked up 18 straight knockout victories. He was defeated in a title bid by Evander Holyfield. In 1994, Foreman again shocked the world by knocking out undefeated World Heavyweight Champion Michael Moorer, 39-0, to become champion again at age 45. Shortly after the Moorer fight, Foreman faced mid-level prospect Axel Schulz of Germany in defense of his remaining International Boxing Federation title. Foreman finished the fight with an unsightly swelling over one eye, but was awarded a highly controversial majority decision. The IBF ordered an immediate rematch to be held in Germany, but Foreman refused the terms and found himself stripped of his remaining title. In 1996, Foreman returned to Tokyo, scoring an easy win over the unrated Crawford Grimsley by a 12-round decision. In 1997, he faced fringe contender Lou Savarese, winning a close decision in a grueling, competitive encounter. Yet another opportunity came Foreman's way as the World Boxing Council decided to match him against Shannon Briggs in a 1998 ``eliminator bout'' for the right to face World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis. After 12 rounds, there was once again a controversial majority decision, but this time the victory went to Briggs. Foreman had fought for the last time, at the age of 48. In January 2003, Foreman was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in June. That same year, he was named boxing's ninth greatest puncher of all time by Ring Magazine. Foreman said he had no plans to resume his career as a boxer, but then announced in February 2004 that he was training for one more comeback fight to demonstrate that the age of 60, like 40, is not a ``death sentence.'' The bout, against an unspecified opponent, never materialized. Having severed his relationship with HBO to pursue other opportunities, George Foreman and the sport of boxing finally went their separate ways. Life has definitely gone on after boxing for ``Big George Foreman.'' In addition to becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World and an Olympic Medal Winner, Olympic Hall of Famer, he wears the titles of pastor, nationally recognized spokesperson, entrepreneur, author, reality television star, mentor and role model. He has been the face of Meineke Mufflers, and countless homes in the country have the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine. In 2004, Foreman began marketing the George Foreman brand of ``Big and Tall'' clothes through the retailer Casual Male. He has even appeared as a judge on the second season of the ABC reality television series American Inventor. Foreman has four books: The Autobiography of George Foreman; God in My Corner: A Spiritual Memoir; Going the Extra Smile; and Fatherhood by George: Hard-Won Advice on Being a Dad. On May 22, 2007, it was announced that Foreman had become a partner in the Panther Racing Indy Car team, in the Indianapolis 500; and on July 16, 2008, TV Land premiered Family Foreman, a reality TV show, starring George and his family. Big George Foreman continues to be extremely active in the community. He encourages young people through his George Foreman Youth Center in Houston, and he built The George Foreman Youth & Community Center in 1984 with money saved from his 8-year retirement. Foreman wanted to create a haven for kids to hang out. I am proud to recognize my friend whom I admire greatly, Mr. George Foreman, for his accomplishments in and out of the boxing ring. He has repeatedly shown us all that you can overcome all odds and obstacles. He is a shining testament of hard work and determination, and I applaud all of his accomplishments and service to the community. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California for yielding and for cosponsoring and offering this legislation to capture the individuals who sail these vessels. Mr. Speaker, here's a photograph that was taken of one of these submersible vessels that we have been talking about this evening. As you can see, it's blue like the water, but it also, as the gentleman from California pointed out, has stealth capability. And these vessels are able to go from the coast of Columbia all the way to the United States without refueling. They are made by the drug cartels in the jungles of Columbia. They're floated down river, and they set sail for the United States. The United States Coast Guard has brought this to the attention of Congress. What happens is they come upon one of these vessels that are stateless, they have no flag, and as soon as they come upon one of these vessels carrying 9, 10, 11 tons of cocaine, the crew scuttles the vessel. It sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and then the Coast Guard or the United States Navy has to rescue the crew and take care of them and send them back home even though they're criminals smuggling drugs into the United States. So to prevent that from happening anymore, these stateless vessels will be a crime to be in possession of one of these on the high seas. Thus when our Navy or the Mexican navy, as Mr. Lungren pointed out, last week came across one of these vessels, it would be a crime to be in the possession of one of these vessels, and the crew members can be prosecuted for being on board one of these vessels. The Coast Guard has reported that at any one time, there are over 100 of these vessels on the high seas all headed to the United States, all bringing cargo, drugs or even people. And, Mr. Speaker, this is a photograph of it. And this other chart shows where the United States Coast Guard came across one of these vessels. The crew tried to scuttle it, but it didn't sink fast enough. So the Coast Guard got on board, recovered some of the drugs, captured the outlaws, and they're being prosecuted in Florida as we speak. So this bill, which I hope all Members of Congress support, will help us fight the sea trafficking of these drug cartels who are relentless in bringing that cancer into the United States. And, lastly, as pointed out previously, these things are so shallow, even though they are 100 feet long, they are so shallow they can go up our rivers and tributaries into the inner-most parts of the United States, and some of them might not even be discovered, and they could bring in weapons of mass destruction, and all types of weapons into the United States. So it's time to make it a crime to set sail in one of these vessels, these submarines on the high seas, and prosecute these criminals who bring drugs into our country.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, National Night Out is a crime prevention event that brings awareness to neighborhood crime. The idea is that people will come out of their homes, meet with their neighbors, and become more aware of issues in their community, especially crime concerns. When people know each other that live around them, they are more apt to work together to prevent crime in their communities. Unfortunately, Americans today don't know their neighbors like they used to. My grandmother used to say that ``we quit knowing our neighbors when they quit building front porches on houses.'' Maybe there's some truth to that statement, Mr. Speaker, because not many people go and visit their neighbors, sit on the porch, and discuss important events like what's taking place in their community. National Night Out allows neighbors to get together with their kids. Back home in Texas, some communities block off streets, eat barbecue and hot dogs, and invite the local police over to meet with the kids and the neighbors that they protect. A neighborhood that has visible neighbors is a safer neighborhood. On National Night Out in August, there will be less burglaries, car thefts and vandalism because neighbors will be with other neighbors on watch, protecting the neighborhoods they call home.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I bring you news from Iraq and the war profiteers that make money off this war. According to the Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and as reported by the Washington Post, a California contractor ``was paid $142 million to build prisons, fire and police stations that were never built or finished.'' The Inspector General states, ``Millions of dollars in waste are associated with incomplete, terminated and abandoned projects.'' The biggest fiasco was an incomplete prison that was so poorly constructed that the floors are collapsing. This facility is totally useless to the United States and Iraqi governments. Mr. Speaker, it seems to me this is yet another example of incompetence, waste, and possible fraud against America. If crimes have been committed, the Justice Department needs to prosecute anyone that steals money from America during this time of war, because the long arm of American law even reaches crooked contractors in Iraq. And where shall we send these people? To the well-built Guantanamo Bay Prison where we house war criminals. And that's just the way it is.