Ted Poe

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, Suzanne McDaniel is one of the ``Old Buffalos,'' which is what we call the first advocates in the victims' rights field. I met Suzanne 25 years ago, when I was a judge on the Harris County District Court. Suzanne worked as the director of the Witness Office of the Harris County District Attorney's Office. She was one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and in the entire country. Since then, Suzanne has tirelessly crusaded for crime victims at the local, State and national levels. Suzanne began working in the trenches, in the days when victims were looked at as mere witnesses in a trial. In Harris County, Texas, Suzanne helped create the first community interagency council on sexual assault and family violence. Suzanne then went to work for the State of Texas in the Governor's office. There she wrote groundbreaking reports on crime victims and organized conferences to train and educate victims, advocates, and allied professions. Suzanne then brought her knowledge, dedication, and leadership to the Texas State Attorney General's office where she was the State's crime victim information officer. In this position, Suzanne advocated for the passage of legislative and regulatory initiatives, including the passage of Texas' State constitutional amendment for victims. As a testament to Suzanne's significant contributions to the victims' field, the State coalition of victim organizations, VOTERS, appointed her as legislative liaison. Not only has Suzanne tirelessly advocated for crime victims in Texas, but she brought the same drive and compassion to the national level. In 1984, when President Ronald Reagan created the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, Suzanne coordinated field hearings that launched victims' rights into a national concern. In addition, Suzanne served on the board of the National Organization for Victim Assistance for 10 years. When I came to Congress, I founded the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus to provide a voice for and to advocate on behalf of crime victims. The Caucus honors individuals, organizations, and advocates that have truly made a difference for crime victims. Instead of honoring Suzanne's contributions with an award, the Caucus has named an award after her, to forever honor her work, dedication, and compassion. On April 9, 2008, the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus will present its first ``Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 951, a resolution condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. Since January 1st of this year, Palestinians have fired more than 450 mortar shells into Israel. Let's put that number into perspective, that's 7 shells a day or 45 shells a week every week since the beginning of this year. Since the Israeli forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, more than 4,000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. This rocket fire has intentionally targeted civilian communities in Israel and made life for these people a living nightmare. Even folks at the U.N.--an institution that has consistently where Israel is consistently discriminated against--have condemned these acts of violence. John Holmes, the U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said recently ``We condemn absolutely the firing of these rockets. There's no justification for it. They are indiscriminate, there's no military target.'' Did you hear that no military targets. Hamas rulers in the Gaza Strip are intentionally injuring and killing innocent civilians. In recent years 12 people have been killed and dozens have been wounded. In fact, just last an 8 year old boy lost his leg in one of the attacks. These acts of brutality have to stop. These acts of terror are unacceptable and it's about time the world community collectively expresses its opposition to Palestine's rocket attacks on innocent civilians and supports the sovereign right of Israel to defend its territory and stop the rocket attacks. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, today the House considers a timely resolution supporting Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic presidential elections which will take place in just a few weeks. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution. In 1979, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which caused our Government to consider Taiwan in nearly all respects a sovereign partner. President Ronald Reagan reinforced this stance in 1982 when he publicly reiterated the US position regarding Taiwan's sovereignty. Since that time, the United States and Taiwan have enjoyed increasingly close relations, and our two countries maintain a strong strategic alliance. Today Taiwan remains one of the strongest democratic allies of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. The United States and Taiwan share a common vision of freedom and democracy. Since Taiwan's first democratic presidential election in 1998, Taiwan has successfully held routine, free, and fair elections in a multiparty system. As a beacon of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan deserves recognition and support from the United States. I am pleased to rise in strong support of Taiwan's continued commitment to democratic elections. Now is the time for the United States to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to Taiwan's democracy and security. For an ally that shares our values of freedom, security and prosperity, we can do nothing less. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it's springtime in the city, but the trees and flowers aren't the only things growing in Washington. Federal spending is going to grow as well because springtime means Federal budget time, and this year the American taxpayer may be asked to finance the largest budget in U.S. history. Now, in order to pay for all these expensive pigs and piglets, the government has to find a way to raise money. One option is to borrow the money. Why don't we just borrow it from the Chinese like we did in the past. Or just go into deficit spending. Or Congress can raise taxes. Yes, that's right, tax those among us that are making money. Punish success. Tax them. Take their money and give it to Uncle Sam, who will redistribute it to more government programs. Maybe Congress should try a novel idea: cut spending. Cut out useless programs. Tell special interest groups, no, they can't have taxpayer money for their special pork projects. Cut taxes. Let Americans keep more of their own money. Shock the country and shock the world, spend less this spring, cut taxes, and watch the economy grow because you cannot tax and spend your way to economic success. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, in the Dark Ages, King Henry VIII left the Catholic church because it would not permit his multiple marriages. Well, Britain is heading back to the Dark Ages. The more wives a British male has, the more benefits he will receive under welfare. This new policy will really only benefit Muslim extremist men, who keep a harem of 4 wives. The Archbishop of Canterbury suggested that Britain appease Muslim extremists so that they would not have to choose loyalty between Islam and Britain. Tell this to the British soldiers, who are fighting Muslim extremists in Iraq, while their own government rewards Muslim extremists at home. It seems that the real extremists are Britain's own leaders, who have gone too far in the name of political correctness. Religious law cannot overrule the law of the land. We cannot make exceptions to appease an individual group. The great Winston Churchill once said, ``Never give in, never . . . never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.'' I'm sure Winston Churchill is turning in his grave. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, Elmer Davis once said ``this nation will remain the land of the free, only so long as it is the home of the brave.'' Standing as a testament to Mr. Davis' statement are courageous Veterans like Atascocita resident Carlos K. Hayden. Born into a family with generations of soldiers, he always harbored aspirations to serve his country. Throughout his 35 year military career, Carlos K. Hayden bravely fought to uphold the liberties that we are able to today as a Nation hold dear. Hayden was commissioned as a second lieutenant on June 17, 1941. Just a week later, he was on active duty with the 1st Armored Division, 68th Field Artillery Battalion. While fighting in Tunisia under the command of General George S. Patton he served as a forward observer. He even had the fortune of meeting Gen. Patton while overlooking a battlefield. During WWII he served 5 years of active duty, 3 in North Africa, and 2 in Italy. When Carlos K. Hayden retired from the military in 1976 he had attained the rank of Brigadier General. The evidence of his brave 35 year career is illustrated through his many commendations. They include the Purple Heart, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star with Valor, a Presidential Unit Citation and Six Battle Stars. The Battle Stars were awarded for his service in Tunisia, Naples, Foggia, Rome-Arno, Anzio, North Apennines and the Po Valley. He also received the Texas DAR Metal of Honor, and the Ohio State University Distinguished Service Award. As a result of Hayden's impressive vocation; he was inducted into the Army ROTC hall of fame. Now at the age of 90, Carlos continues to serve the community and commemorate his time as a military serviceman. He returned to the battlefields in Tunisia on the 50th anniversary of its liberation. With other members of the 1st Armored Division, they retraced their 1940's route. In 2008, Hayden is serving his third term as the president of the 1st Armored Division's national association. For the Military Order of the Purple Heart, he is also the senior Vice Commander of chapter 782. Abiding with the generational service to their country, Carlos K. Hayden's Grandson Army Captain Jeff Sharpe recently returned from a second tour in Iraq. Evidence that America is still ``the home of the brave.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit, charitable organization founded by two teenagers, Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, from Norwell, Massachusetts. True patriots, Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, recognized the fact that many of our soldiers are spending a tremendous amount of money on cell phone bills to stay connected to their families. They implemented a simple plan to help soldiers call home: Collect used cell phones, recycle them for cash, and use the money to buy pre-paid calling cards to send overseas to our military. Through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country, they have raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers. Across my district, I have witnessed patriotic Americans helping military families cope through difficult times. I would like to commend patriot Dave Kilby with the Greater Humble Area Chamber of Commerce for doing his part in helping our soldiers overseas. Four years ago, Dave Kilby approached the Greater Humble Area Chamber of Commerce with the idea for the chamber to become one of the central drop off sites for Cell Phones for Soldiers. This extraordinary group of chamber members began promoting and challenging members to recycle used cell phones. Soon thereafter, collection boxes were then placed in schools, churches, and private businesses. Over 10,000 used cell phones have been collected throughout the second district of Texas on behalf of Cell Phones for Soldiers program. Dave Kilby recalls one exceptional event held on behalf of Cell Phone for Soldiers at the Houston Astro's Minute Maid Park. Cell Phones for Soldiers Day at the park brought Robbie and Brittany Bergquist along with their family to Houston. They donated 27,000 phone cards to Col. Lanny B. McNeely, Commander of the 147th Fighter Wing stationed at Ellington Field. Col. McNeely was able to deliver those cards to troops in Iraq. The Greater Humble Area Chamber of Commerce continues to be the designated drop site for Cell Phone for Soldiers. Dave Kilby's collections net approximately 100 phones a month. I hope that all of us recognize the significant ways in which we can strengthen our Nation's Armed Forces. I applaud the efforts of the great State of Texas. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, on January 10, 1901 the world was introduced to the modern petroleum age. It was on this day in Jefferson County, Texas the Gladys City Oil, Gas, and Manufacturing Company discovered the largest oil reserve the world had ever seen. Ever since Jefferson County, Texas has been a leader in the oil and gas industry, fueling our nation's economy. This tradition of leadership continues today with the recent announcement of Valero's Port Arthur Refinery $2.4 billion expansion project. Valero will be expanding their Port Arthur Refinery, becoming the 2nd largest refinery in Jefferson County, which is home to some of the largest refineries in the nation. When construction is complete, it will produce 415,000 barrels of per day. The Port Arthur refinery production resume includes conventional, premium and reformulated gasoline before oxygenate blending, as well as diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals, petroleum coke and sulfur. This project will generate an economic boost to Southeast Texas by bringing in 2,000 jobs. Valero is more that just an oil company, it is an active corporate citizen concerned about all aspects of the community where it resides. Both the corporation and employees alike are focused on the betterment of their community. With its 2007 pledge of $13 million to the United Way Campaign, Valero is the only company that has received United Way's highest national honor, the Spirit of America Award, twice. Valero also hosts the largest professional charity golf tournament in the country. The Valero Texas Open, which is an official PGA Tour event, and the associated Benefit for Children Golf Classic, which is Valero's own charity tournament, raised a record-breaking $8 million for charities. That is the largest contribution of any tournament in the PGA Tour's history. Employees give back both financially and through their time, last year employees donated 272,346 hours of time for countless community projects, including mentoring students, organizing fund-raisers, participating in clean-up events, volunteering at youth centers and much more. I am proud to commend Valero for its corporate citizenship and commitment to communities not only in Southeast Texas but across the nation. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, a hero is someone that accomplishes great things for others without seeking glory for themselves. Heroes don't identify themselves with this title and try to shrug off accolades by living a life of strong character and silent modesty. We pass by many heroes throughout our lives and don't even realize it because they hide their true identities behind humble titles such as dad and grandpa. Sgt. David F. Freshour is a hero from the Second Congressional District of Texas. He recently passed away on Monday, February 18, 2008. He was a World War II veteran and a member of the 15th Air Force, 451st Bomb Group Heavy, 725th Squadron stationed in Italy. Sgt. Freshour's once described to me some of his fondest memories of military service. He repaired and maintained heavy bombers, specifically the B-24 ``flying boxcars.'' His overseas tour of duty began when his squadron was shipped over to Europe in the hold of a Liberty Ship. After 25 days in a convoy, they disembarked in Naples, Italy. During this time, the U.S. Infantry was still fighting the Germans on the west side of Italy just north of Naples. According to Sgt. Freshour, his convoy leader got confused and led the squadrons north instead of east. They soon realized their mistake when they began to hear the bombardment of ground troops. The convoy leader turned them around and led them over the mountains to the east. When they arrived, the base was not ready. They were then taken to a temporary location that they used for two months until the runway was so badly damaged that they had to move to another base in the south. They finally got to their final location on a plateau that overlooked Foggia Airbase occupied by the British Air Force. Their primitive base consisted of canvas tents, some of which were located in an olive grove. There was no way to heat the tents and their January arrival was in the middle of a cold Italian winter. Five other soldiers shared a tent along with Sgt. Freshour and they all decided that this was to be their house for the duration of their military service unless ``Axis Sally'' fulfilled her promise to bomb them out of existence. Instead of complaining about their circumstances, Sgt. Freshour and five other soldiers took it upon themselves to improve their rustic living conditions. They borrowed a truck and went to Foggia Airbase where they loaded it with stones from bombed out buildings and brought them back. A member of the group spoke some Italian and managed to hire local laborers to pour a concrete base for their house. Another member of the group was a construction worker and he supervised the roof and window installation. The man was so much of a perfectionist during the construction process that one time Sgt. Freshour had to cut one-eighth of an inch off a six-inch wooden board. Military men are known for being very resourceful and Freshour's group proved that by completing numerous projects with very limited resources. They built a stove which heated their new home using \1/3\ of a 55-gallon steel barrel and with copper tubing from a gasoline drum. Their efforts inspired a building boom in the area. Most of the ground crew, air crew and officers built houses instead of living in tents. Their enthusiasm in building extended into a desire for a permanent mess hall. Thinking about entertainment opportunities in the future, Freshour, along with several other men, began building a mess hall with a large stage to be the main focus of attention for the diners. The smart men used trusses for roof support instead of posts so that the soldiers' view of the stage would not be blocked. The stage had a curtain made of aircraft cotton and canvas on each side with murals painted by a Canadian air crew member. The stage was often used as the site for USO shows. A kitchen which included a steam table was also built inside the mess hall. The steam table didn't improve the food much, according to Freshour, but the mess sergeants tried. The finished mess hall was a proud display of American craftsmanship. During an inspection by Major General Nathan Twining, he said the mess hall was the finest in the 15th Air Force. As a member of the air maintenance crew, one of Freshour's main jobs was replacing fuel cells damaged by anti-aircraft flack. The plates covering the cell had thousands of small screws and the only thing they had to use was a small hand drill to remove and replace them. Sgt. Freshour was additionally assigned as crew chief of a radar ship that was used as a lead ship to drop bombs when targets were obscured by clouds. It was sometimes used for rare night missions. There was also a guard group assigned to patrol the planes at night. One time, some of the guards got into a plane and played a prank on the crew by cutting out the parachute nylon and replaced them with rags. When the crew found these chutes, they were so furious that the officers were afraid a war would break out. The guards were removed that day. Sgt. Freshour and his fellow soldiers became the replacement guards. They were issued ammo for their carbines and spent the night on patrol protecting the planes and keeping the other guards and flight crew from killing each other over the parachute prank. Freshour recalled that the day Germany surrendered; the American troops put all of the planes on the base in the air for a great fly over. The end of the war in Europe was good news because it meant that they were on their way home. They returned on a fast troop ship that arrived in America in a little over six days as opposed to the usual 35-day convoy. One day, while on the ship, Sgt. Freshour was emptying a trashcan overboard when he ran into his good friend from his neighborhood back home. He had been a radio man on a B-24. It was a rare chance encounter seeing a close friend thousands of miles from home. After returning to the U.S., Freshour was not yet able to immediately leave the military because the war in Japan was raging. He was assigned to an air transport squadron in Presque Isle, Maine. The ground crew they replaced had been there all throughout the war, but since they had been stationed state-side, their everyday lives were completely different from Freshour and his squadron because they had cars, part- time jobs and their wives in the same location. While stateside, Sgt. Freshour was Charge Quarter on night duty. He had the job of waking the air crews up and leading them to the planes that were going to the war in the Pacific. As soon as Japan surrendered, they were discharged and Sgt. Freshour reentered civilian life. Sgt. Freshour married Doris and together they had four children: Karen, David, Sue and Denise. As a U.S. Representative, one of the most honorable things I have the privilege of doing is recognizing American heroes of past wars such as Sgt. David F. Freshour, for their honorable actions. On August 5, 2006, I presented him with medals and citations that he had earned more than 60 years earlier for his service during World War II but had never received. I presented him with the Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, and the World War II Victory Medal in a ceremony at First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood. It was an honor to finally recognize an American hero. Our country owes a debt of gratitude towards those who fought and won World War II. We owe our lives and our liberty to ``The Greatest Generation'' of our time. The courage and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces and of the military forces of the Allied Powers who served valiantly to rescue the Pacific nations from tyranny and aggression should always be remembered. Our Nation is safer, stronger and better because of the sacrifice of Sgt. David F. Freshour and the thousands of other World War II veterans. Though his light here on earth has extinguished, his sacrifice has made America's lantern of liberty burn brighter. Thank you, Sgt. Freshour for being a loving father, a caring grandfather and a great American. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, starting in WWII the Army recognized a need for defense against the German's A4, the world's first ballistic missile. In that time the allies' only defense against the A4 was to destroy or occupy its launch site. Some accounts state that if the war lasted another year, the German Army would have had the technology to develop a ballistic missile that could reach New York City. During the war, General Sir Fredrick Pile, Chief of Britain's Anti-Aircraft command, developed a system using 12,000 rounds of anti-aircraft artillery with only 3 percent accuracy. We have since come a long way in missile defense. During the Cold War spurred on by a continued threat to our soil, Ronald Reagan called ``upon the scientific community, those who gave us nuclear weapons, to turn their great talents to the cause of mankind and world peace to give our country the means of rendering these nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete.'' Our Nation was able to use this technology once again, as Reagan had intended to keep safe the citizens of not just the United States, but this time an unknown country that could have come in direct contact with a disabled spy satellite and its dangerous 1,000 pound tank full of hydrazine fuel. This mission was to be precisely executed with a direct hit to bus sized satellite's heart, a fuel tank. Hydrazine fuel could be compared to ammonia and would be dangerous should the intact satellite land anywhere in the world near a populated area. The U.S. military did not take this mission lightly, taking every precaution to protect the unfortunate country that would have fallen victim to this freefalling piece of space junk. A Standard Missile 3, or SM-3, costs $10 million and with another $20 million spent on missile reconfiguration for this specific task, the project cost around $30 million. A broken down satellite does not float lazily 130 miles above the Pacific Ocean; it rockets through space at 17,000 miles per hour. The precision and timing have to be perfect to strike an object at such a great distance and speed. The SM-3 missile travels at around 6,000 miles per hour and was launched from the USS Lake Erie in the North Pacific. When the missile was fired at 10:26 p.m. Eastern Time, only 3 minutes elapsed until it hit its intended above atmosphere target. Approximately 10 minutes after the missile was launched it was confirmed ``highly likely'' that impact was made on the satellite's fuel tank. When the missile struck the satellite at a combined speed of 22,000 miles per hour there was a great burst. Marine General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took this burst as an 80-90 percent chance that the missile hit its intended target, the fuel tank, because the missile was not armed with a warhead. This giant piece of metal and gas would have done major environmental and physical damage when it eventually found a landing pad on earth. However due to accurate military technology, and exact execution scientists are now monitoring 3,000 pieces of satellite, none larger than a football, that are all expected to burn up in the earth's atmosphere before they reach the earth's surface. The U.S. military's innovation and ingenuity is unmatched in the world. This launch was an unprecedented real world test of the United States' missile defense system so extraordinary that defense secretary Robert Gates, not a lower ranking military official had to give the launch order. Secretary Gates said in response to the direct hit ``I think the questions over whether this (missile defense system) capability works has been settled.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, they told us that ethanol from corn would save us all--save us from global warming and dependence on foreign oil, but it just isn't so. The rush to till up more farmland may turn out to be a crop disaster. Science Magazine reports that ``using good crop land to expand biofuels will increase global warming.'' The reason is, now farmers will need to plow under more forests and massive grasslands to grow enough of that ``savior'' corn. But doing so will release carbon stored in plants and soils. The new evidence indicates, ``after taking into account worldwide land use changes, corn-based ethanol will increase greenhouse gasses by (a staggering) 93 percent compared to gasoline over a 30-year period.'' It is only logical that if farmland once used to grow corn that we eat is used to grow corn that we burn as fuel, more land will be needed for both agricultural production and ethanol production. So here comes the big wipe out of massive amounts of land, all to subsidize an unproven, unpredictable industry that is potentially hazardous to our health. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, if you tax something, you get less of it. If you subsidize it, you get more of it. So in this day of homegrown energy depletion, Congress made the absurd choice of putting more taxes on American oil companies and, instead, chose to subsidize the special interest groups of unproven, undeveloped, and even nonexistent sources of energy. More taxes means the price of crude oil will rise, not diminish; thus, gasoline prices will rise. This tax will be passed on to us, the consumer. Taxes are always passed on to the consumer. The tax will not encourage, but lessen, domestic oil production. The tax will encourage oil companies to go to some other country to drill for oil and encourage American refineries to move offshore to areas not hostile. The tax will make us more dependent on Third World countries like Dictator Chavez for oil. Congress should lower taxes on U.S. oil companies to encourage domestic production. So Congress had the choice to encourage domestic oil production by opening up places to drill like ANWR and off the coast, or to tax the black gold and lifeblood of our energy--crude oil. Congress chose poorly. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it all started way back in 7th grade, Mrs. Wilson made Texas history come alive and my fascination with Texas legends like Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and of course my personal favorite, William Barrett Travis, took root. It was this month, 172 years ago, that Travis, a 27-year-old lawyer, penned the most famous letter in Texas history from behind the walls of a besieged, rundown mission in San Antonio. ``To the people of Texas and all Americans in the world, fellow citizens and compatriots, I am besieged by a thousand or more of the enemy under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannon fire for over 24 hours, but I have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at its discretion. Otherwise, the fort will be put to the sword. I have answered that demand with a cannon shot. And the flag still waves proudly over the north wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. I call upon you, in the name of liberty and patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to my aid with all dispatch. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself for as long as possible, die like a soldier who never forgets what is due his honor and that of his country. Victory or death. As a child, I was so intrigued by this letter. I would always be the first in my class to volunteer to play Travis at any given opportunity, if only just to read his words aloud. To me, he was the ultimate hero. Travis and his rag-tag group of relentless freedom fighters, made up of men from nearly every State in the Union and 13 foreign countries, including Mexico, held off an entire army of several thousand for 13 days. Defeat was not an option. Retreat was never on the table. Victory or death. And the rest is--as they say--Texas history. History teaches us everything we need to know, if we just look. This letter was written nearly 2 centuries ago and its message still rings true today. It's a story of ``liberty and patriotism and everything dear to the American character.'' Freedom is still worth dying for. And to do so as a soldier, ``is what is due his honor and that of his country.'' Travis believed these words, believed that the cause for independence was his life. Our freedom fighters today understand these words as well, they know that America is worth fighting for and that defeat is not an option. We must not neglect the call. Unfortunately, the call for help was not answered in time. Commander Travis and 187 volunteers sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom after 13 glorious days at the Alamo. The youngest to die for Texas was 15-year-old William Phillip King. The oldest to die was Gordon C. Jennings. He was 56. Their sacrifice would later be remembered along the banks of the San Jacinto as GEN Sam Houston led the Texans to victory and freedom. But their courage will never be forgotten. Travis isn't just my favorite Texas war hero, he has intertwined himself throughout my life and even the lives of my children and grandchildren. He is the inspiration behind my profession. I always wanted to be a great lawyer like William Barrett Travis. My grandson, Barrett Houston, is even named after Travis. Inscribed along the bottom of my stationery are his words, ``I shall never surrender or retreat,'' and for as long as I can remember, I end every letter with his famous words, ``God and Texas.'' Because of men like William Barrett Travis, Texas is the great State that it is today. His legacy embodies the passion and loyalty that make Texans stand out around the world. And that's just the way it is. Defenders of the Alamo Who Sacrificed Their Lives Alabama: James Buchanan, William Fishbaugh, Galba Fuqua, Issac White. Arkansas: Issac G. Baker, Jesse G. Thompson, Henry Warnell, Connecticut: Gordon C. Jennings. Georgia: Albert (Alfred) Calvin Grimes, William T. Malone, Elice (Eliel) Melton, Manson Shied, William Wells, William Wills Illinois: Jonathan L. Lindley. Kentucky: Peter James Bailey III, James Bowie, Daniel William Cloud, Jacob C. Darst, John Davis, William H. Fauntleroy, John E. Gaston, John Harris, William Daniel Jackson, Green B. Jameson, John Benjamin Kellogg, Andrew Kent, Joseph Rutherford, B. Archer M. Thomas, Joseph G. Washington. Louisiana: Charles Despallier, James W. Garrand, Joseph Kerr, Isaac Ryan. Maryland: Charles S. Smith. Massachusetts: John Flanders, William D. Howell, William Linn, Amos Pollard. Mississippi: M.B. Clark, Isaac Millsaps, Willis A. Moore, George Pagan, Christopher Adams Parker. Missouri: William Charles M. Baker, George D. Butler, Charles Henry Clark, George Washington Cottle, Jerry C. Day, George W. Tumlinson. New Hampshire: Robert E. Cochran. New Jersey: Richard Lucius Stockton. New York: Robert W. Cunningham, Lewis Dewall, Samuel B. Evans, John Hubbard Forsyth, John Jones, James Tylee. North Carolina: Micajah Autry, Dolphin Ward Floyd, William Parks, Mial Scurlock, Joshua G. Smith, John W. Thomson, Claiborne Wright. Ohio: William B. Harrison, Tapely Holland, Robert Musselman, James M. Rose. Pennsylvania: John J. Ballentine, James Murry Brown, John Cain (Cane), Robert Crossman, David P. Cummings, James Hannum, Samuel Holloway, William Johnson, George C. Kimble (Kimbell), William McDowell, John Purdy Reynolds, John M. Thurston, Hiram James Williamson, John Wilson. Rhode Island: Albert Martin. South Carolina: James Butler Bonham, Lemuel Crawford, George Neggan, Edward Nelson, George Nelson, Cleveland Kinloch Simmons, William Barrett Travis. Tennessee: Joseph Bayliss, John Blair, Samuel C. Blair, Jesse B. Bowman, James (Robert) Campbell, David Crockett, Squire Daymon, William Dearduff, Almeron Dickerson (Dickinson), John Henry Dillard, James L. Ewing, James Girard Garret, Andrew Jackson Harrison, Charles M. Haskell, John M. Hays, William Marshall, Jesse McCoy, Robert McKinney, Thomas R. Miller, William Mills, Andrew M. Nelson, James Waters Robertson, Andrew H. Smith, A. Spain Summerlin, William E. Summers, Edward Taylor, George Taylor, James Taylor, William Taylor, Asa Walker, Jacob Walker. Texas: Juan Abamillo, Juan Antonio Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio (Jose Maria Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, Damacio Jimenez, William Phillip King, William Irvine Lewis, William J. Lightfoot, Jose Toribio Losoya, Andres Nava, Richardson Perry. Vermont: Miles Deforest Andross. Virginia: Robert Allen, John J. Baugh, William R. Carey, William Garnett, John Camp Goodrich, Patrick Henry Herndon, James Kenny, George Washington Main, Edward F. Mitchasson, Robert B. Moore, James Northcross. Denmark: Charles Zanco. England: William Blazeby, Daniel Bourne, George Brown, Stephen (or Ireland) Dennison, James R. Dimpkins, James C. Gwynne, William Daniel Hersee, James Nowlan, Marcus L. Sewell, Richard Starr, James E. Stewart, Thomas Waters, Anthony (Avram) Wolfe, son age 12 Wolfe, son age 11 Wolfe. Ireland: Samuel E. Burns, Andrew Duvalt, Robert Evans, Joseph M. Hawkins, Thomas Jackson, James McGee, Jackson J. Rusk, Burke Trammel, William B. Ward. Germany: Henry Courtman, Henry Thomas. Scotland: Richard W. Ballentine, John McGregor, Isaac Robinson, David L. Wilson. Wales: Lewis Johnson. Unknown Locale: Robert Brown, Freeman H.K. Day, John E. Garvin, James George, Edward McCafferty, William T. Mitchell, Napoleon B. Mitchell, Thomas H. Roberts, William H. Smith, William Depriest Sutherland, Robert White, John (Last Name Unknown).

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, born in South Carolina in 1810, Sam McCulloch, Jr. arrived in Texas with his father and three sisters just prior to the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. McCulloch was a free black, and with his freedom he volunteered as a private in the Texas Army to fight for independence. On October 9, 1835, McCulloch took part in the Battle of Goliad. While storming the Mexican line, McCulloch was severely wounded when a musket ball shattered his right shoulder. Thus, Samuel McCulloch, Jr. became the first Texas casualty of the war. After Texas won its independence and became a free Republic, Samuel McCulloch, Jr. went on to fight against the Comanches along with the Texas Rangers at the famous Battle of Plum Creek, and he served as a spy for the Texas Army when Mexico reinvaded Texas in 1842. Later, McCulloch lived as a farmer and a rancher with his family on the land that the Texas government gave him for his service to the Republic. He died in November of 1893. He triumphed over all obstacles and voluntarily risked life and limb to establish freedom for Texas, the land he loved. During Black History Month, we honor this freedom fighter and this first to shed blood for Texas independence. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it is written that governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, and that when any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government. Madam Speaker, this eternal statement from the Declaration of Independence clearly states the United States' right to self- determination. We used this natural right to break away from Great Britain. Last week Kosovo unilaterally declared itself an independent and sovereign state, and the announcement has ushered violence in the region and opposition from the country it broke from, Serbia. Following Kosovo's declaration of independence, the United States was one of the first world powers to grant official recognition to the self-declared independent Kosovo. Since then, several other countries have followed. Of course, not everyone agrees that Kosovo may unilaterally declare its independence from Serbia. Certainly Serbia objects. At the same time, Russia, China and Spain have shared their strong opposition to the declaration. Each of these countries is struggling with its own separatist communities. They are afraid that Kosovo's unilateral declaration will encourage secessionist groups in their own country to rebel and declare themselves independent and sovereign states. When we start meddling in the internal affairs of international nations like Serbia, consequences are sure to follow. Let me be clear, I am not talking about a people rising up and overthrowing a civil government, but a people separating themselves from a civil government and forming a new nation. The question is, do all peoples have this right of separation, and does the United States support that? What position will the United States take as other peoples may decide self-determination, separation and independence? By recognizing Kosovo, the United States is setting a precedent, and it needs to take that position very seriously, because there are consequences. Is the United States willing to offer recognition to the Basque and Catalan people of Spain if they declare independence or to Chechnya if they break away from Russia? Or how about Tibet if they decide to leave China? Separatist communities across the world are interpreting the actions of the United States in Kosovo to suggest that America supports movements of self-determination. A columnist for an African newspaper recently wrote a newspaper article titled ``Kosovo--the precedent that will enflame Africa.'' This journalist predicts that the Kosovo recognition will ignite a revival of secessionist groups across the African continent. Will the United States be prepared to deal with that if it happens? And what will we do? Will we send troops? Will we send aid to these movements? We've even got folks from the State of Montana here in the United States saying they are going to secede from the Union if the Supreme Court rules a certain way on gun ownership. Is self-determination allowed in Montana? Looking at our country's history, it is pretty clear that the right of self-determination of a people is expensive, and it has costs. If it weren't for the courage and self-determination of our country's founders, we would still be a colony of Great Britain. But the United States has been inconsistent on the right of self- determination. For example, in the 1860s, the United States rejected this self-determination here at home. More than 650,000 Americans were killed during the War Between the States when the South claimed the right of self-determination and the North went to war to prevent it and to prevent southern independence. Independence is a serious and volatile matter. Thomas Jefferson said, ``What country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that the people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take up arms.'' These are strong words from the author of the Declaration of Independence. Is this statement U.S. policy? It may very well be the case that the United States' position in Kosovo will encourage more turmoil throughout the world. What will the United States do then? Is the United States going to choose to either fully support or fully oppose the right to self-determination for other peoples? Or is the United States going to continue down its path of inconsistent foreign policy on self-determination? People with aspirations of independence all over the world are watching the United States and trying to interpret what our foreign policy is. They need to know what our position is on independence, and the American public needs to know where we stand on independence for other peoples. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about one of the novel concepts that Congress has come up with over the years. It goes back to the Reagan administration and a bipartisan bill signed by President Reagan, the VOCA Act was established. It is called the Victims of Crime Act. It's a novel idea in that convicted felons in Federal court who are assessed fees and fines must pay those fees and fines into a fund. That fund then is saved and reserved for victims of crime for restitution. It also establishes and takes care of domestic violence shelters where spouses can hide away from those abusers. It establishes rape crisis coalition centers. It promotes and sends money to the victim advocates throughout the United States who go to court with victims of crime, especially in violent crime. It does many good things. And over the years, because our Federal judges have continued to fine and assess greater penalties to criminals, that VOCA fund, as of today, is $1.7 billion, money contributed by criminals that goes to crime victims. What a wonderful idea. And let me make it clear, this is not taxpayer money. Taxpayers didn't fund this. Criminals did. Criminals paying the rent on the courthouse, paying for the system that they have created. So what is the problem? The problem is, Mr. Speaker, that that fund, every year, that's administered by the Federal Government continues to be robbed by other bureaucrats and continues to be less money that's available for crime victims. This year we have $1.7 billion in the fund. Last year $635 million of that was used for crime victims, but this year the fund is being cut by the bureaucrats to $590 million. That's not a lot of money, but it means that victims shelters throughout the country will be closed, that these rape crisis coalition centers will be closed because they're barely keeping the lights on. So why is that happening, Mr. Speaker? I do not know. I do know that the Justice Department now is going to charge a surcharge on the victims fund of 5.5 percent to administer the fund. They are doing so without the approval of Congress. They have no right to take $30 million to pay for their own bureaucracy. That's not authorized by Congress. We also know that the administration wants to take part of that money and apply it to other programs out there. Once again, this is not taxpayer money. It's money that belongs to victims. And the Federal Government and, specifically, the Justice Department and the Federal bureaucrats need to keep their hands off that money, because it's not their money. It belongs to victims of crime. Mr. Speaker, victims of crime do not have a lobbyist up here in Washington, DC, a high-dollar lobbyist advocating on their behalf. They expect us, Members of Congress, to be their lobbyist, and it's important that we do not let the bureaucrats, the robber barons take money out of that VOCA fund and apply it to other programs. Find that money somewhere else. This money belongs to crime victims. It should not be robbed by the bureaucrats. It should be left alone. And, if anything, we ought to raise how much money we take out of that fund for victims of crime. It's $1.7 billion this year. Next year it's going to be $1.9 billion criminals contribute to that fund. And yet our government continues to let less and less money be applied to victims. We have more crime victims in this country than we did last year, and we need victims assistance. The Victims of Crime Act is a good idea. Let's leave it alone and quit robbing it to pay for other Federal programs. And if the Federal Government needs money to pay for these other programs, take money out of foreign aid or something. But leave victims alone. Victims are a unique breed of people in our country, Mr. Speaker, and it's our responsibility to take care of them and make sure that they get the compensation they need, paid for by criminals who commit crimes against them. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the people of Houston, Texas, are in mourning today because they have lost another brave protector of our community. While working undercover surveillance on February 21, Harris County sheriff deputy Craig Miller was killed when an 18-wheeler darted onto I-10 in Houston and recklessly drove across three lanes of the freeway crashing into Miller's SUV. Miller's vehicle became airborne, and he was fatally injured in the crash. Narcotics Officer Miller was 43 years of age, married to Michelle and has two young children. Friends described him as a comedian that could have been a regular on Saturday Night Live. Deputy Miller grew up in Houston and attended Stratford High School. He enjoyed protecting and serving the people of the Houston area. So as peace officers wear the black band of sacrifice across their badges in honor of Deputy Craig Miller, we remember that lawmen are all that separate civilization from the uncivilized. The driver of the 18-wheeler was charged with negligent homicide. He is a foreign national and his legal status is undetermined. Deputy Miller is yet another recent death in a series of Houston area lawmen that have been killed by foreign nationals. Deputy Miller is a casualty of a weak, chaotic, and inconsistent and overbroad immigration policy this country has. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, in our modern, fast paced world many people often forget to take the time to appreciate their surroundings. Inhabitants of the beautiful north Houston neighborhoods are fortunate enough to reside in an area deemed the ``livable forest.'' As these communities progress into the future, residents like Vicky Eynon work at the same time to preserve these unique surroundings. As a result of her efforts FamilyTime has awarded her the 2007 Women of Achievement Award. An advocate for the trees, Vicky Eynon's commitment to improving the lives of fellow Texans is truly admirable. Not only has she dedicated herself to local forests, as a school nurse she is also an advocate for the wellbeing of children. For 23 years she worked as a school nurse for Humble ISD. By observing and predicting health concerns among students Vicky became instrumental in the fight for providing schools with Automatic Emergency Defibrillators. Not long after their implementation, she was able to help save a teacher's life as a result of the AED. Although she is now retired, Vicky Eynon's dedication to serving others further extends into the local church community. At Atascocita Presbyterian Church she teaches CPR, instructing others in the art of compassion. I salute Vicky Eynon not only for the charity demonstrated through her work as a nurse but also for her environmental activism. Due to the work of Vicky and her group of volunteers, citizens in surrounding areas were made aware of the construction plans and were encouraged to take action. Her belief in the power of people through positive action is inspirational. As a result of Vicky's dedication, development projects involving the removal of large numbers of trees unnecessarily were reconfigured to allow for a more natural landscape. Because of her efforts to preserve the landscape of Southeast Texas, Vicky Eynon was awarded from FamilyTime the 2007 Women of Achievement Award. This remarkable Texan's commitment to improving many different aspects of the community affects the lives of countless people. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the Saudi Arabian religious police will arrest its citizens for a multitude of ``sins.'' Last week, the religious police arrested 57 Arabian men in front of a mall in Mecca for, get this, the crime of flirting. The 57 men were dancing to pop music and not wearing traditional clothing. The religious police arrested them and refused to release the men unless they can prove they did not flirt with women. So much for innocent till proven guilty. This is yet another example of when civil governments use their state religion of Islam to put their own citizens in jail for religious activity. The powerful religious police make sure that women are covered up, that they don't wear makeup, that the sexes don't mingle, and that the stores close five times a day for Muslim prayers, and that men worship at the mosque. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia banned the sale of red roses and other symbols that marked Valentine's Day because they are connected with a Christian holiday. Saudi Arabia certainly cannot allow any religious dissension in their country. Saudi Arabia expects other countries to be tolerant of Islam but is intolerant of all religions except its own. I wonder if hypocrisy is a violation of the Islam religion? And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it's 4:14 p.m. on the 14th day of the second month of this year. This House is basically empty except for a few of us. Everyone has gone home. We found time today to do important business for the people of the country. I have some of the bills that we passed today. One of those was that we had the time to vote after debate on regulating insects, roaches, fungus, and rats in the United States. Oh, such an important piece of legislation that the House of Representatives debated and voted on. But while we had the time to vote on these important issues of regulating the rats and roaches and fungi in the United States, we didn't take the time to protect the American people from those people throughout the world who want to kill us, who want to do harm to us and our families. And not to America only, but to all freedom countries throughout the world. Because we didn't have time to work on the Protect America Act, a bill that does exactly what it says, Mr. Speaker, it protects America. It protects America from terrorists. And one of those ways is being able to eavesdrop into conversations when one terrorist overseas talks to another terrorist overseas, amending the FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Act. But, oh, we didn't have time to do that. Mr. Speaker, it troubles me because has the House of Representatives, without firing a shot, raised the ``white flag of surrender'' to those people who wish to do us harm? The head of the National Intelligence Service has told us that 50 percent of the intelligence that they attained is through FISA. And yet we have cut off that resource by failing to vote on that, failing debate on that. But yet we had time to talk about roaches, rats, and fungi. Mr. Speaker, this ought not to be. Under FISA, we have been able to prevent crimes from being occurred against the United States. One of those was the bombing of the Brooklyn Bridge, another was the bombing of Fort Dix in New Jersey. Those were prevented because of FISA, because we had the intelligence, because we had the eavesdropping, the legal eavesdropping capability. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives has not done a service to the people of the United States by failing to debate this issue and at least have an argument, a lively debate, and then vote on it to protect the United States. The people of the United States deserve better from us. Our job is to protect America through legislation. And, Mr. Speaker, I think we have not done that today because we are off doing other things. So I hope that I am proven wrong by history that this did not hurt the United States down the road for failing to act on this important legislation. And it's important that the House come back as soon as possible and deal with the issue of protecting America first and making sure that we know what they're saying throughout the world when they want to do us harm, because the people we fight, the war we fight against are people who will do anything to get their way and their radical beliefs including killing children and women and the innocents and car bombs and anyone else that gets in their way. And there is probably joy throughout the terrorist cells in the world that the United States Congress did not do its duty today. And, Mr. Speaker, that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, Americans are under vicious attack in Mexico. The new threat comes from south of the border in the form of organized and violent Mexican kidnappers. Last year, 26 San Diego, California residents were kidnapped and held for ransom while traveling to Mexico. Numerous Mexican nationals also were kidnapped. Some victims were murdered. Only a few of the people kidnapped were ever rescued. They reported that they were beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted. The FBI says that these sophisticated kidnappers are growing in number. The State Department has even issued a travel alert for U.S. citizens living and traveling in Mexico. This new form of terrorism is very disturbing. While President Calderon is here in the United States lobbying for illegal immigrants to get amnesty, Mexican and U.S. citizens are being victimized in his home country. President Calderon would do well to stay home in lawless Mexico, get his house in order and protect the rights of hundreds of his own people and the U.S. citizens who are being abducted and held for ransom by these outlaws. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Oh where, oh where has the American air base gone? Oh where or where can it be? With its 6,000 phantom troops and 32 million missing dollars, oh where, oh where can it be? Madam Speaker, let me explain. Corruption has struck again, and just like times in the past, it's at the taxpayers' expense. Government investigators recently uncovered the newest scam in contracting. This time it's a phantom air base in Iraq, purchased by the U.S. taxpayers at the tune of $32 million. Madam Speaker, here it is, or here it's supposed to be. This is a photograph of the location in Iraq where the air base is, or where it was supposed to be built. But you can see that there is nothing to see because it was never built. Last month the Inspector General at the Defense Department released a report about money spent to help train and equip Iraqi military and police forces. The contracting project in question was awarded to Ellis Environmental Group, a U.S. company based out of Florida, in 2006. The U.S. Air Force paid the company $32 million for this project, this air base in Iraq. The construction contract would have involved the creation of barracks and offices for 6,000 Iraqi troops in Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province. But the project had to be abandoned before anything was ever built when the Iraqi Defense Ministry failed to obtain this desert land for the base. So what happened to the $32 million the Air Force doled out to Ellis Environmental? The alarming answer is no one knows. And the company won't say. An Air Force spokesman says the contractor set up a camp for construction workers and began design work for the headquarters before the project was halted. But nothing was ever built. All we know now is that none of the $32 million the U.S. paid out to these contractors was returned to U.S. taxpayers. The Air Force is set to begin an audit of the project, but no one knows how long that's going to take. The Inspector General report documents more abuses. And USA Today Matt Keller, reporter, said the findings show ``the military didn't keep adequate records of equipment for the Iraqis ranging from generators and garage trucks to thousands of guns and grenade launchers. Separately, the United States has launched a criminal investigation into allegations that weapons it bought for the Iraqi soldiers ended up in the hands of insurgent and terrorist groups.'' Madam Speaker, this ought not to be. In the meantime, Ellis Environmental Group has changed its name. If a crime has been committed, these outlaws responsible need to be held accountable. Madam Speaker, war profiteers that make money off of war by building ``phantom'' military bases like this one should be prosecuted. This type of conduct fits the definition of war crimes. Maybe we should build a real prison for war criminals out in this desert in the sands of Iraq to house thieves that steal American money. So, Madam Speaker, oh where, oh where has the American base gone? Oh where, oh where can it be? With its 6,000 phantom troops and 32 million missing dollars, it's where, oh where no one can see. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, the Iranian Government still lives in the Stone Age. Two Iranian sisters will be stoned to death after a court convicted them of adultery. One sister's husband was upset that he and his wife didn't get along, so he planted a video camera in their home while he was away. A videotape showed the two sisters in the company of other men, but did not show either woman engaged in a sexual act. The husband turned the videotape over to the adultery police to prosecute the women. These two sisters were tried twice for this so- called crime. The first trial resulted in a conviction, and the women were convicted of illegal relations. Each sister received 99 lashes. But it gets worse: a second trial convicted the two sisters of adultery and they were sentenced to death. Last year, Jafar Kiani was stoned to death for alleged adultery. Now these two sisters are next in line for the savage rock throwing. Doesn't anyone think lashing and stoning is a bit severe for adultery? I guess the Iranian Government has never heard of cruel and unusual punishment. And where is the outcry from the world of women's rights groups when they are needed to protest these acts from the Stone Age? And that's just the way it is.