Ted Poe

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, to the residents of Houston and the surrounding cities, the name ``Marvin Zindler'' was synonymous with ``champion'' and ``crusader.'' You see, Marvin Zindler has just as many stories as the Lone Ranger himself--just as many tales about his struggles for justice too. He was a fighter for the ``little man,'' defending those who were swindled or scammed--seeking retribution the only way he knew how, with a bright light, an all-seeing camera lens, and a television audience. For the last thirty-four years, Marvin has been the much loved and revered face of television station KTRK Channel 13 in Houston, Texas. He was known for his consumer reporting--one of the first in the business to do so--letting the unsuspecting public in on the down and dirty dealing of local businesses throughout Southeast Texas. It was his thirst for integrity and justice among his fellow citizens that led Marvin to work day in and out to unmask the unscrupulous. But to truly understand Marvin, you have to understand the man behind the camera-- who he was before he became ``The Marvin Zindler.'' Marvin was born into the wealth and privilege of society in 1921 and he was not sure where he wanted to go in his life. Torn between careers, Marvin came roaring into the media world as a DJ and spot reporter for a former, local radio station. He moved onto a career with a former Houston newspaper and did spot news reports for a local television station. It was during his early stint in the media that Marvin began to lean towards the law enforcement profession. In the early 1950s, he was a volunteer police officer--all while continuing to be a voice in the media. In 1962, Marvin put aside his media career and became a member of the Sheriffs Department. Assigned to the fugitive apprehension unit, it was his responsibility to round and rope up those who sought to flee American justice. Madam Speaker, legend has it that Marvin Zindler once chased a Texas fugitive through the heat of the Mexican deserts and into the rainforests of Central America, where he caught up with the Texas outlaw in what was then the U.S. held territory of the Panama Canal Zone. Marvin had a U.S. warrant for this criminal's arrest, but it was not sufficient enough to arrest him in Mexico or Central America. So he just waited until the fugitive touched U.S. soil--the Panama Canal. He then brought him back to face the Texas courts. I first met Marvin back when I was a prosecutor. I have the honor and privilege of calling him a personal friend of mine and remained so throughout my judicial career. I can attest to his larger than life personality and his determination to make a difference in the world. With the Sheriff's Department, Marvin established and ran the consumer fraud division. He was good at his job, perhaps a little too good as rumor has it. In 1972, Marvin was fired from the Sheriff's Department because local businesses were angered by his consumer fraud investigations. It was soon after his abrupt departure from law enforcement, he was hired by Channel 13 to be their on-air consumer reporter. From then on, a star was born. Marvin Zindler stalked unscrupulous businesses like a lion stalks its prey. He was famous for his ``rat and roach reports'' on health inspections of local restaurants. He stood up to the bureaucrats who tried to walk on the backs of poor Houston residents, who did not have two dimes to rub together and had been swindled. He sought out immoral used car salesmen who made double-crossing deals of one-sided contracts and high interest rates--milking the consumers out of hundreds of dollars. While the Houston public adored their TV crusader, Marvin did make some enemies, including a local county sheriff. In 1973, not yet a year into his TV career, Marvin exposed the State's best kept secret, a brothel called the Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas. His news story not only led to several ladies of the night being out of a job and national notoriety for his efforts and the embarrassment of local patrons, but a public fist fight with a county sheriff--who also happened to be a dishearten customer. The sheriff broke two of Marvin's ribs and snatched the toupee right off his head. It was this story that the famous long-running Broadway hit musical and eventual movie, ``The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,'' was based on. Marvin Zindler had a heart of gold. Using his fame and his voice, Marvin began ``Marvin's Angels''--a group of doctors who specialized in plastic and reconstructive surgery. These doctors then performed surgery on children who were born with facial deformities, such as a clef palate, and of course, at no charge to the child's family. He was the worshiped face of Houston. In fact, he was so beloved that Channel 13 signed him to a lifetime contract in 1988--a rarity in the television world. It was something he always honored. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer in July, Marvin continued to make on-air appearances for Channel 13. Either from his sick bed or clothed in a robe and slippers, citizens could breathe easier knowing that Marvin was still fighting the good fight for them--the ordinary, everyday individuals, the people he cared the most for. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, July 29th, Marvin Zindler, the crusader of Houston, Texas, passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was 85 years old. Robert Pelton, Marvin's good friend, had this to say about this extraordinary champion of the little guy, ``Marvin Zindler was the Lone Ranger and Superman, not just in Houston, but in the world. Marvin Zindler was a one man army for the underdog. With Marvin Zindler, there was no Governmental Red Tape.--He walked right through it. If he heard of an injustice or public corruption, he was there to expose and stop it. Marvin was a hero to every man, woman, and child who was a victim of discrimination and wrongdoing. He helped the crippled, blind, poor, and sick get help wherever they were. `I'll Call Marvin Zindler' was the battle cry of the underdog and it always worked. Being his lawyer, friend, and angel for 31 years was the highest honor anyone could have.'' Madam Speaker, people in the Great State of Texas fondly recall a man who was their champion--their ``Lone Ranger.'' For wherever Marvin Zindler went, unscrupulous business owners quaked in fear, trepidation, apprehension, and panic knowing that they were being caught with ``Slime in the Ice Machine''--one of Marvin's most famous sayings. Tonight, my thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the entire Houston community as we mourn the loss of our dear friend, consumer advocate, Marvin Zindler. He was a man who served our Houston community and the people with honor and duty. He will be gravely missed. Madam Speaker, Each night Marvin signed off with the same words on his nightly newscast and I quote them for the last time, ``Marvin Zindler--Eyewitness News.'' And That's Just The Way It Is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, instead of praising and encouraging our troops in their relentless fight against the terrorist insurgents and seeing the success of U.S. troops, some choose to focus on the negative. They seem to preach gloom, doom and despair. They come across as defeatists, retreatists, and losers. Do these people really want us to lose this war? Is their retreat political agenda more important than America's safety agenda? Now is the time, more than ever, that this Nation be behind our soldiers in this fight. The dangers to freedom do exist. Right now in Afghanistan, Taliban forces are holding 22 civilians from a South Korean church. They have executed one hostage and plan to murder more. These Islamic radicals kill in the name of religion. Now, what would the surrender advocates have us do? Hide? Fanatical militants are a threat to the security of free nations and the United States. It is the American troops, however, that are making a difference in beating back the forces of hatred and oppression. Our patriots deserve thanks, respect and our total commitment, not naysayers' words of criticism, contempt and complaining. And that's just the way it is.

Mr POE

Mr POE. Mr. Speaker, oh, how we talk and pontificate about making the United States independent from foreign energy. But still little has been done. The new energy bill does not promote energy, but punishes energy use. For example, new energy legislation regulates the type of light bulbs Americans use. Some in the House want to go after the U.S. oil companies and punish them by taxing them more. Of course, more taxes will simply be passed on to us, the consumers, and will not increase energy, but decrease it. You see, when you tax something, you get less of it. More taxes will encourage U.S. oil companies and refiners just to move someplace else where there are fewer taxes and regulations. Some want to mandate and subsidize corn-based ethanol, which not only drives gasoline prices up, but raises the price of food at the same time. A real energy bill would allow safe drilling for oil and natural gas off our shores and in ANWR. A real energy bill would advance nuclear power. A real energy bill would work with all types of U.S. energy companies and not make them out to be the enemies. A real energy bill would do more than require us to use certain light bulbs that, by the way, are only made in China. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it's the first of the month--time to pay the rent at the courthouse. Unfortunately, the costs keep rising with the number of criminals held accountable for their crimes each year, but the good news is their victims have plenty of resources at their disposal as a result of the Victims of Crime Act, or better known as VOCA Fund. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Poe/ Costa/Moore(KS) Amendment to add more money to the VOCA Fund and continue to meet the needs of victims across our country. I have been an advocate for victims since my early days as a prosecutor with Harris County District Attorney's office. There are a few cases that have stood out in my career and influenced my life in a significant way. One such case was that of a young woman, who was as student at the University of Houston. She was the victim of a brutal rape and assault. She was abducted at gunpoint at a gas station, taken to a wooded area, raped, beaten, and left for dead. Through her brave determination, she was able to identify her attacker and I was assigned to prosecute him. Today, victims are assigned court advocates during the trial. Back then, she had no one. No one was there to help her through the emotional stress of a rape and the grueling task of confronting her attacker in court. She did it though, she got through the trial and we sent her attacker to the penitentiary for life. But her story wasn't over, you can't wrap it up with the bang of a gavel and nice neat bow. Because there were little-to-no resources available to victims at that time, she was not able to cope with the aftermath of her assault. You see, for the victim the ordeal is not over once the trial ends. It follows them day after day and spreads through their life like a cancer out of control. In the following months, her husband left her and sued her for custody of their two children--taking away the only two reasons worth living for. She spiraled out-of-control. Without anyone to turn to, and losing her family, she couldn't escape the pain. In a hand written note, that I keep with me to this day, she said ``I'm tired of running.'' Madam Speaker, the reality is, she didn't have anyone to run to and sadly ended her life. This ought not to be. This was a tragedy that could have been avoided, a tragedy that continues to influence my life and career. One of the first things I did as a Member of Congress was establish the bipartisan Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus to advocate and provide a voice for crime victims. I currently co-chair the Caucus with my good friend and victim crusader, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20). There are caucuses for everything under the sun in D.C., but there was nothing that advocated solely for crime victims. It seems they are always the ones that are forgotten. The VOCA Fund is one of those things that is close to my heart and is something, like the victims it benefits, worth fighting for. Created by Congress in 1984 to provide Federal support to Federal, State, and local programs that assist victims of crime, VOCA provides assistance to over 4,400 agencies and 3.8 million victims every year. And it doesn't cost the taxpayers anything! The VOCA Fund is derived entirely from fines and penalties paid by offenders, not taxpayer revenues. But every year, we have to fight to keep it safe for victims. The Washington bureaucrats try to rob this fund for other pet projects. VOCA funds several important programs, such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, children protection agencies, and pays direct expenses to victims of violence, such as assault, rape, and child abuse. The Children's Assessment Center in Houston is a recipient of VOCA funding and is the very best of its kind. They take sexually assaulted kids and help them through the trauma of recovery and trial. The Houston Children's Assessment Center in Houston became the model for others across the country. The services they provide to children who have been victims of crime are invaluable and the most advanced methods used today. Without the knowledge and compassion of thousands of dedicated people who work on behalf of victims, more and more victims would end up like that young wife and mother that desperately tried to hold it together, but couldn't take the pain any longer. As a constant reminder, I keep that hand-written note on my desk. As a judge, it was my pleasure to hand down one of my many creative sentences and see how far we have come in recognizing the needs of victims. I have dedicated my life to helping victims and proudly serve on the Board of Directors for the Houston Children's Assessment Center and the National Children's Alliance in Washington D.C. Madam Speaker, criminals should continue to pay for the system they have created. They should pay for the expenses victims incur because of crime. Criminals need to pay the rent on the courthouse--crime victims have already paid enough. No more victims should run. And That's Just The Way It Is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the violent El Salvadorian gang, MS-13, continues to spread violence in American cities. These thugs started in the eighties and have caused murder and mayhem in Central America. The son of a Honduran president was kidnapped and murdered in 1997. In 2002, gang members gunned down 28 people, including seven kids, on a school bus in Tegucigalpa. Experts now say these gangsters are the number one problem in Central American countries. Recently, even Mexico stepped up campaigns to arrest these criminals, claiming them to be a threat to national security. The brutal MS-13 gang has acted in major cities in the United States and are involved in everything from drug and human smuggling to murder. Many of these gangsters are illegally in the United States. Ironically, many major cities that are sanctuary cities for illegals, all in the name of compassion, are hotbeds for MS-13. These cities make law enforcement and deportation hard for the Feds. Mr. Speaker, cities that give aid and comfort to illegals should be more concerned about protecting the safety of citizens than harboring and hiding out criminal illegals. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it seems the terrorist group Hamas may have been receiving money from a U.S.-based fake charity organization that funds Hamas's reigns of terror in the Middle East, all under the hypocritical name of compassion and goodwill. A Dallas, Texas, Muslim charity has been charged with pouring millions of dollars into a terrorist slush fund that is bent on destroying Israel and the United States. While the charity denies any wrongdoing, of course, prosecutors say money went straight to Hamas and some of the money went to aid families of suicide bombers. But this self-righteous ``charity'' says they are innocent. The charity claims they were sending money for humanitarian efforts in Palestine. Madam Speaker, the fanatical terrorist group Hamas is not a humanitarian organization. They kill humanitarians. If nonprofit organizations in the United States are aiding terrorist organizations in their devastation, destruction, and death, they should be held accountable. If this charity is a fraud, then the money should be confiscated and given to victims of terrorism. And then the charity organizers ought to go to jail. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, ``On fame's eternal camping ground, their silent tents are spread, and glory guards with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead.'' These words are etched in Arlington National Cemetery, not far from this Capitol, the eternal resting place for those soldiers who gave all they had in pursuit of American freedom. The rows and rows of pristine white headstones silently speak of what it means to be an American warrior: bravery, courage, honor, duty. These are the individuals who knew it was their calling to be a part of the greatest military force in the United States history, and they did not run from that calling. They accepted it willingly and helped headed off into the dawn of battle. Army Private First Class Zachary Endsley was an individual who understood that being a military soldier was his calling. A native of Spring, Texas, PFC Endsley was a young man with a quiet personality and loved to play practical jokes on family and friends. An appreciater of the arts, Endsley enjoyed drawing and playing his guitar. It was his drawing ability that stood out. In high school, he entered and won a poster contest with his design. PFC Endsley had been hearing the calling to become an American warrior for many years in his young life. He joined the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer organization with the United States Air Force when he was just a teenager. He was also involved in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oak Ridge High School. After graduating from high school in 2004, just 3 years ago, he attended local community college but realized that college wasn't really for him. But he was enthralled with the military, and after putting off the calling to be a soldier for long enough, he knew it was time to pursue a career in the United States Army. His family was proud of his decision to serve in the Army, and he enlisted in the Army in 2005. Endsley excelled in his military placement test for the Army and had the distinct honor of being able to choose the job he wanted to hold. He chose the infantry. Infantrymen are on the front line, he said. They are the first through the door and the first into danger. They are courageously fierce and commandingly fearless patriots. It is no wonder PFC Endsley wanted to be a part of this band of brothers. PFC Endsley understood the Nation was at war, yet he chose to charge headlong into battle. There are not many of us who would be willing to volunteer to leap into the lion's den of Iraq or Afghanistan where the cowardly enemy hides in caves. It says something special about the quality of this American fighting man that he would boldly face those who would kill in the name of religion. This is a recent photograph of PFC Endsley. He was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment in Hohnefels, Germany. From Germany, this soldier was dispatched to Afghanistan. He never really told his family where he was going because he didn't want them to worry about him. But on Monday, 4 days ago, July 23, 2007, PFC Zachary Endsley's unit came under fire by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. In the midst of this battle, his vehicle was assaulted with rocket-propelled grenade fire. PFC Endsley was killed in action. He was 21 years of age. He was supposed to come back to Texas in just 3 weeks. Madam Speaker, PFC Zachary Endsley was a true soldier. According to a family friend, he joined the Army to provide others with the freedoms that we as Americans have. What a noble thought. As an infantryman in Afghanistan fighting the forces of the Taliban, Endsley defended that freedom. He defended it for his mother, Melinda; his stepfather, David; his father, Terry; his brother, Aaron; his stepsisters, Katie and Kimberly; and all of their families. He went to Afghanistan and defended freedom in a land he had never seen for a people he did not know. This son of Texas and American patriot will return home to his birthplace and receive a victor's homecoming. Those who he protected will line the streets, as the small towns in southeast Texas always do when their fallen come home. And they will bid a silent and proud farewell to a soldier they might not have had the privilege to know, but they will always be grateful to. Amazing people these young volunteers of the United States Army. So, Madam Speaker, tonight the bugles of taps are silent in the cemetery of the fallen. ``In simple obedience to duty, they suffered all, sacrificed all, and dared all.'' PFC Zachary Endsley, your tour of duty has been honorably concluded. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, in Bastrop County, Texas, there is a new sheriff in town. Over a dozen candidates were interviewed, and at the end, the last man standing was a woman. Becoming the third female sheriff in Texas, Rosanna Abreo became the first female sheriff in county history. Rosanna is anything but an ordinary candidate. She has 17 years of experience in Texas law enforcement. Throughout her law enforcement career, she served at the Lubbock Police Department in west Texas and the Texas Department of Public Safety, where she served as a State trooper, a special crimes investigator, and a member of the DPS SWAT team, rising to the rank of lieutenant. This Texas lawwoman is educationally accomplished as well, achieving a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and now a law degree, having passed the bar exam last May. Criminals and outlaws should be aware of this new Texas sheriff that is the enforcer of the law in her county. Today, I congratulate Sheriff Abreo on her sound dedication to public safety, making her a role model for all peace officers in our State. Texas is proud of its new Lone Star sheriff. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. In my opinion, absolutely not. It applies to other cases where a firearm is used, such as in a robbery. It doesn't apply to border agents who are required to use and possess a firearm while they are on duty. And so it is not, in my opinion, the intent of Congress. And, of course, that will be litigated on appeal as well.

Mr. POE. There's a disagreement over who brought that to them. We first heard that the Mexican Consulate brought it to someone working in the Federal Government. And then we also heard that another border agent brought it, so I don't know the answer to that question.

Mr. POE. I thank the gentleman from Iowa for yielding. I know that we've discussed this issue a lot tonight, but it's important because it has to do with the most important concept that any of us have, liberty. And we have found in the investigation of this case that the U.S. Attorney's Office has done everything it can to make sure that these two people stay in jail. The key to this is that the jury did decide the facts of this case, but the jury didn't get all the facts given to them under the law. There was another case where the drug dealer brought in another $800,000 worth of drugs while he's running free at American taxpayer expense, and brings in these drugs while he's waiting to testify. Anybody who served on any jury in the country would want to know about that second case. This jury was prohibited from knowing about that because of the insistence and the relentless prosecutor who demanded that the jury not hear about all of the facts. The question is why? Why wouldn't the prosecutor want the jury to know all the truth about this case? We don't know. We do know that the Mexican Government, in its righteous indignation, sent a speedy letter over to the U.S. Attorney's Office demanding prosecution of these border agents. The Mexican Government dealing in our court system, their opinion is irrelevant, I submit, Mr. Chairman. And this case is a case where our Border Patrol agents are in Fabans, Texas. I don't believe there's been a person here that's been to Fabans, Texas, unless they've gone there on purpose to see the border. It's a violent, dangerous, desolate area. And based upon the rules they have to follow, they cannot fire their weapon unless they are fired upon. In other words, they've got to take a bullet before they can defend the border. And they operate under that environment because of the national security of our border. In this case, overreaching by the prosecutor; too heavy a sentence. He even said so later after the prosecution. And what this does is release these two individuals while the appeal goes on. It releases them from custody of our Federal Government. And it's the responsibility of Congress in further investigations to find out why our Western District of Texas is so relentless in prosecuting border protectors. And this is one way we can do something. We have that authority. We can cut the funds, and we ought to cut the funds that incarcerate these two individuals. We ought to pass this amendment in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I want to talk briefly on the Poe-Costa-Moore amendment. As stated in the amendment, this is a bipartisan amendment. And I want to thank the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Kansas for their support for crime victims under this amendment and the VOCA fund. The VOCA fund was established under the Reagan administration. It's a novel concept where criminals who are convicted of crime pay fees into a fund that goes to victims of crime. It's kind of like criminals pay the rent on the courthouse, as they should. And so this fund has been established to supply victims and victims services throughout the country necessary funds for those victims and those projects. At this present time, the fund is up to $1.3 billion. But this year the fund is capped at $625 million for victims services and victims throughout the United States. This amendment is asking that 10 million more dollars be applied to this fund because of two reasons: Unfortunately, there are more crime victims in the United States than there ever have been. And also, by necessity, there are more programs that are victims services than ever have been in the United States. Over 4,400 different programs and agencies receive funding under the VOCA fund. Over 3 million victims receive funds from this fund every year. And this covers the gamut, from sexual assault victims to child victims, to robbery victims and victims and families of homicide. These funds are needed for these families. But they're also needed for domestic violence shelters. They're needed for child assessment centers. Those are centers throughout the United States that take sexually exploited children and help them through the process; not only the medical process, not only the psychological process, but the criminal justice system as well. There are 26 organizations that support an additional $10 million for this crime victims fund, because it is necessary to help victims throughout the United States. So under this amendment, we're asking for 10 million additional dollars taken from human resources that would be applied to crime victims organizations throughout the United States and money for crime victims. This money, as I stated, is necessary. Unfortunately, it is necessary to help victims. As chairman of the Crime Victims Caucus, and my cochair Mr. Costa, and other Members like Mr. Moore from Kansas, we all support this additional funding for crime victims. Take it and place it where it is necessary. It is a novel concept to allow people who violate the law to contribute to a constant fund, and we want that to continue, but this year there needs to be 10 million additional dollars contributed to that fund so that numerous organizations that provide specifically victims services that funding has been cut in the past will be allowed to continue those victims services in the United States. List of Organizations Who Support the Poe-Costa-Moore Amendment American Probation and Parole Association; American Society of Victimology; Break the Cycle; Jewish Women International; Justice Solutions; Legal Momentum; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; National Alliance to End Sexual Violence; National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards; National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators; National Center for Victims of Crime; National Children's Alliance; and National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. National Congress of American Indians; National Criminal Justice Association; National Grange; National Judicial College; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Organization for Victim Assistance; National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.; Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape; Rape Abuse & Incest National Network; Sacred Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women; Security On Campus, Inc.; Stop Family Violence; and YWCA USA. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. POE. I appreciate the support. I would like to comment on the comments earlier by the gentleman from California. It is true. I don't know if the American public knows this, but if drug dealers bring in $5,000 of drugs or less, they are not prosecuted. But this wasn't a $5,000 case. The drug dealer first brought in $1 million worth of drugs, and in the second case he snuck in $800,000 worth of drugs. The jury was never told about that. The other thing I would like to point out is that Members of Congress met with the Homeland Security inspector general about this case. They gave us information that turned out not to be true. Mr. Skinner finally testified under oath before Congress that the information they gave us about this case was false. That is disconcerting in this type of matter when we have Homeland Security telling Members of Congress things that are not true about this particular matter. I don't have time to go on that, but I would ask for support of this case. This is the only remedy available. In my judicial experience, I do believe in our court system, and our courts eventually will work this case out. It will be reversed, but meanwhile they are in jail. The only way they can get out of jail is if we pass this amendment. I appreciate it.

Mr. POE. The indictment on its face is being challenged because in the indictment it alleges the deadly weapon or the brandishing of a firearm, which requires an additional 10 years. That is also contested on appeal, whether it applies to peace officers or not.

Mr. POE. Yes. There has been an appeal. Both of these cases are on appeal, and they are in custody while these cases are on appeal.

Mr. POE. The border agents were offered, if they pled guilty to the offense, 2 years incarceration. If they did not plead guilty and went to trial, the prosecutor added the section under our law, 924(c) section that required or would allow a mandatory additional 10 years incarceration because a weapon was used. That is subject to appeal as to whether that applies to peace officers or not. That was added. Therefore they received 11 and 12 years in the penitentiary after the trial and after sentencing because they would not plead guilty for a crime they didn't do.

Mr. POE. There was a grand jury investigation. I do not know who testified. The border supervisors were on the scene and were aware of the entire circumstances. No one knew that the drug dealer who disappeared back into Mexico had even been shot, and so they thought that the person was shot at and he disappeared. And the next thing they know, they are being questioned about 30 to 60 days later about the incident that occurred.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, in my previous life before coming to Congress, I was a prosecutor in Texas for a long time. Then I was a criminal court judge. Justice is one thing that we should always find in our country, but we don't always find it in our courts, unfortunately. This case that has now become very famous throughout the United States happens to deal with two border agents doing their job. They come in contact with a drug dealer on the violent Texas-Mexico border. The drug dealer bring in a million dollars' worth of drugs in a van. He abandons the drugs and the van, takes off, tries to run back to Mexico, gets in a confrontation with our border agents. Shots are fired. He is shot in the buttocks and disappears into Mexico. Our Federal Government brings the drug dealer back to the United States and grants him immunity from prosecution of a million dollars' worth of drugs in order to prosecute the border agents who were doing their job. He was given that immunity and testified against the two border agents. They were convicted and sent to a Federal penitentiary for 11 and 12 years. And for the most part of their sentence, which started in January, they have been in solitary confinement, what we reserve normally for the hardest and meanest and most violent criminals in our society. It turns out that this drug dealer was not just a mule bringing in drugs to get a little money for his sick mother back in Mexico, but while he was waiting to testify, given immunity, he goes back to Mexico and brings in another load of drugs worth about $800,000. Our Federal prosecutors knew about that second load of drugs, but they insisted that the jury not know about that second load of drugs, and the jury never heard about that second load of drugs. It is relentless prosecution in this case that is chilling the effect of our border agents on the border to do their job, which is to enforce the rule of law, to arrest drug dealers. Our Federal Government had the choice to prosecute two border agents that violated policy, or a drug dealer bringing in a million dollars' worth of drugs. Now, you would think that public policy would say we would go after drug dealers. But no, our Federal prosecutors went after the border agents. We still don't know why they were so relentless in that prosecution, but they were. So tonight, while we are here, we have two border agents serving time in the penitentiary. This amendment simply tries to right a wrong. It requires that no funds be used to incarcerate either one of these two border agents, Ramos and Compean, any further, and that they can be released from custody. Almost everyone agrees that the punishment is way out of line. Even the prosecutor said that once. Last week the Senate held hearings on the prosecution of this case in a bipartisan manner and said that these sentences were way out of line. And so this amendment will simply allow no Federal funds to be used to incarcerate these two border agents. Hopefully the House will continue to have hearings on why these two agents and other border agents have been prosecuted by the Western District of Texas while ignoring other violations of the law by drug dealers. I hope that my fellow colleagues on both sides of the aisle would agree to support this amendment and to allow the release of these two individuals, and not allow any Federal funds to be used to incarcerate two men who were simply doing their job for the rest of us on the violent Texas border.

Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have?

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from Florida for yielding me the time. There has been a consistent message that has been put forth by Congress that we are not interested in permanent bases in Iraq, but that should not diminish our need to have a presence there at this time. We must not jeopardize United States security interests. At issue here is the definition of the word ``permanent.'' No one can quite agree on what that really means. This bill is similar to one we passed earlier when we passed language in the supplemental on this topic. The point is, we do not intend to be in Iraq permanently. We are not interested in Iraqi oil. I do believe our military is stretched too thin throughout the world. We literally have a U.S. troop presence in almost every country on the globe, from military bases in Germany to Korea and other places in between. Some of those bases seem like they are permanent because we have been in those areas for so long. Our troops in those nations remain an issue of really another debate. The issue here is over permanent basing in Iraq. We should have installations or naval ships in an area where our troops can quickly deploy, and Iraq really should be no different. But we've never set out to occupy any nation. We are not an imperial Nation. We do not intend to violate the sovereignty of another nation by occupying it. This has always been United States policy. The United States came to liberate, not conquer, Iraq, and this is our policy. In a letter one of my colleagues addressed to Chairman Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pace was asked his thoughts on the need to have the U.S. enter into and retain the ability to enter into agreed military basing rights agreements with Iraq and in Iraq. In his response, General Pace stated it's the intention of the United States military to ``work closely with Iraq's sovereign government to decide the terms and what foreign military forces . . . will remain in Iraq.'' Historically, basing rights agreements have been a necessary part of diplomatic relations with foreign governments, but they've always been agreed to by the United States and that other nation. These agreements outline guidelines and conditions for operating American military bases and troops worldwide. It is both common and responsible for the United States to enter into temporary basing agreements with other countries hosting our troops. This is being done in every country hosting United States troops, and the representative Government of Iraq should not really be an exception. And we should continue to work with them on temporary basing, but not permanent basing. We shouldn't somehow put Iraq in some type of different category than we have other allies in the world, but we should make it clear that our basing rights are only temporary. So, designating that we may have temporary basing rights is only logical in Iraq, but a permanent presence in Iraq is not desired. And it has been the statement of this Congress before. So I support this legislation.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, Winston Churchill said that, ``We are masters of our fate, the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will never be denied us.'' Army PFC Brandon Keith Bobb believed in these words. He believed in the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He believed in freedom and liberation from tyranny and terrorism. Private First Class Bobb was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas, a small town in southeast Texas that I represent. He attended Memorial High School and was a member of the track and field team. His high school coach remembers a young man who exhibited leadership as a high school student. His fellow students looked up to him and followed his examples. Private First Class Bobb did not get the opportunity to graduate from Memorial High School because of Hurricane Rita. Hurricane Rita reared her vicious head and forced Bobb and his family to evacuate southeast Texas, and they relocated in Florida. He finished high school there. He did not always want to be in the United States Army. It was in Riverview that he decided his career path in life, to become a chef. So, after high school, Bobb enrolled in the Orlando Culinary Academy. However, he quickly decided that this career choice was really not for him, and he decided that he wanted to belong in the United States Army. He knew the United States was at war in action and Iraq, but he enlisted in the Army because he knew it was his duty. As private first class in the Army, Bobb became a military police officer in the 401st Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. He enjoyed being a military police officer, maintaining law and order on the Army base. According to Private Bobb, he said, ``As of now, being a military police officer is the best job in the world.'' He was a man of many friends, especially among his brothers in arms in the United States Army. Those who knew him knew a young man that had an easy going personality and a positive outlook on life. He was always cheerful and was a soldier that others looked to for support and to lend a helping hand. He was always thinking of others, according to his friends. He knew he was lucky in life, and he admitted on his personnel Myspace page that he hadn't always followed the straight and narrow path and had engaged in potentially dangerous activity growing up. But he was confident that that part of his life was behind him, and regardless of how tough he thought he was then, he knew in his heart that he was a real soldier in the Army. Private First Class Bobb continued and said, The United States Army is where the real tough men are at, my drill sergeants, my battle buddies, my commanders, and first sergeants that stand ready to die for the rest of us every day. Private First Class Bobb was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and was proud to go over to the vast desert sands of Iraq and defend freedom for the Iraqi people and represent the United States. He believed in his heart what he was doing was right. But on July 17, a week ago, Private First Class Bobb was traveling in a military Humvee in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad when a bomb detonated near the vehicle. The bomb killed Pfc. Brandon Bobb and two of his fellow soldiers. He was 20 years old. He was due home from duty on July 26. That would have been tomorrow, one week after he gave his life for his country. This is a recent photograph taken of Private First Class Bobb. This past Monday, this southeast Texas warrior, this son of Texas, came back to his beloved hometown. The citizens of Port Arthur turned out and honored him with a patriot's welcome. A water-made rainbow arch greeted the plane that carried the fallen soldier as hundreds of individuals from the town waving American flags lined the streets to pay final respects. Mr. Speaker, that's what people do in southeast Texas when our heroes come home. A lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, in a recent letter from Iraq, described what it meant to be an American warrior. He said, ``Our highest calling: to defend our way of life and Western civilization; fight for the freedom of others; protect our family, friends, and country; and give hope to a people long without it.'' Pfc. Brandon Bobb was that American warrior. He embodied what it meant to serve one's country with duty and honor, to put others above himself, and to defend the freedom of all Nations. We are a grateful Nation for the sacrifice of Pfc. Brandon Bobb. Our hearts and prayers are with his family and his Army buddies. Mr. Speaker, our young people who go to the valley of the gun and the desert of the sun are relentless, remarkable characters. They go where others fear to tread and where the faint-hearted are not found. These warriors represent the best of our Nation. They are the sons of liberty and the daughters of democracy. These few, these noble few are American warriors who take care of the rest of us. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, New Haven, Connecticut, has become exactly that: a new haven for illegal immigrants. The city will be granting illegals an ID card that will allow them to access city services, such as parks, the library, and the ability to open bank accounts. This ID card for illegals will become the first of its kind in our Nation issued by a city. Even though the American public is opposed to free-pass amnesty, this city doesn't understand it is still against the law to be in the United States illegally. But New Haven doesn't seem to care. They have already recruited banks that will allow use of these cards. Yale Law School volunteered free legal services. All in the name of helping people get away with breaking the law. New Haven, Connecticut, flaunts its encouragement of illegal entry. So since the Feds won't adequately enforce immigration laws and don't seem to know what to do with illegals, let's just invite all illegals to go to New Haven, Connecticut, where the city wants to have a safe sanctuary for them. Mr. Speaker, there should be consequences for cities like New Haven, Connecticut, that are bastions for illegals. Cities that openly promote violations of Federal law should lose Federal funds. And that's just the way it is.