Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in January 26, 1892, a young woman was born in Atlanta, Texas. Her name was Bessie Coleman and she continues to inspire generations of African American women around the United States and in the great state of Texas. As the tenth of thirteen children whose father had left to Oklahoma seeking refuge from racial barriers, she was forced to work at the cotton harvest every year to help support her family. However, in 1915, she moved to Chicago seeking to become something greater. She had no idea how this step would change American history forever. She began working as a manicurist in Chicago, but the stories of pilots from the First World War intrigued her. This, along with friendly taunts from her brother, would motivate her to learn how to fly. However, schools in America denied her entrance, so she set out to attend aviation school in France. She attended the Caudon Brother's School of Aviation, where she completed a 10 month program in only 7 months. She also received her international aviation pilot's license from the renowned Federation Aeronautique Internationale, making her the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot's license. But this is not the end of her amazing story. Coleman returned to the United States and specialized in stunt flying and parachuting. She earned her living by barnstorming and performing aerial tricks. She became the first African American woman to perform a public flight in America. Although she changed her mind about starting a flying school for African Americans, she still encouraged other African Americans to learn how to fly. Most importantly, she stood up for an entire community of people when she refused to perform in places that would not admit members of her race. Unfortunately, her life would end shortly at only 34 years old after a test flight gone wrong caused her to fall hundreds of feet to her death in April of 1926. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Coleman's strength, endurance, and ability to break down barriers are truly inspiring. I am incredibly proud that such an amazing legacy started in Texas. It is an honor to come from a state full of people known for breaking down barriers and overcoming obstacles against all odds. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, October 10 is Taiwan's national day-- also known as Double Ten Day. The United States and Taiwan have a strong relationship. Taiwan is a good friend and ally. I congratulate Taiwan on its national day. We also need to be standing by Taiwan and supporting its efforts to be a responsible member of the international community. The International Civil Aviation Organization or ``ICAO'' is a UN agency to ensure the safety of planes that fly around the world. But even though it is less than a week away, there has been no indication that Taiwan will be able to participate in ICAO's 39th Triennial Assembly on September 27. Three years ago, Taiwan was invited by the then-ICAO Council President to attend as a guest, but that invitation was no guarantee that Taiwan could keep attending. Congress passed a law three years ago encouraging ICAO to give Taiwan observer status. Giving Taiwan such status would contribute to the success of ICAO's mission to address aviation security threats through effective international cooperation. As our 9th-largest trading partner in 2015, Taiwan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a no-brainer. It would boost our trade relationship with Taiwan and would make the overall impact of TPP even better for Americans. To provide greater protection for investors in both countries, we should also work on completing a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan. In all, trade is an important part of our relationship with Taiwan and I hope my colleagues will join me in advocating for these steps. Again, I wish the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as China's economic might has grown over the past 30 years, so too has its military prowess. And while many are concerned about China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, we must not forget about the threat they pose to nuclear security. Since 1987 China has increased its military expenditures fivefold. Their military muscle includes upwards of 260 nuclear warheads and roughly 60 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), not to mention an upgraded ballistic missile delivery system. China may have joined the IAEA and be party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but actions speak louder than words and China has a history of supplying nuclear technology to countries of proliferation concern. We know that in the past China handed over design instructions, including information on warhead design, and fissile material to assist the Pakistanis in the development of their nuclear weapons. Even more recently it was discovered that Pakistan has a new 2,750km range Shaheen III nuclear ballistic missile that was carried on a 16-wheel transporter erector launcher or TEL for short. Pakistan's Shaheen III TEL is uncannily similar to the ones created by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and a Chinese provided TEL to North Korea's new KN-08 ICBM. If Pakistan's new TEL was acquired from China this demonstrates a highly concerning level of cooperation between the two governments that could directly threaten U.S. national security. Pakistan alone is a dangerous bedfellow, but if China has thrown its weight behind the government in Islamabad we need to remain on high alert for exchanges of sensitive nuclear information. To compound this threat to nuclear nonproliferation, China's most infamous client and partner in Communism is its neighbor to the east, North Korea. Pyongyang is estimated to have enough plutonium for a dozen nuclear weapons, and it is thought to be continuously producing highly enriched uranium. North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests and numerous test-fires of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental and submarine-launched missiles. The missile launchers used in these tests were made directly from Chinese designs. In the aftermath of North Korea's belligerent actions, China never fails to articulate its ``disappointment'' in its neighbor. But this connection between North Korea's nuclear missile capability and the Chinese government shows that what China says publically is fundamentally at odds with its real goals. China never backs up this ``disappointment'' with real action knowing full well that China is the only country that wields any sort of influence over the DPRK. China refuses to stringently enforce sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear program and since China accounts for 70 percent of North Korea's trade volume, these sanctions have little impact without Beijing's enforcement. When it comes down to it, the Chinese government is essentially allowing a dangerous nuclear state to conduct tests unchecked. China's danger to the nuclear nonproliferation regime cannot go unnoticed. Given China's emerging military power, we must be even more wary of China's actions in the nuclear field. For the sake of our national security we cannot afford to have the state-run communist country pull the wool over our eyes. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, back in 2012, the President told the American people that al-Qaeda was ``decimated.'' Two years later, the President touted U.S. success in ``taking out terrorists who threaten us'' in places like Somalia and Yemen, both countries with strong and active al-Qaeda branches. Look at those countries now: Somalia's al- Shabaab continues its terror campaign against Somali and AMISOM troops, and Yemen's rebel conflict has breathed new life into al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The problem with this Administration's assertions of success is that they fundamentally misunderstood al-Qaeda's strategy in light of the loud-mouthed tactics of its terrorist spinoff, ISIS. The two terrorist organizations seek the same end goal: the establishment of an Islamic state where only their strict interpretation of Islamic law is tolerated. However, ISIS and al-Qaeda disagree on the means to reach that end. Al-Qaeda's leaders and ideologues, including Osama bin Laden, have always advocated playing the long game: embedding itself in local populations, building relationships, and even allying with enemies and rivals in order to achieve their goals. Winning over the hearts and minds of local Muslim populations has always been the priority for al- Qaeda. ISIS, on the other hand, believes that the establishment of the caliphate is the supreme priority, judging that force--instead of persuasion--can garner the loyalty of local communities. While ISIS was busy conquering vast swaths of land in Syria and Iraq, al-Qaeda was not simply sitting back and watching dejectedly. It was entrenching itself throughout the Middle East, in Yemen, Syria, Libya and Tunisia. Al-Qaeda leaders, while fundamentally disagreeing with ISIS' establishment of a caliphate on Islamic legal grounds, also criticized what they saw as ISIS overstretching its resources. They were busy readying the grounds for ISIS' inevitable collapse and al- Qaeda's return to the spotlight. Unfortunately, the Administration misunderstands this. While focusing all of our attention on ISIS, we have overlooked al-Qaeda and dismissed it as defeated. This is exactly what al-Qaeda wants: the breathing room to grow stronger along with the optics of appearing more moderate to its extremist Muslim base than ISIS. Once ISIS loses all its territory in Iraq and Syria, as well as its fast shrinking base in Libya, it will be left with nothing but a band of sympathizers and a radical ideology. Al-Qaeda however will have developed deep ties to local communities throughout the region, strengthened its operational capabilities, and emerge more dangerous than ever. Success against ISIS should only be judged in the context of the global war on terror. Partial success in one battlefield and total failure in another will not be enough to ensure the security of our homeland. We must go after al-Qaeda now more than ever before it is too late. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on May 21, 2016, a U.S. drone strike killed the leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mansour. To no one's surprise, at the time of his death Mansour was in southwestern Pakistan. The drone strike Pakistan's longstanding support for terrorist groups. For example, Pakistan openly supported the Afghan Taliban both before and after the extremists took control of Kabul in 1996. Islamabad's connection to terrorist groups is so close that in 2011 Admiral Mike Mullen, then chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff testified before the Senate that ``the Haqqani network acts as a veritable arm of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.'' The Inter-Services Intelligence Agency or the ``ISI'' is Pakistan's version of the CIA. The Haqqani Network is not a nice group of people. They have killed more Americans in the region than any other terrorist group. A leaked NATO report in 2012 detailed Pakistan's ongoing relationship with the Taliban. The report described Pakistan's ``manipulation of the Taliban senior leadership'' and claimed that the government was aware of locations of senior Taliban leaders, including some who lived in the vicinity of the ISI headquarters in Islamabad. The laundry list of evidence of Pakistan's support for terrorists goes on and on. We all remember where al-Qaeda's leader and America's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden was found: in Pakistan, of course. In response to the bin Laden raid, Pakistan put the doctor who helped us in jail and closed the U.S. military's supply route from Karachi port to Afghanistan for 7 months. While Pakistan has been harboring and supporting terrorists with American blood on their hands, it also has been receiving billions in U.S. foreign assistance. In fact, Pakistan is one of the leading recipients of U.S. aid in the last 14 years. Congress has appropriated more than $33 billion to Pakistan since fiscal year 2002. One of the ways we have given Pakistan money over the years is by reimbursing them for efforts they take to fight terrorists. But a GAO study from 2008 found that the Department of Defense could not verify the validity of Pakistan's claims. The GAO study concluded that some reimbursed costs were potentially duplicative or not based on actual activity. In 2010, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Holbrook said that roughly 40 percent of Pakistan's reimbursement requests were rejected. Each year we say that Pakistan is at the crossroads and needs to decide whether it is going to fight terrorists or fight on our side. In fact, just two months ago the State Department's Ambassador Richard Olson, used this very line. But the United States has been using this line for the last 15 years. Enough is enough. Pakistan is playing us. They are trying to have it both ways. They want our money and they keep supporting terrorists who target Americans. I invited Ambassador Olson to come testify before us and explain himself, but he refused. Instead, the State Department said this was a ``particularly sensitive time in our relationship with Pakistan''. In other words, he was afraid Pakistan would come away looking bad. Well that might be just because Pakistan is bad. Now we have put conditions on aid to Pakistan before, requiring them to really go after terrorists if they want our money. But those conditions have always had a waiver attached to them and every year, the President has exercised that waiver. In other words, we paid Pakistan even though it did not go after terrorist groups. Well, for the first time last year, we did not include a waiver on $300 million of money for Pakistan. And guess what? Pakistan did not get the money because it had not gone after the terrorist groups. Even when there are hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, Pakistan refuses to go after terrorist groups. The reality is that Pakistan has chosen sides. And it isn't ours. It is time to change our policy towards Pakistan. We do not need to pay Pakistan to betray us. They will do it for free. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, an estimated 1,200 Iranian dissidents remain in Camp Liberty in Iraq at the mercies of the pro-Iranian government in Baghdad. These refugees, mainly members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (otherwise known as the MEK) are unarmed, innocent people who have been forced to flee their homes because of their opposition to the tyrannical theocratic regime in Tehran. They have endured decades of exile outside of Iran marked by continuous suffering and persecution. Since 2013, seven rocket attacks have targeted Camp Liberty, wounding hundreds and killing at least 139 residents. All of these attacks are believed to have been carried out either by Shiite militias in Iraq linked to the Iranian regime or by agents of the Iranian Quds Force. No one has been held accountable for these attacks. In fact, no one has even been arrested. Despite the fact that the Iraqi government signed a Memorandum of Understanding ensuring the safety and security of the residents of Camp Liberty, it appears that the Iraqi government's subservience to Iran takes precedence. These dissidents are not safe in Iraq and must be relocated as soon as possible to some other country. Thankfully, 1,800 residents have already been resettled outside of the country, particularly in Albania, which took in the most recent batches of refugees leaving Camp Liberty in early August. However, recent reports from MEK sources within Tehran now suggest that the Quds Force is contemplating another major strike on Camp Liberty before the remaining refugees are allowed to leave. At the same time, Quds Force-linked paramilitary forces have been increasing their presence in Baghdad International Airport--a troubling sign that could presage another strike on the camp that is located not too far from the airport. The Iranian government would like to extend the reign of terror it wages at home against any and all people who speak out against it-- including the dissidents in neighboring Iraq. How many more people have to die? How many more times will unarmed refugees be attacked by rockets? The Iraqi government must live up to its commitment and protect these refugees until every last one of them finds his or her way to safety. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the days leading up to the Brexit referendum, the President told our friend, Britain that if they were to leave the European Union, they would end up at the ``back of the queue'' for a trade deal. What an absurd statement to make to our most important ally. Throughout history we have worked side by side with the U.K. to overcome global crises. After the disastrous foreign policy for the last eight years, America has few true friends left in this world. A free trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. should not be at the back of the line, but at the front. The U.S. and Britain share a common heritage and values. We also have a deep and longstanding trade relationship grounded in our complimentary economies. The U.S. exported over $76 billion in planes, helicopters, spacecraft, and aircraft parts to the U.K. in 2014. Our inability to work towards a trade agreement with the U.K. will negatively affect more than 40 Aerospace companies in Texas alone. We are Britain's most important trading partner. The U.S. imports over $56 billion in goods every year from Britain and 20 percent of our exports bound for the EU end up in the U.K. market. We are also a major investor in the British economy, with U.S. foreign direct investment nearing $588 billion in 2014. Unlike the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a trade deal with the U.K. would be simple to broker. It could be as easy as expanding NAFTA to include the U.K., or creating a new model for more simplified trade agreements with individual countries in the future. A trade agreement with the U.K. would not only deepen our close friendship, but would also chip away at non-tariff regulatory barriers that are being built around the European Union, such as the different requirements for testing the safety of cars and drugs. A more streamlined and efficient trading relationship would reap benefits for both Washington and London. Britain's exit from the EU should be looked at as an American opportunity. The prospect of a bilateral U.S.-U.K. trade agreement is exciting; such an agreement would promote economic freedom, champion national sovereignty, and create a new model for other bilateral trade agreements. We have entered a strange time in politics--one in which free trade has never been more unpopular. Brexit presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate the positive impacts of free trade with one of our closest allies. We have already seen what can happen to global markets if the U.K. appears isolated: in the wake of the Brexit referendum the British pound plummeted by 7.6 percent against the dollar. Britain's continued seclusion will only cause more harm than good for the rest of us. And it doesn't end there. Economic disaster in London will translate into a reassessment of military and diplomatic relations in Washington. For the Administration to ignore both these risks and opportunities is a disservice to both our interests and those of our friends across the pond. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Pakistan is not America's trustworthy ally. For years, Pakistan has been aiding and abetting the enemies of the United States of America. These are not enemies who simply profess to hate us. These are groups and individuals with American blood on their hands. However, the United States continues to give billions of money to Pakistan. Frankly, Pakistan has been playing both sides on the war on terror. Pakistan openly supported the Taliban both before and after they came to power in Afghanistan. They provided the radical extremists with cover, cash, and weapons to conduct attacks. Senior Taliban leaders still live in Pakistan to this day. They are not all hiding in remote caves in the mountains far from the eyes of Pakistani officials. Some of these terrorist leaders are known to live in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. It came as no surprise that the leader of the Afghan Taliban was killed by a U.S. drone strike while in Pakistan in May. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the worldwide Taliban headquarters is . . . in the Pakistan city of Quetta. Pakistan is not America's trustworthy ally. There is more. The Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Agency fosters close, cozy ties with the Taliban leaders, directly assisting them to carry out a terrorist agenda approved by Islamabad. Documents leaked in 2010 revealed direct meetings between the ISI and the Taliban to organize and orchestrate attacks on American soldiers in Afghanistan. Pakistan's security services also maintain illegal ties to the Haqqani network, a rabid criminal terrorist syndicate that has claimed responsibility for numerous bloody attacks against American and NATO forces. Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified in 2011 that Pakistan supported many Haqqani network attacks in Afghanistan, including an assault on the U.S. Embassy. Admiral Mullen even called the Haqqani network ``the veritable arm of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency.'' Five years later, little has changed. This summer, the Department of Defense announced that it could not certify that Pakistan has taken action against the Haqqani network. Therefore, Pakistan lost hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. aid. Pakistan is not America's trustworthy ally. Yet another terrorist group protected by the ISI is Lashkar-e-Taiba, the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai, India massacre. This murderous rampage claimed the lives of 166 individuals and left over 600 wounded. This group arrogantly operates freely within Pakistan. Its founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is an open public figure in the country despite a $10 million dollar U.S. bounty on his head. Pakistan has even maintained contact with the perpetrators of the most devastating attacks on our homeland, al-Qaeda. In fact, in 1998 Pakistani nuclear scientists met with senior al-Qaeda leaders to discuss the possibility of the terrorist group developing a nuclear weapon. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the invasion of Afghanistan, outlaw leaders of al-Qaeda and the Taliban knew just where to find a hideout--across the border to Pakistan. Home sweet home. Evidence emerged in 2005 and 2008 that Pakistan's ISI was working hand in hand with al-Qaeda operatives to purchase arms. Further evidence shows the bandit groups moved Arab fighters to fight against Americans trying to bring peace to Afghanistan. Finally, Pakistan was harboring public enemy Number 1, the coward Osama bin Laden, in a luxurious home near a military compound. American Navy SEALs brought justice upon his head in 2011. These are well established facts that even the Administration has acknowledged Pakistan's despicable record of combatting terrorism. The most recent edition of the State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism plainly states that Pakistan ``did not take substantial action'' against terrorist groups nor did it limit their ability to attack U.S. interests in neighboring Afghanistan. It details the ongoing capabilities of terrorist groups to ``operate, train, organize, and fundraise in Pakistan.'' Pakistan is not America's trustworthy ally. In spite of this overwhelming evidence, the State Department still perversely and blissfully maintains that Pakistan is a ``critical counterterrorism partner.'' This simply does not make sense. The American people demand an explanation. Is Pakistan a friend or a foe in the fight against terrorism? My bill, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2016, will require the Administration to answer this question. The President must issue a report in 90 days detailing whether or not Pakistan has provided support for international terrorism. Thirty days later, the Secretary of State must issue a follow-up report containing either a determination that Pakistan is state sponsor of terrorism or a detailed justification as to why Islamabad does not meet the legal criteria for designation. A day of reckoning has arrived. Fifteen years after September 11, 2001, we have more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on. And it's not America's. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize Pro Football Hall of Famer, Kenny Houston, and pay tribute to his contributions to his alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. Kenny is one of the best football players to ever play the game; he is an outstanding member of our community, on and off the field. Kenny was born and raised in Lufkin, Texas and attended Dunbar High School where he started his long career in one of Texas' favorite past times, football. After graduating from high school in 1962, he chose to play football for Prairie View A&M University. During his time at Prairie View, he was a standout All-American in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and the Panthers won the 1963-1964 Black College National Championship Football title. The Houston Oilers made Kenny their 9th round pick in the 1967 draft, once again keeping him close to Texas. He played six seasons with the Houston Oilers, four under head coach Wally Lemm. Houston fans were upset when the Oilers traded Kenny in 1973 to the Washington Redskins. He then went on to play eight seasons in the prime of his career until he retired in 1980. He played a total of 14 seasons and 196 games in the National Football League. In recognition of his tremendous talent, he played in ten pro bowls and was named to the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the NFL's All-Time 75th Anniversary Team and in 1999, Sporting News named him one of the 100 greatest players in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Despite his big league career and national stardom, Kenny has never lost the small town values that helped shape him. After his professional football career, he followed his passion to teach and coach and remains a strong advocate for students. He is a dedicated family man, having been married to his wife Gustie for 49 years, and he is also the proud father of two grown children. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I commend this remarkable leader for giving back to our community, being a role model for our youth, and helping the next generation of athletes achieve their dream of attending college and playing football at the collegiate level. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Richard King is one of the many faces who shaped the ethics of hard work and endurance that define Texan values. He is the founder of King Ranch, but started his career as a river man, steamboat businessman, and later a livestock capitalist. He was born in New York City in 1824 to a poor Irish family. At only nine years old, Richard was indentured to a jeweler. However, he soon escaped as a stowaway on the Desdemona, a massive ship headed to Alabama. Once arriving, he spent the majority of his on the Alabama river learning from other boaters, and by the time he was 16 years old, he was a steamboat pilot. Richard joined the army in 1842 to fight the Seminole War in Florida, and it is there that he met Mifflin Kenedy, who eventually became a longtime business partner. During the war, Richard King started and commanded the ``Colonel Cross'' to transport troops and supplies down the river. When peace was made, Richard became a partner of M. Kenedy and Company, Mr. Mifflin Kennedy's steamboat company. But he didn't stop there. Richard began to expand his property, and after years scattered with trials, failures, and finally success, he became a master businessman. This aspiring gentleman's purchases and income grew greater and greater by the day. In several partnerships, he bought land in the Nueces Strip in 1853, when he purchased the 15,500- acre Rincon de Santa Gertrudis grant from the heirs of Juan Mendiola, then 53,000-acre Santa Gertrudis de la Garza grant from Jose Perez Rey. These pieces of at first barren land became the birthplace of King Ranch. With expansions and renovations, this land increased, and by the time of his death in 1885, King had made over sixty major purchases of land and amassed some 614,000 acres. Every good Texan knows of the trails to northern markets and Ft. Worth stock market. Richard sent more than 100,000 livestock up these trails, taking it upon himself to expand the Texas ranching industry. Richard King was not only a rancher, river man, and businessman, but a man of generosity and service to his country, using his resources as he could in every battle. He symbolizes the heart of the American dream, rising from an indentured servant and runaway boy, to one of the wealthiest and most powerful men of the West. He died at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. His last instruction to his lawyer was, ``Not to let a foot of dear old Santa Gertrudis get away''. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, twenty-seven years ago, every parent's nightmare became a painful reality for Jerry and Patty Wetterling. On October 22, 1989, Jacob Erwin Wetterling was kidnapped while riding his bike in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and his abduction remained unsolved until last week. I was a judge in Houston, Texas where many of my cases involved horrific abuse of children. I clearly remember the day of Jacob's abduction, and I also recall and honor the work of his parents, Patty and Jerry, that literally changed how we view child protection in America. Patty Wetterling became a fierce advocate for child safety, and her heroic efforts led to the creation of sex offender registries in all 50 states and here in DC. Patty and Jerry founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center to educate and assist families and communities to address and prevent the exploitation of children. When Jacob's remains were found earlier this month, the shock to America--and to countless advocates who work to help child victims and survivors--was profound. Our hearts ached for Jacob's family. And then our hearts were truly inspired by their response, and their challenge, to us all. Patty Wetterling has said of Jacob, ``He's taught us all how to live, how to love, how to be fair and how to be kind.'' Last week, she encouraged us all to emulate Jacob Wetterling's too-brief life by simply doing #11forJacob: 1. Be fair 2. Be kind 3. Be understanding 4. Be honest 5. Be thankful 6. Be a good sport 7. Be a good friend 8. Be joyful 9. Be generous 10. Be gentle with others 11. Be positive If we ALL practiced #11forJacob on a daily basis, our Nation--and our communities and homes and schools--would be a much better place to live. Jacob and his family inspire us to just do and be better. As the Co-Founder and Chair of the U.S. Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, I honor Jacob Wetterling by encouraging you to honor the legacy of his life. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, sitting in Guantanamo Bay are cold- blooded, calculating terrorists that have either already killed Americans or had planned to do so. The high-security prisoners that remain at GITMO committed some of the most repulsive crimes known to all of us. Despite this fact, this Administration--since literally day one--has promised to close GITMO all together and release these terrorists back into the world. Mr. Speaker, why would we do that? Many of the terrorists we have released have re-entered the battlefield. The Administration even admitted earlier this year that at least 12 former detainees were implicated in attacks overseas against Americans and our allies--and those are just the ones we know of. So why would we continue to let terrorists go? Mr. Speaker, I have been to GITMO. Most Americans would be surprised to know it's actually nicer than most facilities we have here in the states. GITMO has soccer fields, volleyball courts, table tennis, you name it. It also has new medical facilities and new dental facilities. When I visited GITMO, I ate the same meal the prisoners did, and the food was good. But the Administration is more concerned with the President's legacy than global safety and the potential victims of these prisoners' attacks. I do not think the White House has its priorities straight. That's why I'm happy to support Congresswoman Walorski's efforts to prohibit the transfer of any detainees from GITMO. Transferring detainees from Guantanamo endangers American citizens, and it endangers our national security. Put simply, it is a bad idea. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ``This is not directed at Japan. The nuclear development is toward the United States,'' said an adviser to North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un. Frankly, Little Kim makes his father look normal. His saber-rattling regime has once again attempted to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the administration is naively pursuing a strategy they call ``strategic patience.'' In layman's language, that means ``doing nothing.'' This hopeless appeasement policy has not worked. The North Korean plan is to launch nuclear missiles from submarines at the United States. Isn't that lovely? The rogue state's belligerency has put the entire region at grave risk of aggression, nuclear proliferation, and war. Historically, North Korea, like Iran, was a state sponsor of terrorism. Eight years ago, the United States withdrew the designation when North Korea lied and promised to halt its nuclear program. But North Korea continues to develop nukes. Strategic patience is a blissfully ignorant failed foreign policy. North Korea must have consequences for its aggressive and belligerent actions. Time to put Junior Kim's regime back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, because he is a terror to world peace. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, modern day slavery is happening all around us, and it occurs in the form of human trafficking. Victims are sold into sex slavery, drugged, beaten, threatened and forced to engage in horrifying acts at the demand of their captors. While many Americans are aware that human trafficking occurs, most think it exists primarily in faraway countries. This assumption however, is wildly mistaken. Many of us do not realize that in this nation, and in our very own backyards, individuals are held against their will, their bodies sold repeatedly day in and day out. In every state, city and suburb traffickers prey upon the most vulnerable and chain them to a life of unimaginable misery. As Americans, we cannot turn a blind eye to this fact any more. Human trafficking victims are constantly moved around by their traffickers, whether that's across our borders or around the country. This movement helps them evade law enforcement and increase profits by shuffling victims from buyer to buyer. With traffickers constantly on the road, who could possibly find and rescue these victims? Kylla Lanier asked herself that exact question several years ago when she set out to battle the scourge of human trafficking. It seemed insurmountable. Trafficking was everywhere, but then again she thought, so were truckers. Kylla, her mother and three sisters went on to pioneer the anti- trafficking group, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). At 3.5 million strong, American truckers are an ideal ally in the war against trafficking. They have eyes and ears everywhere, from 12-lane freeways to dark back alleyways. The idea is simple. TAT trains truckers to spot potential trafficking operations or victims and report to a 24-hour hotline. These tips have already freed hundreds of trafficking victims, and as TAT continues to educate more truckers, we expect that number to rise. Due to the simplicity and success of this strategy, many trucking schools now teach trafficking prevention as part of their core curriculum. I whole-heartedly applaud the efforts of Kylla and her family, as well as those of all the truckers who have joined this fight against trafficking. We should all learn from this success story, but truckers cannot do this alone. We have a long road ahead of us in order to eradicate our country of modern day slavery. We must continue to raise awareness across all fields and in all parts of our society. The only way to defeat the evil of human trafficking is by banding together and working as one. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this month William ``Bill'' Sherrill turns 90 years young. This energetic veteran still has the same passion for our country and our military that he had the day he enlisted into the Marines at 15 years of age in 1941. As a young teenager, Bill served during World War Two and participated in the island hopping campaign until he was wounded in Iwo Jima. Born in the 1920s, Bill grew up in the Depression of the 1930s poor, in Houston, Texas. At the age of 15, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Bill dropped out of Lanier Middle School and answered his country's call of duty to serve by joining the U.S. Marines. Bill said ``he didn't lie about his age; I'm from Texas, I exaggerated my age.'' During this time, the United States' major strategy was launched against Japan in a strategy called island hopping. This tactic was employed by the United States to gain military bases and secure small islands in the Pacific. Our military took control of the islands and quickly constructed landing strips and military bases. Then they proceeded to attack other islands from the bases they had established. Bill belonged to the 3rd Marines, 9th Battalion, and they participated in several campaigns along Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. In February 1945, his troop invaded Iwo Jima on the seventh day. It was a month long bloody battle against Imperial Japan that resulted in 7,000 Marines who were killed and over 20,000 were injured; mostly young Marines. Bill lasted seven days, before being shot through the left arm; he went out on the fourteenth day of the battle. Bill recalls seeing the flag ``Old Glory'' that was famously waved over Mount Suribachi. From that experience, Bill knew that the Marines go where others fear to tread, and the timid are not found. For his injuries, Bill was treated at Oakland Naval Hospital. The bullet severed the nerve in his left arm, leaving his arm paralyzed and causing Bill to spiral into depression. But, Bill's story is not over. For his service and bravery, Bill received the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. While recovering at the Naval Hospital, Bill also earned his GED (General Education Diploma). This would set him on a new course of training--from the battlefield to the classroom. After his discharge in 1946, he moved back to Texas and enrolled at the University of Houston. Four years later, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and then his Master's at the Harvard School of Business. Bill never gave up. He was wounded, uneducated and paralyzed but he continued to press forward. With his determination to never give in, Bill has had many successes. He has owned several businesses and even helped develop Tiki and Jamaica Island in Galveston. Banking and real estate were his main interests. He was employed by the City of Houston, served as president of a local bank, owned a financial consulting firm, and even served on the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. With this diverse and fascinating career, it wasn't until 1990, that Bill discovered his true passion--teaching. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Houston, to teach at the Bauer College of Business Administration. Three years later, he founded the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at University of Houston. Ronald Reagan best summed it up when he said, ``Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.'' That's certainly true for Bill, a remarkable man who has certainly made a difference in our community and in the lives of many. Happy 90th, Oooh Rah. Semper Fi. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the year was 1839 and thousands of families were looking to settle new lands for their families across the prairies and for the Ross family, Texas was where they chose to raise their young children. Lawrence Sullivan Ross was still an infant when they moved to Texas, and he grew up seeing just how wild the land of this fledgling nation was. He was only eleven when he was involved in his first Indian fight, and through the years helped his father protect the area around Waco from attacks. Though he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become an Indian fighter, as a young man he realized the need for an education and enrolled at Baylor University. After graduation, he joined the Texas Rangers and quickly won favor among many of his superiors, including the governor of Texas, Sam Houston. Houston gave Ross the authority to raise a small militia and Ross spent the next several years fighting against Comanche raiding parties. He only halted his service when the Civil War broke out. He fought in the Sixth Texas Calvary division and was promoted to brigadier general in 1863, and began commanding the Texas Calvary Brigade (later called ``Ross's Brigade.'') While his health suffered during the war, Ross's desire to serve the state that he loved stayed as strong as ever. So instead of continuing to fight, his friends convinced him to run for public office. He served in the Senate for a full term, but later found that state politics were more agreeable with him, and ran for governor. Working hard to serve those around him, people would later describe his terms in office as ``one of good will and harmony.'' But it wasn't until he left office that he started doing what he considered his greatest public service. After his last term finished as governor, he stepped right into his role as the new president of the small, failing Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Through his leadership the school was able to start growing again, and many new buildings were added on. Today that college enjoys its status as a world-class school, and goes by the name of Texas A&M University. He passed away during his tenure as president in the then-small town of College Station. His love for the people of Texas was evident in all that he did. Whether it in the armed forces, up here on Capitol Hill, or paving the way for Texas's next generation, he was always striving to serve his community. Mr. Speaker, I hope that every one of us here, regardless of our party or political stance, would take after his example, always viewing our time here as an opportunity to serve the great people of this nation. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during negotiations with the criminal Ayatollah, the U.S. paid Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror, a $400 million ransom to free hostages. Shockingly, the administration now has made two additional payments, totaling $1.3 billion. Speculation is our government may have used underhanded and sneaky tactics, multiple hard currencies, and precious metals to hide the filthy lucre from Americans. The government's payments of bags of clanking coins to the outlaw nation will not go to build roads and bridges and hospitals. Instead, it is going to Iran's corrupt military and helping radical terrorists continue to spread murder and aggression. Illusionaries say that the Iranian nuclear bribe deal will help us live together in peace and harmony. Peace is not what the rogue nation wants. They want death to America. Why did our government pay off the Ayatollah to preach hate and prepare for war? We don't need to pay Iran to hate us. They will do it for free. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Georgia Caucus, I would like to take a moment to thank Ambassador Archil Gegeshidze for his dedication to developing a deep and meaningful U.S.-Georgia partnership. His Excellency Gegeshidze was appointed as the Ambassador of Georgia to the United States in March 2013. Since that time, he has served his country faithfully and worked tirelessly to improve Tbilisi's relationship with Washington. Georgia sits in a region full of dictators, but it remains a stalwart beacon of democracy. It is on the basis of democracy and freedom for all that Ambassador Gegeshidze has worked to strengthen Georgia's ties with the United States. While there is still work to be done, with the Ambassador's help, Georgia has made significant strides ensuring freedom of the press, preventing corruption, and pursuing a free market system. Throughout Ambassador Gegeshidze's appointment in the U.S., he has shown time and time again that Georgians share the same values as Americans. Georgian soldiers forged a strong bond with American soldiers as they fought alongside each other on the battlefield in Afghanistan. Georgians have also helped facilitate the growth of American law firms, colleges, energy and IT companies in their country. Our peoples' mutual dedication to being forces for good in the international community shines through in all aspects of our relationship. I am proud of the way Ambassador Gegeshidze has represented the Georgian people here in America and worked to achieve our shared strategic goals. Together Georgians and Americans alike must continue the good work of the Ambassador. Given Russia's aggression in the region, we must continue to press for Georgia's membership in NATO. Also, in light of the increased trade between our two countries, it would be a smart move to start negotiations on a U.S-Georgia free trade agreement. Thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Gegeshidze, the bond between Georgia and the United States is strong. He will be greatly missed, but he leaves Washington with a robust U.S.-Georgia partnership in place for his successor. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the year was nineteen-sixty-nine. Everyone around the country was glued to their TVs, waiting for video footage of one of the most incredible achievements in human history to hit their screens: a man on the moon. As a young adult in 1969, I watched Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon and felt a swell of pride when the first word spoken on the moon was ``Houston.'' I am still proud to share a hometown with NASA. The journey to a moon landing included years of research, tests, and failures. These trials culminated into something that would have seemed unfathomable to anyone just a few years before. A man had piloted and landed a craft on the moon, gotten out, walked around, taken pictures, and returned home safely. The Space Race was a defining point of the Cold War, and perhaps the most exciting. The Cold War brought fear to the United States, including the looming threat of nuclear war. But the United States was not discouraged, and perservered to innovation with the American values of hard work and dedication. In the midst of fear, the invention of space travel created hope for the future. The Space Race gained as much attention as the Arms Race, and President Kennedy's fierce speeches reminded the American public that this endeavor was just as important in the war against the Soviet Union. Hundreds of the brightest minds in America were called upon not to prepare for war, but to become the new Columbus' and Magellans as explorers of this ``new and final frontier.'' The Space Program quickly began to receive the same treatment as the Nuclear Arms Programs, with millions of dollars flowing into numerous top secret projects. The newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, was faced with one of the toughest jobs on the planet. How were they going to find the men smart enough to construct a device that could not only go to the moon but land for an extended duration and reenter Earth's atmosphere? Not to mention that a few years before a single computer had to have an entire room to be housed in, and they had to find the men brave (or foolish) enough to fly such a contraption to its harsh and unforgiving destination. In the beginning, figuring out how we were going to put a man on the moon was not easy. Hundreds of men from all over the country were scratching their heads wondering how they were going to have enough fuel to get them there and back again with all the necessary equipment. It was John Houbolt, an engineer from Iowa who had an ingenious idea that, at the time, seemed ludicrous. Houbolt believed that more fuel could be conserved if the main craft stayed in orbit around the moon and much smaller lander would detach land on the moon, and then reattach with the main craft when it was time to depart. But this idea stretched so far from what NASA's current team was already working on that many dismissed it. They would have to completely redesign the rocket, not to mention design this new ``lander'' and figure out how it would fit into the rocket with the astronauts. And they would have to finance even more training for the astronauts who would have to learn to detach and place the lander on the moon, and then relaunch and dock again with the orbiting rocket. But it didn't take long for Houbolt to make his point. He insisted that this was the best way to accomplish a moon mission, and after months of hard work and redesign after redesign, the lunar lander was born. The iconic ``spider'' shaped lander is now exhibited in museums around the country, and without it the Apollo missions would have never left the launch pad. But to pilot these machines of genius, some extraordinarily brave men were needed to explore the final frontier. NASA searched for some of the most gifted pilots and found one in the young Edward White from San Antonio. He was picked to man one of the early Gemini missions, Gemini 4, which only orbited the earth before coming back and acted as a stepping stone before the Apollo missions. During this mission, White became the first American to walk in space, exiting the vehicle and looking down at the Earth below. He was so exhilarated by the experience that he refused to come back into the vehicle at first and had to be given a direct order before he would comply. ``I'm coming back in . . .'' he told Houston, ``and it's the saddest moment of my life.'' Unfortunately, the story of how we made it to the moon is not without tragedies. After proving himself in the Gemini missions, Edward White was selected for the first Apollo mission. It was mere weeks before Apollo I was set to launch when the three-man crew was scheduled for a ``plugs out the test,'' meaning they would go through the takeoff procedure without leaving the launch pad. Suddenly, a fire broke out in the main cabin. Pure oxygen quickly filled the tiny cabin, fueling the rapidly spreading fire, and ultimately killing all three men aboard. While such tragedies set us back in our pursuit of the moon, we have never surrendered to a challenge. The loss of these three brave men only caused NASA to crack down harder on the designs of the vessels that would take men to space, making them more efficient and safer than ever before. As technology evolves, space travel has become safer, however, disaster still strikes. We still remember the brave men and women aboard the Challenger and the Columbia during the shuttle missions. Portraits of these brave men and women adorn the halls of Congress, displayed for all visitors to see. Their sacrifice has only strengthened our resolve to reach for the stars. Failure is simply not an option. But apart from the men that space exploration has inspired or the technology that these programs created to make the world a better place, the space race had a profound effect on the nation. There has been nothing quite like it since. John F. Kennedy, whether or not you liked the man or his policy, definitely had a passion for the space program, and he brought that passion to each and every one of his public speeches. It was this passion, along with the dedication of all the members involved with the project, that was passed along to the American public. Whether we were watching with baited breath from our televisions at home, engineering the rocket or flying the spacecraft, the United States was in this together. It was this devotion that united the American people like had never before, except for during war time. We were no longer Democrats or Republicans, we were Americans, cheering on and supporting the gallant men and women who were setting foot into this brave new world. No longer would bloodshed be required to bring this country together. The space race proved that Americans could come together not only in tragedies but triumphs; triumphs that would shape the world as we know it. Mr. Speaker, the space race as we knew it then will never return with the same vengeance. Technology progresses in different, and much faster, ways than it did during the height of the Cold War. But our space quest inspired millions of people around the globe, and that dream of future space exploration is still alive. I hope that while this governing body must face many serious and somber issues to keep this country safe and prosperous, that such a time will not fade from our memories, and that the American space dream will never fade away. Its unfortunate that we've seen the demise of NASA, a self-inflicted wound by our own Federal Government. In the interest of national security, we must continue to support the American space dream. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, September 9/11. I was driving my Jeep to the courthouse where I was a judge. On radio station KILT, Willie Nelson was singing ``Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.'' Suddenly, local radio newscaster Robert B. McEntire interrupted. An airplane had crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Minutes later a second airplane crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. After I got to the courthouse we learned the Pentagon was hit. A fourth flight was headed towards D.C. But good folks on the flight took down the airplane. They gave their lives so that others could live. Our Nation was under attack. The cold blooded, calculated massacre was done by 19 radical Islamic jihadists who murdered in the name of religion. America stood hand in hand that day. United. First Responders rushed to the scene, pulling people from the rubble. They were peace officers, firefighters, paramedics and everyday folks. Many of them died that day. Today we remember them all. The ones who were murdered, and the ones who gave their lives rescuing the victims. Mr. Speaker, America survived that day. And America remains fearless on every front. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Sunday marks 15 years since America was viciously attacked in 2001. Everyone remembers what they were doing. I was driving my Jeep to the courthouse in Texas, where I was a judge. People stopped on the side of the road because they were listening to the radio about how planes were used as a weapon to attack our Nation. Three thousand Americans and people from other nations were murdered at the hands of evil, malicious terrorists, and our country changed forever that day. The lives of those families especially changed, those families that suffered loved ones who were killed and injured and are still injured today. Meanwhile, we are here debating whether or not these families of the victims deserve their basic right, under the Constitution of the U.S., to their day in court, the right to sue the perpetrators. I don't think there should be much dissenting on this issue. Mr. Speaker, if any foreign government, if it can be shown to have supported a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, American victims ought to have the right to sue that country. Based on the 28 pages held secret for years, there may be evidence that the country of Saudi Arabia and their officials may have had some involvement in planning the elements of that attack. I don't know. That is what the courtroom is for. Whether this involvement rises to the level to be held accountable at trial is an issue for a jury of Americans to decide. It is interesting that Saudi Arabia objects to this legislation. Methinks they object too much. Like any other issue, we should let a jury decide the damages, what they should be, whether there should be any at all. The legislation gives the victims' families access to the courts, to the rule of law, and we, as a people, should be more concerned about these victims of terror than we are about diplomatic niceties with other countries. The voices of the murdered cry out for us to do justice, and justice has been waiting too long; 15 years for justice. Mr. Speaker, justice is what we do in this country, and that is what these victims and their families want. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, every summer youth without access to books lose academic skills, while those who are reading continue to make progress in developing their proficiency. Studies show that summer learning loss is a significant cause of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth. Students from low-income households learn at the same rate as their peers while school is in session, but while middle- and upper-income students show slight gains in their reading performance after the summer months, lower income students experience a two-month loss in reading achievement. It is what teachers refer to as the ``summer slide'' or ``summer setback.'' This loss is cumulative: while teachers spend 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching material to the students who have fallen behind over the summer, other students are progressing with their skills. The result? By the end of the sixth grade, children who lose reading skills during the summer are on average 2 years behind their peers. Even more startling is the conclusion of University of Nevada research, which has shown that students without access to books are less likely to complete their basic education. The simple fact is that there are fewer opportunities for daily summer reading when both parents are away at work. Without access to books, our kids fall behind. My daughter teaches English at Baylor University. She has dedicated her life to edifying the young people of this country by instilling in them a love for reading, and for the intellectual tradition it gives them access to. This love needs to start early, and the inheritance of that tradition should be accessible to all Americans. That is why I am proud of the efforts of KHOU and Star Furniture, who are rolling out a new community effort to increase the literacy rate in Houston. They are soliciting donations for the non-profit group ``Books Between Kids,'' which provides at-risk children with books that they can keep in their home. We need more programs like this in our country.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Kingwood Girls' Rugby Club 2015-2016 team for going undefeated in the regular season, making it to the state finals, and participating in the 2016 High School Division at the Penn Mutual Rugby Championship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their achievement is a testament to the dedication of head coach, Josh Dill, and assistant coach, Nick Carline, and the player's work ethic. Balancing school and athletics is not an easy task and these student athletes work hard in the classroom and continually strive to improve their craft. The families, teachers, friends, and the entire community are very proud of the Kingwood Girls' Rugby team. It is with great pleasure to recognize the members of the 2015-2016 Kingwood Girls' Rugby team: Amber Balow Mckenzie Borchers Isabelle Haro Ella Hurley Avery Lobusch Delanna Martin Bryanna Matschiner Monica Reescano Katie Rozum Deja Steinbrecher Sierra Titus Jennifer Villanueva Taylor Welch Tori Wilson Nick Carline (assistant coach) Josh Dill (head coach) And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, too often victims of human sex trafficking are ashamed. But, Mr. Speaker, the traffickers and the buyers are the ones who should be ashamed and shamed. Buyers and sellers want to remain anonymous, but those days are over. It is time to use public punishment for their dastardly deeds. As a judge in Texas, I successfully used public punishment. The SHAME Act will give Federal judges the discretion to publish the names and photographs of convicted human sex traffickers and buyers as well as sending them off to prison. Buyers and sellers who force victims to repeatedly sell their bodies should be publicly shamed for all of us to see. Photos of slave traders and buyers that appear on billboards will also deter other would-be criminals. Such photographs should appear before large conventions or sporting events--events where trafficking, unfortunately, increases. Let the public see the faces of slave traders and buyers of children--children that are sold on the marketplace of sex trafficking. Shame traffickers, and shame on them. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the date was September 1, 1939. It was a date that would change the world forever. Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland by air, land, and sea, igniting the Second World War and throwing the world into turmoil. Hitler used what is known as the ``blitzkrieg strategy'' to occupy Poland. He attacked the country by air to destroy its infrastructure; meanwhile, he directed a massive land and sea invasion to take the nation. Poland's troops and military were unequipped to effectively fight the Germans, so consequently Poland quickly fell under the control of Germany and the Soviet Union. Hitler had hoped that Britain and France would tolerate the invasion like they had when Hitler invaded Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia. However, the invasion of Poland was one invasion too many, and it significantly altered the course of history, launching the allied and axis powers into a full scale world war. Germany initially intended to invade Poland on August 26, not September 1. Hitler had signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union on August 23 to ensure that the USSR would not come to Poland's aid, and within the treaty, Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland between them once conquered. However, Hitler made a last minute decision to postpone the attack because, on August 25, Britain signed the Polish-British Common Defense Pact, guaranteeing Poland military support if invaded. Hitler utilized false propaganda throughout the next few days in an attempt to justify Germany's impending invasion of Poland and to prevent Britain from coming to its aid. Hitler secretly attacked small installations inside Germany and framed it on Poland, attempting to pose as the victim instead of the aggressor. The propaganda failed, though, and both Britain and France entered the conflict when Germany overtook Poland. The breakout of WWII, however, cannot be attributed to any single event, but rather an accumulation of issues that climaxed in a destructive standoff between the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Bulgaria) and the Allies (The United States, Great Britain, France and--later--the Soviet Union). The world had been anticipating war for a long time preceding Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland. The global balance was unstable after World War I (initially and ironically considered ``the War to End All Wars'') and international tensions remained high. Germany especially was dealing with significant instability and neglect as a consequence of the First World War, and this national crisis led to the election of Adolf Hitler. Hitler's invasion on this day 77 years ago provoked Britain and France to declare war against the malicious power on September 3, 1939, leading to a long and bloody international conflict. For nearly two years, America attempted to remain out of the military conflict, calling itself a neutral power. However, on several occasions before entering the war, American military vessels (including USS Reuben James and USS Kearny) and British civilian vessel SS Athenia were attacked by German submarines, resulting in American military and civilian casualties. The breaking point for the United States eventually occurred during the morning hours of December 7, 1941. It was a date that would live in infamy, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes soared over Pearl Harbor, the American naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, destroying a significant portion of our nation's Pacific Fleet and taking thousands of American lives with it. This unforgivable attack against the United States provoked Roosevelt and Congress to declare war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Subsequently, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, and America joined the Allied Powers' fight against the Axis. In the end, we notably contributed to the extinguishment of Nazi Germany and the defeat of its allies. World War II transformed the globe as the deadliest war in history. Over the course of the war, more than 72 million people lost their lives, leaving nations and families from all around the globe in deep despair. Out of the 690 million people who fought in WWII, 16.1 million were Americans; of those 16.1 million courageous soldiers, nearly 292,000 sacrificed their most precious possessions--their lives--for the greater good of our nation and our world. The United States was left in grieving. Wives cried for their fallen husbands, sisters for their brothers, and mothers for their sons. These heroes honorably gave everything to fight one of the vilest brands of evil the world has ever seen. Thanks to our brave military and committed allies who fought in World War II, the world is a better place.