Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Texas. I now yield to the gentleman from Round Rock, Texas, Judge John Carter.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman. I would ask the Speaker how much time I have remaining.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for his comments. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Steve Stockman.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the Speaker. I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Blake Farenthold.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman. I now yield to Mr. Bill Flores from Texas.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for his comments. Mr. Speaker, Sam Johnson is a remarkable individual. The nickname that the Vietnamese gave him of Diehard, he's still that way. He's hardcore. He is opinionated, and he can back up everything he says. But that's a good thing. He does represent the best that we have in this country. His military background: We have, in the House of Representatives, Members of Congress, both sides, that have served in our military, all branches, in the Reserves, the National Guard, they served in World War II, they served in Korea and Vietnam, like Sam Johnson. They've served in both Iraqi wars, the Afghanistan war, and they're still serving today. We have Members who have lost their limbs for this country while on active duty serving this country. And Sam Johnson is among that elite that have represented America, the flag, and our country when our country needed our military. He's married, three kids--you now know that one of them died recently--and he has 10 grandkids. He served in the war, the second war, not the Korean War, but the second one, the Vietnamese War, came back home. Americans didn't treat our war veterans from Vietnam very well. They were treated real bad, in fact. Some of our American troops, when they came back home from serving in Vietnam, they wouldn't wear the uniform because Americans would ridicule them for what the country asked them to do. America has learned since Vietnam. We treat our warriors a lot better now. We treat them like they ought to be treated when they come back home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world. Our warriors from Vietnam didn't get the appropriate welcome back, as already mentioned. Tonight, we welcome back one of them. We welcome back Colonel Sam Johnson, United States Air Force, reporting for duty. After spending 7 years in a prisoner-of-war-camp, 4 years in solitary confinement, as I pointed out, 9 feet by 3 feet for 4 years, 24 hours a day, leg irons at night, taken out in the daytime and beat. Never broke. Diehard. Never gave in. He was never broken. Remarkable individuals, these Americans who serve and wear the uniform. It's a rare breed, but it's the American breed, and that's what makes us free, those people, those remarkable people who wear the uniform and serve, and serve overseas, and serve in prisoner-of-war camps, if necessary. So we thank Sam Johnson. We thank all who have served and are serving today for their service to our great country. But especially tonight, we welcome home Sam Johnson of the United States Air Force. And that's just the way it is. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Mike, a truck driver, pulled over at a rest stop. He noticed a young girl approaching multiple trucks. The girl, who was clearly under age, came up to his cab and offered him sex for money. She seemed scared, and he asked her a few questions. She told him that, if she did not bring in enough money for her trafficker, the beatings by him would get worse. Thank goodness she had the courage to call for help. Mike understood the signs of human trafficking through an organization called Truckers Against Trafficking. He called the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, and authorities immediately arrived. The trafficker was arrested, put in jail, and the girl was rescued. I commend Truckers Against Trafficking. It is critical for our citizens to be educated about sex trafficking so we can end this scourge. America cannot continue to be blissfully silent while modern- day slavery is occurring in our communities. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was fall of 1835. Mexican President Santa Anna had dissolved the Constitution and made himself dictator. Tensions began to flare between his oppressive government and the liberty minded desires of Texians and Tejanos. To suppress the rumblings of unrest and revolution the Mexican military leaders began their quest to quietly disarm the Texians. One of the first actions was to retrieve a cannon lent to the Texian colonists at Gonzales. The famous bronze cannon was loaned to the Gonzales colonists by the Mexican government in 1831 to defend themselves from hostile Apaches and Comanches. Mexican Corporal Casimiro De Leon and a few soldiers were sent to reclaim the cannon. That task was easier said than done. The feisty Texians said they were keeping the gun and took the soldiers prisoner. The ladies of settlement even made a flag bearing the words ``Come and Take It!'' to be flown over the cannon. The cannon had been buried in a peach orchard near the Colorado River for safety, but was retrieved shortly after and readied for battle and mounted on cart wheels. The Mexican government responded by sending Lieutenant Francisco de Castaneda of the Mexican Army and 150 troops to put an end to the dispute. They were met by a militia of frontier Texians and Indian fighters who simply said, ``There it is--come and take it.'' After a few shots were fired by both sides the Mexican army left the engagement. The Battle of Gonzales went on to be known as the ``Lexington of Texas''. It was Act I of the Texas War of Independence. It was similar to Lexington because sixty years earlier the British had tried to seize the weapons of the colonists at Lexington and Concord. The Texas War, like the American War of Independence, began because oppressive government tried and failed to disarm the people. The citizens of Texas would not surrender their arms to appease the overbearing Mexican regime. History has an odd way of repeating itself. Flash forward 200 years. One night I was at a town hall meeting in Spring when a local preacher came up to me to share his concerns about where our country was headed. It is always refreshing for me to hear from normal people in Southeast Texas after spending all week long in the land of the bureaucrats. I will always remember this particular neighbor because of his strong opinions and his shirt. It had a photograph of the Bible and two .45 Colt revolvers with the words ``I love my Bible'' and ``I love my guns''. Naturally, they were in the right order. God then guns. Leave it to a Texas preacher to keep it all in perspective. You wouldn't see that shirt up in Washington, DC. Some elites outside of our Great State fear ``us southerners'' and our colt 45s, and ridicule those who cling to their guns and religion. In Texas we have a rich tradition of proudly celebrating the right to bear arms. The elites seem to forget that not only do we cling to guns and religion, we cling to the Constitution that protects these rights. Many Texans believe the call for gun control is really a call for more government control. Texans aren't the only ones who have historically defended this right. During the birth of our nation, the Founding Fathers were very concerned--almost paranoid--that a strong Federal Government would trample on the rights of the people. Their concerns were warranted because that is exactly what happened to the colonists, and that's what governments historically do--trample on individual liberty. So after the ratification of the Constitution, the Framers purposely included a list of inalienable rights that are endowed by our Creator, not from government. One of them being the individuals' right to bear arms. They knew from their experiences in the American War of Independence that an armed citizenry and a citizen militia were not only needed for personal defense, but were also the best safeguard against the tyranny of government. But here we go again. Today some in government once again fear the freedom of its citizens and are now calls to round up all the guns. Ironically, each day in the U.S. Capitol there are guards with guns by the doors--to the north, to the south, to the east, to the west--on the roof, on all of the entrances, and by the steps. Many elitist politicians and lifelong bureaucrats expect protections for themselves while advocating for more restrictions on guns for the people of America--hypocrisy at its highest. Most citizens don't have government guards protecting them 24/7. Many people feel defenseless. In fact, one of the proposals for more gun laws mirrors the stringent DC. gun laws. If the DC gun laws worked, DC would not be such a violent city. If DC gun laws worked, why are there so many armed guards at the Capitol? The elites want more government power and control while taking away liberty from the rest of us. They want to punish the guns, not the people who commit crimes with guns. They want to keep their special government protection while redlining the Second Amendment for the people. They say, ``Protection for me but not for thee''. Not much has changed since the days of the Santa Anna. Oppressive governments will always seek to limit the freedom of their citizens. Mexico eventually lost Texas and Great Britain eventually lost America. Both wars started because those in charge wanted to take guns away from the citizens. Those who seek to take guns away from Texans should open a history book. Those early Texans defied Santa Anna, hoisted the flag ``Come and Take It'', and the rest they say is Texas history. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, no matter where I go, I always meet someone who wants to share a memory about my former life as a criminal court judge in the Harris County courtrooms. Most times, people reminisce about some of the creative punishments that I handed down or about the time they served jury duty in my courtroom. But, sometimes the conversation turned to the courthouse itself, or as I call it, the Palace of Perjury. I presided over more than 25,000 criminal cases in the Palace of Perjury for 22 years. My particular courtroom was massive. Paneled in a dark wood, it gave off an ominous, serious mood. As it should--some of the worst and most horrid crimes were tried within its walls. That courthouse--now the Juvenile Courthouse in Harris County--was just one of 235 courthouses in Texas. Each is a symbol of our state's rich history and a symbol of our promise to follow the law and pursue justice. Courthouse construction began in Texas after it won independence from Mexico in 1836. Counties were formed and courthouse construction began in each. Because the counties were booming and populations were increasing, many courthouses served multiple purposes: schools, churches, dancehalls and meeting places, not just a place to settle legal issues. Courthouses became the heart of the town--or the ``square'' of the town. Here Main Street businesses grew, and communities were shaped. Trials, elections, marriages, parades and festivals are forever linked to our historic courthouses. At times as a judge, I traveled to other counties to try cases. Along the way, I began to photograph Texas' historic courthouses. I was drawn to their impressive and varied architecture. Built with bricks, stone, and stained glass, some have clock towers; others have domes. Each is unique. I like the Renaissance Revival style of the Anderson County Courthouse and the Romanesque Revival style of Fayette County Courthouse in La Grange. Some like the Newton County Courthouse known for its Second Empire style, while others like the La Salle County Courthouse known for its Moderne-style structure. Along the way, I learned that other Texas officials shared my love and admiration for our State treasures. In 1993, my friend and then- Governor George W. Bush, together with the Texas Historical Commission, established the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, a plan that provided $200 million in matching grants to communities working to repair and restore these structures. By the end of 2012, 63 Texas counties have received full funding for their construction project. That includes the Harris County Courthouse--``the Jewel of the South.'' Built in 1910, restoration on the courthouse was available through funding from the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program and was completed last year. There's a lot of history in our great State, and it's our responsibility to preserve this rich heritage for future generations. In 1998 and again in 2012, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named all historic courthouses in Texas to its annual list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Some of those historic courts are located in rural counties with limited funds, but are in need of insurmountable repairs. Unfortunately, some are on the brink of abandonment or demolition. Budgets are tight all around, but I think these treasures are worth saving. This spring break and summer, as you pack up the family and head across our great state, get off the interstates and drive downtown to any Main Street. There you can share a little Texas history with your kids and grandkids. On each Main Street is a Texas treasure. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, as the sun was rising in the Iraqi desert, three dozen mortars rained down on Camp Liberty. Camp Liberty is where innocent Iranian exiles, including women and children, live. This unprovoked attack left six people dead and dozens wounded. Now, who was responsible? Was it the Iraqis, the Iranians? Looks to me like both governments should be held accountable. These dissidents stand for an Iran free of the extreme mullahs and the tyrant Ahmadinejad. Over 3,000 unarmed freedom fighters currently live at Camp Liberty and remain in imminent danger. The Iraqi Government has proven on more than one occasion it is unwilling to protect Iranian dissidents in Iraq. The United Nations has the responsibility to ensure these people are moved to safer locations and even other countries. Not one more life should be stolen by those who protect the oppressive Iranian regime and the little fellow from the desert, Ahmadinejad. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last November, we once again witnessed a remarkably low turn-out among this nation's youth. Sadly, the majority of the youngest demographic group, our nation's future, Republican and Democrat alike, failed to take part in the democratic process. I met a group of young high school students trying to buck that trend. The Bellaire High School Young Republicans, led by Michelle Knesbach, Jennifer Knesbach, and Michael Scheinthal, push to create a spirit of activism at their high school, in the city of Houston, and around the state of Texas. At the age of fourteen, these three students began working on local campaigns, block walking on weekends and helping fundraise on school nights. Soon after, the three started the High School Republicans of Texas, an official auxiliary of the state party which focuses on giving a voice to those too young to vote, and encourages activism among their schoolmates. Through voter registration drives and get out the vote campaigns in their community, the Bellaire High School Republicans engage young people in the political process, making a difference on Election Day. I met this group at a dinner I spoke at and was impressed by their initiative. I was invited to speak at their school, and when I walked into the building, taking me back to the days of too much homework and pop quizzes, I was surprised that around 300 students came to the event during their lunch break. We had a discussion, about Hamas, about drug cartels, about policy and bipartisanship, topics that I often find bore people twice their age; yet they were intrigued. An age group, often over-looked, often deemed to not care, was just as fascinated, cared just as much, about these vital topics as anyone. The Bellaire Young Republicans and the High School Republicans of Texas are changing the status quo by inspiring their classmates to avoid being a part of another disappointing statistic. Campaign events of the future will be full of young faces. Students too young to vote learn that they can make a difference, impact their state, and impact their country. Further merit should be credited to the Bellaire Young Republicans as they fight for ideas that are widely rejected by their peers as they work to end the ``youth involvement drought'' slowly eroding the Republican Party and the Conservative Movement. Looking into the young crowd, I knew there was hope for my party and for my county. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I'm honored to recognize a Houston legend, Bob Allen who recently signed off from the sports desk at KTRK Channel 13 after nearly forty years. Bob's last broadcast was Thursday, January 17th after the Houston Texans' closed their electric 2012 season. The timing of his exit was no coincidence; he had high hopes of a Super bowl for the Texans just like the rest of us. Bob has brought sports into our homes for decades. His outstanding career at KTRK may have come to an end but for many of us Houston sports will always be synonymous with Bob Allen. KRTK hired Bob as a weekend sportscaster all the way back in 1974, but his passion for sports and the news began long before that. Legend has it that when he was just ten years old, Bob took off on his bike from his West University house to the KTRK studios just to get a peek at the newsroom. In those days Guy Savage was the sportscaster. Young Bob was shown the exit that day, but little did they know that this bright eyed young boy would be the future face of sports in Houston. After Bob joined KTRK it took just six months for him to be named sports director. And the rest is history. Bob has been in our living rooms through some of the greatest sports moments of the last half century; the Rockets championships in the '90s and the Love Ya blue oilers in the 70s just to name a few. I spent many nights after supper watching his sports casts after the Oilers and Astros games with my son Kurt. Bob has told the story of sports to generations of Houstonians. He has interviewed some of the greatest sports legends, including Nolan Ryan, Stan ``the Man'' Musial and George Foreman. Bob even tested out his acting skills with roles in the ABC TV movie Murder at the World Series in 1977, and another sports mystery thriller, Night Game, in '89. He played a sportscaster and an announcer for the Houston Astros, of course. Bob has also given back to the Houston community in other ways through his charitable work with the Special Olympics and the Sunshine Kids, which helps children struggling with cancer. His commitment to service earned him recognition from the Special Olympics, who awarded him the Spirit of Special Olympics award. Bob's departure from KTRK marks the end of an era for Houston but it also marks a new beginning for Bob. He dedicated forty years to a fantastic career in sports broadcasting. Now that this chapter is over, he's looking forward to pursuing new projects. He insists that he is resigning, not retiring. He won't stop, that's just the kind of guy he is. When asked about his future he said ``I'll probably end up being busier than I was at 13.'' I don't doubt that one bit. He plans to start a media company that includes public speaking engagements and radio, and he will write a book about working on TV with some of the world's greatest athletes. Bob is a credit to the broadcasting profession and a credit to Texas. We will miss him in our homes but wish him well on his next adventure. Congratulations, Bob, on a fantastic career. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the domestic use of drones is on the way. There will be more eyes in the sky looking over America. According to the FAA, by 2015, it will allow the use of drones nationwide, and by 2030, 30,000 drones will be cruising American skies--looking, observing, filming, and hovering over America. They will come whether we like it or not. We will not know where they are or what they're looking at or what their purpose is, whether it's permitted or not permitted, whether it's lawful or unlawful, and we really won't know who is flying those drones. Sometimes drones are good. We can thank drones for helping us track terrorists overseas and for helping us catch outlaws on the border. Legitimate uses by government and private citizens do occur, but a nosy neighbor or a Big Brother government does not have the right to look into a window without legitimate cause or, in the case of government, probable cause. Mr. Speaker, drones are easy to find. I learned from a simple Google search that you can buy a drone on eBay or at your local Radio Shack. It's very easy. And as technology changes, Congress has the responsibility to be proactive and to protect the Fourth Amendment right of all citizens. The Fourth Amendment states: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. It doesn't take a constitutional law professor to see why legislation is needed to protect the rights of the American people. The right of a reasonable expectation of privacy is a constitutional right. Any form of snooping or spying, surveillance or eavesdropping goes against the rights that are outlined in the Constitution. Today, I will reintroduce the Preserving American Privacy Act because it's time for Congress to be proactive in protecting the rights of civilians from the private use and government use of drones. This legislation balances individual constitutional rights with legitimate government activity and the private use of drones. We don't have time to wait until 2030 when there are 30,000 drones in the sky. This bill sets clear guidelines, protects individual privacy and informs peace officers so they will know what they can do and what they cannot do under the law. Nobody should be able to use drones for whatever purpose they want. This bill will make it clear for what purpose law enforcement and citizens and businesses can use drones. There will be limits on the government use of drones so that the surveillance of individuals or their property is only permitted or conducted when there is a warrant. This applies to State, Federal, and local jurisdictions, but there are exceptions. Law enforcement could use a drone for fire and rescue, to monitor droughts and to assess flood damage or to chase a fleeing criminal. And of course, the exceptions, called exigent circumstances, which are already in our law, will apply. This bill includes a clear statement so that it does not prevent the use of drones for border security. The bill also sets guidelines for the private use of drones. The bottom line of the bill is simple: nobody should be spying on another unless they have the legal authority to do so. The decision should not be left up to unelected bureaucrats to decide the use of drones, so Congress has the obligation to set guidelines, to secure the right of privacy and to protect citizens from unlawful drone searches. Just because the government has the technology to look into somebody's yard doesn't give it the constitutional right to do so. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I regret not being able to be here in Memorial Park with all of you this morning, but I am joining you in celebration today from Washington, DC. Memorial Park is my favorite place to run. The three-mile, crushed granite trail was once shaded and surrounded by the most beautiful trees. As you all know, the 2011 Texas drought took its toll and because of it, there's one thing that is becoming more and more noticeably absent: our Texas trees. In 2006, I obtained $28.5 million in funding for beautification, erosion prevention and flood-control programs in the Houston area. One year later, over 20,000 trees were planted along Will Clayton and Highway 59. Thousands more trees have been planted along Houston Freeway, which I call Treeways. Many of the trees were planted by civic groups and non-profits. Apache Corporation was one of the groups that donated thousands of trees. I want to thank the thousands of volunteers who showed up that rainy, muddy morning during a Texas Gully Washer to help plant trees. Today, the trees are maturing and thriving--I smile every time I see them. I now refer to our highways as treeways. I support the goals and ideals of National Arbor Day, and I wholeheartedly support the planting as well as the management of healthy trees in our community. I would like to recognize the City of Houston, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Park Conservancy, Apache Corporation and the citizens of Houston as they celebrate the value and beauty of trees in our community. By planting trees today, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the quality of life for those who come after us. In 2009, Mayor Bill White started the Million Trees + Houston program. The goal was to plant more than a million new trees in the City of Houston, and today, Houston Parks and Recreation along with Apache Corporation will plant its 3 millionth tree. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Groundhog Day has come and gone. The little fella did not see his shadow, and once again, Congress saw no budget from the White House. That's right, MS, for the fourth time in five years this Administration has missed its legally required deadline to submit a budget. The Budget Act of 1974 says: ``On or after the first Monday in January but not later than the first Monday in February of each year, the President shall submit a budget of the United States Government for the following fiscal year.'' But once again the White House ignores laws it doesn't like. Ironically, the Administration missed the legal deadline the same day that the ``No Budget No Pay'' act was signed into law. That law freezes pay for Members of Congress unless we pass our own budget by April 15. Last year, the President's tardy budget failed to receive a single vote in either Chamber. So what's the plan now? Show us the budget. Your move, Mr. President. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Bryan Wilburn is a young man from Baytown, Texas who has attained the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. But the way he achieved his ranking isn't something we hear about often, especially for someone his age. He made his way to the top through a unique and much-needed service project. As just an eighth grade student at Barber's Hill Middle School, Bryan initiated a project that has honored those who protect our community. Not limited to just people, but also our four-legged friends. Bryan and a team of volunteers renovated the Baytown Police Department K9 Cemetery. The need to serve law enforcement stemmed from Bryan's appreciation for the strong bond between officers and police canines, as well as their vital role in protecting the community. Bryan and a group of recruited volunteers of neighbors, friends, family, and other Boy Scouts worked hard to beautify these dogs' final resting place. After researching everything from types of plants to styles of landscaping, Bryan lead his team of volunteers as they cleaned the existing burial plots, removed dead shrubbery, replaced fence post tops, and planted new bushes and trees. It was after about 140 hours of hard work that the Baytown Police Department had a cemetery, where they could be proud to lay their beloved dogs to rest. Bryan's leadership role in this final project is one of the many qualifications needed to obtain his new rank of Eagle Scout--he has had to earn 21 merit badges in subjects including first aid and personal fitness, as well as obtaining letters of recommendation, and going before an Eagle Scout board of review. This is a prime example of a young man with an outstanding character and a go-getter work ethic. Bryan is well-deserving of his Eagle Scout rank. In honoring the sacrifices and hard work of the police force and their canine companions, Bryan has upheld the Boy Scout tradition of community service and stands as an example of the integrity and honor of a true Eagle Scout. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Ronald from Kingwood, Texas, writes me this: My family and I paid taxes, raised a family, contributed to the community and our church. But we are very disappointed in Washington. Our government is spending money it doesn't have. And our President says, in other words, Tax those Americans who have worked hard, balanced their household budgets, saved, and have been successful. My wife and I always thought that was the American Dream. In 2013, our taxes have gone up. Why? Why? Why? Because Congress doesn't cut its spending. There should be no tax increases on any Americans until there are significant spending cuts. Normal Americans can't simply borrow money. So why should government? I've worked hard for what I've achieved. Now why should we pay more taxes just because Washington has a spending addiction? Mr. Speaker, we can't tax our way and spend our way into prosperity. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there is good news about energy. We have untapped natural resources here at home. In the United States, we have natural gas that can be turned into liquefied natural gas. Other nations don't have this. We have so much natural gas that we can export it by selling it as LNG. Not only will exporting LNG bring money and energy back home; it will create jobs. This means jobs and capital for Americans and American companies. Even the Department of Energy says that expanded export of LNG will benefit the United States economy. In 2010, the oil and natural gas industry added $476 billion to our economy. To top it off, the oil and natural gas industry employs 9.2 million people in America. We are missing out on this opportunity by not exporting LNG. We've ignored this opportunity far too long. Let's stop relying on Middle Eastern nations and use more natural gas and export it as LNG. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following. Disease. Death. Bankruptcy. That's how the Panama Canal got started. At the time, the nineteenth century, trade and economic activity boomed in this part of the world and with it, other nations tried to cash in. As the U.S., Britain and France competed to assert their influence in the region, they ran into one problem: land. They didn't have a way to ship goods from the Atlantic to the Pacific without making the treacherous and lengthy journey around the tip of Cape Horn in South America. All three nations knew there was a need for a shorter sea lane connecting the two oceans. Unfortunately, the French got there first. In 1881, the French sent veteran builder Ferdinand de Lesseps, who oversaw the successful construction of the Suez Canal in Egypt, to build a canal in Panama, then a province of Colombia. In the first nine years of construction, the French spent hundreds of millions of dollars, lost 20,000 workers to malaria and yellow fever and only completed eleven miles of the canal. The project went bankrupt and failed. The dream of a connection between east and west seemed all but dead . . . then came Teddy Roosevelt. The former Roughrider knew an opportunity when he saw one and seized upon it. The U.S. was emerging as a world power and Roosevelt saw that having a shorter route to the Pacific and beyond was a way to expand American Naval Power and Economic opportunity. Such foresight proved correct in WWII. Roosevelt quickly got to work, having his Secretary of State, John Hay negotiate the Hay-Herran Treaty to purchase land in the Colombia province of Panama. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty. But there was a big hiccup: the Colombians wanted more money and refused to approve the treaty. Roosevelt wasn't about to be duped and pour more money in the project, perhaps ending up like the French. He knew that the Panamanians wanted the U.S. to complete the 51-mile canal and he knew that they wanted independence. (Some claim that Roosevelt took advantage of the unrest and stirred up Panama's revolution against the Colombians, but that's for historians to debate). The U.S. did not get involved in the fight, but helped the Panamanians by sending the gunboat, the U.S.S. Nashville, and ten other warships from both the Atlantic and Pacific to show support. This is now known as ``gunboat diplomacy''. Panama's non-violent coup-de-tat was successful, and the nation of Panama was born. With that, the U.S. and Panama ratified a treaty and construction of the canal began. One revolution, $700 million and ten years later the Panama Canal Zone--now U.S. Territory-- was completed in 1914. Fast forward 99 years. After President Carter returned the canal zone to Panama, it has since maintained control of the security and operation of the canal. Panama has undertaken a critically important expansion of the canal. One that will add a third channel and a new set of locks, allowing larger cargo ships to pass through. Approved in 2006, this new expansion--dubbed PanamEx--will finally completed next year. Surprisingly, no Panamanian chapter of the EPA held it up, and only a few environmental groups opposed. Perhaps it's a transportation miracle. Of course, Panama benefits from this widening and deepening of the canal, but so will the United States. The recent implementation of the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement approved by Congress, along with this $5.25 billion canal expansion project, ensures that free trade between the U.S. and Panama will continue to grow. And, because of our geographic location, this expansion will ``expand Texas' position as a global gateway for the nation,'' according to the Panama Canal Working Group. That means a huge increase in exports from the gulf coast and our Great State, including the Port of Houston, to countries around the world. Trade in Texas and Houston drives our economy, and the engine for trade is ports. With that, we'll see more exports of dry and liquid bulk, agriculture products, coal, petrochemicals, military cargo, and consumer goods. Larger and wider vessels, like tankers carrying liquefied natural gas, will now be able to enjoy quick, reliable transit through the canal. That's good news for us here in Houston and good news for our State. Next year, we celebrate 100 years since Roosevelt's dream became a reality. Thanks to Teddy's dream, the U.S. built the canal and our economy and security have benefitted from the opportunities that it created. God bless Teddy. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in a remote region of Algeria at an oil and gas facility, in the dark of night before the sun rose, workers from all over the world were getting ready to sit down for breakfast when suddenly gun-wielding Islamic radicals stormed the facility. Some of the workers were killed; some were able to escape; some were taken hostage. One of the hostages killed in this attack was a member of my congressional district, Victor Lovelady. Victor was a native of southeast Texas. He was originally from Nederland, Texas, a town of primarily hardworking, blue collar folks centered around the energy industry. Victor had recently moved to Atascocita, Texas, his home not far from where I live. He was 57 years of age. When he died, he was on a contract assignment for ENGlobal, an energy company in Algeria. According to his family, Victor waited to take that contract until his children had finished school so he could attend their sporting events. This was not surprising for someone who was described as a ``dedicated family man and a fantastic coworker.'' Although it was hard to be so far away from his family, Victor was excited to take the contract assignment so he could ensure a secure future for his family. That's just the kind of father and husband he was. The deal for this contract was 28 days on, 28 days off, and he was just 10 days in with only 18 days left to go. He was scheduled to come home to Texas the day after his daughter's birthday. His life was stolen by those who seek to destroy Americans, the radicals who inflict terror on all who believe in freedom. Victor is survived by a loving family, including his wife, Maureen; daughter, Erin; and their son, Grant. Over the holidays, the close Lovelady family expressed concern for the safety of Victor, but he reassured them saying, ``It's so safe. We have protection.'' It's hard for people to understand such unspeakable evil. I spoke with Victor's brother, Mike, throughout the crisis and as did Congressman Randy Weber. Yesterday, after we heard the terrible news, Mike told me: I can associate with my brother getting in a car wreck or having cancer. But terrorism and Nederland, Texas, don't go together. He was described as ``a great family man and a fantastic coworker'' and ``a leader who mentored countless individuals during his tenure.'' He was also known for his spontaneous wit. Victor moved from Nederland, Texas, to Atascocita to be closer to work, but he went back and forth so that his children could finish school there. Mr. Speaker, Victor was killed not just because of what he did; he was killed because of who he was. He was killed because he was an American. A radical Islamic al Qaeda group by the name of the Signatories in Blood claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack, those who seek to destroy us and kill indiscriminately. They hate us for who we are and what we stand for. Diplomacy is not in their vocabulary. Two other Americans were also killed in this attack. Their names were Gordon Lee Rowan of Sumpter, Oregon, and Frederick Buttaccio of Katy, Texas. The Algerian military retook the compound after 3 days, and they found that 34 other hostages had been killed, as well as dozens of terrorists. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts, prayers, and concerns are with the Lovelady, Rowan, and Buttaccio families today. Secretary Panetta said that America must respond to these murders. That is correct. We should go after these killers who have malice and evil in their hearts, that kill Americans because they are Americans. That would be justice, and justice is what we do in this country. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as I speak on the House floor, there are guns by the doors--to the north, to the south, to the east, to the west--on the roof, on all of the entrances, and by the steps: the armed guards of the excellent Capitol Police protecting us. But most citizens don't have government guards protecting them 24/7. Many people feel defenseless. Some people of this Chamber expect protection for themselves while advocating more restrictions on guns for the people of America--hypocrisy at its highest. In fact, one of the proposals for more gun laws mirrors the stringent D.C. gun laws. If the D.C. gun laws worked, D.C. would not be such a violent city. If D.C. gun laws worked, why do we have so many armed guards at the Capitol? The elites forget it's the shooter, not the gun. They want more government power and control while taking away liberty from the rest of us. They want to punish the guns, not the people who commit crimes with guns. They want to keep their special government protection while redlining the Second Amendment for the people. They say, Protection for me but not for thee. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 1985, 13-year-old Lavinia Masters went to sleep in her bedroom, which should be the safest place on Earth for children. But a few hours later, she was woken up by an outlaw who sexually assaulted her and put a knife to her throat. She went to the hospital. DNA evidence was taken from her. She did everything she was supposed to do. But that evidence sat, untested, on a dusty crime lab shelf for 20 years while the perpetrator ran loose somewhere in Texas. When the kit was finally tested, police discovered that Kevin Turner had committed this crime. Justice could not occur for Lavinia because the statute of limitations had run. Mr. Speaker, Lavinia is not alone. There are 400,000 untested rape kits with DNA evidence in the United States. That's why I have introduced, along with Congresswoman Maloney of New York, the SAFER Act. And we can pass it today by unanimous consent. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. New Yorker, Texan, Democrat, and Republicans, speaking different languages, it doesn't get much more bipartisan than that. This act would allow funds to be used to test untested sexual assault kits for DNA evidence so justice can be done for victims. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's New Year's Day 2013. What an excellent time for Congress to make at least one New Year's resolution. Congress is addicted to spending money. Maybe Congress should join Spending Anonymous. Here is the 12-step plan: One, Congress should admit it's addicted to spending someone else's money; Two, make a list of the wasteful spending; Three, pass a yearly budget and a constitutional balanced budget amendment; Four, stop giving money to countries that hate us; Five, have the resolve not to spend money we don't have; Six, don't contribute to the addiction by taking more money away from Americans; Seven, don't borrow any more money from China; Eight, don't make excuses for our addiction; Nine, don't blame others for the addiction; Ten, run Congress like most people run their family budgets; Eleven, remember, we are to do the will of the people; Twelve, have a support group and meet regularly to confess our addiction. Mr. Speaker, Congress should join Spending Anonymous. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding and for his support on this legislation. I also thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. Madam Speaker, they said that World War I would be ``the war to end all wars.'' But it wasn't. It was a world war and encompassed the entire globe and most of the countries in the world. The war started in 1914, and the United States entered in April of 1917. The United States entered the war for three main reasons: one, the sinking of the British liner Lusitania and 128 Americans being killed in that submarine attack; and then seven U.S. Merchant Marine ships were sunk by German submarines when they had unconditional rights to sink any ship on the high seas, according to the German Government; and the third thing was when the Germans sent the Zimmerman telegram to Mexico. Madam Speaker, a lot of Americans don't know what that was, but basically the Germans were telling the country of Mexico if they would enter the war on the side of Germany, the central powers, that they would help Mexico invade the United States and take the States of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and give them to the country of Mexico. So the United States entered the war in April 1917. H.R. 3159 would create a commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. Over 116,000 Americans died in World War I. That's more than in Korea, Vietnam, and both Iraq wars and Afghanistan combined. Madam Speaker, to my left is a photograph of American doughboys, as they were called because of the color of their uniform, going over out of a trench, ``over the top'' as it was called in World War I. They were primarily teenagers. Like in most of our wars, the teenagers go to fight those wars. And they are leaving the trench going into what is called ``no man's land.'' And those Americans served, along with their allies in World War I. Two U.S. Presidents served in World War I, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. And if World War II veterans were known as the Greatest Generation, then World War I veterans should be known as the Selfless Generation. After all, these World War I veterans--the ones that survived--were the fathers of the Greatest Generation. America's last doughboy was Frank Buckles. He died on February 26, 2011. He was 110 years of age. I got to know Frank Buckles when he came to the United States Capitol on some legislation that I will talk about momentarily. Frank Buckles in World War I was too young to join. Nobody would let him in. He went from recruiter to recruiter. He was 16--he might have been 15--but he lied about his age, and he finally convinced an Army recruiter to take him in. He joined the doughboys, and he went ``Over There,'' that song that George Cohan wrote talking about the Americans that wouldn't ``come back 'till it's over, over there.'' He drove an ambulance in World War I helping rescue other doughboys that were wounded out here in no man's land and some that had died bringing them back behind the lines. After the Great War was over with, he was in the Philippines when World War II started. And, sure enough, he's captured by the Japanese. Frank Buckles was held in a prisoner-of- war camp by the Japanese for 3\1/2\ years, and he was finally released when rescued by Americans who liberated the Philippines. After the war, he moved to West Virginia and he worked on the farm until he was 106 driving the tractor. Frank Buckles, the last surviving doughboy, lived half of our Nation's history. So, today, we have an opportunity to remember Frank Buckles, these doughboys, other doughboys, and all those great Americans who fought for America 100 years ago. The bill establishes a commission to commemorate the centennial of World War I. The commission will plan programs and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that Great War. Time is short. The centennial for the start of World War I is in 2014, and many of our allies have already started planning different events. It must be noted that no Federal funds will be spent for this commission--they have to raise their own money from private funds. Madam Speaker, in the last century, there were four great wars where Americans participated, and we have built memorials on the Mall for all of them, except one. We built a memorial for the Vietnam veterans, the Korean veterans and the World War II veterans; but there is no memorial on the Mall for all of those doughboys that served in World War I. There is a D.C. memorial that recognizes and honors the D.C. soldiers and sailors that served in World War I, but there is no great memorial for all that served throughout the United States. It is my hope and the intent of the original legislation that passed the House that there one day will be a national World War I memorial on the Mall. And that's where I met Frank Buckles. He came to Washington, D.C., as the guest of many of our Senators. And it was his hope, and really it was one of his dying wishes, that we would build, that Congress would authorize the building of a memorial on the Mall for all of those that served in the great World War I. The original bill that passed this House by unanimous vote had that memorial in the bill. It went to the Senate, and now we have only the commission. So it is my intent to reauthorize, or reoffer, that bill in our next session of Congress, and I'd encourage the commission to consider this building of a memorial on the Mall in their commemoration. There would be no better way to commemorate these brave Americans than to honor them with a memorial on the Mall. When one of our warriors dies, Madam Speaker, for our country, they become a casualty of war; but the worst casualty of war is to be forgotten. So I hope we would build that memorial on the Mall. But now let's pass this bill to commemorate them and honor them with this commission.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ``We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.'' That was Ronald Reagan in 1982. President Reagan went on to lead America out of a recession, but history has a way of repeating itself. Somehow, Washington never gets the message, and here we are, 30 years later on the brink of another crisis on New Year's Eve, still addicted to spending money. Now we are over $16 trillion in debt. President Reagan's words and principles remain true today, and they were true when he said them: the problem is spending money. Mr. Speaker, the American people know this. Why doesn't the Federal Government and Congress understand it? Why? Because Washington is obsessed with spending someone else's money. It's the arrogance of power that Congress spends the people's money without regard to how this obsession affects those very people. When American families are in debt, they sacrifice and they cut spending, whether that means taking one less family vacation or fewer presents under the Christmas tree. Homes across the fruited plain are feeling the pain of the economic squeeze in their wallets, and they adjust accordingly, because that's what happens when times are tough. American families don't have a limited credit card like Congress does. The people are angry because they wonder why reckless Washington can't do the same. I hear that message every day from southeast Texans. These citizens are wiser than the tax-and-spendocrats here in Washington, D.C. Let me share a few of those straight-talking Texans' words with you. Michael says this: You can't have the cookies without the milk. Tax reform and spending cuts, not one without the other. Hubert from Baytown, Texas, says this: Our children and grandchildren will have to recover from reckless spending. Washington has a spending problem, not a taxing problem. Jeff says: You don't become fiscally responsible by continued increases in your credit card spending limit. Folks in Congress need to quit running from the hard choices and stop burying our children and grandchildren in debt. David from Humble, Texas, said this: This isn't really rocket science. Stop spending money we don't have, cut back on what we do spend, and stop sending money to our enemies. Now there's a novel idea. Paul from Beaumont said this: We do not have a revenue problem; instead, we have a spending problem. And it's been a spending problem for a long time. Larry said: If I'm out of cash, I stop spending. Perhaps Congress should do the same thing that I do in my house. When I don't have enough money, I quit spending. But Congress has its own printing press backed by the Chinese. Ashley says: Spending must be stopped. Just taking more from Americans will not fix this problem. Even if my direct taxes are not affected here, my employer's are. So what will that mean for me in the long run? I'm afraid I'm going to find out. Yes, Ashley, you're going to find out here on New Year's Eve. Jimmy from Crosby, Texas, says: I'm fed up with them never agreeing to a budget and spending like there is no tomorrow. This out-of-control action has got to stop. And, finally, Renee from Crosby, Texas, said: Please demand that spending be cut; fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending be addressed before any new taxes be forced upon hardworking Americans. Mr. Speaker, the American people, they actually do get it--at least those people who work and pay taxes. The backbone of America--the workers of America--say stop the spending obsession. Mr. Speaker, the problem is spending. We got here by spending too much, not by taxing too little. We're going off the cliff with our pockets full of somebody else's money. And that's just the way it is.