Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, since her days as a little girl in Argentina, Cristina Didone (Dee dough ne) dreamed of a new day owning a business. Although she loved her homeland she looked thousands of miles away to the land of real opportunity--America. Like millions before her she yearned and worked to come to America. Even though her visa was denied three times she pursued her American dream and eventually a working visa was granted. Once in the United States in 1990 she created a business involving her two passions: the Law and English. So she started Kansas City Translations a firm specializing in training individuals in legal interpretations. Finally in 1999 she got to Texas as fast as she could and created CD Language solutions--a Global legal translations company in Houston for oil, gas & technology firms. Just recently Cristina was recognized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as Hispanic Female Entrepreneur of the Year. As we get ready to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month I would like to recognize this successful and tenacious American businesswoman that believed in herself and America. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Texans have been sharing with me their stories and lives about their businesses that they have built without the help of an out-of-control government. The responses were a testament to the tenacity of the American people. Jeffrey, from League City, Texas, wrote me this: I am the son of a single mother. I grew up watching my mom work two and sometimes three jobs to support us. She never took one penny of government assistance. When I was 8 years old, I lied about my age and took three paper routes that had morning/evening and Sunday delivery. At the age of 11, I took a job as a short-order cook at a 24-hour diner working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., went to school, played sports, went home, grabbed a quick dinner, slept for a few hours, and went back to work. I did my homework while standing over a grill in the kitchen. In the summer months, I would squeeze in a second job working in a service station. I went into the Marine Corps upon high school graduation at the age of 17. I spent 6\1/2\ years in the military. Upon being honorably discharged, I entered the Houston Police Academy. I have been an officer in Houston, Texas, for the past 27\1/2\ years. I worked 17 years undercover in the narcotics division, the rest has been in patrol. My wife is an educator. We have two sons, a 19-year-old Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps on his way to Afghanistan and a 7-year-old. We live day to day, paycheck to paycheck, and are on the verge of losing everything if our taxes go up along with the cost of living. Meanwhile, I see folks on government (giveaway programs) with Smart phones, flat screen TVs and newer cars than I can afford, cable TV, and Internet, and living in nicer apartments than I could afford while I was trying to save 17 years for my first house. Sir, my family and I have built this life. Don't tell me that government built this life for me. That is a lie. Mr. Speaker, Jeffrey is not alone. Contrary to the misinformed views of some, the American people are the backbone of this Nation, not government. Government is not the solution. It's the problem. Government encourages some Americans to live off the hard work of others. Government promotes a social philosophy that it will give away more free stuff to some while it takes and punishes people who work. People, not government, take business risks. People work and make sacrifices in an effort to pursue the American Dream, and people, not government, suffer the loss if the business is not a success. But Big Government wants to take credit for what American workers have done. Government doesn't make America, Mr. Speaker. People make America. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Texans have shared with me their stories about the businesses that they have built without the help of the Federal Government. Kelly from Crosby, Texas, wrote me this: Congressman, you are correct that small business owners carry the full load of government taxes. On average, our small $3 million-a-year business pays 35 percent in Federal taxes, pays Social Security of 7.45 percent, Federal unemployment tax, State franchise tax, school district and real estate property taxes, and I am taxed on the computer used to send this email to you. And the President says I didn't build it? I beg to differ. During the first 3 years, my workweek was 80 hours a week. If the Federal Government's debt of $16 trillion is not brought under control, it will not matter how hard I work, because the dollar's value will be worthless. Federal Government, fix your spending problem, and put your House in order because small business is watching and thinking, If I ran my business like you run yours, the bank would foreclose. Mr. Speaker, Kelly is correct. Big Government hasn't built America. American small business owners have built it--on their own. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, yesterday was the 11th anniversary of the attack on America from 9/11 in 2001 where Americans were killed, and it was an act of terrorism. Yesterday Americans were attacked again in two attacks, in Egypt and in Libya, apparently terrorists attacking us again on 9/11. The Embassy in Egypt was stormed, the American flag was brought down, and a black flag was raised by those that stormed the compound. In Libya, the consulate was attacked, set afire, and our Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, was murdered and apparently, according to the BBC, his body was carried through the streets of Benghazi. Both of these places are U.S. sovereign soil, the consulate and the Embassy. The groups or individuals that committed these acts must be found. There's no evidence yet that there was any act by either one of these two governments but by individuals or even by groups. In Libya, al Qaeda cousins, as I call them, the Ansar al-Sharia, claims responsibility for the murder of our U.S. Ambassador. It's no coincidence that these two attacks occurred nearly at the same time, and they both occurred on the anniversary of September 11. Immediately, the attackers blamed a movie that was produced as the reason, an excuse and justification for murdering. It's never the fault of a movie; it's never the fault of the United States; it's never the fault of western culture that people are murdered in the name of religion. It's the responsibility and it's the fault, of individuals. The people that need to be held accountable are the ones who committed these specific acts of terror against the United States. In the past, the United States has always held and went after those that were responsible for this type of conduct. In 1998, when the Kenyan Embassy was attacked and Americans were killed, we responded. Of course we responded in 9/11. We responded after the first World Trade Center bombing. In 1996, when 19 American soldiers were murdered in Saudi Arabia, we responded. In fact, President Bill Clinton said this: The cowards who committed this murderous act must not go unpunished. We will not rest in our efforts to find who is responsible for this outrage, to pursue them and to punish them. After 9/11, President Bush made this comment: The search is under way for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. Madam Speaker, the United States must always respond to terrorists, and we must let them be reminded again and again we will respond in an appropriate manner as we did on 9/11. We must respond today, and we must respond tomorrow. I am encouraged that the President will soon address the Nation on what our response will be. We must hold those responsible personally accountable because we must let people understand that they need to leave us alone. That is what that message needs to be. We must have justice in these terrorist attacks by these individuals against Americans because, Madam Speaker, justice is what we do in America. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, years ago, a view of Earth from 238,900 miles away seemed impossible until Neil Armstrong became the first human to reach the unreachable. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong landed Apollo 11 running on fumes and set foot on the moon, where he left a foot imprint of a little less than an inch deep. ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed,'' were the words he radioed in the moment he achieved a national goal and changed the course of space exploration. In the 2 hours and 19 minutes of the moonwalk, Armstrong became one of the most significant American heroes. His out-of-this-world accomplishment drew the attention of our ambitious nation and people worldwide. Six hundred million viewers watched and listened to his historical landing that day. As he said, ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' I watched live Armstrong's first steps on the moon on an old black and white T.V. in Texas. Armstrong was described as a man who ``cherished his privacy and always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and all walks of life.'' Two weeks ago, we lost this man who, in turn, made a national dream come true and inspired people around the world and all walks of life. He was born August 5, 1939 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. When he was 6, he climbed into a plane for his first ride. His talent was born at a young age when he began crafting model airplanes and had impressively collected enough books for a well-stocked aviation library. His above- average intellect was noticeable in his performance in his high school math and science classes. After his graduation, he attended Purdue University but only stayed two years to go on and fly combat missions in the Korean War as a Navy Pilot. Eight years later, he went back to the university and graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Then, he joined the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, later becoming NASA, where he started his path to his historical leap into space. Armstrong made a name for himself during his seven years at a NACA high speed flight station at Edwards Airforce Base in California. His immeasurable accomplishments were rewarded in September of 1962, when NASA chose him to be an astronaut. Little did they know, they also selected the man who would later become the first human to set foot on the moon. Armstrong thought of himself as a ``nerdy'' engineer. His family thought of him as a ``loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.'' His colleagues thought of him as a ``daring, yet humble person'' and the world thinks of him as one of the greatest heroes of all time. He left his mark in space and on earth. Whether or not ``someone goes up there and cleans up his footprints'' like he had hoped, he'll never be forgotten. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on a cool September morning in Texas, I was driving my Jeep to the courthouse where I was a judge for a long time. I was listening to KILT radio, a country western station. Willie Nelson was singing ``Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.'' All of the sudden, Robert B. McEntire, the newscaster for KILT radio, comes on and interrupts the program. He said that an airplane had crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, and that's about all we knew at that time. It was 8:46 a.m. eastern time, 7:46 a.m. in Texas. Continuing my daily journey to the courthouse, a few minutes later he comes back on the radio and says that a second airplane had crashed into the second south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The world understood at that time this was serious. This was an attack on our Nation, on our country. After I got to the courthouse, we learned that a third airplane flying over Washington, D.C., very close to the building we're in, the United States Capitol, went down the street less than a mile, and crashed into the Pentagon. That was at 9:37 eastern time. Then a fourth airplane we remember as Flight 93 was flying toward Washington, D.C., probably headed to the Capitol or the White House, where some good, right-thinking folks took control of the plane from hijackers, and they crashed in Pennsylvania in a field at 10:07 eastern standard time. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, this Nation was attacked. Three thousand people were killed that day. It's interesting that the attackers decided to attack the World Trade Center because people from 90 nationalities were in the World Trade Center buildings, the south and the north. So it was more than an attack on America; it was an attack on the people of the world, freedom-loving people, people who believed in living life and liberty. The murder was done by 19 radicals who murdered in the name of religion. Of the 3,000 people that were killed, 411 of them were emergency workers and 341 were members of the New York Fire Department. There were also two fire department members of New York who were paramedics that were killed that day, 23 officers from NYPD, 37 Port Authority officers from New York and New Jersey, and eight emergency medical technicians and paramedics killed that day. In the aftermath of that morning, first responders from all over the United States later that week went to New York to help in the recovery and help restore what had happened at Ground Zero. Many of those first responders still suffer from toxins that they acquired while working Ground Zero, as many members of first responders from New York and New Jersey are still suffering. But today we remember all of those people that were killed that day on September 11. Later that evening, I, like most Americans, was watching television, and saw the horror on video of what had occurred. I, like you, Mr. Speaker, saw those thousands of people in New York. When those planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings, they were fleeing as fast as they could from the terror that came from the sky. There was another group of people. Like the fire horses of old that charged to the smell of smoke and the roar of fire, those individuals charged to that terror from the sky. There weren't very many. There were a handful, but yet they were there. Who were they? They were the first responders. They were the firefighters. They were the emergency medical technicians. They were the paramedics. They were the peace officers. And many of them died that day. While it's important that we remember those that were killed, it's equally important that we remember those that got to live, Mr. Speaker, because those first responders charged to that terror from the sky. Many of them gave up their lives so others could live on that infamous day of September 11, 2001. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Texans are growing more concerned about the rising cost of gasoline. One lady recently wrote me: My husband drives a truck. As gas prices rise, so does the cost of diesel. This affects the cost of every single thing we buy. That includes food. Gasoline prices are the one thing that people should not need to worry about. We have the resources, but Washington keeps them under lock and key. And we still import half our oil from unstable dictators like Chavez and the OPEC monopoly. Americans can no longer afford to be beholden to the turmoil in the Middle East. So what about this idea? United States, Mexico, and Canada are rich with God-given natural resources. So working together in a new strategic energy partnership, our three nations could become the world's new energy superpower alliance to compete with OPEC. Let's create an energy supply built to last with our North American allies and finally make OPEC and Middle Eastern dictators irrelevant. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Team USA's Fierce Five became the second American women's gymnastics team ever to win the gold medal. These teenagers will also be awarded $25,000 each for being the best in the Olympic world--but what they've earned they're not going to be able to keep because part of the medal and the prize will be confiscated by our government, so sayeth Uncle Sam. That's right, Mr. Speaker. Each one of the Fierce Five has to pay a medal tax of up to $236. Then they also have to pay a prize tax on their cash award that could be up to $8,750. So that brings the total up to about $9,000 that they could owe the taxman. Leave it to our government to punish Team USA for their success on behalf of all Americans. Yesterday, Senator Rubio introduced a bill to exempt Olympic medalists from paying taxes on their medals and their prizes. I am a cosponsor of a similar bill in this House. The long arm of the internal taxman reaches far across the seas to grab a piece of the gold from kids that it neither earned nor deserves. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, ``The last thing you want to do is to raise taxes in the middle of a recession because that would take more demand out of the economy and put business in a further hole.'' That's what the President said in 2009, but that was then and this is now. If Congress doesn't act, Americans will face higher taxes when the clock strikes midnight on December 31 of this year. The President's solution is to raise taxes on some. That would eliminate 700,000 jobs in our country; 60,000 of those would be lost in my home State of Texas. The tax increase will cost the average American a year's worth of groceries--$4,000. Madam Speaker, almost half of Americans pay no Federal income tax at all. What we need are more taxpayers, not more taxes. We need to renew the so-called ``Kennedy-Reagan-Bush tax cuts.'' No tax increases on Americans. Because the power to tax is the power to destroy, and the last thing we should do is raise taxes in a recession. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about fairness from the President lately. Perhaps his Chicago advisers think that if he distracts, divides, and creates envy all in the name of so-called ``fairness,'' Americans will ignore their thin wallets and stacked up bills. But the people are smarter than back-room government policycrats. If the President is reelected in January, he will have inherited a weak economy from his predecessor--himself. Then who will he blame? The President was elected to solve problems, not place blame and make excuses for failure. Like most Americans, I want the administration to succeed, but the evidence is not on the administration's side. With unemployment higher than 8 percent for 41 months--even higher for recent college graduates at above 50 percent--and our deficit above $15 trillion, there isn't much of a record to stand on. So we are involved in a new Madison Avenue campaign diversion called ``Remake America'' to make America ``fair.'' Of course, fairness is in the eyes of the beholder, and it means different things to different folks; but it certainly sounds good at first glance. Mr. Speaker, let's look at this idea. The politics of ``fairness'' are used when politicians want you to ignore their record and then claim that some people just haven't been treated fairly. This is a mere diversion from failed policy, failed ideas. When you look at the record, you'll see that this administration's definition of ``fairness'' really means ``favoritism.'' There is no fairness in crony capitalism. That is favoritism. There is no fairness in a perpetual bailout culture where the omnipotent government deems some too big to fail and others too small to succeed. That is favoritism. There is no fairness in forcing Americans to fork over money to pay for failed pet endeavors like Solyndra. That is favoritism. There is no fairness in an unaccountable government that constantly takes money from the working people and squanders it in a failed stimulus--or two. That is favoritism. And there is no fairness in enforcing some laws while proudly ignoring other laws. That is favoritism. What this ``fairness'' debate--or the politics of favoritism-- achieves is a systematic desire by government to create animosity-- animosity towards those who have or are just trying to achieve some success. It also creates animosity toward government from those who built it on their own without being a member of the government's favored class. This debate degrades the American Dream because it removes the equality of opportunity and creates a class of favorites--the class of government ``friends.'' There is no equality or fairness in forced equal outcomes. Since some people are more successful than others, to paraphrase Lincoln, the government, which cannot make everyone rich, is trying to accomplish what it can do--make everyone poor and dependent on the government for success. This is fairness? I think not. Instead of encouraging individuals to succeed on their own, this administration tells citizens that they need the government. In fact, according to The Wall Street Journal, almost 50 percent of the population lives in a household where at least one member receives a government benefit. Bad policies have forced more Americans to grow dependent on government. The President wants to, in his own words, remake America. Remake it into what? A Nation where the government is running roughshod over our lives and our liberty? A country where no one is allowed to succeed unless the government gives permission? No thanks. I thought we threw that idea away when we left the regime of King George III. America doesn't need to be remade into a Third World country totally oppressed by a government that wants America to be another European nanny state where special favoritism is given to government's special friends. We need to return to what our country was founded on: the pursuit of opportunity or, as Jefferson said it, the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The American Dream--a dream that can come true with individualism and hard work and without a government that punishes ambition, creativity, and success while rewarding failure--all in the name of fairness. The politics of favoritism, under the guise of ``fairness,'' is not the America we need. Mr. Speaker, the America I know doesn't need to be remade into the politics of favoritism. 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 rise before you today to recognize Earl Campbell, one of the best football players to ever play the game and a visionary businessman who started from the bottom and worked his way to the top. The Tyler Rose is a living legend in the state of Texas, and it gives me pleasure to recognize him before Congress and this Nation. Earl was born in Tyler, Texas, the ``Rose Capital of the World.'' In 5th grade he began playing football as a kicker, before realizing that he enjoyed delivering the hits. Earl became a star linebacker and led John Tyler High School to the Texas 4A State Championship in 1973. When coaches moved his strength and intensity to the offense, he became one of the most powerful running backs in history. Naturally many colleges all wanted someone with the leadership abilities and strong work ethic that Earl possessed. He chose to stay close to home and play with legendary Coach Darrell Royal at the University of Texas in Austin. Earl had a celebrated career at Texas, winning the Heisman Trophy, college football's highest honor after his senior year in 1977. He was a two-time All-American choice and finished his career with 4,443 yards and 41 touchdowns. Earl restored the Longhorn dynasty to its rightful place among the top collegiate programs in the country. The Houston Oilers made Earl the first overall draft pick in 1978, once again keeping him close to home in Texas. His punishing running style made an immediate impact on the team, leading them to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance. They lost in a classic game against the Pittsburg Steelers now known as the ``Ice Bowl.'' Despite the loss, Earl finished the season with 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning the Rookie of the Year Award and the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Most importantly, he helped shepherd in the ``Luv Ya Blue'' era that had the Astrodome rocking and brought pride to the city of Houston. For the 8 years that Earl played in the NFL, he was one of the most feared yet respected players. Opponents feared his tough, physical style of play. His 5'11'', 244-pound frame was described as a ``one man demolition team.'' Teammates respected his leadership and dedication. When they needed him, he was there, missing more than two games a season only once. He would finish his career with 9,407 yards, 74 touchdowns, 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 3 All Pro teams, and the Most Valuable Player Award in 1979. Earl is a member of both the College and Professional Football Hall of Fame and will be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever hit the gridiron. The dedication to success that Earl displayed on the field translated off of it as well. In 1991, after hearing raves about his sausage recipes, he took $150,000 and started his own company, Earl Campbell Meat Products, Inc. The small business is the heart of the American economy, and Earl worked hard to make sure that his company stood out. He drove hundreds of thousands of miles, all over Texas and the south, to promote his products. Today, they are one of the largest sausage manufacturers in the country, selling over 11 million pounds a year. While being one of the most famous Texans around, Earl has never lost the small town values that helped shape him. He married his high school sweetheart, Reuna, and they have two sons, Christian and Tyler. After Tyler was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the family rallied together and became ambassadors for the National MS Society. They have helped raise thousands for research and remain committed to fighting the disease. He also helps mentor athletes at the University of Texas, preparing them for the life-altering changes they will soon experience. The State of Texas and our Nation is a better place because of people like Earl. Earl Campbell is a shining example that the American Dream is possible for anyone. Through tireless effort and internal fortitude, he became a world-class athlete, respected businessman, and noted philanthropist. I am honored to recognize Earl, a true Texan, for his lifetime of inspiration and service to the community. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the draft of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty called ATT is an attempt by Third World countries to control guns worldwide, including personal firearms in the United States. Under the section of ``scope,'' the treaty indicates that the covered items include small arms and light weapons. The language is so broad that nations are expected to track all weapons movements from the time they are manufactured until their destruction. The language is vague so that the treaty could be interpreted to restrict the ability of the U.S. to help arm its allies, like Taiwan and Israel. The treaty presents a clear and present danger to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It allows the U.N. to steal our liberty. It is unbelievable that this administration is even considering signing this document. The Senate should never approve it if the President signs onto it. The President should ignore the treaty because he took an oath to the U.S. Constitution, not to the U.N. charter. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Natasha's life changed because she was the prey of a sexual predator. Here's the beginning of her dramatic story: In 1993, I was violently raped, sodomized and robbed at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. When I escaped and thankfully found myself in my apartment, my roommate insisted that I go to the hospital. I agreed to wait for an ambulance, even though my first instinct was to take a shower. I'm so grateful today that I made that choice to go to that hospital. Mr. Speaker, Natasha is one of many victims of this barbaric and dastardly crime. According to information released by the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one in five women in America has been raped at some point in their lives. As both a former prosecutor and a judge in Texas, I was involved with the criminal trials of rape cases for 30 years. I learned firsthand the devastation that sexual assault victims experience, and I understand and learned that sexual assault does not just physically harm the victim; it harms their entire being both physically, emotionally, and mentally; and the pain sometimes lasts forever. Mr. Speaker, rapists try to steal the soul from their victims, and they try to destroy the self-worth of victims, and sometimes they do. One of the most critical pieces of evidence for rape trials is the rape kit, a tool that gathers forensic evidence, including DNA evidence, to link the rapist to the crime. But, unfortunately, rape kits often languish in evidence rooms across the United States, some untested for years, some discarded before ever being tested, and some gather dust so long that the statute of limitations on the crime of rape has expired and the criminal can never be prosecuted. This ought not to be. Mr. Speaker, Natasha's story did not end in that cold hospital examination room. She says further: Ten years later, in 2003, I received a call from the New York City District Attorney's office. My rape kit, which unbeknownst to me had been sitting on a shelf for almost 10 years, had at last been finally processed. I had long since reconciled the fact that my perpetrator would never be held accountable for his actions. But now there was hope. After a long trial, Victor Rondon was tried before a jury of his peers in 2008 and was found guilty on all eight counts of violent assault against me. He's in jail now for a long time. The best part for me is that he can never hurt anyone else. My rape kit sat on a shelf for many years. It was not just a number in a police department. My rape kit was me--a human being. Every rape kit that sits on the shelf somewhere is a human being. Mr. Speaker, Natasha's story humanizes rape kits ignored in evidence rooms throughout the country. Victims of sexual assault deserve justice, and their perpetrators deserve to be punished by courts and juries in America. Stories like Natasha's compelled Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York and me to introduce the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry Act, the SAFER Act, in the House, and Senators Cornyn and Bennet to introduce the same bill in the Senate. This bill would allow existing funds to be used to provide grants to States and localities to audit their rape kit backlog and also would call upon the Attorney General to create an Internet-based rape kit registry for sexual assault evidence testing. Estimates of untested rape kits are as high as 400,000 in America according to Human Rights Watch. According to the DOJ's National Institute of Justice, 43 percent of the Nation's law enforcement agencies don't even have a computerized system to track forensic evidence, either in their inventory or after it is sent to a crime lab. The SAFER Act would allow criminal evidence to be prosecuted and processed, and these do-bads to be held accountable for their dastardly deeds. Mr. Speaker, the insensitive say there's no money for these exams, these rape kit tests. Well, Congress needs to find the money. Maybe, instead of sending money to foreign countries to help them, keep some of that money in America to help American rape victims like Natasha. Help them get justice. Because, Mr. Speaker, justice is what we do in America. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last month I had the honor and the privilege to be among our community's proudest at the Kingwood Fallen Heroes Memorial Golf Tournament. Folks teed off to honor three of our local fallen heroes from the Kingwood community: Sergeant William Meeuwsen, Lance Corporal Luke Yepsen and Sergeant Brandon Bury. The money raised at the tournament goes back to veterans through the local Houston Area Chapter of the Blue Star Moms as well as several other military related organizations. This was the first year friends and family organized a golf tournament and they were able to raise $80,000; donating $30,000 to our local Blue Star moms. What a way to give back to those who have sacrificed so much--including the Blue Star mom. The Blue Star Mothers Organization began as a Veteran Service Organization to provide care packages to military serving overseas and offer assistance to their families here at home. In 1960, the United States Congress chartered the Blue Star Mothers of America as a Veterans Service Organization and they have dutifully kept this organization going strong by supporting families awaiting their child's safe return or consoling those whose sons or daughters who gave their lives for our freedom. All mothers have that special sparkle about them when they talk about their children, but there is something different in the twinkle when you talk to a mother whose child has gone off to war. One of the toughest parts of being your Congressman is to talk to moms and dads that have lost a child in action. It is a grief I cannot fully relate to and one we all pray we never know. But their courage and their understanding of their child's sacrifice is powerful and inspiring. Every Blue Star mother knows that in a split second their lives can change forever and their Blue Star banner can turn to Gold. During World War I, if a son had gone off to war in the War to End All Wars, as it was called, a banner was hung in front of the home in the window for each son in the military. This banner had a blue star in the center of it. If the son was killed, a gold star was superimposed over the blue one. This concept was created by Grace Seibold on Christmas Eve 1918 upon learning that her aviator son was killed in aerial combat in France. Ms. Seibold directed her grief and sorrow to helping the wounded in local D.C. hospitals and formed the Gold Star Mothers to give support for other such moms. During World War II, my Grandmother Poe hung such a banner with a blue star in the front window of her home in the country. My dad went off to war when he was just 18. When my grandmother died, it was one of the few items she had saved. That banner never had to have a gold star placed on it because my dad returned safely. These banners have been carried throughout all of America's wars since World War I. As a father of four, I can think of nothing worse than to lose one of my children. No parent wants their son or daughter killed in unknown foreign lands. No parent wants their child to predecease them and no parent wants their child to die in their youth. But it happens, and the grief can only be understood by other such parents. Mothers are special, particularly the mothers of those who wear the American uniform. It seems to me the strongest bond in all of creation is the bond between a mother and her child. The good Lord made it that way on purpose, and when that bond is broken by the loss of a child, that wound just never heals. One out of every ten people in the military is from the State of Texas. Roughly 10 percent of the total killed in Iraq and Afghanistan has been Texans. Yet sons and daughters throughout America, and especially Texas, continue to join our military knowing that they will no doubt go into the desert of the sun and the valley of the gun, and they leave behind their parents, their mothers. So as we show honor and respect to America's children who serve, let us show American compassion and ultimate gratitude for the mothers of those troops who display the Blue and Gold Star sacrifice from their windows. And the next time we pass a house with one of these stars maybe we should stop and say a prayer and say ``thank you'' because of that special mother who gave that child for the rest of us. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for years, the United States has used drones to track terrorists overseas, catch outlaws along the border and other lawful purposes--but now, thousands of drones are heading to the homeland. The FAA plans to allow the expanded use of drones to operate nationwide by the year 2015. It is estimated, by 2020, 30,000 of them will be flying in American skies. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the drones are coming. Who will operate these drones, and what will be their mission? Could it be a suspicious government agent who thinks someone looks kind of funny? The EPA bureaucrat to monitor somebody's farm and watch Bessie the cow graze in the pasture? Or a nosy neighbor who wants to make sure someone's shutters are pretty and the flowers don't violate the homeowners' association rules? Or could it be a legitimate and lawful and legal purpose of drones that doesn't violate the right of privacy? These are the kinds of situations Americans face as we enter this uncharted and unprecedented world of drone technology. Congress has the legal obligation to ensure that the Fourth Amendment rights of private citizens are protected in this new ``drone world.'' You see, Mr. Speaker, the Fourth Amendment says this: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated. No warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. The Fourth Amendment limits government intrusion into our lives. The Constitution limits eavesdropping, snooping, and spying on American citizens. While there are some legitimate uses for drones domestically, such as monitoring forest fires and floods and hurricanes, tracking an escaped bank robber, and other law enforcement uses, it is up to Congress to limit their use so that the Fourth Amendment and the right of privacy are protected. That is why I am introducing the Preserving American Privacy Act. Now is the time for Congress to act, not in 2015. With the increased technology of surveillance, Congress has to be proactive in controlling drone use to law enforcement and also in protecting civilians from the private use of drones. This bill will ensure the privacy of private citizens is protected by establishing guidelines about when and for what purposes law enforcement agencies, private citizens, and businesses can use drones. I repeat: This bill will ensure the privacy of private citizens, that it is protected by establishing guidelines about when and for what purposes law enforcement agencies, private citizens, and businesses can use drones. First, it would prevent the FAA from issuing a permit for the use of a drone to fly in United States airspace for law enforcement purposes unless it is pursuant to a warrant and in the investigation of a felony. This would apply to State, Federal, and local jurisdictions. The warrant exceptions and exigent circumstances rules that are already the law of the land would be the same as those that are applicable in the State, Federal, or local jurisdiction where that surveillance occurs. It would also prevent the FAA from issuing a permit to any private individual for the use of a drone for the surveillance of a U.S. citizen or the property of a U.S. citizen unless that person under surveillance has consented or the owner of the property has consented. There may be some other lawful exceptions as well. Lastly, this bill would ensure that no evidence obtained from the use of a drone may be used at an administrative hearing. Americans expect their constitutional rights will be protected at any time in our history or our future, so Congress must decide when drones can and cannot be used in order to ensure constitutional safeguards. This decision cannot be left up to government agencies, special interest groups, or others. Mr. Speaker, technology may change with time, but the Constitution does not. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last week I met with Dr. Loretta Williams, an oncology nurse from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. For 30 years, Dr. Williams has provided care to cancer patients, whether they have battled the disease for years or they are just beginning that fight. I was impressed by her compassion and her dedication. People like Dr. Williams are why MD Anderson is the greatest cancer center in the world, named the top hospital for cancer care for the 6th year in a row. While its innovative cancer research is most impressive, dedicated and knowledgeable staff are the reasons why it remains the number one center for cancer care. It all starts at the top with Dr. Ronald DePinho. Dr. DePinho is an impressive individual. His main motivation is to provide the best care possible to patients while conducting creative research to dramatically reduce the number of deaths from cancer. This year, MD Anderson will see its one-millionth patient since its doors opened in 1944. Each day lives are forever changed by the staff and the volunteers who are tenaciously determined to stop cancer. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, educators know that preparing students for future challenges is an integral part of the job. Today, I am proud to honor retiring Sabine Pass ISD Superintendent Malcolm ``Mac'' Nash for putting the entire community on his shoulders and helping to rebuild after Hurricane Ike. Mac was born in Silsbee, Texas, and spent his early years working the oil fields inherent to Southeast Texas. A decision to change careers into education seemed like a natural choice. He always enjoyed helping others. Mac was Superintendent of West Sabine ISD in Liberty, Texas, before being named to the same position in 2006 at Sabine Pass ISD, a small rural town about three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. One year earlier, Hurricane Rita made landfall almost directly over Sabine Pass, causing widespread damage across the area. One building endured the brunt of the storm better than any other in the community and that was the Sabine Pass School, the PreK-12 campus opened in 2002. Even though it sustained millions of dollars in damages, the School survived and gave the community a place to come together. Mac came on board as the repairs from Rita were nearing completion. Hurricanes Humberto in 2007 and Gustav in August 2008, while not causing much damage, kept the community on its toes ready for anything. They did not have to wait long, as Hurricane Ike formed in early September 2008 before making landfall over Galveston, causing millions of dollars worth of damage to Sabine Pass and billions across the entire Gulf Coast region. One building stood out among the mud and debris, and that was once again the Sabine Pass School. Mac knew that he had control of the only building in town that could survive almost anything and he made sure that it was used to its fullest capabilities. It was a meeting place, shelter, staging area, and most importantly, the lighthouse in front of the school served as the ``Beacon of Hope'' to all citizens, a reminder of the fortitude necessary to weather any storm. Nash knew that the community needed some stability and a feeling of normalcy, so under his leadership, the staff worked tirelessly to prepare the school for a return. The Sabine Pass School reopened in early October, missing only 17 days of instruction. 92 perfect of the students were back on the first day. They were not just passing time, either. The School would receive exemplary status from the Texas Education Agency that year. After a 6-year tenure as Superintendent of the Sabine Pass ISD, Malcolm Nash is stepping down. Because of his courageous leadership, he was named the Region 5 Superintendent of the Year for 2011-12 and is also in the running for the statewide title. Thanks to Mac's leadership, Sabine Pass is a stronger, better place to live. The Sabine Pass School gets the name of the ``Beacon of Hope,'' but the citizens will never forget the light that Malcolm Nash shined on the entire community. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady from New York for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, it was the Vietnam war. It was March 1967--45 years ago. Army First Sergeant David McNerney's company was sent to recover a missing American Army reconnaissance team. As his company approached that reconnaissance team, they walked into heavy fire from the Vietnamese Army. McNerney was soon wounded by a grenade, and the commander was killed, but Sergeant McNerney took control of the situation. Injury could not deter this patriot. He climbed a tree, exposing his position to heavy enemy fire, and called in close artillery fire. After that occurred, he personally destroyed an enemy machine gun. And always thinking of others, he personally pulled wounded soldiers to safety and secured a landing zone for medical helicopters that were approaching. He had the chance to evacuate that evening, but he refused and remained with his troops overnight on the battlefield until a new commander arrived the next day. His actions stopped the enemy advance and saved many of his own men's lives. These actions of heroism earned David McNerney the Congressional Medal of Honor presented to him by Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1968. Mr. Speaker, this is a fairly recent photograph of First Sergeant David McNerney. He kind of looks like Clint Eastwood to me and he's just as tough, because I knew him for a good number of years until he died in 2010. This was not where Sergeant McNerney's service to America would end on that battlefield in Vietnam. He started really serving the United States when he joined the United States Navy right out of St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas. He did two tours of duty in the Korean War. After leaving the Navy in 1953, he joined the United States Army, and was one of the first 500 so-called ``advisers'' sent to Vietnam by President Kennedy in 1962. The acts that earned McNerney the Medal of Honor came on his third tour of duty in Vietnam. After he received the Congressional Medal of Honor, First Sergeant David McNerney from Crosby, Texas, volunteered for another tour of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Speaker, those were amazing men that served America in the Vietnam War. First Sergeant McNerney served with thousands of other Vietnam troops and generally were not appreciated by America when they returned back home after doing what their country asked them to do. After he retired from the Army in 1969, he worked in the Customs Service at the Port of Houston until 1995. He served his country for 46 years in the United States Navy, United States Army, and the Customs Service. After all of his work and service, he worked in the community in Crosby. He led by example, with his involvement in the Crosby High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Crosby American Legion Post 658. First Sergeant McNerney died in Texas on October 10, 2010, at the age of 79, still a patriot. He called his hometown Crosby, and they called him their hero. Crosby American Legion Post 658 is named for him. Mr. Speaker, Crosby, Texas, like many of the towns mentioned in the last few resolutions and bills, is a small town in America. It's an old-fashioned, flag-waving patriotic town that honors our returning veterans from Iraq and from Afghanistan. First Sergeant McNerney's bravery and commitment to our country and community is well worth the acknowledgement by naming a post office after him, at 133 Hare Road in Crosby, Texas, the Army First Sergeant David McNerney Post Office. Mr. Speaker, men like Army First Sergeant David McNerney are the reason our country has always had the best military in history. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. There's a new small business in my district in southeast Texas: Cool Blast Lemonade Stand, run by the Sutton sisters of Cypress, Texas. Clara is 7 and Eliza is 4. Their newest employee is little brother Eirik, who recently was hired to join the team. They even have their own Facebook page with 867 followers. On their Facebook page, they say this about their business: We are entrepreneurs who started a lemonade stand for Lemonade Day. We are going to continue working to earn money to spend on things we would like, save and also to share with our two chosen charities, Meals on Wheels and Paws of Texas Rescue. Mr. Speaker, they learned all of these lessons without any interference from the Federal Government. Their father, Andrew, said this: They did it all on their own. Nobody helped them except us. My wife and I both run our own businesses, so running a lemonade stand with them was showing them what they could do. They were curious how we got money for things. Mr. Speaker, the girls stood out in 100-degree Texas humid heat serving customers instead of being like many other kids going to the local swimming pool. Each day they are open for business, the girls learn valuable lessons--lessons about budgets, lessons about capitalism, and lessons about life. Clara says: You learn how to make change. We learned about customer service--that we should always be nice to customers. We learned how to advertise. We donate some of the money to charity to help other people out. We might buy a gift for our brother since he's our new employee. After one Lemonade Day in Houston, the girls said that they made enough money to ``pay their investors back in full.'' Mr. Speaker, when was the last time you heard of a 7-year-old using those business terms? These kids are getting on-the-job business training that no government--especially the Federal Government--gave them. They are practicing Americanism. In the America I know, we teach our kids the value of hard work and entrepreneurship. We teach our kids from a young age that success does not come without sacrifice. Perseverance and responsibility pay off. These are the lessons that our children need to learn, not the lessons of trying to depend on government. You see, these kids made it without government doing anything except getting out of their way. So, Mr. Speaker, the next time you see the President, tell him that successful businesses in America come from businessowners--even kids-- and not the Federal Government. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, at a time when businesses in this country are navigating through waves of distress, the administration wants to deliver a tsunami in the form of tax increases. Taxing, taxing, taxing is about the only solution that it can come up with. But what it doesn't seem to realize is how it's failed all of us. It's shrinking the economy even more and is shrinking paychecks too. If the administration lets the Bush era tax cuts expire, 700,000 jobs will be destroyed. And out of those jobs, 56,800 will be in Texas. The administration has had its chances to restore financial stability in this country without creating tax hikes. These tax increases not only target the wealthy. These taxes will actually take hard strikes at small businesses and the middle class. Contrary to what the administration believes, this is not fair. Ernst & Young's latest study breaks it down just right. It examined the long-term impacts of increasing top tax rates. And let me tell you, they're not good. The long-run economic consequences are severe. Here it goes. The administration proposes a one-year extension of the current tax rates for households making $250,000 or less. Then, those making $250,000 or more, including a lot of small businesses that file under the individual rate, will pay the tax rates prior to the Bush era. That means the top rate will go from 35 percent to 39.6 percent. Tax rates for the other top income tax bracket will go from 33 percent to 36 percent. But this isn't all of them. The administration continues to tax. Medicare tax will go from 2.9 percent to 3.8 percent. A new 3.8 percent tax will be implemented on investment income. And last but not least, higher taxes on capital gains and dividends. So, what does this total and how does it all play out? The combination of all these taxes will take the top individual income tax rate from 35 percent to 44.7 percent next year. And beware; this doesn't include all of the Obamacare taxes that will empty your wallet in 2013. What does this do? Approximately 2 million businesses will be affected by these tax hikes. This will take capital out of the hands of business owners and reduced labor supply and the United States will lose $200 billion in economic output. And extending the rates for families earning less than $250,000 will cost us $175 billion dollars next year. As bad as this sounds already, the tax hikes will likely force American employers to trim their workers' pay by 1.8 percent. What will happen? Business firms will be hit hard. We will see patterns of less hiring, less investment in businesses, and retarded growth of these businesses in their sector. Sixty million Americans are small business employees. About two out of three jobs was created by a small business. And the administration is trying to take this away from us. We've had enough of their fun with taxes. As someone who claims his focus to be ``rebuilding the economy,'' he is doing quite the opposite. Our lives now revolve around taxes and this is all thanks to our nation's leader who thinks he can tax our way into economic prosperity. It doesn't take a math genius to figure out that these tax numbers are not the solution to a damaged economy. His idea that taxing the wealthy won't hurt this economy is false. If his job is to stifle job creation, create class warfare, and even further damage our market, then he's really done it well. We can't afford to let this happen. We can't afford to lose more than 700,000 jobs. We can't afford to give more control to our government. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. As stated in the report language of the bill, my amendment cuts $1.3 billion that is going specifically to Pakistan. Pakistan seems to be the Benedict Arnold nation in the list of countries that we call allies. They have proven to be deceptive and deceitful and a danger to the United States. Here is some of the evidence: For the last 7 months, Pakistan closed down the southern supply route. The route transported about 40 percent of all NATO supplies into the country and to Afghanistan; Pakistan still refuses to go after the terrorist sanctuaries in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Terrorist groups like the LET, the Pakistani Taliban, and al Qaeda frequently cross over into Afghanistan, kill our troops and then run back into Pakistan and hide where our troops cannot follow them; On May 23, 2012, Pakistan sentenced the doctor who helped us get Osama bin Laden to 33 years in prison. I thought getting the world's No. 1 terrorist--the terrorist who killed thousands of Americans--was a good thing, but apparently, Pakistan prosecuted him; In February 2012, a NATO report confirmed our suspicions: the ISI is aiding the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan by providing resources, sanctuary, and training; In June 2011, Pakistan tipped off terrorists making IEDs--not once, but twice--after we told them where the bomb-making factories were and asked Pakistan to go after them; In 2011, Pakistan tried to cheat the United States by filling out bogus reimbursement claims for allegedly going after militants when they weren't doing that at all. There is more. On September 22, 2011, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee: ``With ISI support, Haqqani operatives planned and conducted that truck bomb attack as well as the assault on our Embassy.'' The truck bombing he mentions here wounded more than 70 U.S. and NATO allies and troops. Admiral Mullen went on to say: ``The Haqqani Network acts as a veritable arm of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency.'' What more do we need to hear? Pakistan doesn't deserve American money. By the end of fiscal year 2011, Pakistan had had a total of $21.5 billion of American money since FY 2002. Mr. Chairman, I ask: Has America received its money's worth? The answer is no. I want to address a couple of arguments I've heard from the other side: First, some say that the money in this bill for Pakistan is only to reimburse them for going after terrorists. They say we shouldn't take away that carrot. But, since 2002, Congress has already appropriated over $8 billion to the Coalition Support Fund specifically for Pakistan. Where I come from, if you try something and it doesn't work, you don't continue to do it. We've been doing the same thing for over 10 years. It's time for a new strategy with Pakistan. More money is not going to solve the problem. Second, they say Pakistan just reopened the southern supply route. Pakistan closed the southern supply route from November 2011 to this month. Pakistan was a bad ally before it closed the supply route. The fact that they messed us around and closed it for 7 months only adds to the long list of evidence that shows they are no friend of ours. It also shows that we don't need them to win the war in Afghanistan. We were able to pursue our mission in Afghanistan without them. What really endangers our troops is not access to the southern supply route, but the failure to get access to Pakistan's tribal areas where Pakistan gives terrorists a safe haven. Pakistan is playing America. The only thing Pakistan's military rulers understand is dollars, and as long as we keep the money flowing, they have no incentive to change their evil ways. Our message should be this: Pakistan has a raging insurgency in their country with al Qaeda, the Pakistan Taliban, and the Haqqani Network. Pakistan can either receive assistance and go after these terrorists with us or don't take any of our money, and we will find our own way to take these terrorists out. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in telling Pakistan they will no longer get American money. We don't need to pay Pakistan to betray us. They will do it for free. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding. My understanding is, in the report language, to specify a certain country would not be ruled in order; therefore, I used the $1.3 billion with the floor statement that applies only to Pakistan and none of our coalition countries that you have mentioned. I am open to an amendment that would be ruled in order, and I would be glad to work with the chairman on that amendment.

Mr. POE of Texas. Yes, I would certainly be willing to do that. I will withdraw my amendment.