Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. We don't know who the rebels are. They may be worse than Muammar Qadhafi. Now, isn't that a lovely situation if they take control. We replace an oppressive regime with an extremist radical regime, and that's all because we are in a war that was unauthorized by this Congress. Cut off all funds. Vote against this resolution. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas. I appreciate the chairlady for yielding me time on this issue. Mr. Speaker, going to war is a big deal. That's why our forefathers put within the Constitution that when America is to go to war it is Congress that is to lead that charge, that it is Congress to authorize America's going to war. That has been the law in the Constitution since it was written. Then came the War Powers resolution, and Congress decided that it would give a little of that constitutional authority to the President for a period of days until he justified his action before Congress. We can argue whether the War Powers resolution is constitutional or not. But in any event, Congress has not led America to war in Libya. The President has. The President made that decision. As James Madison, the author of the Constitution, said in a letter to Thomas Jefferson--and I paraphrase--it has been the history of peoples that it has been the executive branch that has led a country to war, and that's why our Constitution prevented kings and dictators and even Presidents from leading this country to war. It must be authorized by Congress. But now we find ourselves in America's third war--in Libya. The President took us to war. Now, on this day, we are being asked to support and justify that war in this resolution. I vote ``no'' on this resolution. We have no business in Libya. Even the administration has said it is not in the national security interest of the United States to be in Libya. So why are we there? We are there because we don't like Muammar Qadhafi. There are a lot of bad guys in the world, and if we start picking them off one at a time we will be at war with most of the world, because most of the world is led by rogue dictators--or bad guys. We have no business being in Libya. We have no business justifying this war on the House floor. It is Congress' responsibility to defund any further action in Libya, and that is what we should do. It's unfortunate we don't have that up- or-down vote. I wish we could vote up or down today on that issue and let the House decide if we should be at war in Libya. $700 million has already been spent on the war in Libya. It's hard to figure out where that money came from. I get different answers from different people about where the President got that money. Maybe we should spend that $700 million in the United States, building America rather than blowing up Libya. I think that would be a better use of funds. We need to take care of America. We shouldn't be involved in somebody else's civil war in Libya. Who are the rebels? We're not sure who they are either. They may be extremists. They may be patriots. They may be of democratic philosophy. We have no idea.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was said: ``From this day to the ending of the world, we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.'' Shakespeare penned this hundreds of years ago in Henry V. It represents the unfailing commitment a warrior has for his fellow warriors. Since 2004, 36 men and women from the Second Congressional District area of Texas that I represent have served honorably for this country, the United States, and they gave their lives for the cause of freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their photographs are over here to my left. You notice, Mr. Speaker, they are of all races. They are men and they are women. They are from all branches of the service. They are enlisted personnel and they are officers in the United States military. I would like to honor each of them today by name and rank and branch of service and a comment or two about each one of them. These are the sons of liberty, the daughters of democracy of America. They are our heroes. As we approach July 4, the Fourth of July as we like to call it, where America celebrates its independence and we celebrate not only our independence but our freedom and our liberty, we wave the flag, we attend parades and all of those are good things about America. See, it's okay to be a patriot and it's okay to show our patriotism as a Nation. But as we approach July 4, that important day in our history, I believe it is equally important that we remember that our freedom and our liberty has always cost America and it's cost America its finest, its youth. These men and women, like patriots before them, gave up their youth so that we can have a future. Patrick Henry, the great orator during the revolutionary times, said: ``The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, to the active, to the brave.'' We are fortunate those words still ring true today, Mr. Speaker, and American warriors overseas carry those values into battle. These are 36 of them, the Roll Call of the Noble 36. Each of them have connections to southeast Texas. I would like to mention each one of them, because they deserve our recognition, but we also need to always remember them and their families. Because, you see, when these young men and women went off to war, their families went to war, too, but their families stayed stateside and they were ever vigilant while their sons and daughters and husbands and wives went overseas. The first individual here, Mr. Speaker, is Staff Sergeant Russell Slay, United States Marine Corps, from my hometown of Humble, Texas. He was killed at the age of 34. He was killed on November 9, 2004. When Russell told his mother, Peggy Slay, that he was joining the United States Marine Corps after finishing high school, he told her that he knew she would not like it but he was going to do it anyway. And he did. He joined the Marine Corps and he was killed in action. Peggy Slay, his mother, whom I have known since Russell's death, has become very active in the Blue and Gold Star Moms in southeast Texas. To refresh your memory, Mr. Speaker, a Blue Star Mom is an individual who has a son or daughter overseas and they carry a flag or they have a flag on their window at their home that has a blue star in that flag. Gold Star Moms are those who have lost a son or a daughter overseas in war, and they have a gold star. Peggy Slay is a leader in the Gold Star Moms in southeast Texas. Next to him is Lance Corporal Wesley Canning, United States Marine Corps. He was 21, and he was killed on November 10, the day after Russell was killed. He is from Friendswood, Texas. He told his dad he always wanted to be a Marine, and he had that ambition to serve as a Marine for 20 years. He was a proud Texan, and when he was home on leave, he bought a new pickup truck so he could show his Marine buddies his new bumper sticker that said ``Don't Mess with Texas.'' He was that kind of individual, that loved Texas and loved his country. The third individual, Lance Corporal Fred Lee Maciel. Fred Maciel, age 20, was killed on January 26, 2005. He was also a member of the United States Marine Corps. He was from Spring, Texas. He was killed in a helicopter crash in al-Anbar province on his way to begin security preparations for the historic Iraqi elections that took place a few days later in January 2005. Four days later, I was in Iraq to witness those successful elections. Lance Corporal Maciel made those first free elections for the Iraqi people possible, and those elections were important for the history of that country. Lance Corporal Maciel was one of those individuals who gave his life so that another country, another people, could have those elections. The fourth individual that is on this poster board is Private First Class Wesley Riggs of the United States Army. He was killed when he was 19 years of age on May 17, 2005. He was from Baytown, Texas, or Beach City, Texas. Both towns claim him. He graduated in just 3 years from high school, and he loved agriculture. The fifth individual is Sergeant William Meeuwsen, age 24. Sergeant William ``Bill'' Meeuwsen is from Kingwood, Texas, near my area where I live, and he was a member of the United States Army. He went off to Texas A&M University, but he dropped out of school and enlisted in the United States Army because of 9/11. Amazing individuals, these people who left their careers after 9/11 and joined the United States military to protect the rest of us. Over here on the far left is Lance Corporal Robert ``Robbie'' Martinez, United States Marine Corps. He was killed at the age of 20 on December 1, 2005. He was from a small rural community called Cleveland. Cleveland, Texas. He dreamed of getting a degree in education and becoming a baseball coach after his career in the Marines. Today, there is a post office in Cleveland, Texas, named in his honor. When we dedicated the post office for Robbie Martinez in Cleveland, Texas, the whole town turned out for it. In fact, the United States Air Force had a flyover during that ceremony and that dedication. The people of Cleveland loved Robbie Martinez and his family and appreciate his sacrifice for America. The seventh individual is Staff Sergeant Jerry Michael Durbin, United States Army, from Spring, Texas. He was killed on January 25, 2006, at the age of 27. He's from Houston, Texas, and he was a gifted artist. The day he was killed, he called his wife to tell her he loved her. Shortly thereafter, he was killed in action. The eighth individual is Tech Sergeant Walter Moss. Tech Sergeant Walter Moss was a member of the United States Air Force. He was 37 years of age, and he was killed on March 30, 2006. He also is from Houston, Texas. He joined the Air Force after high school and he served in Operation Desert Storm. He specialized in detecting and diffusing makeshift bombs, and he was killed while diffusing an IED. I repeat, he was killed while diffusing an IED. An IED, Mr. Speaker, that is the way that the cowards we fight fight us. They don't come out in the open--heavens no. They won't do that. They would lose. So they lie in wait in their holes, in their caves, and they put bombs, land mines--IEDs, as we call them--where they know our troops will come by, and then they remotely set those off. Tech Sergeant Walter Moss was an individual that was trained to diffuse those IEDs, but one exploded while he was trying to protect other warriors. The ninth individual is Private First Class Kristian Menchaca. Kristian Menchaca was a member of the United States Army. He is from Houston, Texas. He was killed at the age of 23 on June 16, 2006. When he joined the United States Army, he wanted to be in the infantry. Kristian's wife said that being in the military was what he always wanted to do. He was kidnapped and tortured and murdered by enemy forces. His murder made national news because of the brutality of the people we fight against after they captured Kristian Menchaca. Number 10 on this poster is Staff Sergeant Ben Williams of the United States Marine Corps. He was 30 years of age when he was killed on June 20, 2006. He is from Orange, Texas, down in the refinery area of southeast Texas. He joined the United States Marines right after high school, and he served his country for 12 years. He was serving his third duty in Iraq when he was killed on June 20, 2006. Lance Corporal Ryan Miller, at the age of 19, member of the United States Marine Corps, was killed on September 14, 2006. He was from Pearland, Texas. He was a third-generation Marine. He graduated early so he could enlist and follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. After his tour of duty was over, he wanted to become a Houston police officer just like his parents, who are Houston police officers. Staff Sergeant Edward Reynolds, Jr., United States Army. He was killed at the age of 27 on September 26, 2006, just a few days after Lance Corporal Ryan Miller was killed. He is from Port Arthur, Texas, another refinery area in southeast Texas. He was looking forward to New Year's Eve because that's when he was going to get married. He was a man who, as his fellow warriors say, pushed others to succeed in what they do. Next is Captain David Fraser, 13th individual on this poster. He was a member of the United States Army. He was killed on November 26, 2006, at the age of 25. He was from Spring, Texas. And you might notice--you can barely see it, but you might notice his uniform, Mr. Speaker. He was a West Point graduate. He wasn't just a regular cadet at West Point. He graduated top student in civil engineering. Captain David Fraser gave his life at the age of 25 for America. Lance Corporal Luke Yepsen, member of the United States Marine Corps. He was killed on September 14, 2006, and he was from Kingwood, Texas. He was at the age of 20 when he was killed. He also attended Texas A&M University after high school, and he dropped out to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, just like Staff Sergeant Bill Meeuwsen left Texas A&M during school to fight for America. Specialist Dustin Donica, United States Army. At the age of 22, he was killed on December 28, 2006. He was from Spring, Texas. And when he was asked why he joined the United States Army, here's what he said, Mr. Speaker: Most people in my generation want something for them. I just wanted to give something back. That's why I joined the United States Army. The 16th individual of our roll call of the ``Noble 36'' is Specialist Ryan Berg. Here is his photograph, Mr. Speaker. He was a member of the United States Army. He was killed at the age of 19. He is from Sabine Pass, Texas. You've probably never heard of that place. Sabine Pass is a very small community. It is on the furthest southeastern point of Texas, right next to Louisiana. He joined the Army on his 18th birthday, and he was the first soldier from Sabine Pass to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sergeant Terrance Dunn, United States Army. Here is his photograph. At the age of 38, he was killed on February 2, 2007. He was from Atascocita, Texas. He enlisted in the Army several years after high school, and to his fellow soldiers he was known as ``Dunnaman'' because he could get anything done. Next is Lance Corporal Anthony Aguirre. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps, and at the age of 20 he was killed on February 22, 2007. He was from Channelview, Texas. He entered the United States Marine Corps because he believed, like a lot of other people believe, it was the toughest branch of the military. You've got to love those Marines, Mr. Speaker. Over here we have Private First Class Brandon Bobb, United States Army. He, likewise, was from Port Arthur, Texas, and he was killed at the age of 20 on July 17, 2007. He was always cheerful and was a soldier that others looked to for support and to lend a helping hand. He was always thinking about somebody else other than himself, according to his buddies in the military. Number 20, Private First Class Zachary Endsley, United States Army, age 21, killed on July 23, 2007, from Spring, Texas. You might notice, Mr. Speaker, there's a pattern here--18-, 19-, 20- and 21-year-olds. America's youth go to war to represent the rest of us. But Zach was an appreciator of the arts. He enjoyed drawing and playing his guitar. It was his drawing ability that stood out. In high school, he entered and won a poster contest with his design, but after he joined the Army he was killed at the age of 21. Number 21, Army Specialist Kamisha Block. She was a member of the United States Army. Kamisha Block was 20 years old when she was killed. She was from Vidor, Texas, and she was killed on August 16, 2007. Kamisha's best friend, Amanda Buck, they grew up together. And Amanda says: ``We rode the school bus together from kindergarten all the way through high school.'' She said Kamisha knew where she was headed in life. She had a big heart and wanted to help people, and that's why she joined the United States Army. Number 22, Specialist Donald Valentine III, United States Army, 21 years of age. He was killed September 18, 2007. He was from Houston, Texas. In the official statement on Donald's death, here's what the family said: Donald touched the lives of so many with his big heart. We will cherish those beautiful memories we shared with him. He made us very proud. Now heaven has another hero that continues to watch over us as an angel in heaven. Remarkable person, Specialist Donald Valentine III. Number 23 is Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris, United States Marine, age 22, killed in action on October 8, 2007. He is from Liberty, Texas. Liberty, Texas, according to the folks in Liberty, they claim that is the first settlement in Texas, before Texas was even a part of the United States or even a republic. Liberty, Texas. An interesting town for a warrior to be from. He was an unapologetic person of religious faith, and he attended the nondenominational Cornerstone Church, where he led worship and praise services. He loved Texas, and his church pastor said at the funeral, ``No one had better say anything negative about his home State of Texas.'' Mr. Speaker, you got to love those Texas boys. They love our State. They love America. Number 24 is Staff Sergeant Eric Duckworth. He is the last photograph on this row, Mr. Speaker. He was a member of the United States Army. He was killed at the age of 26 on October 10, 2007. He was from Houston, Texas. His father, Michael, described him as an outgoing and good- humored son. He further said, ``Eric was full of love and laughter and a godly spirit, but, above all, he was a true soldier and a proud warrior'' for the United States. Number 25, Corporal Scott McIntosh. He was a member of the United States Army. He was killed at the age of 26 on March 10, 2008. He was from Humble, Texas, my hometown. His mission in life was to meet and make friends with every person he came in contact with. He shared his hearty laugh and always had a smile to give to other people that he came across. Scott always had a positive outlook on life. He loved to hunt and fish, but most of all he loved his family, the Army and the country he lived in and his life. Staff Sergeant Shawn Tousha, number 26 on this poster, Mr. Speaker. He was a member of the United States Army. He was killed at the age of 30 on April 9, 2008. He was from a little small town called Hull, Texas. As a teenager, Shawn played football, and like most Texas rural boys, he loved it. He played at Hull-Daisetta High School. He liked to ride horses. He considered himself a cowboy. He liked to bull ride. He was a man from small town America, and he had a playful heart. He made a big impression on everybody that he knew growing up, and that was a positive impression. Number 27 on here, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Stratton II. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Stratton is the highest ranking officer that has been killed from our congressional district area. He was a member of the United States Air Force. At the age of 39, he was killed on May 26, 2009. He was from Houston, Texas. He was remembered by his friends as a man of unquestionable character and total loyalty to the people he loved. He was a patriotic American who exemplified the very best that American airmen have to offer. Number 28, this individual with the big grin on his face, Specialist Jarrett Griemel, United States Army. He was killed on June 3, 2009, at the age of 20. He was also from a little small town, La Porte, Texas. Jarrett was a member of the swim team and the surf club while he was in high school. He loved the outdoors and he, of course, loved the beach and the surf which were nearby in La Porte. He spent his spare time parachuting and cliff diving. Jarrett lived his life to the fullest, but like the others I have mentioned, he loved America, and he loved to excel and do what he could do to be all that he could be. He loved his family, and his family says that they will forever cherish the memories that he gave them because he touched every one of their lives. Over here to the far left, Jeffrey Johnson was a member of the United States Marine Corps, age 21 when he was killed on May 11, 2010, from Tomball, Texas. At Corporal Jeffrey Johnson's funeral, his family remembered him as a son, a grandson, a brother and a hero. His vehicle commander said Johnson was different from most of the fellow Marines because, to sum up his commander, ``war is sheer misery, and the four of us in that truck, because of Jeff and his humor, were uplifted all the time.'' Corporal Johnson touched everybody and the lives that they lived with his life. The 30th individual is this sailor over here on the far portion of this poster, Petty Officer Zarian Wood, who went by ``Z,'' a member of the United States Navy. He was from Houston. He was 29 years of age when he was killed in combat, and he was on his second tour of duty when he was killed. He graduated from South Houston High School in 1999 and after graduation he worked as a youth pastor and tutored children. He enlisted in the Navy in 2006 and was on his second tour of duty when he was killed in combat. The last group of individuals are the most recent individuals. All of these people, all of these individuals are put on this poster in the order of their death in Iraq or Afghanistan. In my office here in Washington, in my offices in Humble and in Beaumont, Texas, we have larger photographs of all of these individuals. And you will notice, Mr. Speaker, as you go through the Halls of Congress and the offices of the House, you will see many such posters as this listing those who have given their lives for America in the war in Iraq. But next on this list is Sergeant Brandon Bury. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps. He was killed at the age of 26 on June 6, 2010--June 6th, D-day. He was killed on the anniversary date of D- day. He was from Kingwood, Texas. He was a big guy. He was 6 feet 6 and he was all Marine. He was an impressive individual, and his friends say even back in middle school he knew what he wanted to do--he wanted to be a member of the United States Marine Corps. Next to him, number 32, Specialist Matthew Catlett, United States Army. At the age of 23 years, he was killed on June 7, the very next day after Sergeant Brandon Bury was killed. He was from Houston, Texas, and he fought for liberty. He fought for a people that he did not know in a land where he had never been. He was an American, that rare breed that gave his life for people far, far away and for Americans in this land. Staff Sergeant Edwardo Loredo, 34 years of age, a member of the United States Army, he was killed one day shy of his 35th birthday. He was from Houston, Texas, killed on June 24, 2010. His family says Edwardo was an adventurer. He adored his wife and his family, and he loved to cook for his neighbors and his family. Mr. Speaker, we are blessed to have such a rare breed of people as Staff Sergeant Edwardo Loredo and his fellow patriots and warriors. Number 34, Staff Sergeant Jesse Ainsworth, a member of the United States Army, 24 years of age, killed on July 10, 2010, from Dayton, Texas, another small town in southeast Texas. Jesse's mother, Margaret Ainsworth, said Jesse was her hero, and he was her only son. She said she used to pick him up when he was a little kid from kindergarten, and every Friday they would go to Wal-Mart and buy some toy. She said ever since Jesse was ``an itty bitty fellow'' he wanted to be a soldier in the United States Army, and he gave his life when he was 24 years of age for the rest of us. Number 35 on this poster of the Noble 36 is Staff Sergeant Leston ``Tony'' Winters, United States Army, 30 years of age when he was killed on July 15, 2010. He was from Sour Lake, Texas. Once again, small town rural America. In 1998 he graduated from Hardin Jefferson High School. Winters had already completed two tours of duty in Iraq and decided in February of 2010 to leave his job and return to battle once more. He told his family that he felt compelled to be there with his buddies, even though he had a chance to stay home in Texas. He left behind after his death his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, Jonathan, Remington, and Emma. Sergeant First Class Calvin B. Harrison, this individual over here in the bottom right-hand corner, he was killed at the age of 31 and he, like several of the others I mentioned, was from Cleveland, Texas. He was killed on September 29, 2010. After he graduated from high school in 1998, he enlisted in the Army, following the path of his grandfather. His family said that he loved being a soldier and serving his country. He is survived by his two daughters, Azalia and Eleanna. It's interesting about his funeral, Mr. Speaker, which I attended. The whole town of Cleveland, Texas, and nearby towns turned out for the funeral. Flags were strewn and hoisted all up and down Main Street in Cleveland, Texas. The businesses shut down, the school closed as the funeral procession came through Cleveland, Texas, honoring Sergeant First Class Calvin Harrison; that funeral ceremony and processional with hundreds of people, young and old, showing praise and honor and respect to Calvin Harrison for his sacrifice for America. It was led by the Patriot Guard, those patriots that ride the Harley- Davidson motorcycles, most of them from the Vietnam era, who show their appreciation for the sacrifice by watching over the funeral procession and the funeral by riding those motorcycles with an American flag on the back. These are the Noble 36 from southeast Texas, just a few of the people who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. I mention these individuals because they, like all Americans that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, are important to America. They are important to our history because freedom is not free. And that is not a trite expression. It's not free. It has always been expensive, going all the way back to the Revolutionary War. We're going to celebrate July 4th next week. And that war cost American lives, as has every war, because freedom is expensive. And it's our young people, men and women, who go and serve. Mr. Speaker, just like everybody serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan, every one of these people--every one--volunteered. They raised their right hand and they stood forward and said, I will serve. I will go. Call me. And they went. And we are to admire them for what they have done. They have gone down into the valley of the gun and the desert of the sun, and they have sacrificed their lives. Last week, I happened to be in Iraq with other Members of Congress. It's not even summer yet in Iraq. But we got off that Blackhawk helicopter and it was 120 degrees in Iraq. And there they were, the American warriors with their warrior uniforms on and all that equipment they carry. How hot they were. It was 120 degrees. In Afghanistan and Iraq it gets hot in the summer. And those days are coming. We should always appreciate them. We should also appreciate the ones that serve in other places in the world. On that same trip, Members of Congress had an opportunity to go near the South China Sea and see some of our warriors on some island I'm not sure I could find on a map. But they're on this remote island, our Navy SEALs, our special forces, our marines, and our soldiers. They were doing an operation protecting the United States, representing the rest of us. So we should be proud of those that go and serve, those that volunteer and those that are still there. We should appreciate the families that have stayed home while their loved ones go across the seas and represent this country. July 4th is coming up. It's a great day in our history. I hope Americans fly the flag. I hope Americans tell their kids about our country and our history. We should tell American children about these young people and others who every day raise their right hand and go off to war representing the rest of us. One of our former Presidents once said, ``I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives, and I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.'' All of these were proud of America and America is proud of all of them and the rest that continue to serve. These Noble 36, we are proud of them. Mr. Speaker, these are the few, the bold, the brave, the courageous. These are the Americans. These are the sons and daughters of southeast Texas who have fallen in battle for their country. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice, and we are grateful for every man and woman in uniform somewhere in the world today representing the rest of us. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, America's third war continues. The President's little war in Libya is unconstitutional and it also violates the War Powers Resolution. Even the administration says Libya is not a national security risk to America. So why are we at war in Libya? Because the French want us there? Mr. Speaker, don't you think we've done enough for the French in World War I, World War II, and even in Indochina, what we now call Vietnam? The United States should not be involved in Libya's civil war. The cost has been over $700 million to the American taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, don't you think that money, that millions of dollars could be better spent building America instead of blowing up Libya? And who are these rebels in Libya that we are supporting? Of course Omar Qadhafi is a tyrant, but we may end up replacing an oppressive regime with an extremist radical regime. Now, isn't that lovely? Congress should cut off all American funds to the President's little war in Libya. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have a group of people in the United States who are all volunteers that I call the American Angels Abroad. They are those thousands of Peace Corps volunteers throughout the world that are helping Third World countries in many different ways. They go to remote areas of the world, far from home, far from their families. They work in very primitive conditions. Yet there are those angels that are trying to help other people throughout the world, and they are called the Peace Corps volunteers. The Peace Corps started as an idea of President Kennedy back in 1960 when he spoke to the University of Michigan and encouraged those students to volunteer to help America abroad. Finally, in 1961 he started the Peace Corps. Since then, over 200,000 Americans, mainly young people, mainly females, have volunteered to go around the world representing the United States. It is very hard work being a Peace Corps volunteer. They deal with issues that most Americans never deal with. Just simple basic necessities such as of electricity and water and matters such as that, they do without, or they are difficult to find in the remote areas where they are because they are helping other people that don't have those things we have in the United States. Generally, they work alone when they are in foreign countries. But all is not well with the Peace Corps, Mr. Speaker, because during the time since President Kennedy started the Peace Corps and those wonderful people go overseas, many times those volunteers, those young Americans, become victims of crime in these foreign countries; and when they become victims of crime, in some cases our own country abandons them. Between 2000 and 2009, the Peace Corps itself says there were over 221 rapes and attempted rapes, almost 150 major sexual attacks and 700 other sexual assaults. That is 1,000 crimes against American Peace Corps volunteers. Recently, the Peace Corps has announced that there is an average of 22 rapes a year against American Peace Corps volunteers somewhere in another country. This is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about real people. They are real stories and they are real victims. I would like to mention just one of those persons that I know personally. I have got to know Jess Smochek since this crime against her has occurred. She joined the Peace Corps in 2004. On her first day as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bangladesh, a group of men started sexually groping her as she was walking to the house that she was to live in. But no one in the Peace Corps did anything about this assault. She told the Peace Corps staff over and over again that she felt unsafe in Bangladesh and the situation she was in, but the Peace Corps didn't do anything. Months later, she came in contact with the same men, who then kidnapped her. They beat her. They sexually assaulted her. But they weren't through. They abandoned her and threw her in an alley somewhere in Bangladesh. And no one did anything. According to Jess, the Peace Corps did everything they could to cover this up because they seemed to be more worried about America's relationship with Bangladesh than they were about this American volunteer that was assaulted, a victim of crime. Jess says that the Peace Corps not only didn't do anything, they blamed her for the conduct of others. They blamed her for being a sexual assault victim. Mr. Speaker, a rape victim is never to be blamed for the crime that is committed against her. It is the fault of the criminal offender, whether it occurs in the United States or abroad. We need to understand that these precious people who go overseas and represent us somewhere in the world, when a crime is committed against them, we need to take their side. We need to be supportive of those individuals. And we don't assume they did anything wrong, because they did not do anything wrong when they became a victim of crime. They were just victims of crime, and the person that should be held accountable is the criminal, and not to blame the victim. Mr. Speaker, rape is never the fault of the victim. It is always the fault of the perpetrator. But Jess got no satisfaction from the Peace Corps. No one did anything. When she got home, she was told to tell other people that she was coming back to the United States for medical reasons, to have her wisdom teeth pulled, not for the sexual assault that was committed against her. This was Jess's case. A few others were brought to light recently by ABC News and 20/20. And now, more and more of these Peace Corps volunteers over the years are coming forward and telling us about their stories. Mainly, they are women. We recently had a hearing in Foreign Affairs about this situation. Their stories were heart-wrenching. So now it's time to pass legislation to protect these women and to give them basic victim services, and that is what we will be doing in the next few days, along with the Senate. Mr. Speaker, people cry, Peace, peace, but there can be no peace for American angels abroad until they are treated with the dignity that they deserve and the support of the United States. We need to help the Peace Corps readjust itself to become a better institution. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's turn out the lights; the party is almost over for the incandescent lightbulb. Four years ago, a law went into place which mandated that every lightbulb across America must be 25 percent more efficient by 2014. What this meant was that the incandescent lightbulb, Thomas Edison's greatest invention, is being banned and Americans will be forced to buy the government-selected replacement, the compact fluorescent lightbulb. There are health risk problems with the compact fluorescent lightbulb, or the CFL as it's called. The National Institutes of Health states that fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Now, isn't that lovely? Further, another Federal agency, the EPA, warns that the broken bulb contains mercury and will ``continue to release mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed from the room.'' Mr. Speaker, I thought we were trying to get rid of mercury in our products in this country. So, in case we happen to break one of these new glass fragile lightbulbs--and I have one here and I'll be very careful not to drop it on the House floor because if I do, we'll have to evacuate the House floor. Here's what the EPA says and advises we're to do to clean up the poisonous debris in this lightbulb. I am reading from the EPA's verbatim Web site: Have people and pets leave the room. Air out the room for 5 to 10 minutes by opening a window or a door to the outdoors. Now, how you do that in a high-rise, Mr. Speaker? You are to shut off the central heating and air conditioning system. Collect materials needed to clean up the broken bulb. I guess we have to use gloves and duct tape, and place the cleanup materials in a sealable container. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials inside the room. It goes on. Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating and air conditioning system shut off for several hours. I might note this is just a condensed instruction. The EPA has provided more detailed instructions on its Web site, and I submit this 3-page, single-spaced, typed document of over 1,000 words on how to clean up one of these lightbulbs if it's broken into the Record, Mr. Speaker. Recently, the French have noted that CFL bulbs can harm a child's vision because they contain arsenic, among other poisons, and the German scientists have found that these CFL bulbs can also cause cancer. Now, isn't that odd--that these bulbs mandated by the Federal Government actually are harmful to our health? We should forget school lunches, Mr. Speaker. We now need to worry about our children's eyesight because of the lighting they sit under every day in a classroom, all thanks to the blind Federal Government. The Federal Government's anti-energy, anti-consumer choice regulation leaves Americans no other option but to purchase and use a harmful, poisonous product. If that's not reason enough to get rid of these bulbs, here's another one. None of these bulbs are made in the U.S.A. You look very carefully on every one of these bulbs, they will say, ``Made in China.'' That's right. Our good buddies, the Chinese, make all of these bulbs. The last factory in the United States that made incandescent lightbulbs closed down September 14, 2010. This ended a manufacturing industry that began all the way back to Thomas Edison. So these job-producing lightbulb factories have been shipped off to China and now to Mexico, leaving even more Americans out of work. In fact, the lightbulb that I just read off of says that it is made in China, and it's in several languages, of course. So the Federal Government imposed a burdensome, harmful-to-your- health regulation. An American factory closed. Jobs moved overseas. We've sort of heard this story before. But there's a bright spot to this sad tale. Just yesterday, the State of Texas passed a law that protects Texans from this absurd abuse of Federal power. The law will allow Texans to continue to buy incandescent bulbs that are made in the State of Texas, keeping the government out of people's lives and keeping jobs in America--even if it is in Texas. And let's not forget that this regulation is unconstitutional. The Federal Government does not have the authority to force anybody to buy anything, from health care insurance to a box of doughnuts or even a light bulb, especially if the light bulb is hazardous to America's health. Nowhere in the Constitution does the Federal Government have such abuse of power. So it's time we repeal the unconstitutional job-killing, bad-for- your-health light bulb mandate. Otherwise, it looks like we'll be singing ``the party's over'' for the incandescent light bulb. ``Because they say that all good things must end. Call it a night. The party's over. And tomorrow starts the same old thing again.'' And that's just the way it is. What To Do If a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulb or Fluorescent Tube Light Bulb Breaks in Your Home: Detailed Recommendations Source: Epa.gov Before Cleanup 1. Have people and pets leave the room, and avoid the breakage area on the way out. 2. Open a window or door to the outdoors and leave the room for 5-10 minutes. 3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one. 4. Collect materials you will need to clean up the broken bulb: Stiff paper or cardboard; sticky tape (e.g., duct tape); damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar) or a sealable plastic bag(s). Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces 1. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag. (NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.) 2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. 3. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels in the glass jar or plastic bag. 4. Vacuuming of hard surfaces during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. [NOTE: It is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor, although available information on this problem is limited.] If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following tips in mind: Keep a window or door to the outdoors open; vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available; and remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag. 5. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your area. Some states and communities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. 6. Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing bulb debris and cleanup materials. 7. Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off, as practical, for several hours. Cleanup Steps for Carpeting or Rugs 1. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag. (NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.) 2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. 3. Vacuuming of carpeting or rugs during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. [NOTE: It is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury- containing powder or mercury vapor, although available information on this problem is limited.] If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following tips in mind: Keep a window or door to the outdoors open; vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available; and remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag. 4. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your area. Some states and communities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. 5. Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing bulb debris and cleanup materials. 6. Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off, as practical, for several hours. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rugs: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming 1. The next several times you vacuum the rug or carpet, shut off the H&AC system if you have one, close the doors to other rooms, and open a window or door to the outside before vacuuming. Change the vacuum bag after each use in this area. 2. After vacuuming is completed, keep the H&AC system shut off and the window or door to the outside open, as practical, for several hours. Actions You Can Take to Prevent Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Fluorescent bulbs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. To avoid breaking a bulb, follow these general practices: Always switch off and allow a working CFL bulb to cool before handling. Always handle CFI, bulbs carefully to avoid breakage. If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing. Gently screw in the CFL until snug. Do not over-tighten. Never forcefully twist the glass tubing. Consider not using CFLs in lamps that can be easily knocked over, in unprotected light fixtures, or in lamps that are incompatible with the spiral or folded shape of many CFLs. Do not use CFL bulbs in locations where they can easily be broken, such as play spaces. Use CFL bulbs that have a glass or plastic cover over the spiral or folded glass tube, if available. These types of bulbs look more like incandescent bulbs and may be more durable if dropped. Consider using a drop cloth (e.g., plastic sheet or beach towel) when changing a fluorescent light bulb in case a breakage should occur. The drop cloth will help prevent mercury contamination of nearby surfaces and can be bundled with the bulb debris for disposal.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the war in Libya continues. It is the third war the United States is in. In my opinion, this war is unconstitutional because Congress has not approved it. It also violates the War Powers Resolution, because even after the time limit has expired, the President still engages troops overseas without congressional authority. And this war is not in the national security interests of the United States. Administration officials say so. This is a war that is sponsored by NATO. It is said we need to help NATO out. Well, if NATO wants to continue this war, let them. The United States is footing this bill, and it has cost us $750 million already. The President says Muammar Qadhafi is a bad guy and he has got to go. We don't know what is going to replace him. We may have an oppressive regime replaced by an extremist radicalized regime. Who knows? But this war is not in the interests of the United States, and it is now Congress' responsibility to cut off the funds for this war, because this war violates the United States Constitution and it is not in the security interests of the United States. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during World War II, Jews were forced to wear the yellow star of David as a symbol of hatred and scorn. The Jewish people experienced hatred in many forms during the Holocaust, most notably the murder of 4.9 to 6.0 million citizens. Have we moved past this backward way of thinking? No! Twenty-one-year-old Naama Shafir is a junior guard for the woman's basketball team at the University of Toledo. This April, she led her team to victory in the Women's National Invitation Tournament championship with a career-high 40 points and was named tournament MVP. She continues to excel, and has qualified to compete in the European championship as part of the Israeli women's national basketball team. However, because Naama wears a t-shirt under her jersey in order to comply with the modesty standards expected of Orthodox Jews, she will not be allowed to compete in the European championship. Tens of thousands of soldiers died during World War II trying to overcome this terrible prejudice, yet Naama still endures that same prejudice that her ancestors were faced with during the war. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

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

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

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, President Obama has unilaterally brought America into its third war--the war in Libya. The Constitution provides that Congress, not the Executive, should decide to go to war with other nations. Even the War Powers Resolution does not give the President the omnipotent power to continue this war. The resolution says that there must have been an attack on the United States or that the war is in the national security interest of the United States. Neither has occurred. Also, the War Powers Resolution requires a ceasing of hostility after 60 days unless there is congressional approval. Congress has not approved this war. The President's new innovative argument for this war is that the United States is not really engaged in hostilities in Libya; therefore, we are not at war. I assume war is in the eyes of the beholder. Mr. Speaker, throughout history, national executives have justified wars because, well, they've wanted to go to war. The Constitution and the law have been trampled on by this march to war. But we cannot let the Constitution get in the way of a ``good war,'' can we? And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on February 16, 2002, 17-year-old Valentina Rosendo Cantu was almost finished doing her washing in a stream when eight soldiers suddenly appeared. They beat her until she passed out. When Valentina came to, she was raped, not once, but twice, as the rest of the soldiers stood by, watching and mocking her. She was finally able to escape, returning home to her husband and three-month-old daughter, but she hasn't been able to escape from the memories of what happened to her. For the last 9 years, Valentina has been begging for these bad guys to be punished. Despite her tireless pursuit of justice, the Mexican government refuses to allow her case to be tried under civilian jurisdiction while the military courts have completely dropped the case. Valentina is not only a victim of a heinous violent crime, she is also a victim of the negligence of members of the Mexican government, and it's time for these outlaws to be brought to justice. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, while in Iraq last week with Members of Congress, we not only met with our troops, but we met with Prime Minister Maliki. During our conversation, it was suggested to Mr. Maliki that Iraq eventually assume some of the costs for this war of liberation. The war has cost billions of dollars and thousands of American lives. Since we are rebuilding Iraq and have given them a free democracy, it seems only right that Iraq at least consider paying for part of the cost with future oil revenues. I was surprised that Prime Minister Maliki reacted with an emphatic ``no way'' to sharing the cost. Even Kuwait helped reimburse the coalition nations when Saddam was driven from their lands. But not Iraq. They will not hear of it. Later this same day, we learned that the Prime Minister had actually ordered the Members of Congress out of Iraq. Looks like our questions to him were a political IED. But as the date for our military looms ever closer for departure, there are reports the Prime Minister wants our military to stay a little longer and Americans to pay for it. Iraq should help pay for the nation that Americans rebuilt and liberated. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, having just returned from Iraq with other Members to see our military, we further met with Prime Minister Maliki. We discussed the killing of the 35 freedom-seeking Iranian dissidents at Camp Ashraf by Iraqi authorities. The United States has turned over the protection of these people who oppose Iranian dictator Ahmadinejad to Iraq. The Prime Minister's candid position was that the dissidents were responsible for their own deaths and the Iraqi Government was not to be blamed for their recent demise. Upon requesting that we wished to visit the camp to hear from the people who actually saw what happened, you would have thought a political IED had gone off. The Prime Minister curtly rejected that request. In an effort to fairly get at the truth, the statements from the ones actually present at the homicides was important. It is disturbing that the Prime Minister refused us access to the Iranian dissidents he promised the United States he would protect. What does the Iraqi Government have to hide? Maybe the truth. Meanwhile, 35 innocent people are dead and hundreds of others are wounded by this new ``free'' democracy in Iraq. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, every Member of this body, every elected official in the United States, every member of our military takes an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. We do not take an oath to the President of the United States. The war in Libya is the President's war. The Constitution requires that Congress declare war. The War Powers declaration requires that Congress be authorized and notified if the President leads us into war. This has not occurred. The President's war in the name of humanity, although it may be a good idea in the moral sense and Qadhafi is a rotten person, violates the Constitution of the United States. It violates statutory law that we have passed. It is incumbent upon this body to stop the war in Libya. That is the President's war and not the war of the people of the United States.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the United States is engaged in a war in the name of humanity. The President's actions did not follow the Constitution. They do not follow the War Powers Resolution. It is an unconstitutional action on the part of the United States. I served on the bench in Texas for over 20 years trying criminal cases. In our daily business, we followed the law. And the law required that you have a trial. If convicted, the person was sentenced. I never tried a case that a person was so bad we just skipped the trial and we went ahead and sentenced them and then had the trial later to prove it was a good idea. We followed the law. And the same law that required a procedure in a trial that is in the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution also says there is a procedure for going to war. And the procedure is that Congress, not the President, instigates war. James Madison, a person who wrote the Constitution, said the Constitution supposes what the history of all government demonstrates: that the executive is the branch of power most interested in war and most prone to it. Therefore, with studied care, we have vested the question of war with the legislature. That would be us. Congress. We have not fulfilled our obligation. The war in Libya violates the Constitution, the War Powers Act. It is not in the national security of the United States. It is said, Well, the French, we may disrespect the French. Well, I say to the French: You respect our Constitution, and our Constitution says that the declaration and going to war is the responsibility of Congress, not any executive. It has been said that the Constitution may be inconvenient, but it is meant to be, Madam Speaker. War is a serious matter, and Presidents and Congresses should be inconvenienced on the road to war.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, while Washington lives on in ignorant bliss regarding immigration, the American border remains wide open for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Often, outlaws that enter our country illegally are criminals with no respect for the law of any nation. This past Sunday, hours before the crack of dawn, twice-deported illegal Johoan Rodriguez drove through a police barricade and ran over and killed Houston Police Officer Kevin Will while he was working an accident scene. Rodriguez's immigration status was far from the only crime he committed that day. Rodriguez, a purported member of the MS-13 gang, was driving three times the legal limit drunk and was charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of cocaine, evading arrest, and manslaughter. The crime was so violent that Officer Will's body was dragged down the road before the killer stopped and was apprehended. Deportation is no deterrent to criminals like Rodriguez, because as long as our border remains wide open in both directions, criminals will simply return to the United States and kill Americans. Meanwhile, Officer Will will be buried today. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

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

Mr. POE of Texas. I would like the amendment read.

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The title of the amendment is Sanctuary Cities amendment. I have it as No. 10.

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Chair, this is the amendment that I mentioned to the majority that I was going to introduce at this time, and it is in order because it is No. 9, which was stated to me by the Clerk as No. 9. So it is in order.

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Chair, I wish to be heard.

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

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I would urge this amendment be adopted. What it does is provide more space so that we can detain people and deport them back where they came from. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

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