Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize a large group of heroines who played a great role in Texas' history--the strong and brave women who contributed to the successful escape from their hometowns as Santa Anna and his troops barreled forward after conquering the Alamo. After the fall of the Alamo, word began to spread like wildfire across the territory. The horrific tales of the massacre at Goliad had proven that Santa Anna and his army would show no mercy, even for the women and children. While many families had already begun to flee as early as January 1836, the March 6 slaughter prompted widespread terror and the historic Runaway Scrape began. Families wasted no time in gathering essentials and setting out towards the Sabine River and into the safe haven of Louisiana or Galveston Island. Many families left with food on the table, clothes on the line, and ran for their lives with little more than the clothes on their back. Most of the treacherous journey was led by women with their small children, as only the elderly and boys deemed by their mamas as too young to fight were still at home. General Sam Houston and his boys were on the eastward move as well. By early April, Washington-on-the Brazos was deserted and as General Sam marched on towards the Sabine, there was rarely a sole left behind him. With these areas unprotected, Texans that stayed behind faced certain death as Santa Anna pressed forward--if the Indians didn't get there first. The only solace that the runaways had was that General Sam was between them and death. At the last meeting in the Alamo, Travis said: ``If we hold the Alamo, it is a deed well done! If we fall with it, it is still a deed well done! We pledge our lives to give Houston and Fannin time to get between Santa Anna and the settlements!'' A deed well done indeed. But assured as they were that General Sam was bringing up the rear, they were faced with another unforeseen obstacle--the always unpredictable Texas weather. The cold and rainy spring wreaked havoc along the Runaway Scrape. The runways lacked the bare essentials of survival and many, mostly children, succumbed to the cold, disease and hunger. I often talk about the heroes of our independence, but no finer example of heroics was displayed than on this historic exodus. This was the harshest journey of our fight for independence and it was only made possible by the sheer will and determination of the remarkable women that led the way. There are countless stories of women who cared for the sick and diseased, sacrificed for the hungry, buried the dead, including their own children, and kept pressing on--never giving up. They were relentless in their mission and just as much a part of our independence as were their counterparts. As my grandmother always said, there is nothing more powerful than a woman that has made up her mind. And these women, these mothers of freedom, had made up their mind. General Thomas Jefferson Rusk understood Texas women well: ``The men of Texas deserved much credit, but more was due the women. Armed men facing a foe could not but be brave; but the women, with their little children around them, without means of defense or power to resist, faced danger and death with unflinching courage.'' One such story recounts how one mother strapped a feather mattress to the back of a horse, tied her three young children on and led that horse by foot while carrying a baby on her hip. This was a prettier picture than most. As food and supplies were sparse, they also couldn't afford to have anything extra weigh them down. The muddied trails to safety were littered with feathers from mattresses and discarded items too burdensome to carry. As far as the eye could see, this was the scene along the Runaway Scrape. Most were starving, sick, and barely clothed. Make-shift graves lined the way and areas of high ground offered the only reprieve from the mud-soaked misery. As General Sam and the boys crossed the San Jacinto, many of the runaways a step ahead faced a rising Trinity River to the east. The flooded waterway and river-bottoms forced them to seek shelter in the Liberty and Dayton settlements. Today, a historical marker along Highway 90 recognizes this historical part of our Texas history. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, the runaways taking refuge along the banks of the Trinity heard the faint sounds of cannon fire in the distance. Fearing the worst, the runaways wasted no time in ferrying the river and making their escape. Little did they know at the time, but General Sam and his rag-tag bunch of freedom fighters whipped a vastly larger Mexican army that was caught napping, captured Santa Anna and a new Republic of Texas was won. Just as terror and panic had raged throughout the land, the news of victory and independence did as well. The cries from the battlefield: ``Remember the Alamo!'' ``Remember Goliad!'' were echoed along the now abandoned Runaway Scrape and met with: ``San Jacinto!'' ``San Jacinto!'' Texas--one and indivisible. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the United States Government wants to dictate where the people of the sovereign State of Israel are allowed to live. Now who do we think we are? Israel is our ally, not our subject. What if Prime Minister Netanyahu said that our people weren't allowed to live in certain parts of D.C.? That makes about as much sense. The American people support Israel and the U.S. Government better get onboard. The people I represent are not ``embarrassed'' or ``humiliated'' by the actions of Israel. Israel has the right to determine where their people live, including in Jerusalem. Also under international law, Israel is not obligated to give back land won in a defensive war. But they tried anyway. When Israel gave back land for peace, it didn't work. They still don't have peace. There will be no peace until the terrorists come to the peace table because the terrorists don't want peace. They want to drive Israel into the sea. Peace will come in the Middle East when the terrorists are defeated. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize a man that has tirelessly served the great state of Texas and tens of thousands of university students at my alma mater, Abilene Christian University. It is rare that a person selflessly gives of himself and his family for the good of others, and I am pleased to acknowledge my esteemed colleague and dear friend Dr. Royce Money, a true example of a lifetime servant-leader. Dr. Money is the 10th president (1991-2010) of Abilene Christian University, and has served the university in various capacities for nearly three decades. He will be transitioning on May 31, 2010 to continue his university service in a new role as chancellor. He will be greatly missed as ACU's 10th president for his visionary leadership and personal commitment to modeling ACU's mission of ``Educating students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.'' Dr. Money, like myself, was born in Temple, Texas. Interestingly, my grandmother, Lucy Hill, was his Sunday school teacher when he was a child. Dr. Money comes from a long line of faith, with a strong work ethic and a generous spirit. These values have served him throughout his childhood into his professional life. During Dr. Money's tenure, the campus has taken on a massive building program. ACU has become a first class institution. It truly is a university set on a hill in West Texas that shines influence throughout the world. Dr. Money says that one of the most pivotal roles as president is to tell the story of ACU to as many people who will listen. He is an ambassador for this unique university. Dr. Money's story in higher education began at Abilene Christian in 1960 where he enrolled as an undergraduate student and served as vice president of the Students' Association his senior year. In 1964, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree in 1967 from ACU. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in religion in 1975 from Baylor University and in 1982 he earned an additional Master of Science degree in human development from the University of Nebraska. After completing his education, Dr. Money joined the Abilene Christian faculty in 1981 as an associate professor of marriage and family therapy. In 1986, he became chairman of the undergraduate Bible and ministry department and then became chair of the graduate Bible and ministry department in 1987. Just a year later in 1988, Dr. Money became vice president and provost of the university, and since 1991, he has been ACU's 10th president. Though his primary roles within the university have changed over the years, Dr. Money has always remained committed to the classroom, serving as a professor of the College of Biblical Studies. He plans to continue teaching after retirement through study abroad trips to Oxford and Leipzig with his wife Pam. On January 23, 1965 Dr. Money married Pam Handy in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Money and his wife Pam are both extremely committed to education. Mrs. Money, a licensed marriage and family therapist has served as an adjunct professor in the College of Biblical Studies while taking on various duties and privileges as First Lady of ACU. As education has played an invaluable role in their lives, Dr. and Mrs. Money want to provide other young, achieving minds with the same opportunities they have had. The recently established Royce and Pam Money Fund for Excellence in Education provides scholarships for top-ranking students to continue their educational endeavors at ACU with a goal of $1.9 million in aid. Royce and Pam are deeply involved in the university community. They frequently extend a personal invitation to students to share a meal together. It is not uncommon to find Dr. Money eating lunch in the Bean Cafeteria with students, getting their perspective. The Moneys are both committed members of the Church of Christ and attend University Church of Christ, which is directly across the street from the university. Dr. Money has enriched the educational system across Texas and throughout the country through memberships, chairmanships and board positions. More importantly, lives have been influenced in a positive way because students crossed paths with this remarkable man--Royce Money. Beyond his commitment to academia, Dr. Money is an esteemed author, an outstanding role model and community member. He has served as chair of Abilene Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Lone Star Conference, as well as in positions on countless other boards throughout the community. Dr. Money's dedication to the community was honored when he was named Abilene's Citizen of the Year in 2007. I am humbled to have had the pleasure to know Royce and Pam during my time on the board at ACU. Dr. Money is a man of integrity, who lives by his principles and stands up for his beliefs. Dr. Money will always hold a place in the hearts and minds of everyone whose life he has touched. We honor Dr. and Mrs. Money for their lifetime service to this educational institution whose university goal is to ``Change the World.'' We look forward to seeing more great things come in the story of Abilene Christian University as Dr. Royce Money's influence does in fact help university students to change the world for the better. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, there's a new push for an amnesty bill to pass this Congress. Yesterday, tens of thousands of people marched in Washington, D.C., wanting amnesty. And it was interesting. As I looked over this very peaceful crowd and all those people marching, I wondered why there were no American flags. In any event, amnesty is not the answer. Even the talk of amnesty causes a flood of people to come across our southern border. Amnesty is no answer to the problem because the problem is the lack of border security. The violence is already out of control in the border region. Thousands more people illegally crossing the border will make an already dangerous situation a much worse disaster, so we have to start with the basics. First, we must secure the border. We must start with securing the border from the criminal enterprises, including the drug cartels. Just over a week ago, an American consulate employee and his wife were murdered in Juarez, Mexico. Lesley Enriquez, 35, and her husband, Arthur Redelfs, 34, were murdered in a drive-by shooting near the Santa Fe Bridge. The husband of another U.S. consulate employee was also gunned down on the Mexican side of the border. Murders and kidnappings have caused the closing of the U.S. Embassy in Reynosa until further notice. The U.S. State Department is now rushing to relocate consulate employees in Juarez, Tijuana, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, and Matamoros, all because of the violence on the border and the kidnappings. Shoot-outs in the streets have killed thousands of people, mostly Mexican nationals. The drug cartels are fighting each other and fighting law enforcement for control over the lucrative drug routes into the United States. Good people from both sides of the border are being placed in harm's way by these murderous thugs. Even an armed Mexican military helicopter intruded into the United States airspace in Zapata County, Texas. The intentions of this incursion are still unknown. Over a year ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry asked for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for a thousand troops at the border to help with the increasing violence and to prevent the drug cartels from entering the United States. The Governor has asked for more Predator drones for increased surveillance. He was trying to head off this escalation of violence that has occurred recently. The help he requested has never come, and the Governor's request for more troops and drones at the border has been ignored for over a year. In response to the murders of these Americans, Governor Perry again eventually asked for help. He asked for surveillance planes and a thousand fresh troops at the Texas border with Mexico to help stem the violence. Secretary Napolitano said she would ``look at'' the request, but she thinks there's already enough troops on the border. So Governor Perry has decided he can't wait around on the Federal Government, even though it's the Federal Government's responsibility to secure our borders. He's ordered Texas National Guard helicopters to the border to support law enforcement that is on the border already. They're trying to fight the border violence spillover into the United States. Texas military forces have requested and obtained OH-58 Kiowa and UH- 72 Lakota helicopters to be used to fly up and down the Texas-Mexico border along the Rio Grande River from Brownsville to El Paso, Texas. Of course, their number and exact location will not be disclosed for security purposes. I've had the opportunity to be on the Texas-Mexico border with our Texas Air National Guard and fly up and down that region to see firsthand the problem of the incursions into the United States, all because the border is not secure. I would hope our Federal Government would support the Governor's actions. The Federal Government should actually do something to stop the violence and secure the border. It is the first responsibility of government to protect the people, and that includes the people who live along other international borders. We should send more troops. The violence is getting worse every day. Our border sheriffs and law enforcement are outmanned, outfinanced, and they're outgunned, but they're doing everything they can to protect the citizens along the Texas-Mexico border from the violent drug cartels that have come into the United States. Every single county and city and town along the border needs help in the border war. It is irresponsible to leave these people defenseless. Once again, it affects good people on both sides of the border, Mexicans and Americans as well. Cartels are waging war on our border. People are not only sneaking across into the United States, they're shooting their way into our country. The violence is exploding into America's border communities. So it's time to put an end to this madness, send sufficient troops to the border, and uphold the national responsibility to protect the citizens of this United States. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, they're back. We've all heard about ACORN, and it seems to me that ACORN is nothing more than a criminal enterprise. Here's why. They've been caught helping undercover journalists open a prostitution ring with underage girls. They've been caught in voter registration fraud scams. At least 14 States are investigating ACORN for voter fraud. Even Mickey Mouse can now vote. Imagine that. And ACORN signs up the poor into their membership rolls. The poor give their bank account information, and ACORN deducts membership dues without the express consent of these individuals. In a bipartisan vote last year, Congress voted to strip Federal funding from this rogue fraudulent organization. Not one dime of taxpayer money should be spent on this group. However, White House Budget Director Peter Orszag has directed all Federal agencies to open the Federal funding floodgates for ACORN again. Why did the administration trump the will of Congress and the American people? American tax dollars should not fund this apparent band of thieves. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I want to show appreciation to an organization that is doing something unique for our wounded warriors. Show of Support Military Hunt honors men and women from different branches of service with a Texas way of saying ``Thank Ya'll.'' We Texans love to hunt. It's a way of life in the South and Terry Johnson founded an idea to thank these brave men and women who sacrificed so much with all expenses paid guided hunts. Terry wrote letters and made calls to get people on board. He sought to bring awareness to outdoor sports while showing his gratitude to our warriors. The first hunt began in 2002 with only two soldiers. Now, due to overwhelming support, over 50 wounded soldiers released from duty have been on one of these memorable hunts. Everything is donated; the land to hunt on, rifles and ammunition, hunting gear, airfare if they are flying in from another state, and anything else that may be required. Not to be left out, they also pay tribute to the families of the soldiers. While the men are hunting, the wives are treated to a day on the town. The Show of Support Military Hunt, ``Hunt for Heroes'' has brought about a new way for the public to offer its thanks and I cannot imagine a more noble cause.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in a new survey of doctors published by The New England Journal of Medicine--nearly half of all primary care physicians said they may leave the medical profession if Obama-care passes. Doctors are getting railroaded out of practice now. Medicare doesn't pay the cost to keep their doors open. The new healthcare scheme makes it worse. Some doctors who can stay in business won't see Medicare patients anymore. They can't afford it. More patients and fewer physicians will cause long lines and rationing for our senior citizens. Government-run Medicare already denies claims twice as much as private insurance. But when Medicare denies coverage for a procedure-- you can't pay for it with your own money. The procedure--not the coverage--but the procedure is denied under Medicare. That's government rationing. Passing the healthcare bill would only make those problems worse. Government-run healthcare has the competence of FEMA, the efficiency of the Post Office, and the compassion of the IRS. It is not fit for a free people. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Mr. POE of Texas. This bill has special deals for special folks. The Louisiana purchase, a special deal for Florida, a special deal for two States in New England, and a special deal for Connecticut. And as much as my friends like to rail on the insurance companies, they give a special deal to Michigan Blue Cross so that they don't have to get the new tax increases. Why is that? Because it's special deals for special folks. This bill is unconstitutional. The Texas State Attorney General plus 30 other Attorneys General will sue the Federal Government if this bill passes because of special deals for special folks. Also, this bill is unconstitutional because it forces the American people to buy a product. Nowhere in the Constitution does the Federal Government have the authority to force you to buy anything, whether it's insurance, a car, or a box of doughnuts.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today is a defining moment in this Nation's history. Will we choose the path of individual liberty or will we choose the path of government tyranny? Will we choose the path to be in control of our own health, or will we choose to go the way of a European nanny state where government forces health choices upon us? Will we choose to uphold the sacred motto ``We the People'' or will we return to the chains and slavery of government and choose ``We the Subjects''? Our choice is clear. The American people don't desire more oppressive, intrusive government in charge of their health. The people want to control their own lives. Thomas Paine in the Revolution said, ``These are the times that try men's souls. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.'' Our Founders made the right difficult choice. So will we at this time, on this day, this hour, stand for government tyranny or personal liberty? I choose ``We the People,'' not ``We the Subjects.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

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

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. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution of the United States of America was written by our Founding Fathers to limit the size of government. The Constitution sets limits on what the government can do for us and what the government can do to us. The people decide what is best for themselves and our country, not the all-seeing eye of the Federal Government. James Monroe said in 1788 at the Virginia convention to ratify the United States Constitution, How prone all human institutions have been to decay, how difficult it has been for mankind in the ages and countries to preserve their dearest rights and best privileges, imperiled as they were by an irresistible fate of tyranny. Now the tyrannical all-seeing eye of the Federal Government is trying to take care of us. The government doesn't think we know how to take care of ourselves, so it must come in and take care of us. We are to be made subjects incapable of taking care of our own health. Nowhere in the Constitution is the Federal Government given any authority to control the people's health, not one place. George Washington didn't fight the redcoats so people could be the subjects of the new, oppressive, and untrustworthy Federal bureaucracy. The colonists didn't die in the War of Independence so a health care czar could rule over us. The government takeover of health care is unconstitutional. And if this bill passes, the Texas attorney general and 30 other State attorneys general are prepared to sue the Federal Government for an exercise of unconstitutional action because this bill is unconstitutional. It forces Americans to buy health insurance against their will. And if people don't buy the insurance, they will face fines or go to jail. And on top of that, it forces people to buy government- approved health insurance. That means the Feds tell people they have to buy the Federal-approved insurance, and it tells them what insurance they must buy. That's not allowed under any stretch of the law or imagination. That is unconstitutional. And of course, in this bill they are hiring 16,000 new IRS health care police to enforce that dictate. The IRS health care police will verify that American citizens have acceptable health care insurance every month. I say American citizens because illegals are exempt from paying health care fines and taxes, although illegals can receive coverage in this bill. The health care bill also violates the people's right to privacy. People's most secret, private, intimate medical records will become the property of the U.S. Government. Health care busybody bureaucrats will burrow through private medical records and decide what medical care people are allowed to have. Health care bureaucrats will stick their nose into private banking accounts and their records to decide how much people have to pay for that health insurance. They will be able to seize tax refunds, bank accounts, garnished wages all in the name of forcing people to buy insurance for their own good. And of course, this is in the bill. This power grab is not about health, and it's certainly not about care. It's about liberty. It's about Federal Government control over people's lives against their will. The Federal Government has no right to dictate to the people their health care needs. And in my opinion, it's unconstitutional. Most of the American people oppose the government plan to take over this health care. There were thousands of people here today making their voices known that they are opposed to this bill. It costs too much, it borrows too much, it taxes too much, it's inefficient, and it gives government bureaucrats the control of our medical decisions. Even Thomas Jefferson talked about government-run health care. He said, ``If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.'' Mr. Speaker, government-run health care is unconstitutional, and it's unhealthy for everyone. We must remember the Constitution says and begins with ``We the People,'' not ``We the Subjects.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I totally support H. Res. 1075 and the support of the National Guard and the Agri-business Development Teams. The National Guard is doing a phenomenal job in Iraq and Afghanistan. The chairman could give me the exact number, but I don't know the percentage of the National Guard troops that are in Afghanistan, but it's extremely high. We count on the citizen soldiers to help us in times of war, and they are there not just from the State of Missouri but from the State of Texas as well. And I had a chance to be with some National Guard troops in Afghanistan during the Christmas season. They're doing a phenomenal business in helping those Afghans change from growing poppies that is turned into cocaine and heroin that is sold primarily in Europe and teaching them to farm wheat and soybeans. In fact, Texas A&M University has developed some type of soybean that yields ninefold what a typical soybean yields, and they are being planted in Afghanistan so that farmers can sell legitimate crops on the open market. This bill is an important bill because it recognizes our National Guard, but also this bill is a bipartisan bill. It is supported by both sides. And legislation in this House, to be successful, should be supported by both sides, unlike the health care bill that we're going to vote on tomorrow afternoon. It's only supported by a portion of one side with no input from the others. And I think that we should have a bipartisan vote in support of the health care bill as well, which, unfortunately, we are not.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the United States is positioned to raise the white flag of surrender in space exploration. America is the leader in space technology, but yet there are plans afoot to turn our lead over to the Russians and the Chinese. By foolishly canceling the Constellation Program and when the last NASA shuttle flight occurs, we will have no means to transport our astronauts into space. We will have to hitch a ride with the Russians if we want that transportation. And if one of our security satellites needs repair, who's to say the Russians will even let us buy a coach ticket on their space aircraft. Now even the Iranians have entered the space race. Last month they sent a rat, two turtles, and a worm into space. Keeping our edge in spaceflight is a national security issue. We can not give that away to anybody. After all, when Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon, the first word was ``Houston,'' not ``Moscow'' or ``Beijing.'' And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ``These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country. But he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.'' Thomas Paine spoke these words at another crossroads in this Nation's history, back when Americans were fighting the tyranny of King George and the British Empire. The question to be asked today is: Will we stand up to government tyranny as our Founding Fathers did over 200 years ago? Government is taking over every aspect of our lives, and it's not just the big things, like the automobile industry, the banking industry, student loans, home mortgages. They're telling us what kind of cars we can drive, what kind of lightbulbs we can use, and they're even telling us how much water we can put in our toilets. We are living under the ever-growing oppression of government. The government has stolen our liberty one right at a time. They are building us into a prison of tyranny. Brick by brick, that wall of tyranny increases every day as the Federal Government intrudes into our personal liberty and takes over every single aspect of our lives. Have we forgotten about the unaccountable czars who work in the shadows? At last count, we have 45 czars that rule over us. Most of them have not been confirmed by the Senate, as required by the Constitution. We've got a behavioral science czar that's studying human behavior. The government wants to know how they can influence human conduct. It sounds a bit like the book ``1984'' to me. We have a bailout czar. We have a border czar, but nobody knows whether the border czar is to secure the border or open it up. We don't know what these czars do. We have a climate change czar and a communications diversity czar. We have a disinformation czar. It sounds like he should be called the ``government propaganda czar'' to me. We have two economic czars. We probably could use a few more of those. We have an energy czar, a food czar, a Great Lakes czar, and a Gitmo closure czar. We have a pay czar, and we have a religion or God czar. With our government, we don't know whether he's for or against God and religion. We have a safe school czar, a science czar who wrote a controversial book from promoting population control. Now isn't that lovely. What are all of these people doing? Why are they working in the shadows, controlling our liberty? Today as we debate health care, the government wants to take over America's health care system. We'll have a health care czar and a health choices czar because we're not smart enough, according to the government, to sit down with our own doctors and decide what's best for our own health care. So some bureaucrat here in D.C. has to decide for us. The health care takeover gives the Federal Government access to our bank accounts and our private medical records. The IRS will get 16,000 new agents to snoop around in these records. Whatever happened to the right of privacy? This is not about health, and it's certainly not about care. This is about government control over every aspect of our lives without accountability and against the will of the people. In the long, lamentable catalog of human history, a person or a people yearning to be free have had to make tough choices. Will we stand at this hour for government tyranny or personal liberty? As Patrick Henry once so famously said: ``I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.'' Now our choice today is the prison of tyranny or the frontier of freedom. Let us choose wisely or suffer the abominable chains of the oppression of tyranny. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, if the health care bill passes, the IRS will ``verify'' that American citizens have ``acceptable'' health care insurance every month. I say ``American citizens'' because the bill bars imposing health care taxes and penalties on illegals who will receive health care under this bill. The IRS will charge fines up to $2,250, or 2 percent of your annual income--whichever is higher--for failure to buy that government- approved health insurance. The IRS will need over 16,000 new health care police to snoop around in your bank account. That's more people than live in my home of Humble, Texas. The IRS health care police will have the power to confiscate tax refund checks. They can levy bank accounts, garnish wages, and could put you in jail for failure to pay the piper, for failure to buy those health care insurance premiums. The health care bill costs too much, it taxes too much, and it invades people's privacy. Now we're going to have the health care police courtesy of the good old IRS. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, a team of militants launched a spectacular assault at the heart of the Afghan government on Monday, January 18, with two men detonating suicide bombs and the rest fighting to the death only 50 yards from the gates of the presidential palace. The attack paralyzed the city for hours, as hundreds of Afghan commandos converged and opened fire. The battle unfolded in the middle of Pashtunistan Square, a traffic circle where the palace of President Hamid Karzai, the Ministry of Justice and the Central Bank, the target of the attack, are located. As the gun battle raged, another suicide bomber, this one driving an ambulance, struck a traffic circle a half-mile away, sending a second mass of bystanders fleeing in terror. Afghan officials said that three soldiers and two civilians--including a child--were killed, and at least 71 people were wounded. The war in Afghanistan is dynamic, fluid, and ever-evolving. What was true 9 months ago is no longer the case. This means both that we cannot rely on our previous successes and that our current shortcomings can be fixed. It should give us hope but not foolhardy confidence. What the Kabul attacks prove is that we constantly have to be adjusting our strategy to keep up with the evolution of our enemy. The Taliban are a mostly rural phenomenon in a mostly rural country; the overwhelming majority of United States troops are deployed in small outposts in the countryside. On most days, the war does not reach the urban centers, but on January 18 it did. Our strategy must be flexible enough to adapt. So to set an arbitrary deadline, to pull out our troops of Afghanistan in 2011, not only endangers our troops on the ground but also the ultimate success of our mission. We must finish the fight, root out the Taliban, and destroy al-Qaeda.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow night starts what we call March Madness, college basketball playoffs for the national championship, and 65 college teams throughout the country will start competing tomorrow night. But there is one team that won't be there. And probably those 65 teams are glad this team is not there. It is not a college team. It is a high school team, and they are from Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston, Texas. They are now ranked the number one high school basketball team in the United States by USA Today and Rivals.com. The Jack Yates Lions have won 58 consecutive basketball games in a row, going since last year, and two Texas State championships in 4A basketball. They have defeated their opponents by an awesome amount of points. They have won games by 88 points, 90 points, 98 points, 99 points, 115 points, and 135 points against the opposition. And that is just the margin of victory in those games. In one game this year, on January 5, 2010, they scored 170 points in a high school basketball game, breaking the national record. That is an 18-year record set of scoring. And yes, they scored 170 points in one game. No wonder they weren't invited to the big March Madness starting tomorrow night in college basketball games. They not only set the national record for consecutive games won over 100 points, they finished the season averaging 116 points per game, taking that title away that was 40 years old from a Hobbs, New Mexico high school team. They scored 100 points in 26 basketball games this year. They are a foe to be reckoned with. They have no competition in high school basketball anywhere in the United States. They employ a strategy that is called ``38 minutes of hell.'' It is a run and gun offense where the coach, Coach Greg Wise of Houston, Texas, plays all 15 players. Five at a time he puts them in. They run and gun up and down the basketball court, he pulls them out, puts another five in, throughout the game. And by the end of the game of course the other team is dragging, they are out of breath, out of energy, and they are out of points. And of course the Jack Yates High School basketball team wins the game. In the State championship this year going into the fourth quarter they were behind by 24 points. They had a little conversation with their coach before the fourth quarter started, and they won the game by 23 points. I want to commend this wonderful group of young men who live in Houston, Texas, for their zeal, for their energy, and for representing really what is good about high school sports not only in the State of Texas, but throughout the United States, and congratulate them on being the number one high school basketball team in the United States. Way to go, Lions. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I'd like to recognize a former Member of Congress who represented the 2nd Congressional District of Texas which I represent. While the 2nd Congressional District has changed in shape over the years, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a unique Texan who served his constituents and country well during his 24 years in the House of Representatives. Charlie Wilson served 12 terms (1973-1997) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was well known for his personality as big as Texas and is perhaps best known for his work to covertly direct billions of U.S. dollars in arms to Afghan rebels who were fighting the Soviets through his position on the House Appropriations Committee. One of my favorite stories about Charlie Wilson is the story when as a young boy of 13 and living in Trinity, Texas, his dog Teddy got into the neighbor's yard. The neighbor, city official Charles Hazard, retaliated by mixing crushed glass into the dog's food. The dog died from internal bleeding. In response, Charlie decided to run for office against him in the next election. Charlie won by driving 96 voters from poor neighborhoods to the polls. Before they left the car, Charlie told them what Mr. Hazard had done to his dog Teddy. Charlie Wilson won that race by a margin of only 16 votes. This election started his political career. Perhaps this event explains why he always fought for the underdog later in life. His efforts of aiding Afghans rebels with appropriate weaponry and machinery and in advocating for humanitarian aid were successful in helping to defeat the Soviet Union and in bringing the Cold War to a close. He was also a tireless advocate for Texas in Washington, DC and helped bring business and industry to his district and State. Charlie Wilson passed on February 10, 2010 in Lufkin, Texas, from a cardiopulmonary arrest. We are grateful for his service in the second congressional district of Texas and for his tireless efforts to advance freedom in Afghanistan and throughout the world. His death is a loss to Texas, and to our Nation.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, America is the most generous country on the face of the earth. Americans have given more in blood and treasure worldwide to help others than any nation in the history of the world. But the Navy Times is reporting that the United States does not fly our flag at its main installation at Port-au-Prince in Haiti. The administration says flying the flag may give people in Haiti the wrong idea. Well, what is that supposed to mean? Is our government ashamed of Old Glory? News reports say that every other nation involved in relief efforts is proudly flying their flag in Haiti. Americans in Haiti are a testament to the good intentions of our country. Why should the administration force the military to hide our flag as if it's ashamed of the red, white, and blue? The flag represents everything that's good and right about America. American troops should be able to fly the Stars and Stripes wherever they are in this world serving our Nation. After all, isn't that what the flag is about? But now it sounds like the administration is once again apologizing for Americans being American. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the God-given right of free speech to all people in all nations is no longer recognized in the Netherlands. The Dutch Government is intolerant of intolerance for terrorists. Thou shalt not criticize, says their commandment. Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders made a documentary movie about real terrorist acts and real radical Islamic clerics encouraging violence in the name of hate. Wilders now is on trial for insulting Islam. He's charged with discrimination and incitement to hatred. In Amsterdam, it's illegal for a Christian or a Buddhist or an atheist or anyone else to criticize Islam because radical Islamic clerics will incite their followers to murder people. So the Dutch are no longer allowed to talk about terrorism. The Dutch Ministry of Justice says--get this--it doesn't matter if Wilders was telling the truth. The Dutch court says it's irrelevant whether Wilders might prove his observations to be correct. What's relevant is his observations are illegal. Geert Wilders now lives under threat of a 5-year jail sentence from his own government for a violation of free speech. His trial is set to resume in July, the trial where the Dutch court said truth doesn't matter; it only matters if Wilders' words hurt somebody's feelings. And Wilders lives in fear under the threat of death for speaking his mind about radical Islam. So-called religious leaders believe their radical religion says they can kill those who don't agree with them. Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, great-grand nephew of the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh, was a big believer in freedom of speech too. He and his partner, Hirsi Ali, made a documentary movie about women and Islam called ``Submission.'' The radical clerics didn't like that one either, so they had Van Gogh murdered. Six terrorists were later arrested. One of the terrorists shot and then repeatedly stabbed Van Gogh as he rode his bicycle to work. He slit Van Gogh's throat and then stabbed him again, pinning a five-page radical rant to his body. The rant listed all of the things they thought Hirsi Ali, his female partner in the film, had done to violate the Koran. And they threatened her with death. At the time, she was a sitting member of the Dutch Parliament. Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia, and her family escaped when she was a child. She was raised a Muslim and subjected to the custom of female mutilation against her will. After surviving refugee camps in Africa, then a stay in Saudi Arabia, her family finally went to Canada. She was promised in marriage to a distant cousin she had never met. She refused that marriage and soon fled as a refugee to Holland. She became a warrior for women's rights, becoming an elected member of the Dutch Parliament. But after Theo Van Gogh's murder, she was run out of the country by her own government, the Dutch Government. They would not protect her. She was simply just too controversial. She resigned her seat in Parliament and she fled to the United States. She lives in this area around D.C. Kurt Westergaard is one of the 12 artists who drew cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. Radical clerics then incited their followers to murder people in the streets. They rioted and they burned down embassies. Most of them, by their own admission, had never even seen these cartoons, and Westergaard had to flee for his life. He too lives in the United States under armed guard. Threatening people and killing people for speaking their mind is just another form of terrorism. Van Gogh, Ali, Westergaard, and now Geert Wilders, have never used or advocated violence. They simply exercised their God-given right of free speech. So now in Amsterdam, truthful insult speech is a crime. What kind of free society says truthful speech can be illegal? The most controversial speech is political, religious, and even truthful speech. That is why it's protected. Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle, a God-given human right to all people in all nations. It has been said, I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it. But not in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders should be able to speak his mind without becoming an enemy of his own country. The enemy of free speech is the court of the Netherlands and radical Islamic clerics who preach violence in the name of hate. And, Mr. Speaker, that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H. Res. 1141 honors the accomplishments of the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, the first women to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Justice O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1930 and grew up on a cattle ranch called the ``Lazy-B'' near Duncan, Arizona. The ranch was isolated and she did not have a sibling to play with until she turned eight. To compensate, young Sandra demonstrated the initiative and drive that would later propel her to the Court. She befriended cowboys who worked on the ranch, learned to drive a car and shoot a gun, and became an expert equestrian. She also kept many pets during her childhood, including a bobcat, which probably taught her how to deal with lawyers. Her parents decided she needed an education, so O'Connor went to live with her maternal grandmother, Mamie Scott Wilkey, in El Paso. Although homesick, O'Connor became an outstanding student and graduated from the Radford School for Girls at age 16. O'Connor always credited Mrs. Wilkey for instilling confidence in her. She later studied economics at Stanford with an eye toward running the Lazy-B or another ranch. However, a legal dispute over the Lazy-B sparked her interest in the law. O'Connor enrolled in Stanford's law school and graduated in only 2 years, third in her class that included valedictorian and future Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist. One of her other classmates, John Jay O'Connor, became her husband. This was the early 1950s and, despite her stellar law school record, O'Connor could not find work as a lawyer. The legal profession was not an easy place for women at that time. But O'Connor was determined. She started out as a legal secretary before finding employment as the deputy county attorney for San Mateo, California. When her husband was drafted into the Judge Advocate General's Corps, she joined him in Frankfurt, Germany, where she served as a civilian attorney in the Quartermaster's Corps. Returning to the United States in 1957, the couple settled in Phoenix and started a family--three children arrived in the next six years. O'Connor eventually hung out a shingle with one partner and began a general law practice. But with the birth of her second child, she devoted herself to homemaker duties, charitable work, and local Republican politics. Following five years as a full-time mother, O'Connor returned to work as an Arizona assistant attorney general. Later, the governor appointed her to fill a vacant state senate seat, a position she successfully defended twice in successive elections. By 1974, O'Connor had become the first woman to serve as the majority leader in a state legislature. This achievement propelled her to the bench--first as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge and then, in 1978, as a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals, the state's intermediate appellate court. Justice O'Connor distinguished herself as a smart, fair, even- tempered judge. She had overcome de facto discrimination through persistence, hard work, and a devotion to institutions and causes bigger than herself. This compelling story intrigued President Ronald Reagan, who was searching for a successor to replace retiring Justice Potter Stewart at the United States Supreme Court. In Sandra Day O'Connor, he found his nominee. Senate confirmations are not for the faint-hearted, but O'Connor came through like an experienced pro. She was confirmed by a vote of 99-0 and was sworn as the 102nd member of the Court on September 21, 1981. Of obvious importance then and now, she became the first women to serve as an Associate Justice. Justice O'Connor served on the Court for nearly a quarter of a century before retiring in 2006. Early in her tenure, she was known as a conservative jurist who preferred analyzing cases with a narrow, fact-specific approach. Later, she acquired the reputation as a ``swing vote.'' Law Professor Steven Green once paid her perhaps the ultimate compliment when he observed that she ``seemed to look at each case with an open mind.'' Since retiring from the Court, Justice O'Connor really hasn't retired. She selflessly devoted herself to caring for her husband, John, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1990 and passed away last November. In addition to travel and spending time with other family members, Justice O'Connor has worked on an ABA project to educate Americans about the role of judges, served as a the Chancellor of The College of William & Mary, and performed trustee duties for the National Constitution Center. In recognition of her life's work, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom--the highest civilian honor of the United States--on August 12, 2009. Mr. Speaker, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is a pioneer for women and an inspiration to all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1141, which honors her many accomplishments.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when I traveled to the old Soviet Union in the 1980s, nobody walked around smiling or joking or laughing. It was all gloom, doom, and despair. Living under government tyranny destroys the human spirit, the mind, the soul, and the body. The monopoly of government kills off the notion of individuality. Bureaucracies have an insensitive cookie-cutter solution for everything. It's the same with government-run health care. Thomas Jefferson was a visionary. He talked about government-run health care. He said, ``If the government decides what foods people eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.'' Government-run health care pushes us down the road to ``we the subjects'' instead of ``we the people.'' Instead of us controlling government, government controls us. That's what tyranny is. The monopoly of government-run health care will have the efficiency of the post office, the competency of FEMA, and the compassion of the good old IRS. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, freedom is rarely free. When you don't have it, you're under someone else's yolk, someone else's power. And for you to get it, you have to take that power from the oppressor. And while history has recorded some peaceful transitions, the transfer of power most often comes with the shedding of blood. So freedom has to be desired, yearned for, knowing that the struggle for it could cost you your life but is worth it--if not for you to enjoy, then for your children and grandchildren. The totalitarian regime in Tehran has tortured, imprisoned, and executed thousands simply because they wanted to be free. On January 28, it continued its brutal oppression with the first known executions of opposition activists since unrest broke out following June's disputed presidential elections. Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were men that courageously made the choice to stand up to their oppressor. Faced with the choice between suffering under the indefinite rule of an oppressive regime and giving their lives so that others might be free, they selflessly chose the latter. We honor their sacrifice by continuing their fight so that all Iranians may one day be free.