Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we are told that we must immediately pass this government takeover of health care or there will be health care panic in the streets. Now, we know the real reason this bill is being rushed to passage, even though no one has had time to read it. According to the Speaker, as quoted, ``We have to pass this bill so that you can find out what is in it.'' Let me repeat what the Speaker said: ``We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.'' After all, it's 2,700 pages long, and it's just too long to find out what's in it before we vote on it. So now we know, it has to be voted on so it can be read. I guess if Members read the whole bill before they voted, they might actually vote it down. But there's one thing that we do know that's in this bill, and it is that it steals the right of privacy for all Americans. It will invade people's legal right to medical privacy. The government gets control over everybody's health care information, and it's another reason why we should oppose the bill. The government has no business sticking its nose into people's medical records. It's none of the government's business. The bill creates a health care integrity data bank where the Feds have access to everybody's medical records. Health care information is supposed to be between the patient and the doctor, not the patient and some yet unnamed, anonymous, unaccountable Federal bureaucrat hiding somewhere in this building. When the government has everybody's medical records, they are at risk for misuse. Giving government bureaucrats' access to people's most private and intimate health information means their health records become public property. People's most intimate private health care information, warts and all, becomes the property of the U.S. Government. The Federal Government grab of health care will eliminate any masquerade of medical privacy. The 111 new Federal agencies in this bill, that we have yet to read, will be snooping through your records. Talk to your doctor, and the government will know what you said. You've got some type of illness or disease, well, the government's going to know about it. Feeling a bit depressed after a family death and need some medication? Well, the government will even know your mental health issues. Now, is this the kind of information that should be in the hands of Federal bureaucrats, a bunch of busybody bureaucrats bestowed with the task to go forth and do good to the people? The famous author C.S. Lewis once said, ``Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons' cruelty may sometimes sleep, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end.'' See, don't worry, the bureaucrats will boast. It's for your own good that we know this information. It won't hurt too much. Once medical records are available to the Feds, every government agency will want to get their hands on those private medical records. That's just the way those bureaucrats work. And every American will be required to be a part of the Big Brother health care database. People won't talk to their doctor anymore about their problems. They'll know somewhere in the deep, dark, dank dungeons of Washington, D.C., a Federal bureaucrat will be reading and perusing their medical records. This is an invasion of privacy, and it violates the U.S. Constitution. The whole scheme denies individual liberty when the government takes over health care. Thomas Jefferson even talked about universal health care once. He said: If the 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. When government takes over health care, it will equalize poor health for everybody. The government takeover of health care is not about health and it's sure not about care. It's about government control of our personal lives. And this legislation violates our U.S. Constitution because it steals the right of privacy right from underneath us, all in the name of taking care of us. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, we're having the vote of the century on the Senate health care bill, but there's a sneaky snake oil gimmick afoot to pass the bill without voting on it. First, we're passing bills without reading them, and now they want us to pass bills without actually voting on the bill. The trick is to deem the Senate bill passed without ever having a straight up-or-down vote. And it's a trick. When we vote on the rules for debate, they want to make that count as the vote on the health care bill instead of actually voting on the health care bill. Let's have an up-or-down vote on this bill and not hide behind some procedural mumbo jumbo. The Constitution says: ``But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays.'' It doesn't say anything about ``deeming'' in the Constitution. To obtain votes for government-run health care, backroom secret deals are being made in the caverns of this building, and it's shameful. This is passing the government health care bill by any sneaking means necessary, including slaughtering the House rules. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I will never be able to express the gratitude I have for all of the brave men and women who have so proudly worn the military uniform. So today, I am humbled to honor the United Services Organizations for their 67 years of unrelenting service and dedication to our troops. The United Service Organization was congressionally chartered before World War II on February 4, 1941, by former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The organization is a non-profit, private establishment set up to create a way for the American public to volunteer and provide a wide variety of support services for military members and their families. What started as an idea has transformed into a conviction. Today, the U.S.O. has more than 130 centers all over the world and provides its programs to over 1.4 million active duty service members and 1.2 million National Guard and Reserves. These soldiers give their heart and soul for our country and the U.S.O. understands how vital our servicemen and women are to this great nation. The U.S.O. provides unmatched morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs. They show respect for our troops, their families, and our community by conveying that the American people are forever indebted to their commitment and sacrifice in the continual fight for freedom. The Second Congressional District of Texas commends the United Services Organization for bringing a piece of home to wherever our troops may be. The individuals who willingly participate in this remarkable group emulate integrity and pride that this nation deserves. Their efforts will never go unappreciated and their actions will always be cherished.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the new health care bill is an invasion of people's privacy. It's another reason why we should vote it down. The government shouldn't be sticking its nose into people's medical records. It's none of the government's business. There's a ``health care integrity data bank'' in the bill that gives the Feds access to everyone's medical records. Once the government has everybody's medical records, none of that information is secure. Health care information should be between the patient and the doctor--and that's all. Not the patient and some yet unnamed, anonymous, unaccountable Federal bureaucrat. Ask Joe the Plumber about government bureaucrats keeping personal information private. Joe was standing around in his front yard one day when the Presidential candidate walked right up to him for a little chat. It could have literally happened to any of us. Joe asked the candidate a question about ``spreading the wealth around.'' Well, some government bureaucrat didn't like his question. She saw it on the news. She took it upon herself to illegally dig up his tax records and leak all that information to the media. Giving government bureaucrats access to people's most private health insurance gives them opportunity to misuse that information, private and intimate information. The right of privacy is almost sacred, and this Federal Government grab of health care will eliminate medical privacy. Why do you think there are 111 new Federal agencies in this 2,700-page bill? It's to administer and snoop around in the medical records of Americans. If the government health care bill passes, privacy is history. Talk to your doctor? The government will know about it. You have some type of illness or disease? The government will know. Feeling a bit depressed after a family death and need some medication for that depression? Well, the government will even know about your mental health issues. Is this the kind of information that should be in the hands of Federal bureaucrats? When you fill out that background information for your private doctor and they ask you all about the diseases and illnesses and medical problems you have ever had, now that formerly confidential information will be in the hands of Federal Government bureaucrats to use however they want to. That should make us all sleep very well tonight. Once medical records are available to the Feds, every government agency will be fighting for the right to get their hands on that information. That's the way bureaucrats work, especially when every individual's health in America becomes a Federal budget item. Every American will be required to be a part of the Big Brother health care database because everybody will be required to have government-approved health insurance plans. It's not just the medical records that are no longer private. Under the government takeover of health care, they will have a plan for the government to have access to your banking records as well. The law now is that government has no access to your finances without a court order, but under the new plan, the government will have access to your bank accounts to make sure you're paying for that government-mandated health care or paying the fine on that failure to have insurance. This 2,700-page bill gives the Feds the authority to automatically debit your bank account. Private medical records and bank records are none of the government's business. People won't talk to their doctor about problems anymore. They'll know somewhere in the deep, dark, dank dungeons of Washington, D.C., a Federal bureaucrat will be reading their medical records and their bank statements. This is all an invasion of privacy and a violation of our Constitution, and those who say we can trust the government to keep this confidential live in an ``Alice in Wonderland'' existence. This whole scheme is a denial of individual liberty and an attempt to make America another European-style nanny state where the people are mere subjects to an oppressive, inefficient Federal bureaucracy. This health care takeover by the Feds is a violation of the right of privacy for all Americans. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Dr. Adrian Rogers of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee, gave some sage advice over 20 years ago about the role of government. It is as relevant today it was when he first said it. He said, ``You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, then the other half gets the idea it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for. And that is the beginning of the end of any Nation.'' Madam Speaker, we are in a time when the government does too much for us and too much to us in the name of taking care of all of us. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Thompson is a true hero. Like all of our nation's heroes, we will always be grateful for the sacrifices they have made in order to ensure our continued freedom. Having served two deployments in Iraq, the sacrifices made by both Petty Officer 2nd Class Thompson and his family on behalf of our nation are innumerable. On April 2004, Anthony's life changed forever near Fallujah, when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive under an overpass where he and his fellow Marines had taken up post. Although he is fortunate to have survived, he is now not only ensured a life of reduced ability and pain, but in need of a new means to support his family of five. He suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, an incomplete spinal cord injury and a punctured right lung. The process of rebuilding his life is also blessed by the Homes for our Troops organization, which helps wounded veterans transition successfully into their communities by providing them with homes. The Homes for our Troops Organization works with combat wounded veterans to build specially adapted homes; allowing the veteran to be as independent as possible. The organization raises monetary donations, building materials, professional labor and coordinates the process of building a home. They insure that each home provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently for each veteran recipient. By providing returning service members with needed resources, they are better able to succeed in their local communities. Organization's like Homes for our Troops allow us, as Americans, to give back to veterans who have selflessly given so much for the sake of our freedom, and for that we are forever grateful.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, yesterday an armed Mexican military helicopter was spotted and photographed over a residential area a mile inside the territorial boundary of the United States. Texas Sheriff Sigi Gonzalez of Zapata County said the Mexican Navy helicopter was not the first incursion by the Mexican military onto the U.S. side of the Rio Grande River. There is a violent border war raging in this area between the Los Zetas and Gulf drug cartels for territory. Eight Mexican journalists have been kidnapped, numerous individuals killed in old west style shoot-outs, and the violence and corruption has even spilled over to the U.S. side. The cartels have even infiltrated U.S. law enforcement agencies on the border, resulting in 400 corruption cases being filed. The border has become a corrupt, violent area, and now the Mexican military crosses our border with unknown intentions. The United States cannot allow the border to be a war zone for murder, mayhem, violence, drugs, and corruption. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I bring you news from the third front. The battle wages for control of the border, and I'm not talking about the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Taliban runs back and forth at will to commit crimes in Afghanistan and then goes and hides in Pakistan. No, I'm bringing you news from the border, the southern border of the United States, which is very violent. In Reynosa, Mexico, right across the border from the Rio Grande River in Texas, recently the U.S. consulate closed because of the violence on the border. In fact, Americans are prohibited from being in that consulate office because of the kidnappings, the murders, the shootings, the Old West-style events that are taking place on this border town south of our border. The inconvenient truth is there is a battle for the border that is taking place in our own country. Across the southern border of the United States the drug cartels, all in the name of money and their financing of illegal activities, including organized crime and violence, and working with the coyotes--those people, for money, that smuggle people into the United States--are seeking control of our border so that they can bring in drugs and people. It seems as though drugs and people are coming into the United States and going south are money and guns. Someone has said recently that the northern border is porous and the southern border is porous. But at the northern border all you've got to do is walk across; on the southern border you can shoot your way across into the United States. But be that as it may, we have a problem. It's an inconvenient truth that we spend time on other issues besides national security of our own borders, and it seems to me that we ought to solve this problem. But before we do this, we now hear this talk again, this talk by those who don't live on the border about, well, let's just give everybody that's in the country illegally a little amnesty. Amnesty for all is what they say. But these individuals that preach amnesty are ignoring the obvious: if we grant amnesty, that means all of the criminals that have come into the United States--like drug dealers, like those bandits that come here to commit crimes--they get that free amnesty as well. And they get the permission to stay here in the United States, not just those people that come here trying to seek a better life and to work. Some have estimated that in our county jails and our prisons up to 20 percent of the people incarcerated are in this country from foreign countries. And yet we want to grant amnesty to all of these people? Amnesty has proven in this country it doesn't work; it encourages people to come here illegally. So what should we do? We should do three things and we should do them in this order: the first thing we do is secure the border and mean it when we say we will secure the border. If necessary, we should have our military on the southern border of the United States so that people don't cross into this country illegally without permission of the United States. We have given lipservice to border security, and we haven't solved that problem. You tell me, Mr. Speaker, that the greatest country that has ever existed, the greatest country militarily that has ever existed, the strongest country that has ever existed in the history of the world can't protect its own borders? I think not. We can do it, but we don't have the moral will to do it, and we have to make the decision that we will secure the Nation's border. The first duty of government is national security. After we secure the border, we've got to deal with the immigration problem. The legal immigration system we have now is a disaster. It has been a disaster since the fifties. It is time to set that aside and to draw up an easier model, a more efficient model, a business model that solves the issues of immigration, a model that makes it more streamlined, efficient, and secure so that, when people come into the United States legally, we know who they are and so that we keep up with who they are--whether they want to be here as citizens, whether they want to work, whether they want to be tourists, or whether they're coming over here just to visit somebody. Solve the border problem first. Solve the immigration problem second. Then deal with the problem of the 20 million-plus people illegally in the United States. We can solve that problem, but we can't solve that problem until we deal with the first two. It is time for the government to do its job. The duty of government is to protect us, not to give our country away to other people who want to come here illegally. So, right now, the border war continues--controlled by the drug cartels, controlled by the human smugglers who wish to make money and who profiteer from illegal activities on the southern border of the United States. We owe it to the citizens of this country, and we also owe it to the citizens of the countries which are south of the United States to secure the border, to fix the immigration issue, and then to deal with the issue of the illegal immigrants who are here. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, freedom of speech continues to be shouted down by the politically correct police. In the Netherlands, it is against the law to say something that offends someone else's religion. That is why Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders is on trial for hurting people's feelings. He made a movie about terrorists and radical Islamic clerics encouraging violence in the name of hate. Now he is on trial for insulting Islam. He is charged with discrimination and incitement to hatred. Because Dutch law is intolerant of intolerance. The Dutch courts say even truthful insult speech is a crime. Sounds like the law has become the enemy of free speech and a protector of radicals. Geert Wilders boldly brings to the world's attention the dangers of religious radicals who believe in hateful violence, and he gets in trouble for it. He ought to be commended rather than condemned and charged with a crime. Freedom of speech is a universal human right, granted by God, especially if that speech is political, religious, or truthful. A free people won't tolerate intolerance for freedom for very long. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady. They were led by a 27-year- old individual from South Carolina by way of Alabama. He said at the Alamo, ``I shall never surrender or retreat,'' and they did not surrender or retreat because war was hard then, and it cost them all their lives. But victory was obtained later, and freedom was obtained. War is hard. It is always hard. And we shall not give in. We shall not surrender or retreat. It is in our interest and in the interest of America to defeat the enemy and let them have no doubt in their minds that we will be victorious. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas. This is about our troops. This is about Americans who have been willing to protect the rest of us when duty calls and in time of war. Army Specialist Jarrett Griemel was one of those noble Americans. He was a patriot. He joined the United States Army right out of high school. He had completed basic training before he graduated from high school in his junior year at La Porte High School in Texas. In 2008, Jarrett married his high school sweetheart, Candice, in a small ceremony before the justice of the peace. She joined him in Alaska, where he was deployed by the Army, to begin their young married lives together. He was a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Battalion. Last June, Jarrett was killed at the age of 20 years in Afghanistan. This is his photograph. He is on this board--the board with 27 other Texans from our congressional district area. He is the latest to have been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan as a volunteer to go overseas and protect the rest of us in time of war. He believed in protecting our country. He believed in it so much he was willing to leave his wife and go halfway around the world to fight an enemy on the enemy's own turf. And he believed in it so much that he was willing to give his life for the rest of us. So if we pass this resolution, what message do we send to Jarrett's family or Jarrett's young bride--that his sacrifice just wasn't enough? That it was all for naught? We don't quit war because war is hard. War has always been hard. Every good thing this country has ever achieved has been hard. We don't quit and run because it is difficult. We stay because we believe, like Jarrett, that the fight against an enemy that is bent on our destruction is worth it. That is the reason these other 27 from all races and both sexes fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last December, I had the privilege to go to Afghanistan and meet Americans like Jarrett and these others who are risking their lives for us here at home. They told me that they missed their families, they missed their kids, but also they believe the work they're doing is worth it, and they're eager to finish the job and get back home. They continue to fight, and fight hard, and they want success. And we must remember, Mr. Speaker, they're all volunteers. America's finest. General McChrystal's new strategy is effective and already leading to key victories. It makes no sense to all of a sudden pick up and leave when we're the ones winning this war and the enemy is receiving crushing blow after crushing blow. We cannot pull the rug out from underneath our troops. Of course, al Qaeda and the Taliban would say, I told you so. The Americans, they just don't have the stomach for war. They would once again, these enemies of the world, creep back into the seats of power and darkness and would turn their countries back a thousand years. Women would once again not be allowed to go to school, political dissidents would be murdered, and Afghanistan would once again become a safe haven for terrorists to plot and plan their next attacks against people they don't like throughout the world, including Americans. All Americans would be in danger. War is hard. The cut-and-run crowd do not understand if we retreat unilaterally and quit this war, the war will not be over, because our enemies will continue the war against us whether we continue against them or not. Our troops would return home with one question: Why? Why would you bring us home when victory was so close? Why did we fight so hard, make so many sacrifices, only to have those that believe in peace at any price say it's time to quit? Now is not the time to retreat. This enemy is real. It must be defeated. This is not about the politics of fear with some hypothetical enemy but assessing reality and supporting these men and women and others that are over there and protecting our home from terrorists that want nothing more than to destroy us wherever they find us in the world. Past successes don't guarantee future success. Victory is close, but we have not obtained it yet. Abandonment and retreat--those are not strategies. We stay because it's in our interest to stay and secure a victory against the enemies of the world. General Petraeus said, ``We've got to show that we are in this; that we are going to provide sustained, substantial commitment.'' Make no mistake about it, Mr. Speaker, the troops and their families are watching this debate today to see what we shall do here in Congress. They are looking for who will support them and who will not. We must defeat this resolution and the Taliban and the al Qaeda and support our military. Last Saturday, March 6, was the 174th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo where those people walked across that line rather than give in to the enemy.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I spent 30 years as a prosecutor and as a judge at the courthouse in Houston, all in the criminal courts building. I am very familiar with the individuals who work in the courthouse, who protect those who come to the seat of justice, to the bar of justice to seek grievances against our government. Throughout those years, it became obvious to me that, in our country, the way we settle disputes is at the courthouse where we have two sides, sometimes more than two sides, who show up to argue their cases. Then there is a ruling by the judge on the law. Yet sometimes, as in this case, people show up at the courthouse and wish to take matters into their own hands in a violent manner. We have folks at the courthouse who protect us, not just the lawyers and judges, but to protect those people who come to the courthouse to seek justice. Those people in our system are called the security officers, or bailiffs, as they are called in Texas. More than once, unfortunately, I have had the unfortunate opportunity of having seen people disagree with what took place in the courthouse and of having seen them get out of control. Yet those security officers, those bailiffs, those deputy sheriffs were there to protect the seat of justice. These are examples of two of those. One was killed, and one was wounded in making sure that justice prevails in our justice system and that the law is not taken advantage of in a violent manner. So we honor those individuals, not just these two but the others who helped from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and all of those court officers who work every day in every courthouse in the United States to make sure we have a secure and a safe justice system. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in total support of House Resolution 1061, honoring the heroic actions of Court Security Officer Stanley Cooper, Deputy United States Marshal Richard J. ``Joe'' Gardner, the law enforcement officers of the United States Marshal Service, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the court security officers in responding to an armed assault at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse. On the morning of January 4, 2010, an armed gunman walked into the Las Vegas Courthouse and opened fire, fatally wounding Court Security Officer Stanley Cooper and seriously wounding Deputy United States Marshal J. ``Joe'' Gardner. The valiant actions of these two men saved the lives of many people and innocent civilians in the courthouse. In a time of tragedy and crisis, Court Security Officer Cooper and Deputy United States Marshal Gardner responded immediately with selfless courage, placing the lives of others before their own. Court Security Officer Cooper lived his life protecting the lives of other people. After 26 years of service with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, he retired to work at the Las Vegas Courthouse as a security officer. It was here that Officer Cooper died valiantly defending the halls of justice. For even after being fatally wounded, he continued to try to subdue the gunman, ultimately ensuring the safety of those that were in the courthouse that day. We join in the sorrow of his family and mourn the loss of this great individual. His legacy of a life dedicated to public service will not be forgotten. In the moments that followed the fatal shooting, Deputy United States Marshal Joe Gardner and six other members of the United States Marshal Service, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and court security officers acted swiftly to subdue the gunman. Deputy United States Marshal Joe Gardner suffered gunshot wounds to his upper arm. We are grateful his life was not lost on that tragic day, and we honor his courageous actions as well. The memory of that day serves as a haunting reminder of the dangers that our law enforcement officers face each day of their lives. In a split second, on a quiet Monday morning, it can turn into a battle between those who seek to harm innocent people and those who give their lives fighting to protect those same individuals. Today, we honor Officer Cooper, Deputy United States Marshal Gardner, and law enforcement officers across this country. We remember the high price they pay for answering the call of duty, and they are on duty every day. The tragic events that occurred on January 4, 2010 will be remembered by all of us. We will not forget the heroism and patriotism that was shown by Officer Cooper, Deputy U.S. Marshal Gardner, and the six other brave men and women. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the special agents that work in the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, are special agents indeed. Many times they work alone, they work deep undercover, they work not only in the United States, but in foreign countries, and they work for the sole purpose of trying to capture those outlaws who are in the drug business, who, in the name of money, try to sell their wares and profit on that illegal enterprise. They are an international crime cartel syndicate. Our DEA agents do a wonderful job. We sometimes forget the work that they do. This is just one of many who have worked and dedicated their lives to helping protect the rest of us. As my friend from California (Mr. Hunter) has pointed out, much of this violence occurs on our borders because the drug cartels operate on international borders, on our border with Mexico especially. Because the drug cartels, in the name of money, are very violent, they are well armed, they are well financed, and they will do anything in their relentless effort to bring drugs into the United States. We need to be aware that they have committed a war against the United States and all people who oppose their activities. And so it is quite appropriate that today we honor and commemorate the life of one of those special agents who gave his life trying to protect us from the drug cartels.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise in support of H. Res. 1115, honoring the legacy of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th anniversary of his murder. Words are not sufficient to express the debt that our country owes to Special Agent Camarena and to his family. His life of selfless service, courage of conviction, and dedication to protecting the American people will be remembered in our hearts and minds forever. Twenty-five years ago, Agent Camarena gave his life in the line of duty after he was abducted. He was tortured and eventually was murdered. Agent Camarena was working undercover as a DEA special agent gaining valuable intelligence and evidence against Mexican drug cartels when he was kidnapped in broad daylight on a street in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is believed that he was tortured for around 2 days, and eventually he was bludgeoned to death. We honor his life, we mourn his death, and we renew our commitment to ensure that his legacy is never forgotten. When asked why he wanted to be a DEA agent, Special Agent Camarena replied, ``Even if I am only one person, I can make a difference.'' Thousands of individuals across our Nation can attest to the difference he has made in their lives. Every day and every night, law enforcement officers across this Nation go to work aware of the dangers they face. These brave men and brave women put their lives at risk so the rest of us can sleep better at night and live safer lives. As we go about our daily lives, as we sleep in the safety of our homes, these individuals fight against the violence that threatens our neighborhoods, our communities, and our loved ones. And much of that violence is drug related. I stand before the House today with heartfelt gratitude for every law enforcement officer who serves the communities throughout this country, and especially for those who have given their lives in the line of duty for the rest of us. As we take a moment to pause and reflect on the heroic life and tragic death of this individual, the drug cartels continue. They continue to wage war on our borders and threaten the safety of so many people, and they do so all in the name of money. Yet they will soon come to learn that our pursuit of justice will not waiver and it will not weaken just because they continue their criminal enterprises north and south of our borders. To the family of Special Agent Camarena, we share in their grief and we will ensure that his legacy lives on. We will relentlessly fight against the drug cartels and the border violence that they have caused. We want to thank this family for sharing with our country a man who truly is an American hero. To the individuals who continue to pursue those who abducted and tortured and murdered Special Agent Camarena, we thank them, we support them, and we have committed to those individuals that we will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice and tried for their evil deeds. To our Nation's law enforcement officers, we thank them for risking their lives each day to protect our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families shall always be remembered. Across our Nation, there are countless stories of men and women who have given their time, their resources, and their lives to protect and defend America. Although we each have only one life to live, Special Agent Kiki Camarena has shown us the difference that one individual can make. Although we remember Special Agent Camarena's tragic death today, I am encouraged by his life and the lives of so many who have dedicated themselves to public service. Without the sacrifices of these brave men and women, America would not be what we are today. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, additional permanent bankruptcy judgeships have not been authorized since 1992. The Judicial Conference has requested more judgeships several times and the House has passed legislation to add them; however, the Senate has not acted on these requests. Since Congress last authorized additional permanent judgeships, judicial workloads have increased substantially. The important bankruptcy reforms Congress passed in 2005, for example, called on judges to do more to prevent abuse. Congress compensated for some of the court's increasing burden in recent years by creating temporary bankruptcy judgeships. Many of those judgeships are near their expiration dates. The time has come for Congress to address bankruptcy judgeships needs on a permanent basis. Bankruptcy judges are essential to the bankruptcy process. They make certain that the process is fair and impartial to those who come before the bankruptcy courts. It is also their job to ensure that the bankruptcy courts effectively adjudicate parties' rights and responsibilities. This bill is based on a comprehensive study done by the Judicial Conference. The conference has assured us that its request comes only after taking steps to maximize all other alternatives to reduce judicial workloads. There are currently 352 bankruptcy judges, including 36 temporary judges. This legislation creates 13 new permanent bankruptcy judgeships and converts 22 of the existing temporary judgeships to permanent status. It also provides a 5-year extension for two temporary judgeships. Finally, this bill will not present any new cost for the taxpayers. The increased cost of these judgeships are paid by an increase in chapter 7, chapter 11, and chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fees. Those who do business in the courts will be paying the extra burdens, not the taxpayers. We need a bankruptcy system that has a sufficient number of judges to manage the system's caseload in a just, economical, and timely manner. This bill helps ensure that we have such a system. I urge my colleagues to adopt this legislation. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I urge the adoption of this resolution and commend the Georgia delegation for bringing it forward, Mr. Barrow especially. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 1087, which honors the life of Judge Jack Ruffin. Judge Ruffin was a pioneering civil rights lawyer in his community, and his impact on the civil rights movement affects many today. He was born in Waynesboro, Georgia, where his portrait today hangs in the Burke County Courthouse. Growing up in the Deep South, his mother wanted him to be a school teacher and not a lawyer because she feared for his safety. But not to be intimidated, Judge Ruffin went to law school anyway. And despite his mother's concerns about his safety, he became a lawyer. After law school he moved to Augusta, Georgia, where he became the first African American member of the Augusta Bar Association. He argued countless cases for civil rights. In perhaps the most notable case, Acree v. Board of Education, he filed suit to desegregate the Richmond County school system, which included the City of Augusta. Litigation continued for decades before he finally obtained a Federal court order to integrate the system. From 1986 to 1994 he served as the first African American Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. In 1994, he was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals. And in 2005, he became the first African American Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. In 2009, the Augusta-Richmond County Commission decided to name the new Richmond County judicial center in Augusta in Jack Ruffin's honor. Judge Ruffin's selfless and brave pursuit of equal justice for everyone earned him the respect and admiration of generations to come. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. I have no further requests for time, Mr. Speaker, and I am prepared to close. I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is an important piece of legislation to bring national awareness to this problem. Some of the violence that occurs among our teenagers is horrible, the things they are doing to each other and those especially in a relationship and dating. I think it's important that the country understand that teen violence among those who are dating is a tremendous problem. I have four kids, three of them are girls, and their safety has always been a concern as they were growing up. As all parents have that concern. So I totally support this resolution and urge its adoption.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 1081 which supports the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This nationwide effort seeks to increase public awareness and to educate citizens about the prevalence of dating violence among American teenagers. The Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative was spearheaded by teenagers across our Nation who chose to take a stand and put a stop to teen dating violence. The initiative began in 2004 and is now supported by numerous national, State and local organizations, and in 2005, this Congress noted the importance of addressing teen dating violence and highlighted the initiative in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The call to end dating violence was formally recognized by the House in 2006, and to bring more public awareness about teen dating violence, the House designated the first full week in February to be National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week over the last 3 years. However, the Justice Department worked with Congress to designate the entire month of February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This designation provides parity to the three other crimes--sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking-- each of which has a designated month for public education and awareness activities. Across the country, dozens of States, cities and towns join Congress to designate February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. And in doing so, these jurisdictions demonstrated their collective commitment to ending teen dating violence and to support the numerous victims and survivors who live among us. Research tells us that one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. These violent relationships can have serious consequences for victims, putting them at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, suicide and adult revictimization. In fact, teen girls who are physically and sexually abused are six times more likely to become pregnant and more than two times as likely to report a sexually transmitted disease as teen girls who are not abused. Perhaps the most alarming statistic is how prevalent this violence is in our country. Studies show that one in three teens has suffered from some sort of violence in a dating relationship. We also know that dating violence among children is not limited to physical, emotional or sexual assault. It also can take the form of harassment via computer or cell phone text messaging or by e-mail. National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month provides an opportunity for parents to engage their children about dating violence and abusive relationships. Surveys of teens indicate that parents often do not know their children are in a relationship that is abusive. To start the dialogue, parents or teens can call the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474. The helpline promotes awareness of healthy dating relationships and offers tips on preventing abusive relationships. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think it's well said, as our majority leader pointed out, that in the Declaration of Independence, the basis for who we are, states ``that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights.'' In other words, we get our rights from the Almighty. We don't get our rights from government or from others or from the king. We get our rights because we get them from the Almighty. And as it states in the Declaration of Independence, that governments are instituted to secure those rights. And first it was the 15th Amendment, and yet there needed to be more legislation. Because of the events that occurred on Bloody Sunday, ironically a President from the South signed the Civil Rights Act of 1965, President Lyndon Baines Johnson from Texas. This was a bipartisan piece of legislation in that in this House of Representatives, the majority of the Democrats, 217, and the majority of the Republicans, 111, voted for this legislation with about 20 percent or less in both parties voting against it. Bipartisan legislation passed with a vast majority of both the Republicans and the Democrats, a sign that bipartisanship on important pieces of legislation is necessary, and it is effective. So I totally support this resolution. I commend those folks 45 years ago when you and I, Mr. Speaker, were just in--I guess you'd be in elementary school. I was in junior high. And this event occurred, those noble 600 that walked through the streets of Alabama, and thus, the Civil Rights Act, as we have today. So I yield back the balance of my time, totally supporting this resolution.