Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. We have no other speakers, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in total support of H. Res. 839, which condemns the March 2009 coup in Madagascar and subsequent upsurge in the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources. Due to its geography, Madagascar hosts one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems on the planet. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 92 percent of Madagascar's reptiles, 68 percent of its plant life, and 98 percent of its land mammals are unique to Madagascar, existing nowhere else on Earth. One need only take a page from the latest issue of National Geographic to be inspired to explore Madagascar's tropical rainforests, dry forests, spiny deserts, reefs, and estuaries, not to mention the impenetrable Stone Forest, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, where new species are being discovered on a regular basis. With such unique biodiversity, ecotourism obviously holds great potential to help lift Madagascar's population out of its poverty. Realizing this opportunity, the government in 2003 set aside 3 percent of the island for national parks and reserves, while endeavoring to stem illegal logging and assist rural populations in developing sustainable farming methods. In April 2005, the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a 4-year $110 million compact with Madagascar, the very first compact of the MCC, to assist poor rural farmers in transition from subsistence agriculture to a market economy, while promoting environmental sustainability. By all accounts, great progress was being made in reducing world poverty while promoting conservation. Unfortunately, much of that progress has been dashed since March of 2009 when an illegal coup displaced the elected President of Madagascar in favor of a former disc jockey and mayor of the capital city who is not even old enough to hold office pursuant to Madagascar's own constitution. The days leading to the coup and the months since have been characterized by deadly protests and serious human rights abuses. The donor community was forced to withdraw support from the government, and critical assistance including the MCC compact was terminated. Madagascar was also suspended from the African Union and the regional Southern African Development Community. Illegal logging, mining, and smuggling of wildlife in officially protected areas has intensified, as criminal networks exploit political instability and impoverished Malagasy in rural areas struggle to survive. H. Res. 839, as amended, condemns the coup and the subsequent upsurge in the illegal extraction of Madagascar's resources. It laments the impact these illegal activities are having on conservation and poverty reduction efforts and calls for a boycott of certain wood products until constitutional order is restored. I commend the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for introducing this timely resolution, which deserves our support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker: It came on two pages, It has withstood the ages; The word ``shall,'' is only 10 times mentioned, But enough to get one's attention. No taxes did this law raise, To this day it continues to create much praise; Two great religions does it claim, The ``Law of the Ten Commandments'' is its name. A current writing, 1,990 pages long, Has a socialist philosophy that is all wrong; Difficult for the people to understand, And troubling what big government doth demand. Over 3,445 ``shalls'' it does loudly shout, New massive taxes does it proudly tout; Written in secret by the bureaucrats, For exclusive use of the taxacrats. The Congressional bill called ``Health Care Reform,'' Is illusionary, the authors are still ill-informed; Government ought not take over America's health biz, And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, ``One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' Forty years ago, Neil Armstrong spoke the words that would soon resonate across a nation, and with them bring renewed pride and a sense of patriotism to the American public. It was in 1961 that President Kennedy expressed in a speech before Congress his belief ``that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.'' Eight years later, on the 20th of July, that goal was achieved, and with it a new watershed moment in American history.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 832, 833, 834 I missed the votes due to other official business in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, those who educate our children today, shape the leaders of tomorrow. I rise today to recognize six outstanding staff members of the Liberty Independent School District for their outstanding commitment to education. Dottie Barrier--Business Secretary, Robby Fontenot--Social Studies Teacher and Coach, Margaret Lee--Chief Financial Officer for LISD, Mike Tabors--Custodian, Abbey Turner--Math Teacher, and Melissa Zalesak-- Math Computer Lab Teacher were awarded the district's 212-degree medal in honor of their service and dedication to Liberty schools. The philosophy of the 212-degree medal was best explained by Principal Bruce Lacefield, ``At 211 degrees, water is very hot. At 212 degrees, water begins to boil. By applying that one extra degree so much more can be accomplished. Never give up. Just try a little harder.'' These six 212-degree medal recipients work tirelessly to improve the lives of their students and fellow faculty. Their willingness to going the extra mile makes them outstanding examples and I commend them for their efforts and congratulate them on their achievement.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, America is about people. Who we are and what we are is because of the people who are Americans. They are individuals who have lived and died and influenced the rest of us because of their tenacious spirit and determination. Madam Speaker, I am a history fan. I love American history. I also love Texas history. Not the history of dates and movements, but the history of the lives of individual Americans who have made a difference. Roy Benavidez was one of those Americans. Roy Benavidez was born in south Texas in a small town called Cuero on August 5, 1935. He was the son of a sharecropper. He was an orphan, and he had mixed blood of Yaqui Indian and Hispanic. He was raised by his uncle after he lost his own family, and eventually he dropped out of school when he was 15. He was a migrant farm worker to take care of his family. He worked all over Texas and part of Colorado in the sugar beet fields and the cotton fields. Eventually he decided to join the Texas National Guard and then the United States Army in 1955. He joined up in Houston, Texas. And in 1965, he was sent to Vietnam as a member of the 82nd Airborne. While serving as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army, he stepped on a land mine in South Vietnam. U.S. Army doctors at Brooke Army Medical Center told him he would never walk again. But he did walk. And not only that, he volunteered and returned back to Vietnam as a staff sergeant in the Army Special Forces; we call them the Green Berets. On May 2, 1968, his life and the lives of his fellow troopers changed forever. It is a story that is almost unbelievable. On the morning of May 2, 1968, a 12-man Special Forces team was inserted into Cambodia to observe a large-scale North Vietnamese troop movement. They were eventually discovered by the enemy. Most of the team members were very close friends of Roy Benavidez, who was the forward operating officer in Loc Ninh, Vietnam. Three helicopters were sent to rescue the 12-man team, but they were unable to land because of the heavy enemy concentration. When a second attempt was made to reach the stranded team, Benavidez jumped on board one of the helicopters armed only with a bowie knife. As the helicopters reached the landing zone, Benavidez realized the team members were likely too severely wounded to move to the helicopters, so by himself he ran through heavy small-arms fire to the wounded soldiers. He was wounded himself in the leg, the face, and the head in the process. He reorganized the team and signaled helicopters to land. Despite his injuries, Benavidez was able to carry off half the wounded men to the helicopters. He then collected the classified documents held by a now-dead team leader. As he completed this task, he was wounded again by an exploding grenade in the back, and then he was shot in the stomach. At that moment, the waiting helicopter pilot was also mortally wounded, and the helicopter crashed. Benavidez ran to collect the stunned crash survivors and form a perimeter. He directed air support. He ordered another extraction attempt, and was wounded again when shot in the thigh. At this point he was losing so much blood from his face wounds that his vision became blurred. Finally, another helicopter landed and as Benavidez carried a wounded friend to it, he was clubbed in the head with a rifle butt by an enemy soldier and then bayoneted twice. Madam Speaker, Benavidez was wounded in that one battle in that one day 37 times. He had seven gunshot wounds, he had mortar fragments in his back, and two bayonet wounds. But he saved the lives of eight of his fellow troopers. Later he was presumed dead and zipped up in a body bag; but right before they zipped up the bag, he spit in the doctor's face letting the doctor know yes, he was still alive. Amazing people, these young guns of the Green Berets. Madam Speaker, this is a photograph of Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez. He eventually recovered from all of those wounds and received the Distinguished Service Cross, and many years later Ronald Reagan presented him with the medal he wears around his neck in this photograph, the Congressional Medal of Honor. President Reagan stated here in Washington, D.C., on presentation of that medal that if this were a movie, no one would really believe it could ever happen. What Roy Benavidez did that day is unbelievable. I will insert the Medal of Honor citation for Roy Benavidez. After he retired from the military, this seventh-grade dropout went around America talking about the importance of education. He talked to young gang members, he talked to the Hispanic youth, telling them to stay in school and get an education. He was an amazing individual. A Navy ship has been named after him. Several elementary schools in Texas have been named after Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, and even a toy company has issued the Roy Benavidez G.I. Joe action figure. In Texas there are a disproportionately high number of Hispanic Americans who volunteer for the military. They are American Patriots. Some legal immigrants even join and serve in Iraq and Afghanistan in the hope they will become U.S. citizens. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, one of those great Hispanic Americans was Roy Benavidez, and he lived the American dream the way he wanted to. And that's just the way it is. Benavidez, Roy P. Citation: Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti- aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the universal health care bill forces businesses and individuals to purchase health insurance. It raises at least two constitutional issues. The Constitution doesn't give the Federal Government direct authority to compel the purchase of health insurance. So the Supreme Court would once again have to come in and by judicial edict give government the intrusive power to do what it obviously cannot do now: stretch the meaning of the Commerce Clause. Can the Federal Government force people to buy health insurance whether they can afford it or not? Can the Federal Government then impose a criminal fine on them under the guise of calling it a tax if they fail to buy the insurance? Then what happens if the citizen doesn't pay the fine? Do they go to jail without the benefit of trial by jury? Do they lose their right to confront witnesses and have a lawyer? Congress's forcing mandatory health insurance on Americans and then imposing criminal sanctions without due process is a violation of the Constitution. This action would shock the Framers of our Constitution. These serious constitutional issues cannot be ignored in the haste to have the government take over America's health. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, history has a tendency to repeat itself, and those clever enough to comprehend that fact learn from mistakes the first time they occur and avoid them there after. In 1848, Abraham Lincoln received a request from his step-brother, John D. Johnston, for $80. What seems to be a relatively small amount of money in current times proved to be an immense amount in the 1800s, roughly equating to $1800 in current U.S. dollars. Having been fooled into giving Johnston money before Lincoln refused to play the role of a charity because his step-brother proved to be a lazy and idle man. Rather than spend the money he once received from Lincoln wisely on his family farm, he wasted it frivolously. Bailing his own family out was not a practice Lincoln took part in because those who asked for money were not deserving of it. Lincoln suggested that his idle step-brother spend his time working for his pay, which would alleviate all his debt and his labor would produce a reward. His step-brother refused to work for his money and wanted it to be handed to him, which seems very familiar in today's society. History does indeed repeat itself and it appears that the requests of people like John D. Johnston are becoming more frequent, and rather than asking one's own family, they feel that the government is obligated to pay. It is evident that Lincoln did not favor a welfare system or bail-out plan, where the government handed over money to people and made it appear like it was their job to do so. It would be wise for today's politicians to learn from history and take a page out of Lincoln's book because handing money to people who do not work for it is only promoting an endless cycle of indolence, like that of John D. Johnston.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's nothing new for the Federal Government to try to run health care. The Federal Government has been committing medical malpractice against the Native American Indians for over 200 years. It's a miserable failure. Just ask those folks that live on Indian reservations. They are treated under a system called the Indian Health Service program, a universal government-run health care system for, specifically, Native American Indians. There are long waiting lines for service; doctors are scarce; the quality of medical care is poor; it costs too much, and it results in rationed health care. When the government is running health care, people get inferior treatment. There has been a lot of talk lately about changing the name of ``public option'' to call it ``Medicare part E'' so that will sell with the American public, or the ``consumer option'' is another new politically correct phrase. I would like to suggest that we call it the ``Public Indian Health Care Option for Everybody.'' The Indians have no option. They're forced to take the public plan. Now let's look at the American government-run health care as it has worked out for them for 200 years. We have a lot of history taking care of the American Indians--or, shall I say, not taking care of them. When Stephanie Little Light took her daughter, Ta'Shon Rain, to an Indian health service clinic in Montana, which she is required to do since she is under the universal health care Indian program, the doctor said that her little 5-year-old girl was just depressed. She had stopped eating and stopped walking. The little girl kept complaining to her mother that her stomach hurt all the time. After going back to the government-run health care clinic 10 more times, Ta'Shon's lung collapsed. She was then airlifted to a private, nongovernment hospital in Denver where they told her mom she had terminal cancer. The little girl who loved to dance and sing and dress up in Indian costumes always wanted to see Disney World, specifically Cinderella's Castle. So a charity sent the whole family there, but Ta'Shon didn't get to see that castle when they got to Florida. The little girl had died in a hotel room. This is a tragic example of universal medical health care run by the United States Government. There is a big difference between good intentions and what really happens in the real world. When there are no doctors left and the taxpayer money is gone and when the bureaucrats control health care, people die. Is this what we are to expect under the new nationalized health care system? They're trying to tell us that this new, improved disaster on Americans is going to be different. Yeah, right. Mr. Speaker, they say on those Indian reservations, Don't get sick after June because that's when the Federal money runs out. So they ration health care. The Federal Indian Health Service agency calls itself--get this--a ``rationed health care system'' for Indians. How's that for truth about socialized medicine? On another Indian reservation, Ardel Baker went to the reservation government-run clinic. She had chest pains. They sent her to a private hospital in an ambulance and put a note on her chest. The note read, ``Understand that Priority 1 care cannot be paid for by us at this time because of funding issues.'' So they put a note on her and sent her on her way to a private hospital because the government would not take care of her. Ardel managed to survive that ordeal, thanks to private medicine. Victor Brave Thunder was not so fortunate. He felt real bad and went to a government clinic on the reservation. They misdiagnosed the fact that he had heart failure and gave him Tylenol and cough syrup and said, Get better. He later died. Then there is Harriet Archambault. She tried five times to get an appointment on a reservation to get her hypertension medicine refilled, but government bureaucrats were nowhere to be found. So she died before she was able to get that sixth appointment at the government clinic for her medicine. Mr. Speaker, these are examples of government-run medical malpractice against American Indians right here in America. Government-run health care never works. It never has. Even in America, we've proven it doesn't work. The health care bill being pushed on the American people is not really about providing better quality at an affordable price. The government cannot do it better or cheaper. It's really about government control and intervention in the lives of the American people. It's about oppressive government. So let's address specific issues of health care and solve them, like being able to buy insurance across State lines, allow businesses and associations to pool employees to get a better insurance rate, provide for a safety net for preexisting conditions and catastrophic injuries and illnesses. But we should never turn our health over to the United States Government. Just ask the American Indians. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee has noted, Mr. Smith from Texas, H.R. 3632 contains a number of administrative improvements to title 28 of the United States Code which will improve the operations and efficiency of the Federal judiciary. The previous speakers have highlighted many of the provisions set forth in H.R. 3632, but I would like to note two specific items: First, section 4 of the legislation adjusts the disability retirement coverage and COLA adjustments of territorial judges, thereby reducing existing inequities between them and other term judges, such as magistrate and bankruptcy judges. The CBO estimates that this will not result in an increase in direct spending. Second, section 5 of the bill extends to senior executives in the Federal courts, the Federal Judiciary Center and Sentencing Commission the same ability to carry over up to 90 days of annual leave just as comparable officials within the executive branch and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts are treated. Mr. Speaker, such changes are obscure but necessary to increase efficiency in our Federal courts, and I urge all Members to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3632, and I yield as much time as he wishes to consume to the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he wishes to consume on this resolution to the author of the resolution, the gentleman from Washington, Sheriff Reichert.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cao).

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) and the gentleman from Washington, Sheriff Reichert, for introducing this legislation. H. Con. Res. 177, which is Celebrate Safe Communities Week, supports the designation of October 1, 2009, through October 3 as Celebrate Safe Communities Week and October as Crime Prevention Month. H. Con. Res. 177 also calls attention to the need for crime prevention in communities across the country. In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council established Crime Prevention Month to encourage public education on awareness and prevention of criminal activity within communities and neighborhoods. Every year since then, government agencies, volunteer groups, schools and businesses have reached out to the public to do just that. In conjunction with the ninth National Crime Prevention Month, the National Sheriffs' Association and the National Crime Prevention Council, in partnership with the Department of Justice, they all came together to create the Celebrate Safe Communities initiative. In its very first year, the program recruited 153 communities in 32 States as well as the District of Columbia to participate in the weeklong event. This year, from October 1 through October 3, Celebrate Safe Communities Week kicked off their recognition of October as Crime Prevention Month. Crime Prevention Month and Celebrate Safe Communities Week strive to enhance the public's awareness of local law enforcement- led community safe initiatives, thus motivating people in the United States to learn what they can do to stay safe from criminal conduct in their communities. While Celebrate Safe Communities Week highlights the importance of citizens protecting themselves through crime prevention, initiatives also stress the importance of community participation with local law enforcement agencies after a crime has taken place. Volunteer organizations have proven to be invaluable in their coordination with law enforcement officials and with other community leaders. After all, a partnership of those who have firsthand knowledge of their neighborhoods is, without a doubt, the most effective way of attacking crime head on. This resolution reminds us that prevention is critical to the fight against crime in our society. This resolution also reminds us that crime is a local problem. There is no better time than Crime Prevention Month and Celebrate Safe Communities Week for citizens to start learning how they can take control in protecting their families and their communities. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 177. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

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

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have some important legislation before us today. House Resolution 729 expresses support for designation of a National Firefighters Memorial Day, and I am honored to be the sponsor of this legislation. Also, I want to thank Chairman Towns for bringing this legislation to the floor, and the other 59 cosponsors of this legislation. The legislation is to honor the dedication and sacrifices of firefighters and the dedication they make every day to keep families and our communities safe. In 2007, there were over 1.1 million firefighters in the United States. Of these, about a third are professional firefighters in the sense that they are career firefighters. But the other 825,000 are all volunteer firefighters. What that means, Mr. Speaker, is they volunteer their services to protect the communities they live in and the people who live around those communities, but they have other jobs to support their families. One of the volunteer fire departments in Harris County, Texas, is the Atascocita fire department. They still drive around with those reds trucks with the big American flag on the back, something that started after 9/11. There are 30,000 fire departments that operate in the United States. It is time for the Nation to recognize and honor the bravery and create a National Firefighters Memorial Day to honor Federal, State, and local firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. These brave men and women deserve our respect and our gratitude. The time has come for us to create a National Firefighters Memorial Day. Congress, several years ago, created a National Law Enforcement Memorial Day that we honor and recognize even here on this Capitol grounds every May 15, and it is time that we also recognize and elevate the sacrifices that firefighters have made to a national memorial day as well. This past Easter Sunday in Houston, Texas, we had two Houston firefighters killed in a house fire saving two people. They were Captain James Harlow who had been a veteran of the fire department for many years, and a rookie, Damian Hobbs. This happened to be his very first fire, and he was killed in that tragic incident. The people in that house were rescued, but after the fire was over with and before the two firefighters were brought from that house, other firefighters from the Houston area came to the home and assembled in two lines as their bodies were brought from the ashes of that fire. Firefighters are a unique and rare breed. They not only protect and serve our communities, but they are very loyal to each other. The last firefighters killed in the Houston area were also important firefighters, and their names are: Grady Burke was killed in a fire started by a man that was trying to light a crack pipe. Kevin Kulow was killed in the El Festival ballroom in a fire set by a man who was trying to get back at his estranged wife. The building burned down, and Officer Kulow was killed. Captain Jay Jahnke was killed in a high-rise fire in the Galleria area of Houston, Texas. Also, two firefighters were killed while they were putting out a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in southwest Houston. Their names were Lewis Mayo and Kim Smith. All communities are affected by fires, and all communities are affected by the fact that firefighters, men and women that wear that uniform, sometimes are disabled, injured, or killed protecting the rest of us. Mr. Speaker, there is a fire in the United States every 20 seconds. There are 1.6 million fires in the United States every year. Some of those are caused by accident, but many of those are caused by arson. Every year there is an average of 100 firefighters somewhere in the 50 States and our territories that are killed in the line of duty, and some of those are volunteers and some of those are career firefighters. In 2008, there were 118 firefighters killed in the line of duty. Of course we all remember September 11, 2001, which raised the awareness of the first responders in our country and what they do for the rest of us. When on September 11, 2001, as many people remember when the World Trade Center was attacked, when the Pentagon was attacked, and when there was a plane that crashed trying to protect the rest of us from an attack in Pennsylvania, someone had to respond to those tragedies, and they were our first responders. Many of the firefighters that responded at the World Trade Center went into those buildings and never came out. Later on September 11, 2001, while many people like myself were watching the video of what was taking place specifically in New York City, observed that when those planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the north and south tower, a lot of folks, thousands of people, good people, but when those planes hit the World Trade Center, Mr. Speaker, those people were running as hard as they could to get away from that terror in the sky. There were other people that when those planes hit the World Trade Center, when they hit the Pentagon over here, they were running as hard as they could to get to that terror that occurred at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon. Who were those people? Well, they were the Port Authority in New York, they were New York City police officers, and they were firefighters and emergency medical technicians. While it is important for us to always remember the 3,000 people that were killed on September 11, 2001, it's equally important for us to remember the hundreds that got to live because those first responders ran into those burning buildings and saved other people. Of those responders, there were 37 Port Authority officers killed, there were 23 New York City police officers, and there were 343 firefighters, including 41 of those who were emergency medical technicians. They gave their lives so that others could live. That is what they do; that is what firefighters do. When they hear the alarm, they know they are going to danger, but because they are a special breed, a rare breed, they do that. They do that because their community and the people are important. And they rush into that fire, whether it's a home that's burning in Houston, Texas, or whether it's an attack on America in New York City. So we honor them by passing this resolution to give them a special memorial day. Every year in October, we recognize the sacrifice and the commitment that these firefighters do for this country and for the people of this Nation. And that's just the way it is. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, talk radio today is like the Liberty Tree in Revolutionary War times. The first Liberty Tree was in Boston where the Sons of Liberty would gather around a large elm tree in the public square. They would talk about the issues of the day and voice their political opinions. Anyone could speak. But the British military cut down the Liberty Tree because colonists spoke out against taxes and the King. Now it sounds like the redcoats over at the FCC are trying to put the ax to the Liberty Tree of free speech again. They say they need to protect the American people from hearing things that are just too controversial. So their answer is to control the speech content of those radio rebels. The redcoats at the FCC say they must determine what the masses hear. Mr. Speaker, the notion that anyone in the Federal Government has the right to censor political speech is an affront to a free people. The Constitution protects political speech because it's sacred. We defeated the British because they wanted to control speech, and now it's time for those who still believe in the First Amendment to defy the redcoats at the FCC. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Today I come to remember W.C. ``Dub'' Jones of Port Arthur, Texas. Jones passed away on September 14, 2009 at the age of 69 after his fight against cancer. He was born in Bradley, Arkansas on June 20, 1940 to the late Tillman and Hattie Jones. Jones moved to Port Arthur at a young age and later attended the local school. He began working in the late 1950's on inshore waterways of the Gulf Coast and then as a seaman serving abroad U.S. flagged cargo vessels. After spending several years out at sea, he went to work as a longshoreman in Port Arthur. Due to his continuous hard work, he rose to positions of greater influence and eventually became the Commissioner of the Port of Port Arthur in 2002. He was known for his strong leadership and involvement with the local maritime industry and Port of Port Arthur. Jones was a member of the International Longshoreman's Association Local No. 25 for 30 years. He served as president for 12 of those years. In 2001, Jones retired after years of service. Jones was a great asset to the local union and the port. He was well admired for his work ethics and continued support. W.C. Jones leaves behind his wife of forty-nine years, Uvonne Jones and his son Tyrone Jones. On behalf of the second congressional district of Texas, We will truly miss W.C. Jones. He has touched the lives of many and will be remembered for his service to Port Arthur, Texas.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year at Halloween, the Feds will be going door to door playing trick or treat on seniors by taking their Medicare coverage. When they knock, seniors should not answer the door. When they peek through the peephole, the bureaucrats will be dressed as snake oil salesmen because they are cutting Medicare parts A, B, C and D. They are going to try to sell seniors on the new bill which we call Medicare part E, but it doesn't cover one senior citizen. Not one. Just call it Halloween health care because it is really scary. What is in this Halloween health care bill? Well, just look at the latest and greatest Senate bill. You know, that is the bill that is being drafted in the dark corners and the dungeons of the Capitol where the light of transparency and truth never reaches. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the Halloween health care will do the following things: It will cut Medicare part A for hospitals by $128 billion. It will cut Medicare part B for doctor reimbursement $130 billion. It will rob Medicare part C, Medicare Advantage, off $133 billion. We are not through yet. And yes, Medicare part D for prescription drugs is cut $20 billion. The total: $411 billion cut for seniors and Medicare. That is enough to scare everybody. This new Medicare part E takes a half-trillion dollars out of Medicare, but it doesn't cover the seniors. In this new Medicare part E, the ``E'' stands for everybody else, including those in the country illegally. I know, they keep talking about and saying that illegals will not be covered. But when attempts were made to require proof of citizenship to sign up for Halloween health care handouts, the amendments were voted down. The bill also raises $424 billion in new taxes. Now why would they do that when the country is in a recession? The country is broke. We don't have the money. Well, Halloween health care will cost a trillion dollars, and they have to get the money from somewhere. We can't afford another thousand-page, trillion dollar bill. Our seniors are going to pay for more than half of the tab out of Medicare, and not one single senior will get more coverage out of this new health care bill. Here is where it really gets dicey. The new Halloween health care proposal still rations health care services based on age. If you need a pacemaker, the snake oil salesmen are going to look at your age, the cost in what they call survivability rates. If the bureaucrats think your health care needs are just too expensive, they will hand out pain pills instead of approving that new pacemaker. That is what they already do in other countries where the government runs the health care system. In England it is called, and get this, the Quality Adjusted Life Years, and they have the power to make these life-and-death decisions on seniors. When the Federal Government is in charge of health care, they are the only game in town and this so-called public option will be costly. You think health care is expensive now, just wait until it is free. There are commonsense health care reforms we can all agree on. We don't have to have the government take over the whole system to fix what is specifically wrong with the system. That is like pulling all of your teeth when you have a toothache. Halloween health care will be another thousand page, trillion-dollar bill. It will raise Medicare and other premiums, raise taxes, and slash Medicare coverage for seniors. This is not reform, that's abuse. But that is Halloween health care and it is coming to your door. Trick or treat. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the dark caverns of the Capitol where the trolls roam at night, the Halloween health care bill is being drafted by a secret few. The bill is being written in secret so no one, especially seniors, see it. Mr. Speaker, what is being cooked up in the dungeons of this building? Is it just too scary for people to know about? Well, probably so. You see, it takes $500 billion from Medicare and gives that money to the national Halloween health care bill. That's a frightening nightmare for people, especially seniors. And more importantly, it turns America's health over to the government. Does anyone actually think the government can do it better? The Halloween health care bill will probably have the competence of FEMA, the efficiency of the post office, and the compassion of the IRS. The bill may be ready just in time for Halloween, and it will be a treat for the special interest groups, but it's a trick on the American people, especially the seniors. No wonder they're scared of it. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I bring you news from the second front--the war on the border between Mexico and the United States. Dangerous drug cartels are already in control of major stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border, and they're taking over whole Mexican border towns. The Zeta drug cartel is the most violent and the most feared of the Mexican drug cartels. Zetas have attacked Mexican towns in military- style operations at platoon-strength numbers. They have massacred hundreds of their competitors, often beheading and dismembering them. They have fought hour-long battles with the Mexican military in the streets of Matamoros. Madam Speaker, Matamoros is a border town on the Rio Grande River across from Brownsville, Texas. Recently, shots came over that border, hitting buildings and a parking lot at a University of Texas branch in Brownsville. Authorities presumed this violence was from the drug cartels, themselves. The Zetas have moved into Matamoros. They also claim to control Nuevo Laredo, which is across from the Texas town of Laredo. The Zetas have no fear of the authorities. There is no law or order in any of the towns they control, and they have assassinated police chiefs and local politicians. They own the towns. They have raised terror throughout Mexico--fighting their rivals, the Mexican Army and the police. The success of the Zeta cartel has forced other Mexican drug cartels into an arms race with military weaponry and tactics. Who are these Zetas, and where do they come from? Well, the Zetas were formed by deserters from the Mexican Army's veteran elite Airborne Special Forces Group. The Zetas also include former members from the Guatemalan Kaibiles Special Forces organization. We trained them here in America, at the School of the Americas, in the latest and best tactics and weaponry. When they got back home, they deserted from the military, and they went to work for the drug cartels. In essence, they declared war on the Mexican Government, and they became part of what they were trained to fight. They make a lot more money in trafficking guns, drugs and people than they would ever have in working as a Mexican or a Guatemalan soldier, and they're using superior military training--that training they received at the expense of the United States. Trafficking in drugs, arms and human beings is a very lucrative business. Billions of dollars worth of merchandise is moved across our southern border every year. The Zeta international trafficking cartel has evolved into a privately funded military army. They have the best military equipment money can buy, and they have transformed into an international gang, working even in the United States. Without a secure southern border, the violence will continue in Mexico, and only those who live in never- never land will think the problem will not get to the United States. The Zetas are an urban guerrilla organization which threatens to topple any semblance of law and order. According to the Houston Chronicle, the ``Zeta gunmen and their accomplices routinely blockade Matamoros' downtown streets. Last winter, the gangsters mobilized thousands of people to briefly close the region's bridges across the Rio Grande, halting trade'' with the United States into Brownsville. Now, the administration's strategy is to look the other way and to pretend it's not happening. Well, we cannot wish away this threat to public safety and to America's national security. We must not allow the situation to continue to escalate unchecked, because violence is actually spilling out into the streets of America near our border towns. Our local law enforcement is overwhelmed. The border sheriffs need more assistance. They are not equipped or trained to handle these military-style incursions by the Zetas and by other drug cartels. While the administration is stalling and deliberating about what to do in Afghanistan, the government is also giving little attention to our southern border, but this is not the first administration to neglect enforcing the rule of law on the southern border. There has been much rhetoric for years from the government about protecting the border, but like my grandfather used to say, ``When all is said and done, more is said than done,'' and that is especially by the government. The Nation needs to understand there is a border war on our southern border. Immediate action is necessary, and the United States should conduct training on the southern border with our military. This will help deter incursions. Plus the Governors from Texas and New Mexico have asked for the National Guard to be sent to the border. So more National Guard troops should be sent to protect the dignity and the sovereignty of our Nation, because the first duty of government is to protect the people, to protect us from the invasion of the crime cartels. The people who live on the border on both sides of the Rio Grande have a right to expect their government to protect them from the Zetas and from all other criminal cartel enterprises which illegally cross the border. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the first stimulus bill was 1,000 pages long and cost $1 trillion. We were, in essence, told, Pass this or America is doomed. It was railroaded through before anyone could even read the bill. Now we know why. It wasn't about creating jobs; it was about more government spending. Since then, 3 million more people have lost their jobs, over 15 million people are unemployed, and the unemployment rate just keeps growing. And so the government's answer is, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. So the government this year is going to have a second stimulus bill. The Federal Government has already spent more money this year than all previous years in American history combined. The American people have had about all the big government spending they can stand. With that kind of government success, it's time to try something else, like cut taxes instead of cutting jobs. We cannot spend, borrow, and tax our way into more jobs or prosperity; big oppressive government just has proved it. Government needs a health care plan for compulsive, addictive government obesity. And that's just the way it is.