Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 352, the DTV Delay Act. I am a strong supporter for a delay in the Digital Television, DTV, transition set to occur on February 17, 2009, because I believe that without a postponement many families and individuals will be left behind. Without this delay, millions of Americans may see their televisions ``go dark'' on February 18th, with a disproportionate impact on low-income, rural, and elderly Americans. I am particularly concerned with this issue given the unique DTV transition challenges that exists in my congressional district and along the U.S.-Mexico border. Households on the U.S.-Mexico border already have low rates of cable or satellite television subscription. However, unlike other parts of the country, televisions in the border region will continue to work after the February transition, as viewers in the U.S.-Mexico border will maintain analog transmissions from Mexico. This presents a major obstacle for those trying to prepare analog-only viewers for this transition because many of these Spanish- speaking viewers will have little incentive to purchase the required digital converter box once they discover their television still works. In addition, I am very concerned about the circumstances surrounding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's, NTIA, implementation of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. Specifically, I am troubled by the NTIA's creation of a wait list after issuing the maximum amount of coupons allowed under its budget. According to Commerce Department data, in just the last two business days, the size of this waiting list has grown by 200,000 households. There are now more than two million households on the waiting list for coupons. In my congressional district alone, the waiting list numbers have grown from 5,605 on January 30th to 6,013 on February 2nd. These developments raise serious questions as to the actual ability of many households to comply with the February deadline. As the transition date has drawn near, it has become increasingly apparent to me that the government programs to support the transition are insufficient and that the transition should be delayed.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, although I am not opposed to this amendment, I am concerned. I rise to speak about those concerns. Mr. Chairman, today I rise to address briefly the Platts amendment. This amendment will make the changes to the law and procedures for whistleblowers, including national security whistleblowers. As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, this is a subject of great interest to me, and I thank both Mr. Platts and Mr. Van Hollen for working to address my concerns. I do believe that the procedure and process for national security whistleblowers deserve a fresh look. I voted for this bill when it came to the floor last Congress. My concern, Mr. Chairman, is that there's a process to be followed here. This is an important issue, and I don't want it to get lost in the shuffle in the context of this critical stimulus bill. Rather than attach the amendment to a fast-moving appropriations bill where it essentially becomes a footnote, it should instead be subject to regular order, which will allow it to be refined and perfected. As someone who spent his career as a Federal employee, I believe in strong whistleblower protections. I just think that this is a vital issue that needs to be done right. I don't want to rush to a solution. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), one of the sponsors of the amendment, has agreed that we will take care to address some of these specific concerns related to classified information and national security whistleblowers in conference. I want to thank him for that commitment, and I look forward to working with both Mr. Van Hollen and Mr. Platts on this very important issue. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, again I rise to thank both sponsors of this amendment, Mr. Van Hollen and Mr. Platts, for agreeing to work with us. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Van Hollen.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Catholic Schools Week and express my support for the vital contributions of America's thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools. In my eyes, Catholic schools have had a powerful impact on our nation's history. Teaching and instilling the values of service to others, faith, and the pursuit of justice, Catholic schools have shaped the lives of people for generations. Indeed, I myself have been guided by my Catholic faith and the idea of serving others. Be it a student growing up in New York City or a Mexican immigrant growing up on a bordertown, Catholic schools have been actively educating our youth since our country's founding. In recent history, Catholic schools have been instrumental in the lives of many young Latino students whose families seek an education enriched with moral values, supported by faith, and combined with the highest of academic standards. The 16th District of El Paso, Texas is fortunate to have fourteen Catholic primary and secondary schools teaching these values to our students including Cathedral High School, Loretto Academy, Blessed Sacrament, Father Yermo, Holy Trinity, Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady of the Valley, St. Joseph's, St. Mathew's, St. Patrick's, Saint Pius the X, and St. Raphael's. Today, I want to thank all of the priests, nuns, brothers, sisters, and lay people, who take on the commendable task of teaching our children. I also want to thank our Most Reverend Armando X. Ochoa, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Texas for his leadership and guidance during these tumultuous times. Again Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to honor Catholic schools across the country and thank the men and women who take part in this great work.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the unsung heroes of the Intelligence Community. Mr. Charles E. Allen, who has ably and admirably served our Nation over the past fifty years, will soon retire from a long and legendary public service career. Charlie began his career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) back in 1958 and climbed the ranks from analyst to liaison to program manager and beyond. He was assigned to the Department of Defense in 1982 and became a senior adviser on strategic mobilization planning for the Secretary of Defense. He returned to the CIA in 1985 to take on the responsibility of National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism and, a year later, was appointed the first Chief of Intelligence for the CIA's Counterterrorist Center. Charlie's depth of expertise and dedicated professionalism led to the position of National Intelligence Officer for Warning, where, in July 1990, he made his mark as the guy who accurately predicted Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Dismissed as a contrarian by others within the CIA, the conclusions in Charlie's ``warning of war'' memorandum bore out his sharply analytic judgment. In recent years, I have had the pleasure of working with Charlie as he undertook the Herculean challenge of organizing and integrating the Department of Homeland Security's intelligence programs and coordinating these activities with the Intelligence Community writ large. When he first came to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Chief Intelligence Officer and the Department's then-Assistant Secretary for Informational Analysis, Charlie worked tirelessly to focus resources on counterterrorism and find a new way to move forward in the aftermath of 9/11. For all of his efforts, Charlie was rewarded with an elevation to Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, where he continued to--and will continue to--mold, shape, and guide the identity of DHS's intelligence operation. He created the foundation for all who will come after him. On one occasion in August 2007, Charlie came down to the University of Texas El Paso's Border Security Conference to speak on the critical area of diversity in the intelligence workforce. I was really excited to hear him speak, because I understood that he is a great speaker, and he certainly always has something of substantive importance. As it turned out, though, I never got to hear his speech, because my daughter went into labor with my third grandchild. Charlie was gracious and understanding about it, since he's a grandfather himself. Every time I see him, he remembers to ask about that grandson. I would be remiss if, outside of his exemplary resume, I didn't honor Charlie for his singular commitment to our country. Charlie has proved himself a dedicated public servant with a reputation as a workaholic, intent on giving America his best. While he has been honored time and time again for his service, receiving the CIA's highest and most coveted award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, he neither seeks recognition nor expects accolades. Charlie is a straight-shooter. He will always give you the truth. And I will deeply miss his leadership in the Intelligence Community.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a special occasion in the American university athletics, the 75th anniversary of the Sun Bowl, a proud tradition in college football that has been hosted in my district of El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl is the second oldest bowl game in the United States and a major national attraction that brings together thousands of loyal college football fans each year to watch teams from the Pac-10, Big 12 and Big East Conferences. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Sun Bowl, I want to recognize the Sun Bowl Association, the sponsors, and all of the fans from El Paso and throughout the Nation who have made this annual event a tremendous success. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association, and Gerald Rubin, CEO of Helen of Troy, for sponsoring this great event, as well as Joe Valenzuela, Frank Bates and Linda East, current, incoming and past presidents of the Sun Bowl Association Board of Directors. At its humble beginnings, the Sun Bowl was put together as a fund- raiser by the Kiwanis Club in 1935. The event originated as a small high school matchup and grew into a major nationally televised bowl game in Division I football. As you can see by this first picture, this captured some of the flavor of the history in El Paso that was known then as ``the Sun Bowl City.'' The first game featured the El Paso High School All-Stars versus the Ranger High School Bulldogs and was played at the El Paso High School stadium, where the All-Star team came from behind to garner a 25-21 victory over the Bulldogs. The Sun Bowl Association was formed immediately after that successful first game, and a coalition of local El Paso area service clubs, including the Rotary, Lions, Optimist, and the 20-30 Club, joined together to coordinate events around the bowl game every year. After gathering input from the community, the event was named the Sun Bowl, and the first collegiate game was played in 1936. This game was a match between New Mexico A&M--which is now New Mexico State--and Hardin-Simmons College, and the Sun Bowl has grown from there. In its inception, it was played at the 15,000-seat Kidd Field in 1938 on the campus of what is now the University of Texas at El Paso. The game was moved again in 1963 to our new 30,000-seat Sun Bowl Stadium. And in 1982, the Sun Bowl game took place in the newly expanded Sun Bowl Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 50,000 people. This is a picture of our Sun Bowl Stadium. Last month, over 49,000 fans attended the 75th Annual Brut Sun Bowl to watch the Oregon State Beavers defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers to become this year's Sun Bowl champion. The television network, CBS, has been broadcasting the Sun Bowl since 1968, making it the longest continuous broadcast of a post-season football game. The crowd itself of this year's Sun Bowl game also has made history, not so much by the attendance, but for being the largest crowd, according to the Guinness Book of Record, to dance to the Village People's 1978 disco anthem, ``YMCA.'' Here you have a picture of part of the crowd that captures some of the energy and excitement of the 75th Sun Bowl on that day. To commemorate the 75th anniversary, the Sun Bowl Association added two more names to its ``Legends of the Sun Bowl'' list. The ``Legends of the Sun Bowl'' include coaches, players, broadcasters, and longtime volunteers of the Sun Bowl. This year's recipients were Priest Holmes, a 1994 player for the University of Texas, and Craig Silver, a CBS sports commentator from 1983 to 2005. Among other notable ``Legends of the Sun Bowl'' are the late Pat Tillman, Thurman Thomas, Pat Summerall, and Tony Dorsett, seen here in this final picture showing Tony Dorsett in action in the Sun Bowl Stadium. Along with my remarks, I would like to submit a copy of the names of the previous legends of the Sun Bowl for inclusion in the Record. Legends of the Sun Bowl 2008--Priest Holmes--Player, Texas (1994), Craig Silver-- CBS Sports (1983-2005) 2007--Cornelius Bennett--Player, Alabama (1983 & 1986), Don James--Coach, Washington (1979 & 1986) 2006--Tony Franklin--Player, Texas A&M (1977), Grant Teaff--Coach, Baylor (1992) 2005--Terry Donahue--Coach, UCLA (1991); CBS Sports (1995), Verne Lundquist--CBS Sports (1988, 1992, 2000-05) 2004--Pat Tillman (Posthumously)--Player, Arizona State (1997), Alex Van Pelt--Player, Pittsburgh (1989) 2003--Ken Heineman--Player, El Paso All-Stars (1935), 2002--Thurman Thomas--Player, Oklahoma State (1987) 2001--John H. Folmer--Administrator, Barry Switzer--Coach, Oklahoma (1981) 2000--Vince Dooley--Coach, Georgia (1964, 1969 & 1985), Derrick Thomas (Posthumously)--Player, Alabama (1986 & 1988) 1999--Hayden Fry--Coach, SMU (1963) and Iowa (1995 & 1997), Jimmy Rogers, Jr.--Administrator 1998--Jesse Whittenton--UTEP (1954 & 1955) 1997--Tom Brookshier--CBS Sports (1973, 1977-1981), Pat Summerall--CBS Sports (1971, 1977-80) 1996--Tony Dorsett--Player, Pittsburgh (1975), 1995--Johnny Majors--Coach, Iowa State (1971), Pittsburgh (1975) and Tennessee (1984) 1994--Harrison Kohl--Administrator, Bill Stevens--Player, UTEP (1965 & 1967), Charley Johnson--Player, New Mexico State (1959 & 1960) Mr. Speaker, I am proud to highlight this very special event in El Paso, one that is very important and very much a part of the city's history and folklore. The Sun Bowl is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the natural geographic beauty and the friendly atmosphere that make our community very special. The success of the Sun Bowl is a testament to the hard work of the Sun Bowl Association as well as the numerous community partners and sponsors, and I look forward to many more successful years of this wonderful tradition. I want to congratulate all the Sun Bowl Association members and our great community for putting on a great show every year.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my fellow El Pasoan, Texas State Representative Paul Moreno, an institution in El Paso and the State of Texas and the longest serving Hispanic elected official in the United States. After over 4 decades of public service and a distinguished career defending and championing the rights of the poor and disenfranchised, he has left his mark on American politics. Born in 1931, Paul Moreno grew up in the Segundo Barrio of South El Paso. After high school, he proudly served 6 years in the United States Marine Corps and saw combat in Korea, earning the Presidential Unit Citation, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. After his military service, Paul went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Texas Western, now the University of Texas at El Paso, and he also attended the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Representative Moreno first won election to the Texas House in 1967. During his tenure, he has always been a passionate and outspoken advocate for the poor, the disabled, and the underdog. He fought on behalf of the next generation of Texans and vigorously supported improving education, economic opportunities for our youth and health care for our children. He has been a staunch advocate on behalf of teachers, and for over 40 years has been a champion of working families. In short, Paul Moreno has been a voice for the people, and many consider him to be the ``Conscience of the Texas House.'' Representative Moreno has worked with 8 governors and many speakers of the House, and currently presides as the dean of the Texas House. Even though his voice may no longer echo in the halls of the State Capitol in Austin when his term is over at the end of this year, it will continue to guide those who strive to live up to the example of public service that he has set for us all. He will be missed.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor our colleague Congressman Terry Everett who is retiring from the House of Representatives after serving the people of the second district of Alabama for 16 years. I have had the honor of serving with Congressman Everett on House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Armed Services Committee. We served together under both Republican and Democratic majorities, but no matter which party led the House of Representatives, Terry's commitment to his constituents and to protecting our Nation was unwavering. I first had the opportunity to work closely with Representative Everett when I served as ranking member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee. As chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, he led efforts to examine our Nation's policies on missile defense and military space. The subcommittee also conducted extensive oversight of issues nuclear weapons, and we worked with the Department of Energy to make needed improvements in security for some of our Nation's most sensitive nuclear materials and information. During our tenure as chairman and ranking member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Congressman Everett and I visited military facilities and laboratories throughout the country so that we could hear firsthand from subject matter experts the challenges facing our national security infrastructure. In addition to providing us with needed insight into critical issues, those trips and the time we spent together in Washington, gave me a window into Terry's warm nature, his subtle sense of humor, and his unending devotion to his beloved home State of Alabama. On the subject of devotion without limits, Terry's beloved wife Barbara has been his rock through his time in service here in Congress. Her love and support has been vital to his service, and I am sure that she will be glad to have him back in Alabama full-time. Madam/Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend and colleague Congressman Terry Everett. As he leaves Congress, he is leaving our Nation and our world a safer place for future generations.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Congressman Bud Cramer, who is retiring from Congress after spending the past 18 years representing the Fifth District of Alabama. I have had the immense privilege of serving with Bud on the Appropriations Select Intelligence Oversight Panel and on the Intelligence Committee, where he acts as the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Bud has demonstrated true leadership in his role as Chairman and has created a legacy that will outlast us all. He has pursued all oversight matters vigorously, always in a bipartisan fashion and always in the interest of national security. His input has been thoughtful, even-handed, and precise. And I can say that I have always appreciated his well-timed sense of humor, which often lightens the load when we all start to take ourselves too seriously. In short, Bud has set an amazingly high standard on the Committee, and I will miss him greatly. Bud never does anything half-heartedly, and I would like to tell the people in North Alabama that it's going to be difficult to replace him. A true son of Alabama, Bud has been a relentless champion of the Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal. He guided a community through the base realignment and closure process twice and has been a vocal advocate for North Alabama's growing defense and aerospace industries. In fact, Bud's leadership and efforts are responsible for bringing jobs and further economic development to his district. Finally, I would do Bud a great disservice if I failed to mention his big heart and his work on behalf of abused and neglected children. During his tenure as the Madison County District Attorney, he endeavored to create a cooperative relationship between the social service and criminal justice systems and an effective, secure environment for children who were suffering. Bud's initiative has developed into Huntsville's National Children's Advocacy Center, a nationally-renowned child advocacy group that trains communities to successfully and compassionately integrate the services essential to child abuse victims. I wish Bud all the best as he moves from one remarkable phase of his life to another. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with such a committed, passionate, and just man. His presence and leadership will be greatly missed by the House and on the Committee. Thank you for your service, Bud.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my profound sadness at the loss of Carlos Marin, the United States Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, IBWC. Commissioner Marin recently lost his life in a plane crash while touring flood damage on the Mexican border. His loss along with those of Mexican Commissioner Arturo Herrera-Solis, Rio Grande County of Governments Executive Director Jake Brisbin, and pilot Matt Juneau has taken from our community devoted public servants who worked for the well-being of people on both sides of the border. A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in engineering, the Commissioner began his career at the IBWC in 1979 after working for the United States Bureau of Reclamation's in El Paso. He served in many engineering and management positions at the IBWC before rising to the rank of Deputy Commissioner and Principal Engineer, and in 2006 he was designated the Commissioner by President George W. Bush. Commissioner Carlos Marin was a model public servant who dedicated his life to the International Boundary and Water Commission and to serving the needs of border communities. I met regularly with Carlos and always appreciated his cheerful attitude and his thorough understanding of complex border issues. He was quietly resourceful and effective, lending his expertise and professionalism in restoring large stretches of the Rio Grande after the devastating floods 2 years ago. His service greatly benefited both the U.S. and Mexico sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission. Today, I also rise to wish to extend a special ``thank you'' to the employees of the International Water and Boundary Commission in both the United States and Mexico for their cooperation and their perseverance in working on behalf of border residents threatened by recent floods. Even as they dealt with the loss of their leader, they tirelessly worked to respond to flooding and to continue their efforts to improve the quality of life of the millions of people who live and work along the United States-Mexico border. My thoughts and prayers are with the staff of the IBWC and with his wife Rosa Marin and the entire family of Commissioner Marin during this very difficult time.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Caryn A. Wagner, who has ably and admirably served the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as the Budget Director during the 110th Congress. Caryn will be retiring from federal service in October; and the Committee and our nation will be poorer for it. When I took the helm of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I knew that I would need a Budget Director who could break down the complicated and technical workings of the Intelligence Community, communicate those incredibly complex missions, and translate the Committee's vision into a workable, integrated budget plan for the 16 various elements of the Intelligence Community. I immediately sought out Caryn Wagner, who had served on the Committee years before, and, at the time, was lending her talents to the newly-established Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as the first Chief Financial Officer for the National Intelligence Program. Not only did Caryn already understand the subtleties, intricacies, and challenges involved in coordinating organizations within the Intelligence Community, she had worked as an intelligence professional for over 28 years and brought with her a depth and breadth of experience that is rare. From the time she graduated from the College of William and Mary and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Caryn served in a variety of capacities across the various intelligence agencies. She first served her country as a Signals Intelligence and Electronics Warfare Officer in Texas, Arizona, and Germany, providing both tactical and strategic intelligence assessments to support military operations. After her military service, she continued to support the nation's military intelligence mission as an Army civilian employee responsible for performing operational oversight and developing the acquisition process for several extensive research and development efforts. Following a brief stint in the private sector, Caryn brought her acquisition and tactical intelligence planning experience to the House of Representatives as a Professional Staff Member at the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. After three years in the legislative branch, Caryn returned to the executive branch, putting her skills to use for the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency until she was tapped to be the first Chief Financial Officer for the National Intelligence Program at the ODNI in 2005. It was then, in 2007, after some gentle cajoling, the Committee convinced Caryn to join on as the Budget Director. And she has exceeded every expectation: tackling the budget requests for all 16 elements of the Intelligence Community, patiently explaining complicated funding and acquisition systems to members of Congress, and willingly sharing her wealth of intelligence knowledge with her coworkers. In developing a highly- refined technical expertise and an evolved understanding of the support mechanisms critical to intelligence missions, Caryn has played a significant role in safeguarding our nation. Like many intelligence professionals, she has served without expectation of commendation, accolade, or acknowledgement. For that reason, it is my great pleasure to recognize Ms. Caryn A. Wagner. On behalf of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I thank Ms. Caryn A. Wagner for her 30 years of devoted federal service. She has served the Committee and the House with great distinction, and I extend our very best wishes for her continued success as she moves on to the next phase of an exceptional life of service.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of the greatest figures in American sports history, a coach who shattered racial barriers and forever changed the game of basketball. He led an all-African American starting lineup to victory against an all-white powerhouse team in the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship. Coach Don Haskins, better known to us as The Bear, passed away on Sunday, September 7, in El Paso, Texas at the age of 78. I had the privilege of calling Coach Haskins a friend, and I join all of El Paso and his many fans across the Nation in mourning his passing. Although he never saw it or intended to be one of the greatest civil rights pioneers in sports, his commitment to playing the most talented athletes regardless of skin color in the 1966 championship was a major turning point in American sports and the civil rights movement. The landmark game between Texas Western College--which is now proudly known as the University of Texas at El Paso--and the University of Kentucky at that time is often regarded as one of the greatest moments in sports history and the most important game in college basketball. For those of us from El Paso, Don Haskins was more than just a coach. He was a community icon that put a little known west Texas town in the national spotlight. He was fiercely a loyal supporter and has always been a diehard fan of the University of Texas at El Paso and could be seen often in the stands cheering on his beloved Minors. Coach Haskins arrived at Texas Western College in 1961 and retired in 1999 after 38 seasons with a record of 719 wins and 353 losses. He led our Minors to seven Western Athletic Conference Championships, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, and seven appearances in the National Invitational tournament. Couch Haskins also served as an assistant coach in the 1972 U.S. Olympic team. On September 29, 1997, Coach Haskins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ten years later, the entire 1966 Texas Western team joined their coach in this honor, becoming just the sixth team in the history of basketball to do so. Though known for his ferocity on the court, off the court Coach Haskins was humble, compassionate, and witty. He never relished in celebrity, even after his story and that of the 1966 Texas Western team made it to the big screen in the 2006 Disney production of Glory Road. He touched many lives, and never hesitated to help any person in need. He was known for visiting coffee shops around our town--many of them in poor areas--and would order a single cup of coffee, but leave a $20 tip. He never once bragged or boasted about what he did for others. At Coach Haskins' memorial service, the University of Southern California basketball coach, Tim Floyd, a former UTEP assistant coach under Coach Haskins, shared a very moving story that demonstrates the kinds of deeds that Coach Haskins did for people often in need. It is told that one day Coach Haskins was driving to El Paso from Van Horn, Texas--which is approximately 120 miles from El Paso. He was driving, as all of us that knew and loved him, in his signature white pick-up truck. While driving, he noticed that a station wagon had broken down and was stranded on the side of the road; it was a single mom with four children. Coach Haskins, typically, pulled over, and he asked the mother if she needed help. She told Coach Haskins that she was trying to get to Los Angeles, but her car had broken down. Coach Haskins squeezed all of the four children and the mom inside the cab of his pickup and drove them to El Paso. He put the family up in a hotel, arranged for their car to be towed and repaired, and he gave the mother $1,000 to help her get to Los Angeles. Coach Haskins never mentioned this to anyone, including to his wife. It wasn't until the mayor of Van Horn called the coach's office and the now Coach Tim Floyd answered the phone that he found out what had occurred. Coach Floyd never shared this story while Coach Haskins was alive because he knew that Coach Haskins wouldn't want anyone to know about it. This is but one example of the hundreds of stories that people tell about our legendary coach. Mr. Speaker, when reflecting on his decision to start five African American players, Coach Haskins simply said, ``I just played my five best players.''

Mr. REYES. I ask unanimous consent for an additional minute.

Mr. REYES. I'll file the rest for the Record. Thank you. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. REYES. I thank my friend from California. Coach Haskins never sought or wanted credit for changing college basketball, and he would always say, ``I just wanted to win the game.'' Like many of history's greatest role models, it was the humility and unassuming personality after achieving unprecedented success that, today, he inspires us all. He is survived by his lovely wife, Mary, and was the proud father of Brent, David, Steve, and Mark. Although he is no longer with us, we know that his spirit will always live on at UTEP and that his legend and legendary stories will forever remain an important part of our country's history. God blessed us with Coach Haskins, and now we ask for God's blessing for our coach.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H. Res. 1307, a resolution commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation. The Kingdom of Bhutan has a very special relationship with the University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP, community and the people of El Paso, TX. This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival presented a truly rare opportunity for UTEP and the El Paso community to join with the Kingdom of Bhutan to showcase our two cultures in the Nation's Capital. People had the opportunity to listen to El Paso mariachis and watch traditional Bhutanese dances at the National Mall. The show was one-of- a-kind. Bhutan is currently transitioning to parliamentary democracy, and the resolution under consideration today commends the Bhutanese people, and in particular King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, for advancing democratic institutions in the Himalayan nation. During this critical time in Bhutan's history, it is fitting that the Kingdom was included in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The Folklife Festival is the largest annual cultural event in the U.S. Capital, featuring a different nation, region, State, and theme each year. This year's festival showcased the Kingdom of Bhutan, the State of Texas, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of NASA. The festival also celebrated UTEP's ties to the Kingdom of Bhutan, and featured El Paso mariachi band Los Arrieros and musicians and dancers from Bhutan. UTEP President Diana Natalico and City Representative Susie Byrd welcomed the standing-room-only crowd to the performance. As an added bonus, Bhutanese carpenters and skilled artisans constructed a traditional Bhutanese structure on the National Mall as gift of friendship for the people of the United States. The structure, one of the largest traditional buildings ever constructed on the National Mall, will be housed at UTEP for permanent display. UTEP students traveled to Washington, DC, to film a documentary about the 30-foot structure and the Folklife Festival. Following the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, several Bhutanese performers traveled to El Paso to perform at the 2008 Bhutan Festival at UTEP. The event gave El Pasoans the opportunity to learn about Bhutanese culture and traditions. These cooperative efforts between our two nations enrich both the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan, and I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring the people of Bhutan as they shift to a more representative form of government.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, or the AFOSI. Today, August 1, 2008, OSI celebrates its 60th anniversary as the investigative arm of the United States Air Force. At the suggestion of Congress in 1948, AFOSI was established as the consolidated and centralized investigative service for the United States Air Force by then-Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington. Since its inception, AFOSI has served to ensure a capability for independent and objective criminal investigations. Through the years, AFOSI's mission has evolved in many ways to meet the changing needs of the Air Force. As a direct result, it has matured into a highly effective war fighting unit while maintaining the standards of a greatly respected federal law enforcement agency. Its goal today, as it was 60 years ago, is to provide the world's best investigative service to the world's best Air Force. AFOSI has played a central role in the history of the Air Force. It was the AFOSI commander in Korea who first alerted the Far East Air Forces headquarters in Tokyo of the North Korean invasion in June 1950. During the early to mid-1960s, AFOSI units were deployed to Vietnam and quickly proved their mettle in support of air base defense by gathering early warning threat information on sabotage and surprise attacks. As terrorism became more prevalent in the 1970s, AFOSI responded with investigative tools and programs that enhanced the protection of Air Force people and resources. In 1978, AFOSI became the first organization in the federal government to establish a computer crime program. AFOSI's counterintelligence efforts contributed to victory in the Cold War by identifying and neutralizing foreign intelligence operations targeting the United States Air Force. When the Pentagon felt the impact of cyber-threats in the 1990s, it tapped AFOSI to run the Defense Department's computer forensic training and laboratory programs. In recent years, AFOSI has answered the call to help protect an air and space force that is committed to going anywhere in the world, at any time. Its response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and contributions to subsequent combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as support to worldwide humanitarian assistance missions, continue to highlight AFOSI as a force multiplier providing for the safety and security of our armed forces anywhere in the world. Although AFOSI has evolved and adapted to today's needs, there has never been a change in the fundamental nature of the organization: it is an independent, high performance investigative agency, and indispensable to the Air Force. Today's AFOSI is made up of approximately 3,200 people operating across the globe, virtually anywhere you would find our Air Force's interests or resources. With a legacy of service, integrity and excellence behind them, the members of this office march on today in the footsteps of the many men and women who have served in the AFOSI, including one of our honorable colleagues, Senator ARLEN SPECTER. Madam Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that the AFOSI celebrates its 60th anniversary. In a time of unprecedented change and challenge, AFOSI continues to rise to the occasion by answering the call of the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, and our great Nation.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 562, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are able to consider this legislation today. H.R. 6545, the National Energy Security Act is an important proposal to ensure that policymakers get a comprehensive analysis of the way our national security and energy security are affected by rising energy costs. I applaud the gentleman from Louisiana for introducing this bill, and believe that is the right way to address this proposal. Last week, the ranking member of my committee proposed this idea. But his motion made it clear that this was just a tactic to de-rail the intelligence authorization bill. I said that this report was a good idea, and that we deserve to know the information that this bill requires. But I could not agree to the form of his request then because it would have sent the bill back through the committee process, effectively killing this bill, and would have denied critical funds that the men and women in the intelligence community need to uncover and disrupt terrorist plots--funds that he agreed were crucial to our national security. I hope that the House will pass this proposal now. It is important for us to understand the energy security implications of rising prices. I would note that the intelligence community has already done some work in this area. Last March, the intelligence community produced an unclassified report called, ``Energy Security Dynamics Transforming International Politics'', which covered some of the issues in this bill, but that report was not at the same level of rigor and coordination as the assessment required by this bill. This National Intelligence Assessment will provide a short-term and long-term assessment of the outlook for prices, supply, and demand for key forms of energy. The intelligence community can help us understand the plans for production and supply of energy sources from key energy- producing and exporting nations. It can also help us understand how potential adversaries who are energy suppliers will use dollar diplomacy or energy supply as leverage to achieve their goals. We also need to understand whether increased energy prices are going to fund terrorists. The format of this report will allow the intelligence community to consult with the best minds in industry and academia. I would also note that this assessment is similar to one on the national security implications of global climate change that was included in last year's House-passed version of the intelligence authorization bill. We received that report last month, and the intelligence community management subcommittee held an excellent hearing on it. Both energy security and global climate change have serious implications for national security. But both energy security and global climate change require solutions that cannot be solved by our military or intelligence community. The next President will have to deal with these challenges, and deserves the best judgment of our intelligence community. This bill ensures that the next President will have that advice. I urge my colleagues to adopt the resolution.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. I asked you for unanimous consent to strike the word ``promptly'' and replace it with ``forthwith.''

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I reclaim my time, and I withdraw the request.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to strike the word ``promptly'' and replace it with ``forthwith.''