Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. In addition, seeing as that the problem of out-of-field teachers is most severe in high-need schools, I would request that in conference the distinguished chairman pursue modifications to the bill, clarifying that one of the purposes of Noyce is to close the gap between the number of highly qualified STEM teachers in high-need schools and the number of such teachers in non-high-need schools. I would further request that this policy statement be included in section 103 of H.R. 362 titled ``Policy Objectives.'' Does the chairman believe that this is a modification he would find worthy of his support?

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. In addition, I would also request that we ensure that the provisions requiring NSF to track the types of schools in which Noyce recipients carry out their teaching obligations include an assessment of the effectiveness of the increased scholarship amount on influencing individuals to teach in high-need schools. Does the chairman believe that this is a modification that he would find worthy of supporting?

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman, and in order to address the points that we have both made, I would like to suggest to the chairman that we pursue the following: I would request that in conference the distinguished chairman seek to increase the scholarship amount for students who agree to teach in high-need schools from the current $10,000 per year to $12,000 per year over a 3- year period of scholarship support. The intention of this is to increase this scholarship amount to address the problem of a disproportionate number of high-need schools that have high percentages of out-of-field STEM teachers. Does the chairman believe this is a modification he would find worthy of his support?

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Chairman Gordon. Mr. Chairman, I rise in order to request the attention of the distinguished chairman in addressing an important concern relating to the section in H.R. 362, the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act of 2007, that amends the National Science Foundation Noyce Scholarship Program. As you know, the core purpose of H.R. 362 is to increase the number of STEM teachers with strong content knowledge and teaching expertise serving in America's schools. In particular, the bill authorizes a large expansion of the Noyce program, which gives scholarships to students to become highly qualified teachers in exchange for their service in a public school. I want to commend the chairman for crafting this very important legislation. It is an essential step in achieving our national goals of promoting innovative behavior and ensuring continued American strength and competitiveness. If we are to expand the STEM pipeline, however, and if our investments in innovation and competitiveness are to pay large dividends, we must work to correct the large gaps in math and science test performance that exist today between underrepresented minority groups, which are concentrated in high need areas and the rest of the population. The first step in improving the participation of underrepresented groups is to prepare them to compete academically in STEM. I am sure that the gentleman will agree that one of the most effective methods for resolving these disparities is by augmenting the number of quality, highly trained teachers serving in high-need areas. This is a job practically tailored for the Noyce Scholarship Program. I would like to thank the distinguished chairman for his recognition of this need and for his willingness to work with me on this important issue, and I would like to yield to the gentleman at this point.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, April is National Minority Health Month. Its goal is to foster awareness of minority health issues, and spur dialogue and solutions toward ensuring that minorities are not disproportionately vulnerable to illness, disease and premature death. In the U.S., Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders have significant healthcare needs. These groups suffer from high levels of poverty and disease, including diabetes, heart disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and cancer. Large numbers of minorities are also uninsured or under-insured. In a world where we have shortages of nurses, doctors, and other health practitioners, with respect to minority health in particular, there is no shortage of need. To meet these challenges, the health concerns of particular minority groups must be addressed, and this must be achieved as we better our healthcare system. I am a strong supporter of the healthcare providers and research institutions in my district of El Paso, TX, such as Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso Community College, the Border Health Institute (BHI), Pan American Health Organization, La Fe, Project Vida, Project Arriba, Fort Bliss, area hospitals and clinics, and individual doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. I believe we must make every effort to create solid foundations for healthcare in our communities. National Minority Health Month is a vitally important time for millions of Americans. In honor of National Minority Health Month, I urge my colleagues in Congress to support initiatives designed to effectively reduce minority health disparities. With respect to minority health, though there may be no shortage of need, we must assure there is also no shortage of resources to address the disparity, and eventually close the gap.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1677, the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007. This bill accomplishes several important objectives. It cracks down on websites that attempt to strip unwitting consumers of sensitive information by imitating the IRS website. Electronic filing is on the rise, which is good for both consumers and the IRS, and we must make sure Americans feel comfortable and secure when paying their taxes online. This legislation would also require the IRS to notify a taxpayer when it becomes evident in the course of a tax fraud investigation that he or she may have been the victim of identify theft. In the past, when presented with evidence of such fraud, the IRS, incredulously, would not apprise an individual of the serious situation he or she was facing. This must change. In addition, the bill would also simplify tax filing requirements for businesses owned jointly by a husband and wife and make it easier for a married couple to file as a single proprietor of a business rather than as a partnership. It increases consumer protections from predatory providers of refund anticipation loans, gives taxpayers more time to recover property seized improperly by the IRS, and updates federal law to stop certain forms of tax fraud. Perhaps most importantly, this bill would strengthen our outreach to people entitled to cash back on their tax returns under the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is effective because it rewards work. The families of Americans who work hard but don't earn a lot should not be forced to live in poverty. However, recent evaluations have shown that approximately 25 percent of hardworking households eligible for the EITC have not claimed it, and billions of dollars in targeted tax credits did not end up in the hands of the workers who needed them most. When hundreds of millions of Americans step up to invest in their country by paying their taxes, they must know that Congress is looking out for their best interests. By passing this bill, we are doing just that. I thank my colleagues and urge passing of the bill.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 273, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month. According to the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, the average high school graduate does not possess basic personal financial management skills. These young people are unable to balance a checkbook, and most have little knowledge of basic practices such as earning, spending, saving and investing. This lack of awareness has serious consequences for young people. Without a fundamental understanding of finance charges and accumulating interest, young people become prone to credit card abuse, which often results in overspending and long-term debt. As they take on greater and greater financial responsibilities, these men and women are similarly unprepared to finance higher education, handle a mortgage, and save for retirement. The implications of this behavior extend beyond personal welfare. Consumer debt in the U.S. reached $2.4 trillion in 2006, $825 billion of which comes from credit card debts. Financial literacy should be a fundamental part of every young American's education. The ability to manage one's finances is essential to building wealth and leading a prosperous economic life. On the other hand, those who lack the ability to manage money face lifelong obstacles to fulfilling their human potential and creating a solid economic foundation for their families. I thank my distinguished colleagues, Congressman Hinojosa and Congresswoman Biggert, for their work leading the House Financial Literacy Caucus, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 76, urging the establishment and observation of a legal public holiday in honor of Cesar E. Chavez. Cesar Chavez is an iconic figure of the Civil Rights Era, a man Robert F. Kennedy noted as ``one of the heroic figures of our time.'' Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, AZ. He spent most of his youth working on farms throughout the Southwest and California, and it was there that Cesar Chavez came to understand the uniquely arduous conditions agricultural workers face in the U.S. For more than 3 decades, Cesar Chavez worked as a community organizer, labor leader and civil rights activist. Influenced by figures such as Mahatma Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he embraced strategies of nonviolence in working to improve the conditions of America's agricultural working poor. He cofounded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW) of America. As a labor leader, Cesar Chavez employed peaceful tactics such as fasts, boycotts, strikes, and pilgrimages toward achieving fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits and humane living conditions for thousands of workers everywhere. These efforts resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture, and led to the passage of the 1975 California Agricultural Relations Act, a bill designed to serve California's farm workers. Cesar Chavez died on April 23, 1993, and in 1994, President Clinton posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to him, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Now, 5 States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, celebrate Cesar Chavez's birthday as a State holiday. I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in supporting H. Res. 76, urging and establishing Cesar Chavez's birthday, March 31st, as a national holiday, and commemorating the legacy of one of the most heroic figures of our time.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my strong support for the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. While I am pleased that we are taking swift action on this important bill, I am woefully disappointed by the circumstances that brought us here. It seems that the efforts to meet the medical treatment needs of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines were as poorly planned and executed by this administration as the military operations. There is no doubt that our troops are getting outstanding military care from the time that they are wounded until they leave inpatient care. But it is the aftermath where we are failing our Nation's heroes. Things such as: Obtaining treatment for conditions like PTSD that develop after a soldier has left the combat zone. Coordination of medical care for soldiers who have left the military hospital but still require rehabilitation and outpatient treatment. A smooth transition from the military to the Veterans Administration health care system. The bill under consideration today makes critical and desperately needed improvements in our current military and veterans health care systems. It responds to the need to better coordinate care so that our wounded warriors never fall through the cracks, by improving the training of case managers and limiting their workload to a manageable number of soldiers; by creating a new patient advocate program so that each injured service member has a government employee fighting for his or her needs; and by establishing a toll-free number where families can report deficiencies and receive quick action to resolve problems. The bill would also address the transition of troops from military medical treatment to civilian life and the Veterans Administration health care system by beginning to reform the disability evaluation system; by appointing independent medical professionals to support wounded service members during the medical evaluation board process; and by formalizing the process of transitioning military patients and all of their medical records to the Veterans Administration. The bill would also improve training for the medical professionals and counselors who work with service members and their families and would create new Wounded Warrior Battalions at all Army medical centers modeled on the Marine Corps's highly successful program. The bill also includes a provision that I sponsored during consideration of the measure by the House Armed Services Committee. My amendment, as included in bill, addresses the challenges facing the Army in providing needed facilities by directing the Secretary of the Army to report back to Congress on infrastructure requirements for supporting wounded warriors at Army medical facilities and installations. My amendment arose from what I observed at Fort Bliss, in my district of El Paso, Texas, and my visits to other military medical facilities throughout the world. At Fort Bliss, our garrison commander, our medical facility commander, and our military hold unit commander have worked tirelessly to meet the most immediate needs of the over 250 soldiers on medical hold there, but it is clear that we need a more concentrated effort by the Army to identify and fund needed upgrades to facilities for wounded warriors. From adequate numbers of family housing units and barracks rooms that meet accessability standards to sidewalks, our Army posts simply don't have the facilities they need to meet the needs of soldiers recovering from disabling injuries. But the area where I have seen the greatest need is accessability to military hospitals. At Fort Bliss and Army posts around the Nation, just getting in the door is a struggle for wounded soldiers as they face Army Medical Centers where the support facilities simply aren't adequate. At Fort Bliss soldiers seeking treatment at the hospital often find the parking lot completely full, and when they do find a parking space, it's likely in a remote spot which may or may not be served by a volunteer-staffed shuttle. And to make matters worse, more often than not, those shuttles are broken. There is no doubt that our Nation wants to do all that we can to help those who are injured in their military service, and there are thousands of dedicated professionals working hard to give them the medical care that they deserve. But it is clear that we have to do more. We need to provide all the resources that are required, and we must remove legislative and administrative barriers that are keeping our wounded warriors from getting the best possible care. Our military forces make invaluable sacrifices in defense of our Nation, and we owe them nothing less.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, this week we lost another four soldiers from Fort Bliss to an IED attack in Iraq. That makes a total of 35 troops from El Paso who went to Iraq and didn't come home. Remember, 35 is not just a number. It's not an abstract concept. Thirty-five is the number of families suffering--aunts and uncles, grandparents, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children. There are friends, classmates, teachers, coaches, fellow soldiers, colleagues, and so many others who are connected to the lives of our lost heroes. The cost of this war has been too high not just in terms of lives lost and warriors wounded. We have poured taxpayers' money into Iraq. We have spent 500 billion--half a trillion!--dollars to that country. And as we have increased our investment in Iraq, we have less and less to show for it. Rather than progress, our billions of dollars have produced civil war. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the Iraq War, my colleagues know two things about me. One, I opposed this war from the beginning. It was a mistake. Two, since the Iraq War began, I have been committed to our troops and to supporting the best possible outcome. As a Vietnam veteran I know what combat is about. I have visited Iraq seven times. I have been to Afghanistan many times. I know what our troops require. I have worked out of the spotlight behind the closed doors of the Intelligence Committee and in the Armed Services Committee. My focus has been providing our soldiers with the tools they need to complete their mission and return home safely--body and vehicle armor, IED jammers, and timely, accurate intelligence. And I'm proud of that work. I'm saddened that our troops didn't have the protection they needed right off the bat, and I'm ashamed we went to war with bad intelligence, but I'm proud of the work we've done in committee to set things right when we could. But today we send a strong message, that it is long overdue for the Iraqis to stand up for their country, for the Iraqis to assume responsibility for their security and for their political decisions. If Iraq is to become a democracy--and we're willing to stay and help them with training, other support functions--but after four years it's time that they accept responsibility for their own future. And that's what this legislation is about. More importantly, this bill takes care of our troops. It brings them home. And once our troops are home, this bill commits our government to caring for our troops and veterans in a fashion that reflects the sacrifices they have made for our country. Mr. Speaker, I've been listening to the arguments of my colleagues on the other side. One thing I'm struck by is how similar the arguments I'm hearing today are to what they've been saying for the past four years. Every step of the way, my colleagues on the other side have been wrong on our policy in Iraq. Yet they pony up the same rhetoric, the same rationale for the same policies that have gotten us nowhere but into the middle of a civil war. For four long years, our troops have made immeasurable sacrifices in Iraq, and now it is time for the Iraqis to step up and take responsibility for their own security.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is a special privilege for me to recognize Chaplain Martin Wilson. Chaplain Wilson is a 21-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol currently assigned to the Family Support Unit in El Paso, Texas. The Family Support Unit is a one year pilot program intended to provide Border Patrol Agents, staff and their families with a support network to help manage times of crisis. During his early years in the Border Patrol, Chaplain Wilson served as a program manager under my command as Sector Chief. Chaplain Wilson is married to San Juanita Wilson who today are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary. Together they have 4 children, Alicia, Marty Jr., Stephanie and Daisy. Marty Jr. recently followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the second in his family to join the United States Border Patrol. In addition to his duties as Sector Chaplain, Chaplain Wilson serves as the Associate Pastor at La Verdad Community Baptist Church and is an advocate for people with physical and developmental disabilities. Thank you Chaplain Wilson for joining us this morning and for serving our Nation as a Border Patrol agent.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, it is a special privilege for me to recognize Chaplain Martin Wilson. Chaplain Wilson is a 21-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol currently assigned to the Family Support Unit in El Paso, Texas. The Family Support Unit is a 1-year pilot program intended to provide Border Patrol agents, staff and their families with a support network to help manage times of crisis. During his early years in the Border Patrol, Chaplain Wilson served as a program manager under my command as Sector Chief. Chaplain Wilson is married to San Juanita Wilson who today are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary. Together they have four children: Alicia; Marty, Jr.; Stephanie; and Daisy. Marty, Jr. recently followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the second in his family to join the United States Border Patrol. In addition to his duties as Sector Chaplain, Chaplain Wilson serves as the associate pastor at La Verdad Community Baptist Church and is an advocate for people with physical and developmental disabilities. Thank you, Chaplain Wilson, for joining us this morning and for serving our Nation as a Border Patrol agent.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 47, observing National Medal of Honor Day and honoring the sacrifices of Medal of Honor recipients and their contributions to our Nation. March 25th is an appropriate day to recognize these individuals, since the first Medal of Honor was awarded on March 25, 1863. This resolution not only salutes the bravery of Medal of Honor recipients, but also gives the American public the opportunity to learn about the history of this prestigious military distinction and the uncommon acts of courage that made recipients real-life heros. Previous honorees include several EI Pasoans. Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty during the Korean War. Sergeant Guillen sacrificed his life in order to thwart an enemy attack, saving the lives of the men in his platoon. He was laid to rest at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions in the Korean War. While facing a barrage of hostile fire and improbable odds, Colonel Rodriguez secured a strategic stronghold by killing 15 enemy soldiers occupying well-fortified positions. He later moved to EI Paso following his retirement from the Army and served as Facilities Director at the University of Texas at EI Paso for over 10 years. Most recently, on April 4, 2005, Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his ``extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor'' while repelling an enemy attack on a prisoner of war holding area during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant Smith quickly organized two Army platoons to defend their position. In the face of enemy fire, Smith manned a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored vehicle. Although exposed to enemy gunfire, Sergeant Smith maintained his position. His heroism resulted in the death of over 50 enemy soldiers before Sergeant Smith was mortally wounded during this courageous act. As a Vietnam veteran, I recognize the importance of honoring these selfless acts of courage. In order to preserve their legacy and costly sacrifices, I proudly stand in support of our Medal of Honor recipients.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 42, a bill recognizing Ann Richards' extraordinary contributions to Texas and American public life. Before assuming the Texas Governorship, Ann Richards worked as a public school teacher; raised four children; and was heavily involved in Democratic politics. She formally entered politics in 1976, first serving as County Commissioner in Travis County, Texas. In 1982, Texans elected Ann Richards as State Treasurer, making her the first woman to hold a statewide office in 50 years. Ann Richards remained in this position until her gubernatorial win in 1991. Ann Richards navigated Texas politics with a high level of integrity, intelligence and a legendary wit as the second female governor in the great state of Texas, where she served from 1991 to 1995. During her leadership, Governor Richards emphasized ethical reform, environmental protection, and increased diversity in state agencies. She called for a ``New Texas,'' where the faces of Texas leadership would mirror Texas'' diversity. True to her vision, she made great strides in ensuring that women, Hispanics, African-Americans, and the disadvantaged shared in Texas power and prosperity. I knew Ann Richards personally and am honored to support this bill. Ann Richards was a trailblazer in the complete sense--she won her seat at the table by hard work and perseverance; won the affection and respect of her new colleagues; and made space for historically uninvited guests. Texas is a better state because of Ann Richards, as is our Nation. I invite my colleagues in Congress to commemorate her courage, efforts, charisma and memory, by joining me in support of H. Res. 42.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 6 minutes. I rise to express my strong support for our Nation's military and for the resolution before the House today. I am a proud veteran. I know what it is like to say good-bye to loved ones and be gone for a year, or 13 months, as in my case when I served in Vietnam. I voted against authorizing the use of force against Iraq because I did not believe that the evidence provided by the administration, particularly the intelligence data, were sufficient to justify putting our troops in harm's way. Combat should be the last option. I know; I have been there. Over 3,000 American lives later, and tens of thousands suffering debilitating injuries, yet we are no closer to our goal of a secure and stable Iraq, and the situation there continues to deteriorate. Our military families are paying a high price. There were a couple of articles in today's paper that talked about our inability to find common ground. Well, I disagree. I think we find common ground because we care about not just our troops, but their families, our military families. Madam Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record an e-mail from Sergeant Matthew Baeza Hello Sir, My name is SGT Matthew Baeza, currently I am deployed in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom '05- '07 with the C-84th ECB (H), out of Fort Richardson, AK. I am an El Paso native, and have not been too big in politics although I did my fair share of Democratic rallies with my father Luis Baeza when I was in high school. I have met you on several occasions through my father as well as when we met on the steps of the Senate when I was on a High School trip to DC in '99. My concerns are brought forward wholehearted. They do not concern El Paso, but it does concern El Pasoans all over the country who serve in the military and who are deployed in the threatre of operations. Many of us in the military believe in what we do and feel our mission here is warranted. The issues are not against our deployments but rather the length of our deployments. You see, the ARMY is the only branch that will always deploy with a full 12 month rotation in deployments. Other branches have been cut to 6 months or even 3 months. I do realize there are certain elements in the other branches that serve a 12 month rotation like the ARMY. The issue I have is that 12 months isn't that difficult to pull the first time. But into your second and third deployments (some soldiers serving 4 deployments back to back) it starts to break the backs of even the strongest of families. Children are seeking counseling as young as 3 or 4 years old due to the absence of their parents, and if a marriage survives, most end up seeking help from chaplains or marriage counselors. Is that how we want our Service Members and their families to live? Out of a 5 year marriage, I will have been absent 3 years, and will only have known my son for 9 months, when I return days from his 3rd birthday. My marriage along with hundreds of other service members are quickly ending due to the amount of time absent from home. I am not sure if surveys have been performed, but I can almost guarantee you the percentage of divorces have multiplied at an exponential rate. But yet talks of cutting down deployments have been in the works for year but no progress has been made. The vast majority of Armed Services members are proud every day to put on our uniform and help others who cannot help themselves. But at what cost? At the cost of losing the ones we love. And at the end of it all we cannot place blame on our spouses, for they have been holding on longer than most could ever imagine. Our spouses run multiple lives as my wife does. As a professional writer and reporter for the Anchorage Daily Newspaper, a mother, FRG (Family Readiness Group) Leader, and as a military spouse, my wife, she has a lot to deal with. Bills, care for our child, her work, and dealing with my calls home whether they be happy or sad. It is simply too much to ask from anyone. My wife is as strong as they come, but with the last 3 years her patience has worn extremely thin. With us being away from home, many wives end up leaving their husbands searching for a better life, or long needed affection without a phone, or even to become their own person again. My wife told me something the other day that really hit me, ``No one knows who you are, they know Megan and Dominic, and the guy that keeps calling on the phone.'' That is who we have become to our families, just a voice on the phone. I am not asking to get out of this conflict. We are doing well here, plus if we leave, the friends I have lost here would have died in vain. I cannot have that on my conscience. We all realize the good we are accomplishing here, but we are losing our families over it. We don't try to save the world, at least I don't, that is too much to ask of one person. But rather try for the ones closest to us. My son and my wife. But when they are gone, who is it for? Every day I am here I tell myself I do this for them, and others feel the same way. I am not asking you to change the way things are, but rather voice your opinion and raise a flag for those of us that cannot. With your reputation you can influence others in helping us cut our deployments to shorter periods. We are not asking to leave Iraq or Afghanistan, but rather cut the time away from home. When you start stacking deployments on top of each other, families get broken, and when that happens, you get Service Members who cannot perform. Would could when your life is falling apart? I hope you read this and understand where I am coming from, and realize I speak for a number of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen who have fallen into this horrible ordeal. Thank you sir for your time. Matthew Baeza, SGT, EN Supply Sergeant.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, now it is my privilege to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard).

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege now to yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, let me reassure my friend I have heard nothing at all about the statement he just made. Those are the kinds of statements, frankly, that confuse people. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, as an Army veteran myself, I know that the backbone of our Army is its noncommissioned officers. Now it is my privilege to yield 5 minutes to a former noncommissioned officer who retired after over 2 decades of service in the Army, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein).

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to a valued member of the Armed Services Committee, the gentlewoman from Kansas (Mrs. Boyda).