Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 5 minutes to a breath of fresh air from Arizona, my good friend Mr. Harry Mitchell.

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from Ohio, Representative Betty Sutton.

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

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 24, establishing the House Democracy Assistance Commission for the One Hundred Tenth Congress. The House Democracy Assistance Commission's mission is to strengthen democratic institutions around the world by fostering working relationships with emerging or existing democracies and providing expert insight into the democratic process. Members of Congress, key staff, and Congressional support agencies meet with selected legislative leaders from around the world to offer assistance that will enhance accountability, transparency, legislative independence, and government oversight in foreign parliaments. We are in unprecedented times, and today the mission of the House Democracy Assistance Commission is especially vital. Promoting democracy throughout the world is essential to our Nation's immediate and long-term security, and to the future of our global community. As a member of the House Democracy Assistance Commission from its inception in 2005 through the conclusion of the 109th Congress, I know the profound effect these interactions have in the precious development of democratic governance in some of the world's fledgling democracies. Madam Speaker, I have witnessed firsthand the good that can come from the House Democracy Assistance Commission, and I ask that all my colleagues join me in supporting H. Res. 24.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 512, a bill introduced by my good friend, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), expressing Congressional support for the establishment of a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino. As a Hispanic American and a former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I know the importance of creating a museum to honor and preserve the history of Latino Americans. We need to celebrate the diverse history, art, music, and literature of the Latino culture. We also need to make strides in increasing public awareness of the important contributions that Latino Americans have made in the United States. The establishment of this commission and subsequent museum would be an important step towards reaching this goal. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, according to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanic Americans constitute fourteen percent of the total United States population and are the largest growing minority with a current population of 41.3 million Americans. In fact, the 16th Congressional District of El Paso, Texas is eighty-two percent Hispanic American. El Pasoans have a rich history which contributes to the tapestry of American culture. The establishment of a National Museum of the American Latino is important to my constituents and Hispanics across the nation. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 5, expressing Congressional support for ``Hire-A-Veteran Week,'' and encouraging the President to issue a proclamation calling upon employers to increase employment of men and women who have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Services. As a U.S. Army veteran and a longtime member of the House Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, I know of the challenges awaiting our service members when transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce. While this resolution will not solve the problems of unemployment within the veterans community, it is a strong message that we as members of Congress should send to anyone in a position to hire qualified veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, younger veterans have a significantly higher unemployment rate than those of the general population in the same age range. Madam Speaker, I find this situation unacceptable and I believe most Americans would agree that our country should do more to assist these veterans in transitioning from active duty to the civilian workforce. Furthermore, as a strong advocate of hiring qualified veterans, I practice what I preach. Having hired military veterans in both my El Paso, Texas and Washington, D.C. offices, I know of the exceptional training the Armed Forces provides our service members, and wholeheartedly encourage any employer to consider hiring those veterans who have served our country. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting our Nation's veterans by voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 5.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 29, supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month 2007. The strains on America's families are immense. Many parents work two and three jobs to put food on the table and provide medical care for their children. Sometimes, tragedy or medical emergency diminishes the support a child receives at home. The list of vulnerabilities children face is long. The worst circumstances, however, will bring out the best in humanity. When a need exists, society often leans in to help shoulder the load. Today we are celebrating the uncanny ability of Americans to lend a helping hand. Today on the House floor and this month across America, we honor those people who sacrifice their time and energy to provide a friendly face, a supportive shoulder, a patient ear, and a model for leadership and success in the form of mentoring relationships. According to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, young people touched by mentors are more confident in their schoolwork performance, able to get along better with their families, 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol, and 52 percent less likely to skip school. In my district of El Paso, Texas, I have seen the positive impact of mentoring firsthand through my involvement with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of El Paso. The hundreds of individuals who step up either as big brothers and sisters or in support of the organization not only make a difference in the life of a child but also provide a model for civic involvement that can be emulated by the community at large. Mr. Speaker, on a daily basis, scores of organizations and millions of Americans provide the positive relationships that help a child gain the confidence and responsibility he or she needs to succeed. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5, a bill that would expand educational opportunity for millions of young Americans by slicing interest rates on federally-subsidized student loans in half. This fair, well-balanced legislation would open the doors to America's colleges and universities for millions of our sons and daughters who would have otherwise been dissuaded by the high cost of pursuing a higher education. Among those millions will be young men and women who will be the first in their families to attend college. There will be inventors and innovators, businessmen and women, generals, scientists, leaders of all stripes, and, surely, future members of this body. At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in my district, students entering school in 2007 will save $2,300 on an average debt of $13,800, and student entering in 2011, when the full interest rate cuts take effect, will save over $4,400 on the same amount of debt. These savings would mean the world to my community of El Paso and to Latino communities across the country. This is true because Hispanic students have historically borrowed less on average than other groups, a reluctance that means students are often too busy working for a paycheck to complete their degrees in a timely fashion. The six billion dollars in loan relief we are passing today will mean our kids will have the ability to borrow the money they need to finance their educations and ultimately get the jobs that will allow them prosperous lives. What we are doing today also has broader significance. It is significant to the strength of our economy and the security of our country. If America is to compete economically with countries like China and India and fill key positions in our national security agencies, we need to start by sending more kids to college. Under current policy, financial barriers will prevent 6.4 million high school graduates from attending college and would cost our economy 12 million college-educated workers by the year 2020. This is a crisis, Madam Speaker. We need to recognize right now that the investments in education we make or choose not to make today will determine our economic future--whether or not our grandchildren and great- grandchildren have high-quality jobs. College access is an integral part of our competitiveness and security puzzle, because we will not find the answers to the challenges we face as a nation without a well-educated and innovative workforce. The bill we are passing today will make our country a safer and a more prosperous place. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this bill, and I look forward to continuing this dialogue about the importance of education for national competitiveness and security.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5, a bill that would expand educational opportunity for millions of young Americans by slicing interest rates on federally subsidized student loans in half. This fair, well-balanced legislation would open the doors to America's colleges and universities for millions of our sons and daughters who would have otherwise been dissuaded by the high cost of pursuing a higher education. Among those millions will be young men and women who will be the first in their families to attend college. There will be inventors and innovators, businessmen and women, generals, scientists, leaders of all stripes, and, surely, future members of this body. At the University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP, in my district, students entering school in 2007 will save $2,300 on an average debt of $13,800, and students entering in 2011, when the full interest rate cuts take effect, will save over $4,400 on the same amount of debt. These savings would mean the world to my community of El Paso and to Latino communities across the country. This is true because Hispanic students have historically borrowed less on average than other groups, a reluctance that means students are often too busy working for a paycheck to complete their degrees in a timely fashion. The six billion dollars in loan relief we are passing today will mean our kids will have the ability to borrow the money they need to finance their educations and ultimately get the jobs that will allow them prosperous lives. What we are doing today also has broader significance. It is significant to the strength of our economy and the security of our country. If America is to compete economically with countries like China and India and fill key positions in our national security agencies, we need to start by sending more kids to college. Under current policy, financial barriers will prevent 6.4 million high school graduates from attending college and would cost our economy 12 million college-educated workers by the year 2020. This is a crisis, Madam Speaker. We need to recognize right now that the investments in education we make or choose not to make today will determine our economic future--whether or not our grandchildren and great- grandchildren have high-quality jobs. College access is an integral part of our competitiveness and security puzzle, because we will not find the answers to the challenges we face as a Nation without a well-educated and innovative workforce. The bill we are passing today will make our country a safer and a more prosperous place. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this bill, and I look forward to continuing this dialogue about the importance of education for national competitiveness and security.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 61, a resolution observing and celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and encouraging the people of the United States to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his life and legacy. When Martin Luther King, Jr., articulated his dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before 200,000 people in the tumultuous August of 1963, I was living and working on my father's farm in Canutillo, Texas, not yet a high school graduate. Though instilled with the values of hard work and education by my parents and grandparents, I first encountered Dr. King's hopeful and empowering words with an unfortunate understanding, one borne from the prejudice of the times. As a Mexican- American, I knew, I would be limited in my pursuit of the celebrated American dream. Dr. King's dream contradicted that understanding. Although Dr. King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech addressed the plight of the African American, his commitment to civil rights, equality, and empowerment through education lifted all people. With Dr. King's leadership, through the sheer force of his will and the strength of his arguments, men and women of my generation, Black, White, and Brown, were able to rise and prosper in society on the basis of our hard work and God-given talents. Dr. King's work and influence on society opened doors for me that, as a teenager, I thought would always be closed. I had a long and successful career in the U.S. Border Patrol, rising from agent to be the agency's first Hispanic sector chief. In 1996, I ran for Congress and became the first Latino to represent El Paso, a city that is 80 percent Hispanic. And just this past year, I was selected as chairman of this body's Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, completing a journey from the farm in Canutillo that I would never have been able to imagine during that August of 1963. I thank my colleagues and urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman George Miller for introducing this important legislation, and the 213 members who have joined me as original co-sponsors. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over two years. As you know, it has been ten years since we last increased the federal minimum wage, and when adjusted for inflation it is currently at its lowest level in 50 years. Every single American who commutes to work has felt the financial pinch of the rising cost of gasoline, and none more so than those making minimum wage. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, when Congress last passed legislation raising the minimum wage, the national average price for gasoline was $1.32 per gallon. Today, the average price of gasoline is $2.39 per gallon, and millions of hard-working Americans are struggling to make ends meet at a wage of $5.15 per hour. The majority of these workers are adults over the age of 20 and over 6 million kids are children of workers who will be helped by this bill. This proposed increase in the minimum wage would directly affect approximately 863,000 employees in Texas and at least 68,000, or more than 30 percent, of the workforce in my district of El Paso. I know of many exceptional businesses in El Paso that have taken the initiative to pay their employees more than the proposed new minimum wage. I applaud them for their leadership, but we can and should do more by passing legislation to set the standard minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, so we can move closer to ensuring that all workers earn a living wage for themselves and their families. I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting our Nation's working families by voting in favor of H.R. 2.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. A few weeks ago I had a conversation with my good friend and colleague, the former chairman, who is now our ranking member. At the time, he was supportive of this panel. I recognize we all have the right to change our minds, but part of this process is starting to build a bridge that gives us an opportunity on the authorizing side to be able to do a better job for this country. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H. Res. 35, which would implement a core recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. Madam Speaker, 2\1/2\ years ago, the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, five Democrats and five Republicans, unanimously made 45 recommendations to prevent another attack on United States soil. Tragically, the President and previous Congress earned dismal grades for failing to enact these recommendations. One of these recommendations, indeed the one the commission called the most difficult and the most important, was to reform the way Congress oversees the intelligence activities of the United States. Intelligence is the tip of the spear in the war against violent extremists and in the efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction. Yet despite the importance of this mission, congressional oversight of intelligence has largely been dysfunctional. Most significantly, the committee responsible for overseeing the intelligence community, the House Intelligence Committee, has had little role in deciding how the Nation's intelligence budget is spent. H. Res. 35 is a critical starting point for fixing our broken oversight system. Today, we are creating a special panel within the Appropriations Committee to recommend funding levels for intelligence activities. This panel will be comprised of appropriators and authorizers, both Democrats and Republicans, with its own dedicated staff to review intelligence community activities. As the chairman of the authorizing committee, the House Intelligence Committee, I welcome this change because it gives authorizers, those of us who review the intelligence programs and set overall funding levels, a real seat at the table in deciding how the money is being spent. In the past, our committee has had no real voice in the appropriations process. Today, with the passage of H. Res. 35, those who control the policy and those who control the purse will become unified. Oversight promotes greater accountability; and accountability results in better intelligence, greater diversity among intelligence officers to penetrate the hardest targets, more sophisticated analysts, and a deeper understanding of the longer term threats that are facing this country. One need only look at the situation in Iraq to understand the perils of faulty intelligence. The best way for Congress to ensure that those days are over is to enact a meaningful reform of the way we oversee the intelligence budget. Madam Speaker, the threats facing our country are real. We have some of the best and brightest on the front lines, often undercover and frequently under fire, trying to gather the intelligence to keep America safe. We owe it to them and to their families to provide the strongest intelligence community that we can support and we can field. H. Res. 35 is an important start to achieving that goal, so today I proudly urge all my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the Iraq Reconstruction Accountability Act. While I am pleased that we will have the opportunity to vote on this matter, it is important to note that we are not expanding accountability but are in fact correcting a mistake. Earlier this year, language was included in the National Defense Authorization Act to terminate funding and authority for the Office of the Special Investigator General for Iraq Reconstruction. This organization is critical to ensuring that taxpayers dollars are being used wisely, and the office has already uncovered millions of dollars lost to waste and fraud. Besides protecting the integrity of the Iraq reconstruction program and providing accountability to the American taxpayers, the Office of the Investigator General, is also helping the Iraqi government fight a culture of corruption. Corruption is a scourge on the Iraqi society that threatens its stability. It not only drains needed funds from the fledgling government, but funds skimmed from government coffers may also finance criminal and insurgent operations. I urge my colleagues to support this measure to maintain accountability for the American people and the Iraqi people.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 214, the United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act of 2005. The U.S.-Mexico border region presents us with one of our Nation's most challenging sets of policy priorities. We read headlines everyday about the issues of migration, national security, illegal drug trafficking, and trade and commerce, all of which are centered on our southern border. However, the nation often forgets about other issues by which we are affected on the border that are complicated by the binational nature of the communities in which we live. S. 214 will help border communities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California as they approach an issue that will determine the viability of their communities to prosper indefinitely into the future: water. On the border, the question of water is not only one of negotiating resource allocation between countries, but also one of geography and scarcity. As we enter a century in which, according to many experts, wars between nations will be fought over water, not oil, S. 214 will offer an essential assessment tool to policymakers making strategic decisions about resource allocation. Currently, although the U.S. and Mexico share information about surface water and other resources, no bilateral mechanism exists for cooperation and the sharing of information with regards to ground water. This lack of communication makes it difficult to ascertain the limitations and capabilities of those groundwater resources shared between the U.S. and Mexico. The bill would provide for that mechanism by establishing a United States-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program to evaluate and model groundwater resources along the border. The program will develop an integrated approach to assess transboundary groundwater resources, prioritizing the aquifers for further analysis, and creating a geographic information system database for each priority aquifer. The bill would expand existing agreements between the U.S. Geological Survey, border states, the research institutes, and U.S. and Mexican authorities to conduct joint scientific investigations and produce scientific reports that will assist technicians and authorities in managing our most precious resource. Located in the Chihuahua Desert, the vitality of my district of EI Paso, Texas depends on the prudent management of our water resources. S. 214 will help us provide sustainable water resources for generations of Americans to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 214.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, today I remember a friend who passed away last week, former El Paso County Commissioner Rogelio Sanchez. More than a friend, Rogelio was a public servant and part of the political lineage that enabled me to serve my city and my country in Congress. Born in Mexico, a valedictorian at Fort Hancock High School, a graduate of Sul Ross State University, a World War II veteran, and a teacher for many years in El Paso, Rogelio served the lower valley of El Paso, Texas, on the El Paso County Commissioner's Court for 36 years. At a time when minorities were not adequately represented in government, his leadership on Commissioner's Court and his persistent advocacy of diversity and opportunity opened the door for many Latinos to enter politics and public service. He neutralized prejudice with his humor and easy-going manner and overcame discrimination with a record of accomplishment that includes roles in the construction of the Sun Bowl, Trans Mountain Road, Thomason Hospital, the new country courthouse, the new county jail, and many senior citizen nutrition centers. His fingerprints on El Paso are some of our proudest structures. In addition, his work holds a special place in my heart because he was responsible for initiating Head Start in El Paso, a Federal program the success and expansion of which ranks high among my legislative priorities. Politics and public service in El Paso looked a lot different when Rogelio left Commissioner's Court in 1997 than when he first won election to office in 1960. The path he helped blaze ultimately led me to Congress. He was a giant for his people. He was an inspiration for me. Nothing says more about a man, however, than his family. Rogelio was one of 10 children born to Rogelio and Petra Sanchez and the first among them to attend college. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary, and their three children, Michael, Albert and Maricela. In addition to knowing Rogelio as a public servant, I knew him as a family man--and that is how I will remember him. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in mourning the death of Rogelio Sanchez and recognizing his legacy.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Duncan Hunter for his leadership in introducing this legislation. I am a strong supporter of H. Res. 1070, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that members of Congress should actively engage in hiring wounded military veterans. Earlier this year the House Veterans Affairs Committee, of which I am a member, held a hearing for private sector representatives to discuss their initiatives aimed at hiring veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Although companies such as Home Depot, Exxon Mobile Corporation and R&L Carriers have initiated plans to increase the number of veterans, and specifically disabled veterans, other companies and the public sector can also improve their veterans hiring practices. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, younger veterans have a significantly higher unemployment rate than those of the general population in the same age range. Mr. Speaker, I find this situation unacceptable and I believe most Americans would agree that our country should do more to assist these veterans in transitioning from active duty to the civilian workforce. For that reason, I helped establish a ``Veterans Opportunity Conference'' in my Congressional district of El Paso, TX, earlier this year. This conference brought together members of the community, Federal and State agencies, and businesses to assist veterans seeking to start a business, learn about State and Federal programs, and inquire about employment opportunities. Having had a great response from our veteran community, I now plan on making this a yearly event and encourage all of my colleagues in Congress to do the same in their respective districts. Furthermore, as a U.S. Army veteran, a strong advocate of hiring qualified veterans, and a member of Congress, I practice what I preach. I am proud to have five former servicemembers in my El Paso and Washington, DC, offices. Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve our utmost commitment to helping them succeed after their military service, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in voting for H. Res. 1070.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sofia Guzman Garcia of my hometown of Canutillo, TX, who passed away July 29, 2006, on her 74th birthday. Sofia Guzman Garcia was born on July 29, 1932, and was a 1950 graduate of El Paso High School. Later, she worked for the Borderland Farmers Cooperative Association for two decades. She was also a dedicated volunteer for numerous community causes and a tireless campaigner for her husband and sons as they sought elected office. Mrs. Garcia worked on behalf of the people of Canutillo throughout her life, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the Canutillo Independent School District, local churches, and other community institutions. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of a great woman, Sofia Guzman Garcia.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of this conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. I want to thank our chairman, Chairman Hunter, and our ranking member, Ike Skelton, the staff on both sides. So many people have put in so much effort and a lot of work on this bill that supports our men and women in uniform. While I might have preferred a more inclusive process, taken as a whole, the product is worthy of everyone's support in this House. It provides our troops with tools and support that they need to defend our Nation at a time of war. I am particularly pleased that the final legislation does not include language that linked funding for the Army's Future Combat System with the critical need to replace and repair equipment that has been lost or damaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the ranking member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I am also pleased to report that the final bill before us today contains bipartisan compromises on the issues within our jurisdiction. The Strategic Forces Subcommittee has oversight of numerous complex and contentious programs, including ballistic missile defense, space systems and nuclear weapons. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize and thank our subcommittee chairman, my good friend from Alabama, Chairman Everett, for his leadership and the tremendous amount of effort that he put into forging a bipartisan effort to agree on these very complex and controversial issues at times. In the short time that I have, I want to highlight elements of the conference report on ballistic missile defense systems. The conferees adopted a Senate provision establishing U.S. policy on ballistic missile defense that clearly reflects our views. It says that we should accord greater priority within the program to effective near- term missile defense capabilities, including the ground-based midcourse defense system, the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, the Patriot PAC-3 system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, and the sensors necessary to support such systems. The conferees also adopted the House provision preventing use of funds for testing or deployment of a space-based missile defense interceptor. Mr. Speaker, while time does not permit me to describe in detail the rest of our subcommittee's accomplishments, I again want to thank Chairman Everett and our Senate colleagues for their cooperation in achieving this bipartisan, successful measure; and I want to recommend to all our colleagues that they vote ``yes'' on this very important legislation to support our troops and their families.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to Representative Tom Lantos for introducing H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006. Hurricane Katrina brought to light the difficult circumstances and decisions citizens may face when forced to evacuate their homes. Heartbreaking scenes and stories of evacuees being forced to leave behind their beloved pets were all too common. Thankfully, many evacuees were reunited with their animals after the storm. However, thousands of pets either did not survive or may still be separated from their owners. H.R. 3858 would ensure that all States and communities include the evacuation of pets and service animals within their emergency and disaster preparedness plans. With pets present in 63 percent of American households, this legislation would provide the needed tools for citizens and communities to better navigate the already stressful experience of evacuation. I was not present when the House considered H.R. 3858 because I was in Texas to participate in a critically important conference on Latino health issues. However, I would have voted in favor of this legislation. I now look forward to the President signing the bill into law.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2562, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006. S. 2562 would raise the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and would increase dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans. Surviving spouses and children aged under 18 would be among those who would benefit from the compensation rate increase that would become effective on December 1, 2006. The increase in rates would be equal to the increase provided to Social Security recipients and is projected to be approximately 2.9 percent. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 4843, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Adjustment Act of 2006, which passed the House of Representatives on June 27, 2006, I also strongly support the Senate version of the bill. In recognizing the contributions that veterans have made to our country, it is vital that we provide compensation that reflects today's rising cost-of-living. Many of the approximately 60,000 veterans who reside in El Paso, Texas depend largely on government compensation for supporting their families. Increasing the compensation rates for veterans and their families allows us to demonstrate our immense gratitude for those who have courageously served our country. Mr. Speaker, nation's veterans and their service to our appreciation for their service to our country. I ask all my colleagues to join me in voting favorably on S. 2562.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the White House/ Wilson bill. I want to detect and intercept terrorists before they reach the United States as much as anyone, but I don't want to give the President the ability to trample our Constitution in that process. I have devoted my entire career to defending our Constitution, first in the military, then in the Border Patrol, and now in Congress. I am not willing to give the President unnecessary unchecked authorities just because it makes good election-year politics. As a member of both the Intelligence Committee and the Armed Services Committee, I would like to address the failure of this bill to deal with a very specific problem: the President's assertions that the authorization for use of military force gave him the authority to conduct warrantless surveillance of innocent Americans. I offered an amendment in committee that would have inserted additional language into the White House-Wilson bill to make clear that Congress did not, did not, Mr. Speaker, in passing that authorization, empower the President to engage in warrantless surveillance. Like every amendment offered in the Intelligence Committee, it was voted down in a party line vote. Anything that doesn't square with the President's wish list was unacceptable to the sponsor of this bill. That is disappointing, and that is not bipartisanship. I take very seriously our obligation to provide the President with the tools that he needs to provide for national security, but I also reject the notion that the authorization for use of military force allows the President to ignore the fourth amendment and conduct warrantless surveillance on American citizens. To this day, even the Intelligence Committee cannot be sure whether there are other secret programs that the President believes Congress has implicitly authorized. But we can at least make sure that this position, our position, is clear, that he must respect this one. I still don't think that the authorization for use of military force authorized those things, and I continue to be amazed that the White House, with a straight face, thinks that it did. I am not afraid to stand up for our Constitution. I am not afraid to take a stand and provide the tools to the President either. But this is not the right vehicle. It should be a bipartisan effort. The White House-Wilson bill is a terrible affront to our constitutional system, and I urge a ``no'' vote.