Silvestre Reyes

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, on June 13, 2005 a group of students from historic El Paso High School in my district of El Paso, Texas, after months of grueling preparation and a hard-fought season, finished second at the National Academic Championship in Chicago. I congratulate the following El Paso High Tigers for their hard work and dedication: Blain Baurngardt, Trevor Vargas, Alex Neuman, Robert Heyman, Emil Michal, and their coach, named Coach of the Year by the National Academic Championship, Gerard Neuman. The El Paso High School High-Q Team made it to the final round with a combination of intelligence, teamwork and self-discipline. The team demonstrated the ability to come from behind and showed maturity beyond their years. Mr. Speaker, on June 13, 2005 the El Paso High Tigers gave us a preview of the excellence we can expect from our city's young generations and showed El Paso is home to some of the best and brightest our Nation has to offer. I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the El Paso High-Q team on their second place finish at the National Academic Championship.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 66, a bill supporting the goals and ideal of ``Lights On Afterschool!,'' a national celebration of after-school programs. While my district of EI Paso, Texas is fortunate to be served by several excellent after-school programs, I am here to say we need more. As more families have two parents who work every day--and single parents struggle to balance the duties of providing for their kids and caring for them--more children are left without supervision after school. The Afterschool Alliance estimates there are 14.3 million of these children across America. Without available after-school programs, many of these children will be left to wander the streets between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., the time of day when juvenile crime is most likely to occur and children are most likely to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Or they might just sit in front of the television or video game console all afternoon. By creating more after-school programs--at schools, community centers, and faith-based organizations--we provide children a fun and productive place to go after school. Also, parents have peace of mind knowing their kids are safe and are thus better able to focus on their jobs. Mr. Speaker, the American people support after-school programs, and so should we. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting ``Lights on Afterschool'' and the movement for more afterschool programs in America.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 61. In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mothers Day. This resolution, of which I am a cosponsor, expresses the support of this House for the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day. The American Gold Star Mothers are a group of mothers who have lost sons and daughters who served in the armed services. The group also assists veterans and their dependents in submitting claims to the Veterans Affairs Department. The Gold Star Mothers are a true representation of the many levels of service and sacrifice that exists in the defense of our country. Like many members across the country, the Gold Star Mothers in my district of El Paso, Texas, remind us of the never-ending bond between families. They remind us of the sacrifice that families of veterans make as they endure the fears and concerns of having loved ones overseas, and the loss of loved ones who never return. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and this House to swiftly pass the resolution before us.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in recognition of the 80th anniversary of Cathedral High School located in my district in El Paso, Texas. Since Cathedral High School opened its doors with a faculty of four LaSallian brothers in 1925, it has woven itself into the fabric of the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez community. The school has educated and taught the histories of two cultures and two nations to the sons of both. Over the years, Cathedral has produced thousands of college-bound graduates, many of whom have become great civic leaders and accomplished professionals. Among these men we count Ambassador Raymond Telles. Ambassador Telles' Cathedral education prepared him to become the first Hispanic mayor of El Paso and to be appointed ambassador to Costa Rica, among many distinguished posts which he held. He is an inspiration to generations of Cathedral graduates, to El Pasoans, and to Hispanics across the United States. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 80th anniversary of Cathedral High School and wishing them continued success and excellence.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, our country is once again devastated by a tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families who have been affected. I would like to wish the best to the Members of this House and their staffs from the affected areas; our prayers are with you and your families as well. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize and praise my constituents in EI Paso, Texas, who like many other citizens have begun to organize efforts to send relief to those in need. Just yesterday, I helped kick off an initiative being called ``48 Hours of Giving'', a joint effort by the El Paso Sheriffs Department, the El Paso Chapter of the American Red Cross, the EI Paso Salvation Army, and Bassett Place to raise money to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The EI Paso County Sheriff's Department has also offered to send their Search and Rescue team to the area to provide assistance and the EI Paso chapter of the American Red Cross has begun signing up and training volunteers to send to the Gulf Coast for relief. It truly is heartening to see communities come together in times of great need. It is my hope that we continue this spirit of generosity as we overcome this tragedy. The passage of this Emergency Supplemental Appropriation will help continue the efforts to provide aid in a timely matter. While our communities are opening their hearts and doing whatever possible, it is our government's job to be doing everything it can with all resources to provide for the well-being of its own people. It is unconscionable that we are not taking care of our own, and that there are still Americans who have not been fed or sheltered or reunited with their families for five days now. It is embarrassing that this mighty nation that sends relief around the world has failed its own people so miserably. I hope that this House and this government can rebuild our own devastated areas with the same enthusiasm and resources dedicated to rebuilding governments and nations abroad.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Portirio Lozano, a dedicated member of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, community in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Lozano has devoted many years of service to El Paso in many capacities. A distinguished pioneer of El Paso's medical community, Dr. Lozano was responsible for laying the groundwork of today's osteopathic medicine practitioners in West Texas, paving the way for the integration of Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine in El Paso's hospitals. His work performing compensation and pension examinations for El Paso's VA ensured that the dispensation of entitlements for our veterans occurred quickly and fairly. Dr. Lozano's more than 20 years of service is especially important to me because my Congressional District in El Paso is home to nearly 60,000 veterans. These brave men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our country, and Dr. Lozano has been steadfast in providing the best possible health care for our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the 16th Congressional District and the veterans across America, I would like to thank Dr. Lozano for his selfless service to and advocacy for veterans in El Paso and the Nation.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 22, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Employing nine million workers nationwide, many of whom reside in my Congressional District of El Paso, Texas, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been delivering hundreds of millions of pieces of mail each day keeping an important link of communication open to millions of people. Many of my constituents from El Paso, Texas who have expressed their strong support for postal reform. I share their support and have co- sponsored the bill before us today. Mr. Chairman, this legislation would ensure that the USPS is provided with the tools to remain competitive and viable in the 21st century. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 22, I would urge all my colleagues to support the passage of this important legislation.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3200, the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Enhancement Act of 2005. Since 1965, the SGLI program has been providing insurance coverage for our men and women in uniform. While the SGLI initially covered only active duty servicemembers, today it extends coverage to our nation's guard and reserve forces as well. This legislation would increase the minimum SGLI coverage from $10,000 to $50,000 and make permanent the increase in maximum coverage from $250,000 to $400,000. This increased insurance coverage would become available for any servicemember wanting to participate. The war on terror has placed greater demands on all of our active duty and reserve forces at home and abroad. These brave men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom and it is our responsibility as Members of Congress to do everything possible to assist them both during and after their service to our country. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I on the House Veterans Affairs Committee favorably passed H.R. 3200 and as a co-sponsor I would urge all my colleagues to do the same on the House floor. Thank you.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 525, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, but in strong support of meaningful measures to help small businesses offer affordable, quality health care coverage to their employees. For many businesses in my congressional district and across the country, the rising cost of health insurance is a growing crisis. Currently, many small businesses devote significant resources to offer health insurance to their employees--money they could have otherwise invested in their businesses. Others have had to reduce or drop coverage entirely. While I agree that we must find a solution to this problem, H.R. 525 is not the answer, for several reasons. First, supporters of H.R. 525 claim the legislation would reduce the number of uninsured. However, a recent Urban Institute survey states that the number would actually increase, because some small employers in the State-regulated market would be forced to drop coverage when premiums increase as a result of the creation of Association Health Plans, AHPs. Second, AHPs would be exempt from State rules that limit how much and how often premiums can be increased, making it likely that premiums would go up rather than down. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that AHP legislation would result in higher premiums for 80 percent of small employers, and as many as 100,000 sick people would lose coverage because they would not be able to afford the increases. Finally, AHPs would mean that consumers would lose important health benefits, such as treatment and care for diabetes, child immunizations, cancer screenings, and preventive care. Consumers would lose State- based patient protections such as direct access to specialty care, emergency care, and the right to an independent, external review of denied medical claims. Instead of this flawed bill, I support the substitute offered by Representatives Kind and Andrews. This legislation would expand the health care options available for small businesses by building on the efforts of many State governments that are providing health care plans specifically for small businesses. Under the substitute, Federal and State health insurance pools would be created for small businesses to band together to purchase coverage. Participating businesses would be able to defray the costs of their participation through a 4-year tax credit provided under the legislation. By grouping small companies in healthcare pools, this bill would give small firms some of the same advantages large corporations have in trying to keep costs down. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the Small Business Health Fairness Act, and instead support real relief for small businesses trying to meet the health care needs of their employees by voting for the Kind-Andrews substitute.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3070, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005. Technology and innovation are a vital force behind our Nation's prosperity, and NASA continues to advance our scientific, security, and economic interests through its cutting-edge work. NASA conducts flight training for the Space Shuttle program in my congressional district of El Paso, Texas. My constituents have also benefited from NASA programs that provide local schools with funding to improve student learning in science and mathematics. In addition, small businesses in El Paso have received contracts with NASA, the University of Texas at El Paso has been awarded education grants, and local students have received scholarships to study science and engineering. H.R. 3070 will help NASA advance its work in my district and across America. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to give this important, bi- partisan bill their support.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time on this very important issue. I also rise, like my colleagues, understanding that we face a situation that is potentially very dangerous, especially given the events of this morning again in London. But I also think it is important and prudent that we craft legislation that protects our country not just from the terrorists but also from abuses. I rise today, Mr. Chairman, to express my disappointment with this House for not allowing my fellow colleague on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), to offer an amendment which is important to H.R. 3199, the USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization. His amendment would have extended until 2010 the sunset date of section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, also known as the ``Lone Wolf'' provision. Instead, the bill before us makes that provision permanent. It has only been in effect for 7 months, which is, in my opinion, an inadequate amount of time for the government and the public to assess the impact this significant expansion of government authorities has. We are having this debate today, Mr. Chairman, because 4 years ago Congress had the wisdom to include sunset provisions in the PATRIOT Act. These sunsets are key to ensuring individual rights and liberties as well as allowing Congress to continue to evaluate the effectiveness of this act. Mr. Chairman, I understand the need for this legislation, and I will support the passage today. However, I hope that my colleagues understand that if we are to continue much further down this road we may be doing irreparable damage to civil liberties in this country without sunset provisions.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague for speaking on behalf of the amendment. I would just simply say in closing, Mr. Chairman, that I appreciate the opportunity to once again bring this issue to this House. I think it is the right thing to do, to support an area that has been beleaguered by criminals. With that, I hope that my colleagues will support this amendment.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend for yielding me time, and I want to thank both my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and the gentleman from California (Chairman Dreier) for making my amendment in order. My amendment, as has been very aptly described by our ranking member, seeks to provide support to the Mexican Government. This is an area that is adjoining my district and has, unfortunately, taken way too many lives. Women have been abducted, raped and killed; and this is an effort to get help in several different areas. There have been opportunities. Since being in office as a Member of Congress, I have asked the El Paso Police Department, the Sheriff's Department, and the FBI to provide help in forensic analysis, crime scene search and identification, as well as training and investigative techniques, all of which have been well received. But we need that additional pressure from the Department of State to provide additional help and additional focus on the issue through the Mexican Government. This is something that is very important to my constituents as a great concern, because it is happening right across the border from my district. It is also of great concern to other Members of Congress. In fact, I have hosted several congressional delegations that have gone there and talked to the victims and talked to law enforcement officials and those that have been right at the heart of the investigation in the area where it has been most impacted. So I hope that my colleagues support me on this issue. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Dreier) for making this in order and the chairman and ranking member for their support.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1220, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005. All too often, our veterans and their dependents are forced to pay unexpected medical fees and sometimes forced to juggle their finances just to make ends meet. By increasing the COLA we would help ease these burdens forced upon our veterans and their dependents. Our veterans deserve and need this assistance now. This legislation is especially important to me because my Congressional District of El Paso, Texas is home to nearly 60,000 veterans. These brave men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom, just as our servicemembers are currently doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to take care of our Nation's heroes so that we can fulfill our promises to our veterans after their service to our country. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee favorably passed H.R. 1220 and I would urge all my colleagues to do the same on the House floor.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3130, the day-late- and-dollar-short legislation. Where were we last year when Secretary Principi said that he was underfunded by $1.3 billion? Where were we in March when I sat here in this very same seat and asked to fund $1.3 billion out of the supplemental fund? Earlier tonight, we could have funded our veterans at the same level as the Senate did last night, at $1.5 billion, but no, we could not do it the right way, we could not do the right thing. So tonight as an American, I am angry; as a veteran, I am outraged; and as a Member of Congress, I am ashamed. Angry, outraged, and ashamed that our only option is a supplemental of $975 million when we need $1.5 billion. I am angry because in this House, if you need an emergency supplemental, no problem. If you need another one, no problem. Need yet another emergency supplemental? Again, no problem. But do not even think about an emergency amendment of $1.3 billion for veterans' health care. No, all $300 billion has been spoken for, and no veteran need apply. Mr. Speaker, I am outraged as a veteran because, like emergency supplementals, if you need a tax cut, no problem. Need another one? No problem. Want a third? No problem again. What a deal. The richest 1 percent in this country get a gold mine; our veterans get the shaft. As a Member of Congress, Mr. Speaker, I am ashamed and frustrated. Why? Because we have consistently failed to stand up for our veterans and have failed to stand up to an administration that continues to mislead and deceive, an administration that adopted Pinocchio as their mascot and has trampled on the rights and the needs of our veterans. Just once, I wish we would do the right thing for our veterans: fund them at $1.5 billion. I do support this legislation, a day late and a dollar short.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express our Nation's gratitude for the El Paso community, which provided generous donations and assistance to help rebuild the lives of those hurt by the massive tsunami that crashed ashore in South Asia on December 26, 2004. Just a few weeks after the Asian tsunami, I traveled to South Asia with colleagues from the House Armed Services Committee and the House International Relations Committee. As part of that trip, we traveled to Indonesia to deliver medical supplies to help contribute to the relief effort and assist those touched by the tragedy. The most crucial component of this mission in Indonesia--providing medical supplies--would not be a reality without the charitable donations of numerous El Paso hospitals, organizations and individuals. Through their contributions--which amounted to nearly one ton of supplies such as gauze, surgical masks, syringes and antibiotics--the El Paso community has made a direct contribution to the relief efforts. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the following individuals who, when the call for supplies went out, answered positively and enthusiastically and gave generously: Hank Hernandez, CEO of Las Palmas and Del Sol Healthcare; Doug Matney, CEO of Sierra Providence Health Network; Jim Valenti, CEO of Thomason Hospital; Jerry Wilson, District Manager of the Walgreen Company; Gerald Rubin, President and CEO of Helen of Troy; and Scott Wells of Cardinal Health. Sadly, our world is plagued by terrorism, the war in Iraq, and now the mounting death toll and devastation caused by the tsunami in South Asia. However, the collective outpouring of compassion and quick action from across the globe to aid those in this time of overwhelming need is cause for hope. EI Paso has also shown that it is committed to assisting the tsunami victims and helping them rebuild their lives. Our entire community should be proud of our contributions to this effort.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2475. I commend the leadership of the Chairman and Ranking Member, and thank them for supporting the amendment I offered at mark-up to align the authorization for an important technical program with the level set by the Armed Services Committee. H.R. 2475 also underscores the importance the Committee places on providing full-funding of intelligence requirements related to the global war on terrorism. For years, Intelligence Committee Democrats have fought hard for this. If fact, some of us voted against the intelligence bill last year because it contained less than one-third of the funding needed for counterterrorism. This year, I'm pleased the Committee has finally brought a bill before the House that provides full intelligence funding for our dedicated men and women on the front lines. This bill also includes House Resolution 173, a measure which encourages the DNI to establish a uniform, multi-tiered security clearance system. Such a system is needed to ensure all intelligence agencies fully-leverage the cultural knowledge and foreign language skills of people who may not be able to be cleared, in a timely manner, to the highest levels. It will also help increase the workforce diversity and skills-mix, both of which are critical to the future success and viability of the Intelligence Community. The report accompanying H.R. 2475 also highlights the work of the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC). Although EPIC is funded through DEA in other legislation instead of this bill because of its drug-related intelligence mission, its work is critically important to the U.S. national security overall. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure EPIC's activities are funded at an appropriate and consistent level. In addition to highlighting the strengths of this bill, I must also note my serious concerns about the general oversight of systematic failures related to the handling and interrogation of detainees. While it is critical that we collect actionable intelligence from detainees to prevent future threats, it is imperative that we do so in a way that respects U.S. law, and international conventions and treaties. Although there were some issues some of us would have resolved differently, H.R. 2475 is, on balance, a sound bill.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment addresses the abduction and murder of more than 370 young women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico. That is the community right across from my congressional district of El Paso, Texas. Specifically, my amendment urges the State Department to assist Mexican authorities in identifying several unidentified victims through forensic analysis and other scientific assistance; and this would include also to put this subject into the bilateral agenda, which is a discussion between both administrations on a yearly basis. Throughout my time in Congress, I have personally asked our Federal and local law enforcement agencies in El Paso to offer any assistance that they can legally provide, and they have made and are making very good efforts to help their counterparts on the Mexican side. Also, for years I have called on the Mexican Government to bring an honest and intensive investigative effort to bear on this issue so that it can solve these horrific crimes and do more to prevent future tragedies, which also, by the way, Mr. Chairman, included a conversation with President Fox in Mexico City on this very issue. In 2003, I joined several of my congressional colleagues on a delegation to Juarez to meet with the families of these victims and to increase awareness on this important matter. Some of the most poignant testimony we heard was from families who have been unable to confirm whether their loved ones and their remains have been found or whether they are still missing. As I have done in the past several years, this past weekend I raised this issue at the Inter-Parliamentary Group meeting in Rhode Island where several of my colleagues in Congress and our counterparts from the Mexican legislature came together to discuss significant issues that affect both the United States and Mexico. This is an issue that has long been of particular concern to me and to all of my constituents in El Paso because, along with Juarez, our two cities form the largest border community in the world. Our cultures, our economies and, most importantly, our families are inseparably tied to each other in this region of the world. When they need help, especially with something as horrific as murders that have taken place there, we need to step up and provide assistance, as all good neighbors often do. This amendment would provide Mexican authorities with additional assistance necessary to solve these crimes. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to assist Mexican authorities in identifying these victims and to put the perpetrators on the road to the penitentiary and to prevent violent acts against women of Juarez and Chihuahua. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for giving me the opportunity to offer this amendment. Mr. Chairman, my amendment addresses the abduction and murder of more than 370 young women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico, near my congressional district of El Paso, Texas. Specifically, my amendment would urge the State Department to assist Mexican authorities in identifying several unidentified victims through forensic analysis and to include the topic in our bilateral agenda with Mexico. Throughout my time in Congress, I have personally asked our federal law enforcement agencies in El Paso to offer any assistance they can legally provide, and they have made and are making good faith efforts to help their counterparts on the Mexican side. Also, for years I have called on the Mexican government to bring an honest and intensive investigative effort to bear to solve these horrific crimes and to do more to prevent future tragedies. In 2003, I joined several of my congressional colleagues on a delegation to Juarez to meet with the families of the victims and increase awareness on this important matter. Some of the most poignant testimony we heard was from families who have been unable to confirm whether their loved ones' remains had been found or if they were still missing. As I have done in the past several years, this past weekend I raised this issue at the Inter-Parliamentary Group where several of my colleagues in Congress and our counterparts in the Mexican legislature came together to discuss significant issues that affect both the U.S. and Mexico. This issue has long been of particular concern to me and my constituents in El Paso because along with Juarez, our two cities form the largest border community in the world. Our cultures, economies, and most importantly, our families, are inseparably tied to each other. When they need help, especially with something as horrific as the murders that have taken place there, we need to step up to the plate and provide assistance, as all good neighbors do. This amendment would provide Mexican authorities with additional assistance necessary to solve these crimes. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to assist Mexican authorities in identifying the victims of these murders, put the perpetrators behind bars, and prevent violent acts against the women of Juarez and Chihuahua. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Madam Chairman,, I rise in strong support of the Butterfield Amendment, which would add $2 million to the USDA's Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program. As a young man growing up in the El Paso Upper Valley Community of Canutillo, I experienced the many challenges that small and medium farmers face daily. My grandfather, father and close family members contributed to the operation of the family farms in the El Paso and Dell City Valley, Texas. Also, throughout my tenure in Congress, I have met with many minority farmers from my Congressional District of El Paso, Texas. These Hispanic farmers have faced many challenges. Outreach, training, and technical assistance are essential to help them succeed in today's challenging agriculture economy. Unfortunately, while Hispanics are the fastest-growing population in the country, they remain a disadvantaged minority when it comes to having the resources to own and farm our nation's land. Farming and ranching are full time, 24 hour, seven day endeavors, and our small and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers merit our consideration and assistance. Adequate funding for this program would provide the farmers with technical, farm management, and marketing assistance, all of which are important to keeping our farmers productive on their land. The Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program has made a great impact in the El Paso and Las Cruces region, and without the proper funding for the program I fear our farmers will be lacking the means to succeed. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our nation's minority farmers by ensuring the passage of this important amendment, and I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Butterfield and others on this important issue.

Mr. REYES

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express strong opposition to my good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode's) amendment. I understand his concern. There has been a lot of talk both on the floor of Congress, throughout the country about border control. I understand the need to increase enforcement along our borders to protect against terrorism and drug trafficking. Mr. Chairman, as a former Border Patrol agent with 26\1/2\ years' experience along our Nation's border, I know firsthand the difficulties that we have protecting our borders. But I also know that what we need are more trained law enforcement professionals, not military forces and, most certainly, not untrained civilians and vigilantes. I know how difficult it is to secure our Nation's borders and the need for additional resources; however, this amendment is the wrong solution to our current problem along the border. The military has been more than willing to provide assistance to law enforcement already, but, Mr. Chairman, let me just for the record state that the Department of Defense opposes this amendment. The Department of Homeland Security needs more border patrol agents, not troops on the border. The President already has the constitutional authority to deploy troops, as necessary, during a national emergency. There is no reason for this amendment. We have recently authorized an additional 1,500 border agents and have funded those 1,500 border agents. Last August, we passed the intelligence reform legislation that has a provision for 2,000 border patrol agents per year for the next 5 years. That is the solution, in my opinion, that we need: professional trained Spanish-speaking border patrol agents that know and understand the challenge they face. Our military today is already stressed. Just last month, the U.S. Army told us that their recruitment was down some 42 percent. We do not have the forces, we do not have the Reserves, and we do not have the National Guard because of the commitments overseas. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that I have the utmost respect for him, but I would remind the gentleman that it is poor public policy to allow citizens to take the law into their own hands, whether it is Arizona or not. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), who represents a border district.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume to remind my friend from Arizona that the Department of Defense opposes this amendment, and the President already has the constitutional authority. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline), who is, coincidentally, from the northern border that the gentleman from Arizona was just speaking about and who is a member of our committee.

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, we have been in contact with border patrol agents that currently are telling us that they are demoralized. Because if you are an other-than-Mexican undocumented individual, you can come in. We have instances where they are actually flagging down our border patrol agents and they are asking local residents to call the border patrol so they can get what they call their permiso, or their permit, to be able to travel anywhere in the United States. This is an abuse of our immigration laws, and it is all because we will not fund and we will not establish temporary detention facilities. When I was chief in McAllen sector, we had the same situation in the mid- 1980s, where we had Central Americans coming in to the country. I was told that my agents were to issue I-210 letters, which is that permiso, that permit, they want today and wanted in the mid-1980s. I said, no, we are going to arrest them, and we are going to detain them. We put together a plan. We put temporary detention facilities down in south Texas, and guess what, Mr. Chairman? It worked. They stopped coming. And more importantly, Mexico had to become engaged to make sure that people coming from Central America did not come into Mexico and create difficulties for them. There is a solution, my colleagues, to this issue. The solution is enforcing our laws. If we put military on the border, all they are going to be doing is refer these undocumented other-than-Mexican aliens to the border patrol so they can be issued another permit to go anywhere in the country that they want. Does that make sense? Is that what we want to use our military for, just the equivalent of tour guides, referring illegals to the border patrol for issuing of a permit so they can go anywhere in the country?

Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?