Lamar Smith

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Mark Twain once said, ``If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.'' Both might be true for those who rely on the national media for all the facts. For example, you might not know that the unemployment rate jumped to 9.5 percent last month, the highest rate in almost 30 years. Or that the Vice President this week admitted the Obama administration misread the economy. Or that President Obama has given more than a dozen ambassadorships to individuals who raised a total of over $4 million for his campaign. Or that while the media report that 46 million people lack health insurance, there really are only 10 million people who can't afford or can't get health insurance. The national media should report all the facts so Americans are not uninformed or misinformed about major issues.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Lamar Smith Bill Number: FY2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act Account: GSA--Federal Buildings Fund Legal Name of Requesting Entity: General Services Administration, Washington, DC Address of Requesting Entity: 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405 Description of Request: I have secured $4,000,000 for the San Antonio United States Courthouse, Texas. It is my understanding that the requested funds are additional design funding for a new federal courthouse in San Antonio, Texas. Design funds were originally appropriated in FY 2004, but GSA had difficulty identifying a site. They have now identified a site and intend to swap the land the courthouse is currently on, as well as an adjacent government-owned site, for a city-owned site on which to build the courthouse. GSA will require, however, additional design funding now to hire an architect to design the proposed facility. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, recently 12 separate articles in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times have reported that 46 million people don't have health insurance in America. And the administration is trying to justify a government takeover of health care because of this figure. But not one of the articles explained that this number is a hoax. Fourteen million people are eligible for existing government programs like Medicare and Medicaid but have not enrolled. Almost ten million uninsured are not citizens. Nine million have high incomes and can afford health insurance but choose not to purchase it. And millions more are without insurance for only a few months between jobs. When you whittle down the 46 million figure, you get about 10 million people who truly need health insurance. We could buy all of these individuals a gold-plated health insurance policy for one-thirtieth of the cost of the President's health care plan. The media should give Americans all of the facts on health care, not just give them part of the story.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Lamar Smith Bill Number: FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Corps of Engineers (on behalf of the Lower Colorado River Authority) Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102 Description of Request: I have secured $700,000 for the Lower Colorado River Basin Study. It is my understanding that the funding will be used towards the completion of the basin wide study in order to identify cost-effective ways to reduce flood damages in the lower Colorado River basin of Texas. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Lamar Smith Bill Number: FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (on behalf of the San Antonio Water System) Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102 Description of Request: I have secured $600,000 for the Nueces River and Tributaries Study. It is my understanding that the funding will be used for the continuation of a detailed study of the complex relationships between surface water, groundwater and the varying ecosystems and communities dependent on such water. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Lamar Smith Bill Number: FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Account: Corps of Engineers--Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (on behalf of the San Antonio River Authority) Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102 Description of Request: I have secured $1,500,000 for the San Antonio Channel Improvement Project. It is my understanding that the funding will be used for the Mission Reach project to restore an eight-mile stretch of the San Antonio River south of downtown previously channelized for flood control purposes. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Lamar Smith Bill Number: FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act Account: Department of Energy--EERE Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Bexar County Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX 78205 Description of Request: I have secured $1,000,000 for the Bexar County Solar Collection Farm and Distribution System. It is my understanding that the funding will be used for the installation of a 200-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Chairman, first of all, I would like to consider this the Smith-Herger amendment because I appreciate so much the gentleman from California and his comments a few minutes ago. Madam Chairwoman, Mexican drug cartels are converting America's national parks and forests into farms for their illegal crops, damaging these protected ecosystems and threatening the safety of visitors and employees. The Drug Enforcement Administration calls marijuana the ``cash crop'' that finances the cartels' drug trafficking operations. And now our federal lands are being used to grow this crop. The Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center reports that Mexican drug cartels grow their marijuana in remote areas of public lands where there is a limited law enforcement presence. The two primary regions for these marijuana sites are the Western region, comprised of California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, and the Appalachian Region, including Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The pristine lands of our National Forest System are particularly enticing to these drug-trafficking operations. The dense, expansive forests provide optimum marijuana growing conditions with little risk of detection. America's national forest system, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is comprised of 193 million acres of land with 153,000 miles of trails and nearly 18,000 recreation sites. Only 175 law enforcement officials and detectives patrol this vast expanse of land, including 36 million acres of wilderness area. The men and women of the Forest Service law enforcement and investigations, together with their Federal, State and local partners, seized 2 million marijuana plants from more than 300 sites during the 2008 growing season. This is a dramatic increase from 2004, when fewer than 750,000 plants were seized. The Forest Service reports that for each of the estimated 660 marijuana sites in the National Forest System, it costs $30,000 to remove the marijuana and restore the ecosystem of each site. That is under $20 million to rid our forests of marijuana. Forest Service law enforcement officers are also battling against clandestine methamphetamine labs on Forest Service lands and increased drug trafficking across forests that share a common boundary with Canada and Mexico. Yet, in fiscal year 2009, only $15 million was allocated for all of the Forest Service's drug enforcement activities. My amendment increases this amount to $25 million. We can and must do more to put an end to the dangerous trend of using federal lands for illegal drug cultivation and distribution. Now, Madam Chairwoman, finally I want to say just in summary that this amendment would weaken the cartels' drug-trafficking operations. It will help the only 175 law enforcement officials to patrol the 36 million acres of wilderness area, and it will send a strong message that we want to increase funds for these efforts. So I appreciate my amendment being supported tonight. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. I have an amendment at the desk that was made in order under the rule.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, before I yield to our colleague from California, I would first like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee; the gentleman from Washington, the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Dicks; and the ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), for their courtesies tonight. I will yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger) both a colleague, a classmate, and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. I would like to make a statement about the amendment if the gentleman doesn't object. MR. DICKS. I will reserve my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as this replica of a check demonstrates, the national media are giving the Obama administration a free pass worth who-knows-how-much on any number of major national issues such as the economy, energy, and health care. The national media seldom mentions that the President's budget would double the national debt in 5 years and triple it in 10. The national media don't tell the American people that the President's cap-and-trade energy plan will cost every family $1,600. The national media don't report that the 46 million uninsured that is used to justify the President's health care plan is really only 10 million people after you deduct those who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, who can afford health insurance, and who are without health insurance for just a couple of months between jobs. Americans don't want the media to give the Obama administration a free pass. They want the facts.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam speaker, I have more bad news for Americans . . . yet another example of biased reporting. This one comes from the Los Angeles Times. The paper ran a story about a company that fired 200 workers after an IRS audit found ``hundreds of `invalid or fraudulent' Social Security numbers.'' An unbiased story would have focused on how devastating ID theft is to families. It might have discussed the range of problems they face-- faulty arrest records and tax liabilities among them. The article also might have mentioned that those 200 jobs are now open for jobless U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. And that typically after an action like this, wages for American workers are higher. But the Times story did neither of these things. Instead, the story followed the talking points set forth by amnesty advocates and the Times' own editorial board. Readers deserve better. They deserve a balanced view. And that Los Angeles company--it should be praised for its actions to comply with the law instead of ignoring it.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, in some national newspapers, the line between news reporting and opinion has become non-existent. Take two recent examples: First, this opinionated sentence from The Washington Post on America's health care system: ``Nowhere else in the world is so much money spent with such poor results.'' Second, this sarcastic comment from The New York Times on Supreme Court nominee Judge Sotomayor: ``Of course, it is not as if a lawyer and judge with a history of involvement in racial issues has not made it onto the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall, a fierce advocate for racial justice as a lawyer for the NAACP, sailed onto the highest bench in the 1960s.'' Amazingly, these blatant opinions are from front-page news stories, not editorials. Newspapers should report the facts and save opinions for the editorial page.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, tomorrow ABC News will devote an entire day of news programming to President Obama's health care plan. The network will shill for the administration on every program from ``Good Morning America'' to ``World News Tonight'' to a prime-time town hall meeting broadcast from the White House. ABC will not devote time to an opposing viewpoint and refused to air ads critical of the administration's health care plan. I joined with dozens of other Members of Congress to send a letter to ABC News protesting this one-sided coverage. It is contrary to the journalistic code of ethics, which states that a journalist's duty is to seek truth and provide a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. ABC should adhere to this code of ethics and abandon its plans to broadcast unfair and biased coverage of the health care debate.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), a member of the Impeachment Task Force and a former district judge from Texas.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), the deputy ranking member of the Crime Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee and also a former district judge from Texas.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King), who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Broun, who is also a member of the Homeland Security Committee. (Mr. BROUN of Georgia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, never before has a Federal judge pled guilty to a felony, gone to jail, and refused to resign immediately from the bench. In a clear attempt to get every penny possible from American taxpayers, Judge Kent, who pled guilty to obstruction of justice and is currently in prison serving a 33-month sentence, submitted a letter to the President resigning effective June 1, 2010. The law does not require Judge Kent to step aside from the bench, even though he is a convicted felon. Every day he remains in office he receives his taxpayer-funded salary. Congress has taken up this impeachment inquiry and moved quickly to ensure that Judge Kent is removed from the bench. His continued attempts to game the judicial system are just another example of how Judge Kent has abused his position of authority. Earlier this month, the House Impeachment Task Force heard testimony from Judge Kent's two victims. His victims described the living nightmare they experienced while working for him. They were subjected to physical and verbal sexual abuse for years, ranging from lewd comments to forced physical sexual conduct. Neither woman felt that she could file a complaint without losing her job. Judge Kent warned all of his staff that disloyalty was grounds for removal. It was his ability to intimidate his staff into silence that perpetuated his abuse of authority. Today's vote is necessary to ensure that justice prevails. When a judge is given a lifetime appointment, it is a tremendous honor and responsibility. But when a judge takes advantage of his authority, he must be held accountable for any violation of those principles of justice. Congress must put an end to Judge Kent's abuse of authority and exploitation of American taxpayers. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the four articles of impeachment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), who is the ranking member of the Impeachment Task Force.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. I yield the gentleman 30 additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren), a member of the Impeachment Task Force and a former attorney general of the State of California.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to consider and vote on Articles of Impeachment following U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent's guilty plea and sentencing. Judge Kent is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and lying to a panel of his Federal judges who were investigating allegations that he sexually assaulted two women on his staff. Following Judge Kent's guilty plea and sentencing, the House authorized the Judiciary Committee to undertake an inquiry into whether the House should impeach Judge Kent. Recently, the Impeachment Task Force of the Judiciary Committee heard testimony from two women whom Judge Kent sexually assaulted. Their testimony about Judge Kent's conduct was troubling, especially because Judge Kent abused his authority as a Federal judge to intimidate his staff into silence. Judge Kent has refused to appear before the committee. Judge Kent continues to abuse his position of authority by refusing to resign immediately. Instead, he sent a letter to President Obama tendering his resignation effective June 1, 2010. Last Monday, Judge Kent reported to Federal prison to serve a 33- month prison sentence. By resigning effective June 1, 2010, Judge Kent is attempting to collect his full judicial salary for another year, even while he sits in prison. That's why we are here today, to take the next step to putting an end to Judge Kent's abusive authority and exploitation of American taxpayers. On Wednesday, June 10, the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved four Articles of Impeachment against Judge Kent. Two of the articles relate to his sexual misconduct, and two of the articles relate to Judge Kent's lying about his conduct. I am not unsympathetic to the claims that Judge Kent endured difficult personal tragedies and may suffer from mental illness; however, he does not have the right to continue to serve as a Federal judge and collect a taxpayer-funded salary while sitting in prison for felony obstruction of justice. Judge Kent has remained on the bench long after he sexually assaulted two women and lied to law enforcement officials. It is now time for justice; justice for the American people who have been exploited by a judge who violated his oath of office and obstructed justice by lying, and justice for the victims who were subjected to abuse and humiliation. Although his attorney claims that Congress has ``better things to do,'' ensuring that a Federal judge convicted of a felony does not receive a taxpayer-funded salary while sitting in jail is important to our system of justice and a priority of this Congress. Every day that Judge Kent remains on the bench is one day too long. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of these Articles of Impeachment to restore integrity to the Federal bench. And I hope the Senate will act quickly to ensure swift justice for Judge Kent, his victims, and the American people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), a member of the Impeachment Task Force and also a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. (Mr. Chair) on rollcall No. 370, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 114 Offered by Mr. Reichert

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Chair, as a Member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I strongly support full funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA's research, innovation and exploration have had a positive impact on education, national security, health care, and the environment. The aerospace industry alone employs approximately 500,000 people across the nation and accounts for nearly 2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Furthermore, NASA attracts students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics--fields vital to our country's long-term strength and prosperity. With proper funding, NASA will be able to continue a robust research program and develop new technologies to ensure that the United States remains the global leader in space exploration and innovation.