Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer and his wife Elizabeth Provencio on the arrival of their first born, Francesca Maria Provencio Fischer. Francesca Maria was born on January 4th, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. and I'm proud to report that Francesca Maria and her mother are both healthy and doing well.

As both Trey and Elizabeth now know, words cannot quite describe the joy and thrill of being a new parent. I am certain that Francesca Maria will grow up in a loving environment and learn from the great example set by her parents of duty, responsibility, and compassion.

The journey they are embarking upon together will prove to be an unparalleled life experience, and I wish their entire family the best for a healthy and happy lifetime together.

Madam Speaker, I rise today just days after the historic inauguration of our country's 44th President to honor a similarly honorable and trailblazing individual, Reverend Claude Black Jr. of San Antonio. On Sunday, January 18th, 2009, Rev. Black will be honored at Realizing the Dream's second annual Holiday Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the organization's Testament of Hope Award. I join the organization in offering my congratulations for all his achievements and contributions to our country.

Born in a segregated San Antonio in 1916, Rev. Black's lifelong commitment to civil rights, justice, and equality is well-deserving of this recognition and honor. From leading marches for civil rights to attending the White House's Conference on Civil Rights in 1966 with President Lyndon Johnson, he has always been at the forefront of the fight for equality. And as the first African American Mayor Pro Tem of San Antonio in 1974, he paved the way for future African Americans to seek elected office and rightfully participate in our democracy.

Rev. Black is a hero and inspiration to all Americans. His efforts to better our society are not only worthy of this recognition but also our sincere gratitude. I am honored to call him a constituent, congratulate him for this recognition, and thank him for all he has done on behalf our community and our country.

Madam Speaker, we rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Linda Chavez-Thompson, a San Antonio resident who will be honored this Friday by the San Antonio AFL-CIO for her achievements and contributions to our community.

A native of Lubbock, Ms. Chavez-Thompson has been an integral part of the American labor movement for 40 years. In 1995, she made history when she was elected Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, the first Hispanic to hold one of the organization's three highest offices. She currently serves as executive vice-president emerita and remains committed to delivering economic and social justice to all Americans.

Over the course of her life she has partnered with many organizations on behalf of civil and human rights, including those of women, immigrant Americans, and the LGBT community. And as she continues to work to better the world around her, her current projects include starting a scholarship fund for children of union members and developing a future leadership initiative.

The city of San Antonio, the State of Texas, and our entire country have reaped the benefits of her hard work and lifelong commitment to justice and equality, and we could not be more grateful for her contributions. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and I are honored to know her as a friend, and we congratulate Ms. Chavez-Thompson for all of her achievements and this well deserved recognition.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of mine. Mr. John M. Milam has just retired after 34 years with San Antonio's transit system, VIA, the last 16 leading the company as general manager, president, and CEO, and I wish to thank him for his dedication and for his service to our community.

Over the course of his tenure with VIA, Mr. Milam continually embraced change, and the system grew and improved in countless ways. He was among the first to install GPS tracking on VIA buses, ensuring that he knew where every bus and paratransit vehicle was at any moment, resulting in the best planned routes designed with the latest information. VIA acquired newer, more energy efficient vehicles, improving their finances as well as the environment. Mr. Milam's insistence on making VIA one of the most cost-efficient transit systems in the country saved the system in the mid-1990s and allowed him to expand and improve services, making our public transportation system truly outstanding.

It is all too easy to take a well-run transit system for granted. San Antonians simply expect VIA to be there when we need it, to run smoothly, and to provide a restful ride. John Milam ran VIA so well he made it look easy. But for hundreds of thousands of people, on millions of trips, over dozens of years, the efforts of John M. Milam made living in San Antonio that much better. The programs he began will continue to improve the area for years to come. He leaves behind a great legacy and we can all say, ``John, thanks for a great ride.''

Madam Speaker, due to important business in my district, I was unable to be in Washington, DC, on September 22 and the morning of September 23.

Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

Monday, September 23, 2008--

Yes, H.R. 6685--To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide an annual grant to facilitate an iron working training program for Native Americans (Rep. Lynch--Natural Resources).

Yes, H.R. 1907--Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Act (Rep. Saxton--Natural Resources).

Yes, H.R. 6853--Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force Act of 2008 (Rep. Meek--Judiciary).

Tuesday, September 23, 2008--

Yes, Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 5244--The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008 (H. Res. 1476).

Yes, H. Res. 1476--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 5244--The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008.

Yes, S.J. Res. 45--Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (Sen. Levin--Judiciary) Suspension bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of mine, Mr. Raymond Rivera, Jr., who was recently awarded the ``Regional Hero'' award by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Mr. Rivera, a member of the NALC's San Antonio Branch 421, was honored this past week by the NALC for rescuing two little girls who were being attacked by a pair of pit bulls in San Antonio. Heroically, he grabbed one of the pit bulls by the face as it was biting a child. With the help of another Good Samaritan, the two saved the children and restrained the animals for 45 minutes until authorities arrived. One child received more than 100 stitches after the accident, but without Mr. Rivera, the incident could have very well been catastrophic.

San Antonio is grateful for everyday heroes such as Mr. Rivera who are setting great examples for the rest of our community. I'm pleased to recognize his actions and bravery of that day, and I'm honored to call him a constituent.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Lawrence A. Berger, a man who valiantly served our country in World War II and a patriot who is well deserving of the recognition he will be receiving when he is awarded his upcoming Purple Heart.

Corporal Berger was born on July 13th, 1922 in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1940 and a year later, Mr. Berger joined the Army Air Corp, 440th Ordnance Aviation Bombardment, attached to the 19th bomb group, stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On October 1941, he was sent to the Philippines, arriving just two weeks before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Later, after the service organizations were forced to surrender, he spent a total of 3 years and 3 months as a prisoner of war. Two years were spent in a camp on the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines, and later he was transported to Japan where he spent another year before his release in August 1945.

Mr. Berger's service tells an honorable story of sacrifice and bravery. He epitomizes the word hero and is undoubtedly worthy of the recognition he is receiving with the Purple Heart award. Mr. Berger, his wife Virginia, and their three children Ron, Vernon, and Paulette, should all be very proud of all that his military career symbolizes and the principles for which he fought--for liberty, democracy, and equality. I am honored to call him a constituent and on behalf of my colleagues here in Congress I thank him and his family for their service, sacrifice, and valor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Duke Butler, Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, as he enters the beginning stage of his retirement. Mr. Butler's lifelong commitment to public service, demonstrated by his 32-year career in Federal law enforcement, is worthy of much praise and recognition.

Mr. Butler began his career in May of 1976 when he became Deputy U.S. Marshal in Minnesota. Over time, he held various Federal law enforcement roles and in 1995 became the Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. He served here until his retirement in July of 2008.

Throughout his career, his commitment to his community stretched beyond Federal law enforcement, as he was an active member of various volunteer associations, including local chapters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates for 25 years.

Mr. Butler's admirable lifelong commitment to public service and Federal law enforcement has set a great example for each and every community in which he has resided. I am proud to call him a constituent, and on behalf of my colleagues here in Congress, thank Mr. Butler and his family, including his wife Shannon and their children Juliette and Cecilia, for his lifelong service, community involvement, and commitment to justice and law enforcement.

I thank my colleague for yielding and giving me this time and commend her for her efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5803.

I think we saw the greatest participation ever seen in our primaries. I know that in Texas we had over 4 million voters in the March 4 primary.

On November 4 it's predicted that we will have record turnouts. And the people who will be coming on November 4 will be voting not only for President but in dozens of races for Senator, Representative and State positions. We should rejoice in the civic involvement, and we should ensure that things run as smoothly as possible. With H.R. 5803 the Federal Government would fulfill our role by supporting the States, the counties and the municipalities who run our elections, the hardworking men and women who volunteer to ensure that democracy not only survives but can continue to flourish in this country.

We created the Election Assistance Commission in 2002 for this very purpose. By providing grants to the election officials who require this assistance, H.R. 5803 will ensure that no citizen is turned away because his voting machine has broken down. By supporting these backup paper ballots, we are supporting the right of every citizen to vote and to have his or her vote counted. We can help to ensure that no citizen is asked to choose between voting and getting to work on time. With H.R. 5803, we can say we accomplished that goal, that no citizen should be forced to choose between voting or feeding their children.

It is right and proper, too, that H.R. 5803 empowers the State and local officials rather than impeding them. No State is required to participate, but every State can do so if they so choose. We cannot predict every problem that may arise, but we can be sure that problems there will be. By putting money into the hands of the officials on the scene, we give the State and local governments the ability to react to problems as they arise. We empower them to provide the dependable low- tech paper ballots that are needed, that we know will work and that everyone can trust. That is why H.R. 5803 has the support of State officials and voting rights groups alike throughout this country. And it is why I support it and why I hope that we will have the support of every Member of this House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank the city of Leon Valley as they prepare to host their annual Fourth of July parade and celebration. This marks the 14 consecutive year in which Leon Valley has celebrated our Nation's independence.

This historical significance of our independence is felt beyond our domestic borders as this holiday truly epitomizes the meaning of the word democracy. Centuries ago on this day, our Founding Fathers stood up for their cherished values and used them as a blueprint for the basis of our country's government. They believed in a citizen's right to freedom and equality, and they abandoned tyranny and oppression along the way to forming a bold new government.

What started as a courageous experiment in democracy developed into a flourishing government that to this day symbolizes liberty and justice. Without their vision, our democracy would not be what it now is over 200 years later. Along the way, our country has continuously represented the principles on which it was founded to the rest of the world. It is a tremendous responsibility that we carry not only as a government but also as citizens, and it is one that we should all be honored to fulfill.

It is with great privilege that I commend the city of Leon Valley for recognizing these important principles of our democracy with their annual Independence Day celebration. The Leon Valley community should be proud of their efforts, both in the past and in the future, to honor our Nation's independence and the values this holiday represents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 350.

Next week the International Whaling Commission will host its annual meeting in Santiago, Chile, and representatives from 80 nations will come together to discuss the future of international whale conservation efforts. This presents a rare opportunity for our country to exercise real leadership in the fight to strengthen whale protection measures, preserving these rare creatures for future generations.

The meeting comes at a historic time in the debate over commercial whaling. International outrage is at an all time high while support for ending scientific whaling permits is also at its peak. In certain countries such as Japan, whaling is no longer even profitable and must be subsidized by the government.

For these reasons and many more, the IWC should seize this opportunity to close the loophole in the 1985 ban on commercial whaling that has allowed far too many countries to continue their commercial whaling programs which have been disguised as ``scientific'' whaling efforts. It's time for the world to abolish whaling practices altogether, and I'm hopeful that the IWC does not squander this opportunity to put an end to this brutal practice.

Phasing out all forms of commercial whaling is the only way to deal with this crisis. Those who suggest that fewer whales may be killed if a compromise is reached with pro-whaling nations to allow costal or community-based whaling could not be more ill-advised; this type of compromise would squander this historic opportunity we have to finally put an end to this brutal practice.

The fact remains that whaling is simply not sustainable in our world. Though some would have us believe that whale populations have recovered sufficiently to renew hunting, recent studies have shown increases in global populations over the last 20 years are only marginal. These small increases in no way signal that the populations have fully recovered, for in reality, past population estimates indicate that some species were once 6 to 20 times more populous than they are today. For example, scientists believe there were once 240,000 humpback whales in the North Atlantic; today only 10,000 remain.

Even if whales have recovered to their pre-industrial numbers, sustainable whaling would still be nearly impossible. Most people do not know that whale populations are local, and groups rarely mingle or interbreed. For instance, scientists believe that a distinct population of Minke whales off the coast of Japan is already on the verge of collapse. Allowing unfettered ``community'' whaling or any form of commercial shore-based whaling would quickly lead to the Minke's extinction in the Sea of Japan.

The United States must firmly oppose any form of commercial whaling; to allow even limited commercial whaling puts the entire species at risk. Multiple whales would be fraudulently sold under the same permit because short of genetic testing, there is no way to distinguish the meat of two different whales. This is already a problem in Korea and Japan, where it is common to market poached whales under the guise of an accidental kill, which is eligible for sale.

Some have also falsely claimed that this bill will harm the ability of Native Alaskans to continue subsistence whaling, when in reality no one is disputing the right of Alaskan natives to continue their way of life. In fact, the bill protects Native Alaskans' way of life by defending their food source from overexploitation and extirpation. Additionally, if coastal whaling is allowed, Natives would be forced to compete for permits with commercial operations, and the resulting difficulties would do more to endanger their culture and way of life than this bill ever could.

Ending whaling does not merely promote humane treatment of animals, nor is it solely about conserving natural resources. It is also an issue of global health. With high concentrations of mercury and other toxins in their blubber, whales make an unhealthy meal with vast public health risks. Mercury has been found in concentrations that are hundreds of times higher than the acceptable levels. Japan has already ceased including whale meat in school lunches and warns pregnant women about the hazards of eating whale.

Congress's positions must reflect the views and values of our country. We do not see whales as a source of food or a resource to be managed; we view them with respect and awe rather than with hunger. Their strength, intelligence, and beauty are far more valuable than their blubber. In an age where warming seas and pollution already threaten their existence, we should not contribute to their decline by hunting them with exploding harpoons.

The world looks to the United States for leadership and we must rise to this occasion and meet our responsibilities. By opposing any new forms of whaling and working to end so called ``scientific whaling,'' we can protect an integral part of the ocean's ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to live up to this responsibility by supporting H. Con. Res. 350.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Fire Chief Charles N. Hood and the brave men and women of the San Antonio Fire Department. On Tuesday, May 7th, a four-alarm fire swept through the historic Main Building at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.

Our Lady of the Lake University was founded in 1895 and was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation. A beacon of hope and opportunity, Our Lady of the Lake has provided countless minority and underprivileged students the means to a higher education.

In their valiant efforts to fight this destructive fire, San Antonio Fire Department firefighters went from room to room in the 100 year-old main building, ensuring that students, faculty and staff were safely evacuated. Because of their courageous efforts, not one life was lost and amazingly there were no serious injuries reported. While the fire was ripping through the third and fourth floors, firefighters worked quickly to save the University's mainframe computer and important records so that these items were not damaged by the thousands of gallons of water being used to fight the fire.

More than 100 firefighters fought late into the night and were on hand to make sure that the Our Lady of the Lake University community was safe. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the efforts of the San Antonio Fire Department and offering support for the entire Our Lady of the Lake University community as they recover from this devastating fire.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Paul L. Sherouse this morning as he opened the United States House of Representatives with a prayer as our guest chaplain. Lieutenant Colonel Sherouse is a decorated member of the United States Air Force and has been honored with the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

He is the Wing Chaplain at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and is endorsed by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Previously, Lieutenant Colonel Sherouse was on assignment in Baghdad, Iraq, in July 2003. As he prepares for his latest deployment to Kuwait on May 3, 2008, we wish him the best and are honored to have him here with us this morning. On behalf of my constituents in San Antonio and the U.S. House of Representatives, we thank him and his family, including his wife, Pamela, and their children, Arynne and Oliver, for his honorable service to our country.

Madam Speaker, as a San Antonio native, I'm personally familiar with the role our city's culture and diversity plays in the lives of our citizens, We proudly celebrate our heritage throughout the year and recognize the importance of our culture through various events and activities, The annual San Antonio College Folk Dance Festival is no exception,

This year's festival will celebrate its 50th year of providing entertainment and education to patrons. The festival provides a multitude of different enriching activities, ranging from craft shows to culture sessions and, of course, dance lessons with live music, The festival is not solely for adults either, as it caters to people of all ages with many exhibits specifically tailored for children.

Most importantly, the San Antonio College Folk Dance Festival benefits the San Antonio College's student scholarship fund. The festival's proceeds contribute to this fund which extends higher education opportunities to many students across our community, San Antonio College's generosity with this scholarship program, and for hosting the San Antonio College Folk Dance Festival, provides a great public service for our community through the students they help and the citizens they entertain.

I am honored and privileged to represent this great community and this institution that serves the people of San Antonio, and it is with great pleasure that I recognize their success during the last 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary person and a dynamic force within the Center for Health Care Services community. Commissioner Paul Elizondo served with distinction on the Center for Health Care Services Board of Directors for 8 years. From 1988 until 1995 he served first as Board Secretary and then he served two terms as the chairman of the board.

CHCS would not have been the same without the efforts of Paul Elizondo. As chairman, he worked tirelessly, both internally and externally, to improve the center's services to its clients. He encouraged, funded, and pushed innovative programs in child and adolescent mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and mental retardation services.

During his tenure, the center rose to national prominence and he was appointed to the Executive Board of the National Council of Community Health Centers. I'm pleased to recognize his continuous dedication and willingness to foster the growth of CHCS throughout the community so patients might obtain more efficient access to treatment.

It is my honor to pay tribute to such a leader. He is an innovative thinker who continuously took it upon himself to confront various community issues with sound solutions.

Commissioner Paul Elizondo continues to keep track of the center's activities and services. At the national, State, and local level he is an omnipresent ``watchdog'' and advocate for the clients they serve. Above all, he wholeheartedly believes in the center, its people, its mission, and their ability to help the people they serve.

His hard work was much appreciated and along with others that know him, I would like the rest of America to recognize his many contributions. Our community is fortunate to have had such a devoted leader.