Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Granville Coggs, member of the United States Army Air Corps, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, on the occasion that the leadership of the United States Congress and the President of the United States presents to him the Congressional Gold Medal.

The prestige and honor exemplified by this medal could not be more appropriate for a man of Dr. Coggs's stature. As a nation, we will forever be grateful for his service to our country from 1943 to 1946 as a member of the segregated Black United States Army Air Corps. It was here that Dr. Coggs was a member of the historic World War II fighter group known as the Tuskegee Airmen and earned military badges for aerial gunner, aerial bombardier and multi-engine pilot.

Upon completion of his service, Dr. Coggs received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska in June of 1949. In June of 1953, he received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School, and has since had a celebrated career in medicine of the highest merit.

Dr. Coggs's accomplishments are worthy of the honor represented by the Congressional Gold Medal and of equal importance, they are worthy of the praise and recognition of the American people. The role he has played in our country's history during one of its most difficult and trying times will never be forgotten. His desire to serve the country that he loves so dearly, and to do so at a time when many in our country doubted the skill, intelligence, and patriotism of our African- American citizens, personifies the words bravery, valor, and courage.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Granville Coggs and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen today as they receive the highly celebrated Congressional Gold Medal. We will forever be grateful to the role they have played in shaping our nation's history and for playing an integral role in the fight for social justice and racial equality in our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the United Communities of San Antonio, Inc., and the USCA Humanitarian Awards and Lifetime Humanitarian Award recipients, on the occasion of the celebration of their 53rd Brotherhood/Sisterhood Awards Dinner on March 8, 2007.

The mission of the United Communities of San Antonio, Inc. (USCA) is to create safe and inclusive communities, particularly among our young people, by promoting understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through dialogue, education and awareness. This year's USCA Humanitarian Award recipients and Lifetime Humanitarian Award recipient embody the goals of USCA with their numerous civic and professional contributions to the San Antonio community. They are all well known and respected members of their community known for their personal and professional integrity. They are committed to such democratic values as equality of opportunity, tolerance and human rights, values which form the basis for any diverse community. It is for these achievements that I rise today to honor these outstanding members of the San Antonio community.

USCA Humanitarian Award recipient Charlie Amato is the chairman and co-founder of Southwest Business Corporation (SWBC), a recognized leader in the financial services industry. Mr. Amato's civic involvement recognizes the importance of giving back to the community where he has prospered, and he is an active participant in various charities and corporate leadership activities. His community service achievements include serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Christus Santa Rosa Health Care Corp., Board Member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and Executive Committee Member of the United Way. Mr. Amato has also been recognized by the Arthritis Foundation as a ``Humanitarian of the Year'' (2002) and the San Antonio Business Journal as ``One of the Most Influential San Antonians'' (2004). He has also been inducted in the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame (2005) and most recently the College of Business Hall of Honor-- Sam Houston State University (2006).

USCA Humanitarian Award recipient J. Russell Davis is a founding member and chief executive officer of Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc., a law firm with a diversified practice. Mr. Davis has distinguished himself through his deep commitment and involvement in the San Antonio community. He has served on the board of directors of such organizations as the Community Guidance Center, the Barshop Jewish Community Center, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Corporation. His unwavering dedication as a community leader is reflected in his work as the first president of the campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community and as director and later chairman of the Holocaust Memorial of San Antonio. Mr. Davis has also served as director and later president of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio.

USCA Humanitarian Award recipient Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce is president of Premier Artworks, Inc., a company which promotes African- American artists throughout the country in public exhibits, museums, corporations, government buildings, businesses and homes. Mrs. Pierce has distinguished herself through her extraordinary work as an advocate for multi-cultural education and artistic development. In 1985, she became the first African-American woman appointed to the Texas Commission on the Arts. She was also a founding chair of the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. Mrs. Pierce's leadership achievements include serving on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for United Way of San Antonio, the University of Texas San Antonio--Development Board and the Texas Cultural Trust Council. Mrs. Pierce has also been inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame (1984) and the Texas Women's Hall of Fame (1993).

USCA Lifetime Humanitarian Award recipient Jimmy Toubin is president of Toubin Insurance Company, but his real work is as a distinguished civil leader and a passionate advocate for San Antonio's hungry. Mr. Toubin's notable civic involvement has earned him much deserved recognition. He has been named ``Outstanding Young Man of the Year'' by El Campo, TX Jaycees and was nominated for the Governor's Award for outstanding achievement in the volunteer community in 2001. His community service portfolio includes serving on the board of trustees for Temple Beth-El for 6 years, on the board of the Jewish Federation for 8 years and currently as Vice-President and membership Chairman of Temple Chai Congregation. He also served for 10 years on the United Way of San Antonio review and allocation panel. In recognition of his past service as both a board member and chairman for 2 years, the Board of the Alamo Area Council of Governments Bexar County Agency on Aging elected Mr. Toubin as Emeritus member of the board.

Mr. Toubin's true achievement has been as a tireless advocate against hunger. He is a longtime member and past-president of the San Antonio Food Bank's board of directors. In 2001, it was through his tenacious work to rally Congress and the Department of Agriculture to make available peanut crops to make peanut butter for nonprofit organizations who work with low-income populations. Mr. Toubin also worked as the chairman of the fundraising committee for the San Antonio Food Bank's capital campaign which went on to raise $8.5 million over the course of 2 years for a new warehouse facility. His determination to help the San Antonio Food Bank meet its goals is evident in his work to identify members of the community who could help aid in this effort. Jimmy also helped organize the San Antonio Food Bank's Second Serving Program which makes use of excess prepared foods from hotels, restaurants, and caterers and directly delivers it to agencies that serve hot meals. He has embraced his role of helping San Antonio's hungry so profoundly that Jimmy, like other board members, would sometimes take a hands-on role; he could be found out on a truck with a driver or gleaning in a south Texas field. Jimmy is a person who believes in change and knows what it takes to actually make those changes happen through advocacy and legislative work, and the power of long-term policy efforts.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the United Communities of San Antonio, Inc., as it celebrates and honors the outstanding contributions to the San Antonio community of all of its 2007 Humanitarian Award recipients. Their dedication to the community is remarkable and I wish them all continued success in all their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to establish a ground rule for all my colleagues, and that is, regardless of how you vote on this resolution, no one will question your patriotism. If we can just start with that benchmark, I think we will have a higher degree of debate and in good faith.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is about duty and responsibility, the duty and responsibility that Congress owes to our men and women in uniform. Our first duty is to make wise and educated choices in identifying a threat, the necessity of action and the legitimacy of the goal before committing or continuing to commit more of our troops to the war.

When considering this resolution, which reflects that an escalation of the war is unwarranted and is not in the best interests of our Nation and our troops, each of us must ask one fundamental question: Is escalating and continuing the war in Iraq worth fighting and dying for? Because that, in the final analysis, is what we decide. We seek an answer to this question, but we must be ever mindful that the courage and bravery of our troops is never questioned. Our soldiers' valor and commitment are not diminished by the errors in judgment made by their civilian leaders. The question is whether the mission in Iraq is worth their sacrifice. As we move forward with this decision, we must recognize the lessons of history, or we are doomed to repeat its grave mistakes.

For example, ``The public has been led into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honor. They have been tricked into it by a steady withholding of information. The Baghdad communiques are belated, insincere, and incomplete. Things have been far worse than we have been told, our administration more bloody and inefficient than any that public knows. We are, today, not far from a disaster.''

Now, the parallels are uncanny, and you are wondering who may have said that. The quote was 86 years ago, and it was a communication from T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, in August of 1920, from Baghdad.

Continuing. ``The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. In addition, there is significant underreporting of violence in Iraq. The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases.'' More Lawrence of Arabia? More 1920? No. 2006, the Iraq Study Group report.

Let me continue. 1992, General Colin Powell. ``The Gulf War was a limited objective war. If it had not been, we would be ruling Baghdad today, at unpardonable expense in terms of money, lives lost, and regional relationships.''

Now, a year earlier there was an observation, ``Once you got Baghdad, it's not clear what you do with it. It's not clear what kind of government you would put in place of the one that is there now, Saddam Hussein. Is it going to be a Shia regime, a Sunni regime, or a Kurdish regime? Or one that tilts towards the Baathists, or one that tilts towards the Islamic fundamentalists? How much credibility is that government going to have if it is set up by the United States military when it is there? How long does the United States military have to stay to protect the people that sign on for that government? And what happens to it once you leave?'' That was 1991, spoken by then-Secretary of Defense and current Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney.

We remain a good and great Nation, but we have done all the good in Iraq that we are going to do. An escalation only delays the day that the Iraqis assume the responsibility of setting aside their sectarian differences and embrace the promise of democracy that we have delivered to them. We cannot do this for them, whether we send in 20,000 or 200,000 more troops. And we cannot ignore the lessons of history, the views of military experts and the will of the American people.

It is time for our troops to start coming home. And it is time for the Iraqis to start building a home. Vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be removed

as cosponsor of H.R. 6. My name was listed inadvertently as a cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the noteworthy career of Jose R. Coronado, the Director of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System STVHCS. Mr. Coronado has retired from this position, ending a long and illustrious 40-year career as a public servant. He is an incredibly accomplished man who has served this Nation with honor and distinction.

Too often, those who have chosen a career in public service are overlooked as their efforts are hidden behind the scenes. However, Mr. Coronado's impact on veterans healthcare cannot be ignored. As director of the STVHCS, Mr. Coronado has led one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the Veterans Health Administration, VHA. He was responsible for a healthcare delivery system which has an annual budget of nearly $430 million, is comprised of more than 2,800 employees, and consists of three divisions: the Audie L. Murphy Division, the Kerrville Division, and the Satellite Clinic Division.

Due to its affiliation with the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, the STVHCS has an active ambulatory care program with outpatient clinics in cities throughout South Texas. The system also serves as a parent facility for Veterans Outreach Centers in the region. Needless to say, Mr. Coronado was ultimately responsible for the care of veterans throughout South Texas.

Mr. Coronado's passion for serving the public, and his interest in health care, have been demonstrated throughout his career. He began

his undergraduate education in premedical studies. This education, however, was interrupted by his military service in the Army which lasted from 1953-1955. During this time period, he served as an operations sergeant in the U.S. Army, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Upon the completion of this service, Mr. Coronado finished his undergraduate education and became an assistant principal and science teacher at Hebbronville High School.

In 1962, Mr. Coronado began his illustrious career with the Veterans Administration as an administrative officer with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston, TX. He worked his way up the ranks as a devoted civil servant until 1975, when he became the director of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio. He served in that capacity for 20 years, until he was named director of the STVHCS in 1995.

Mr. Coronado's unyielding devotion to his career can only be matched by his commitment to the community. Throughout the span of his career, he has participated in a number of organizations in a wide range of capacities. Currently, he is a member of the Medical Research Public Awareness Committee, he is chair of the Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program, GHATP, Board, he is on the Board of Contributors for the San Antonio United Way, and he is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives, ACHE. Furthermore, he is an adjunct professor at both the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He is also affiliate faculty within Trinity University's Department of Health Care Administration.

Mr. Coronado's efforts have made a positive impact on the organizations he serves as well as the individual lives that he has touched. This impact has been recognized by awards presented to him by three separate Presidents. Most recently, Mr. Coronado was bestowed Modern Healthcare Magazine ``Top 25 Minority Health Care Executive'' award and the Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs ``Exemplary Service Award.''

I believe that Mr. Coronado has consistently demonstrated incomparable leadership abilities and a selflessness reserved for the truly great public servants. He has given so much in service to our military and to the countless veterans who have benefited from his direction. In fact, generations of military personnel have been positively impacted by the efforts he has made throughout his career.

On behalf of the brave men and women of the military, the staff of the facilities over which Mr. Coronado led, and the citizens of South Texas, I want to say thank you. Thank you Mr. Coronado for the sacrifices you have made to better the lives of others. Thank you for your commitment in service to this great Nation. And thank you for showing us what can be achieved through hard work, vision, and a strong sense of purpose. While Mr. Coronado's retirement is certainly well- deserved, his presence will no doubt be missed in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me 1 minute.

The only thing phony about documentation, it is not the documentation, it is the phony argument that is being advanced today.

And I am going to ask the authors, the sponsors, and those individuals that espouse and support this bill to please stand at this time if you were asked at any time in seeking your office that you hold today for documentation such as a passport or a birth certificate to seek this office.

The answer is no. All you did was what we all do. We attest that we are citizens of this great Nation. And guess what? You get your name on the ballot. But when it comes to the voters, we are going to say that is not enough. Give us a passport. Give us a birth certificate. Prove it to us. We may hold the office. You can vote for us. But lo and behold, you cannot vote.

Think of the pure idiocy of the law that is being proposed today. And the reason that it fails on logic, it was never meant to be logical. It was meant to be political. And that is what we have here today.

And I am asking you to give up this charade. Give up November 7, 2006, politics and do the right thing and vote this down.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend Mr. Hinojosa, my colleague from Texas, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank my colleagues on the Education and Workforce Committee, especially Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member George Miller, who was here earlier, for bringing this bill to the floor. I also thank my friend Congressman Walter Jones for supporting this legislation from the very beginning and serving as its Republican lead. His efforts, in addition to those of his staff, have been very important throughout this process. I would also like to recognize, as Congressman Jones acknowledged, the Senior Citizens League and the important role they have played in promoting and supporting this resolution. Their chairman, Ralph McCutchen, wanted, above all, to see a bill that honors and pays tribute to the many sacrifices made by America's seniors, including those who have served in the military. I certainly appreciate the support demonstrated by this very important organization.

This resolution recognizes the importance of honoring senior citizens. This can be done in countless numbers of ways, from simple gestures of kindness towards a stranger to the actions made by this Congress that will impact seniors as a whole.

We are the policymakers. We should not make policy that makes it more difficult for seniors to vote. We should not have policy that makes it more difficult for seniors to obtain medical care. We should not enact policy that makes it more difficult for seniors to obtain prescription drugs or to afford housing.

This resolution encourages children and students to take time to learn from senior citizens. It is imperative that we as a society facilitate the sharing of information among the different generations.

I don't want anyone to get the idea that this resolution is about seniors and what they have accomplished in the past. In part it is, but they are not relegated to the past. And let me quickly explain.

Today's seniors are active in our present-day workforce, contributing every day their ideas and their labor. They are part and parcel of this wonderful economy and capitalist system of our country. With their skill, their training, and their education in how they prepare those other generations, they are part of our future.

I would like to end it with an observation. I was trying to figure out what constitutes a senior. Is it someone 60, 70, 80, 90? Well, age is important and it isn't important. It is important in this respect, and I am going to quote Sir Oliver Lodge: ``Never throw away hastily any old faith, tradition or convention . . . They are the result of the experience of many generations.''

So age is important as far as experience and having the life experiences. I still remember my father, when I used to ask, that was a brilliant man, Dad, where did he go to school? And he said, it was the school of hard knocks. So many times it is just life experiences that will instill that wonderful knowledge that is imparted to succeeding generations.

But age does not constitute and define seniors. And I will end it here with a quote from Satchel Paige: ``Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.''

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and remember the late Judge Albert A. Pena Jr., who passed away July 4 of this year. He was a public servant who dedicated his professional and personal life to empowering the Mexican-American community and

other minorities in the spheres of education, politics and the labor force.

Albert A. Pena Jr. was born on December 15, 1917, in the city of San Antonio. He attended Tech High School and St. Mary's University prior to serving a commission in the United States Navy. Afterwards, he returned to Texas and obtained a law degree in 1950 from South Texas School of Law in Houston. Shortly thereafter, he joined his family's law firm of Pena, Pena & Pena .

Judge Pena became politically engaged on multiple fronts. In the early stages of his life, his primary concern was advocating for school integration. He fought arduously for this cause by providing pro bono services in numerous suits brought against school districts across South Texas. His efforts resulted in the integration of schools in Lytle, Hondo and Natalia, Texas.

From 1956 to 1972, Judge Pena served as Bexar County Commissioner and, in addition to promoting equity in the field of education, worked tirelessly to protect and defend minority rights. It was during his final tenure as Commissioner when Pena lost a re-election bid in 1972 because he defended the right of Angela Davis, a black Communist Party member and assistant professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, to a fair trial--this at a time when Americans did not approve of those political beliefs. It was a true display of his dedication to safeguarding the liberties of not only Mexican Americans but that of all political and racial minorities.

Judge Pena returned to the world of public service with his appointment as municipal court judge in 1977. As judge, he endorsed a doctrine of equity with the end goal of social justice in mind, a philosophy that guided his actions until he stepped down as presiding municipal court judge in 1992. In addition to his responsibilities as a public official, Judge Pena devoted much of his personal time to the community. He helped found the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Mexican American Unity Council, organized the United Automobile Workers of San Antonio, and presided as the State Chairman of the Political Association for Spanish Speaking Organizations.

On behalf of those influenced by Judge Pena's far reaching efforts, I stand today to applaud this great public servant. Judge Pena's labors are testimony to his life long dedication to the Mexican American Community, the City of San Antonio and its citizens. It is unfortunate he is no longer with us and I mourn his passing. Nonetheless, through commemorating his life's work we can ensure his legacy. Therefore, I urge you all to join me in honoring this great leader.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation mourns the passing of WWII veteran and legal giant, retired U.S. District Judge James deAnda, who died on Thursday, September 7, 2006 at the age of 81. His life-long dedication to the protection of Americans has made him an icon in the legal profession and a pioneer of the American civil rights movement.

Born in Houston, Texas to parents who immigrated from Mexico, Judge deAnda was one of the first Mexican American attorneys to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. In arguing Hernandez v. Texas, a companion case to Brown v. Board of Education, before the Court in 1954, Judge deAnda earned a major victory for all Americans when the Court voted to overturn an all-white jury's conviction of a Mexican-American defendant. The Supreme Court held that prejudice and discrimination against Mexican Americans in Texas was so pervasive that the conviction had not been determined by a jury of his peers.

In 1968, deAnda again went before the Supreme Court in the case of Cisneros v. Corpus Christi lSD. This case led to the desegregation and increased funding of schools in that city. That same year, he co- founded the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, MALDEF, which continues to serve as a legal advocate for the Hispanic community and as a promoter of Hispanic empowerment.

In 1979, after decades of practicing law, Judge deAnda received an appointment from former President Jimmy Carter to serve as a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas; he was subsequently confirmed and became the nation's second Mexican-American federal district judge.

Remarking upon the passing of a MALDEF co-founder, current MALDEF interim President and General Counsel John Trasvina noted, ``Judge deAnda was a treasure of immense

proportion to Texas, Mexican-Americans everywhere, and to the United States. In dangerous and difficult times, he and other Mexican American lawyers worked tirelessly to defend our communities' interests. We are all in his debt.''

Judge deAnda is indeed an inspiration to the Hispanic and non- Hispanic community, and a positive example to the many who will continue to stand on his shoulders for generations to come.

Madam Chairman, I thank my colleague from Illinois for allowing me the 3 minutes on this particular issue.

I think much has been said, but I think if we look at it as legislators, our profession, our duties and our service to our constituents, what is it that we do? We pass laws that reflect the standards, the norms and the mores of American society.

It is already acknowledged, and I think even the opponents of this piece of legislation that I support here today would acknowledge we have already established a norm and a standard, and that is in this country we will not destroy a horse for human consumption. That is a done deal, that is recognized, and it is based on the historical significance of the horse in our society, which is very unique.

Now, this is the question that I pose: How can you prohibit the human consumption of a product, that is the law, that is the norm, that is the standard, that is the American value, without prohibiting the production of the product? And that is what this piece of legislation accomplishes. It is not a difficult legislative equation.

And there will be consequences, but consequences that can be dealt with responsibly by the horse owner. And I truly believe that. I am from the State of Texas, and we have a few horses in Texas. My brother owns horses. Now, does he agree with me on this particular piece of legislation, because it may prove to be inconvenient and pose some economic cost to him? I am not really sure. But this is in keeping with what we have already established, and that is how we treat horses in our society.

Now, we have individuals that will say this is about property rights. Members of Congress, please. We pass laws every day that regulate the manner that we conduct ourselves with pieces of property, personal and real. We have zoning laws. We have ordinances. And this is just another aspect of that, in keeping, though, with what has already been established as societal norms, and that is what we do here today.

People will simply say, but it is not about consumption of horse meat in the United States, that we are just simply going to cater to the culinary needs of the French. That is not the point. The point is that you still have everything that entails the entire process of how you prepare, how you slaughter the horse for human consumption. Whether it is domestic or internationally, it is not in keeping with the established norms and values as reflected in our laws, State and Federal, when it comes to the treatment of horses.

The bottom line is we have to sometimes tweak existing laws to make sure that they reflect those mores and that value, and that is what we are doing here today.

We cannot condone the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 407--``aye''; and 408-- ``aye.''

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in an effort to bring attention to the insufficient policies that this nation has levied toward our veterans. The great sacrifices made by our military personnel should be acknowledged, at the very least, through a secure retirement. Yet time and again, the rhetoric presented by Members of Congress does not match the policies that are created.

It is imperative that we address the needs of veterans through real proposals that will be flexible and hold up against the course of time, as opposed to short-term fixes. I believe that we can provide military retirees with the degree of support that is reasonable in light of the sacrifices that they have made in service to this nation.

This belief is reflected in a measure adopted by the Texas State Senate on May 15, 2006. Texas Senate Resolution No. 9 (S.R. 9), which was authored by Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, urges Congress to address problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs and to enact legislation that assures predictable and adequate funding of the Veterans Health Administration.

I would like to submit the text of S.R. 9 to the Congressional Record so that we in the Federal Government might be reminded of our duty to provide appropriate services to the men and women of our military who have served our nation so proudly. I am hopeful that we can make the needs of veterans a greater priority and that we will thusly adopt policies that recognize the profound commitment and steadfast courage our military personnel demonstrate every day.

Texas Senate Resolution No. 9

Whereas, military veterans who have served their country

honorably and who were promised and have earned health care

and benefits from the Federal Government through the

Department of Veterans Affairs are now in need of these

benefits; and

Whereas, the funding of the health care programs of the

Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans

Affairs has failed to reflect the admission of newly eligible

veterans in the wake of the Veterans' Health Care

Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 and has fallen short of the

amount needed to counter soaring medical care inflation,

resulting in a funding shortfall of at least $10 billion;

and

Whereas, the current discretionary method of funding the

health care programs of the Veterans Health Administration is

uncertain and is subject annually to the whims and competing

priorities of Congress, to the detriment of the veterans

being served; and

Whereas, the Vietnam Veterans of America organization

supports the adoption of a new funding mechanism for the

health care programs of the Veterans Health Administration

that is indexed to medical inflation and the per capita use

of the administration's health care system; and

Whereas, the substantial delay in adjudicating veterans'

claims for service-connected disability compensation is the

cause of much anguish and anger among veterans and is the

result of a lack of funding of the Veterans Benefits

Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which

has led to an insufficient number of adjudicators and the

inadequate training and supervision of adjudicators; and

Whereas, while the vast majority of Department of Veterans

Affairs employees are dedicated to serving veterans, it is

necessary to ensure that employee accountability standards be

strengthened at senior and junior levels; and

Whereas, while more than five million veterans use the

Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans

Affairs for their health care needs, tens of thousands more

are eligible for benefits of which they are unaware due to

inadequate outreach efforts by the department; now,

therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 79th

Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby respectfully urge the

Congress of the United States to address problems in the

Department of Veterans Affairs related to the provision of

health care and benefits, the adjudication of claims,

accountability, and outreach and to enact legislation that

creates an appropriation formula that ensures predictable and

adequate funding of the health care programs of the Veterans

Health Administration; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate forward official

copies of this Resolution to the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs, the President of the United States, the President of

the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the

United States Congress, and all members of the Texas

delegation to the Congress with the request that this

Resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record

as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of

America.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the King amendment which I refer to as ``let's return to the good old days.'' The good old days of literacy tests, because that is what

they are talking about. Make no mistake about what we are talking about here today.

In 1975, a bunch of brilliant people finally came up with an answer, and they said we have found a way to become inclusive, to increase voter participation, to make citizens more responsible, to engage them in our society and assimilate into society with a little bit of assistance at the polling place. That is what language assistance is all about. It is about inclusion, not exclusion.

Everything you have heard from the other side and the proponents of this particular amendment is about exclusion, about reducing voter participation. That is what is at stake here today.

I will ask anybody here in this body today that is considering voting for this particular amendment: Do you have campaign material in your career or on your Web site or your newsletters in another language? Let's not be hypocrites. Let's be honest and do the right thing today.

Mr. Speaker, in 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was first passed, Martin Luther King said, ``This represents a shining moment in the conscience of man.''

What a wonderful opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to come together and reignite that shining light in the conscience of man.

The Voting Rights Act does two things: It does not allow jurisdictions to discriminate against any United States citizen that wants to exercise the most sacred of all rights, and that is the right to vote. That gives you some control over your own destiny. But it does something else. It encourages and accommodates all other United States citizens that may have some sort of obstacle to overcome in order to exercise the most precious of all rights. That is what the Voting Rights Act accomplishes.

And I am hoping that tomorrow we will have this wonderful opportunity to follow in the footsteps of those true giants in 1965 that came together on both sides of the aisle to pass the original Voting Rights Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Edgewood ISD's efforts to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.

It has become apparent that in this increasingly globalized world, our Nation's foothold as a global economic leader is becoming less stable everyday. Furthermore, in today's economy, jobs in technical fields are growing at five times the rate of other occupations, and they pay better. For these reasons, it is imperative that our young people develop the math and science skills that are instrumental in allowing them to become world leaders in technology and innovation, thus enabling the United States to maintain its global economic edge.

I am very proud of the efforts that Edgewood ISD is making to prepare its students with such skills. In 2001, Edgewood entered a team in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition as part of its Engineering Principles class. The Toltechs, also known as robotics team #499, have excelled in the FIRST competitions that require high school teams to design, assemble; and test a robot capable of performing a specified task. The students have shown great enthusiasm as they have gained proficiency in engineering and research. This excitement will no doubt encourage many of them to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Edgewood ISD has recognized the importance of this type of learning by supporting the development and growth of the Toltechs over the years. The team has also received generous support from and strong partnership with a number of private industries in their community. The evolution of the Toltechs demonstrates how schools and private industry can work together effectively to make a significant positive impact upon the lives of students.

More recently, Edgewood ISD has adopted another program to develop student's STEM skills. The Space TEAMS pilot in San Antonio targets middle school students from low income families, particularly girls, through a robotics competition called Botball. This exciting new program promises to also yield enthusiasm about STEM fields.

I recognize and honor the important opportunities that Edgewood ISD has provided to its students through programs such as FIRST and Space TEAMS. The skills and knowledge that these experiences provide, not to mention the sense of confidence and pride that they create, will benefit participants long after they have finished their primary education. I wish them continued success in their competitions and hope to see these types of programs flourish in our Nation's schools as we acknowledge the importance of arming our kids with STEM skills.