Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Chet Edwards for allowing me this opportunity to speak this morning on this tragic shooting that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, yesterday. The most important thing that we can do right now is to make ourselves available to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded. I wish to express my condolences to the families at Fort Hood who lost their loved ones. Our prayers are with you all as you try to make sense of it all.

This tragedy, once again, raises the extreme importance of providing true quality in our mental health care services and the need for thorough mental health assessments not only for our veterans but also for those that are in the service at the present time, for those members notified of deployment as well as those returning from deployment. This must also be a time to take into consideration the medication needs, the financial difficulties, and the coping mechanisms that our soldiers are having to go through. These also highlight the need for our family and friends and peers to stand up to get their friends help when they need it. The signs of suicide, homicide and extreme behavior are almost always there.

In the military, of all places, each individual must be aware of what is being said or done by their peers and friends and recognize when those behaviors or statements may not be consistent with a healthy mindset. In the military, these behaviors absolutely must be identified to the unit commander so he can review the servicemember and get the member appropriate help. I believe that we can all learn from this tragic incident to not take things too lightly and for leaders to be proactive in their efforts to ensure the mental health of the troops. Hopefully, we can reach out to help as many as we can.

I will close by expressing my condolences, once again, to the family and friends of those who have been wounded and those who have lost their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment.

The Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment was formed in 1990 to fill the void left when the Department of Defense determined that it was no longer able to perform full military burial honors for veterans of the Armed Forces. The Memorial Services Detachment is comprised of about 80 veterans, with and average age of 75, from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the gulf war. These selfless veterans volunteer their time, on rotating shifts throughout the week, to ensure the traditional military honors of the 3-volley-salute and the playing of ``Taps'' are provided to every veteran buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Since 1990 the Memorial Services Detachment has performed services for over 25,000 deceased veterans.

The veterans of the Memorial Services Detachment have touched the lives of countless family and friends by their dedicated service under the simple motto of ``Veterans Serving Veterans.'' They are a lasting reminder of what is best about our country and about those that have served our Nation in its defense.

Madam Speaker, I commend your hard work and dedication in the pursuit of academic excellence. Through your efforts, you have garnered the prestigious honor of being named a National Blue Ribbon School by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the highest distinction a school in the United States can achieve.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was established in 1982 by Secretary of Education Terrell Bell. The program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that demonstrate academic superiority or dramatic gains in student achievement. Only 3.9 percent of all schools in the United States have received this award.

As your Member of Congress, I am proud of your ambition and inspired by your success. I have always believed that our future prosperity is predicated on our present commitment to education. You are lighting the way as a beacon for those not only in our district, but also in our nation. I applaud you for your efforts and encourage you to keep up the excellent work.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize Chief William ``Dub'' Warrior of Brackettville, Texas, a Historian and Seminole-Negro Indian descendent of the John Horse Band, and commemorate the distinguished service and loyalty of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts to the United States Army.

Following the Civil War, the Army was called into west Texas to defend settlements and travelers against retaliation raids from displaced Apache and Comanche Indians. However, they lacked the ability to track down and stop them. The Army needed experienced Indian fighters who knew the rugged terrain and were as skilled as their opponents at surviving and fighting in the desert borderlands. Thus, in 1870 the fearless Seminole-Negro Indians were recruited from Mexico as U.S. Army scouts. They were highly regarded and praised by their commanders for being excellent trackers, hunters and marksmen, and experts at hand-to-hand combat. During twenty-six expeditions they engaged in twelve battles without losing a single scout, and their bravery earned four scouts the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Therefore Madam Speaker it is my great pleasure to rise and announce in honor of these esteemed persons that the greater Washington, DC chapter of the 9th and 10th Horse Calvary Association, in partnership with the Army Freedom Team Salute and St. Elizabeth's Hospital of Washington, DC, has planned a Seminole-Negro Indian Recognition Ceremony for today, Friday, October 9, 2009 in the St. Elizabeth's Hospital Chapel. Chief William ``Dub'' Warrior will be the keynote speaker for this event. He is the descendant of Tony Warrior, who collaborated with and assisted John Horse, leader of the Seminole-Negro Indians, in the movement of their tribe from Indian Territory to slavery-prohibited Mexico. Chief Warrior's grandfather, Carolina Warrior, and great grandfather, Bill Warrior, were members of the revered U.S. Army scouts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague in the Texas Legislature, former State Representative Leo Alvarado, Jr., of San Antonio, who passed away on June 5, 2009. I served with Mr. Alvarado at the State Capitol in Austin during the 1990s, both of us representing districts in Bexar Country.

Madam Speaker, during the recently concluded 1st Called Session of the 81st Texas Legislature, the Texas House of Representatives adopted House Resolution No. 21 in memory of Mr. Alvarado, offered by my former colleague State Representative Delwin Jones of Lubbock, joined by Bexar County members Trey Martinez Fischer, Mike Villarreal, Joe Farias, Joaquin Castro, and Valerie Ryder Corte.

The State of Texas House of Representatives

resolution h.r. no. 21

Whereas, The passing of former state representative

Leopoldo ``Leo'' Alvarado, Jr., on June 5, 2009, at the age

of 70, has profoundly saddened the legal and legislative

communities and citizens throughout San Antonio and brought a

great loss to his family and friends; and

Whereas, Born in San Antonio on April 23, 1939, Leo

Alvarado was the son of Maria del Refugio Parias de Alvarado

and Leopoldo Alvarado, Sr.; he grew up on the West Side and

graduated from Jefferson High School before enlisting in the

United States Air Force; following his service to his

country, he enrolled in St. Mary's University, where he

earned his bachelor's degree in political science and

accounting and went on to receive his law degree in 1974; and

Whereas, This dedicated community activist helped organize

the J.F.K. Community Forum, which laid the groundwork for

West San Antonio agencies engaged in the war on poverty, and

served as a consultant to the Inner City Apostolate and as a

director of the Mexican American Unity Council and of Project

Health and Viable Economics; he was vice chair of the board

of the Bexar County Hospital District and worked toward the

purchase and reopening of Lutheran General Hospital to serve

downtown residents; and

Whereas, Highly respected in his legal career, Mr. Alvarado

handled many complex injury and public interest cases; he

played an important role in landmark Edgewood ISO cases

involving the redistribution of funds from wealthy to poorer

school districts, which ultimately led to increased support

for education in lower income communities; he was a partner

in Weir & Alvarado, P.C., before forming Alvarado & Alvarado,

P.L.L.C., with his daughter, Rosemarie Alvarado-Hawkins; and

Whereas, Mr. Alvarado was first elected to the Texas House

of Representatives in 1992 and served the people of District

116 for eight years; during his tenure, he was chair of the

Freshman House Caucus and was a valued member of the civil

practices, house administration, state affairs,

redistricting, insurance, and judicial affairs committees; a

man of principle and integrity, he worked to improve the

lives of all Texans, and he introduced bills relating to high

school education and redlining in the insurance industries,

among numerous others; and

Whereas, A devoted and loving father, Mr. Alvarado most

enjoyed spending time with his family, whom he placed first

in all matters; he was also fond of hunting, fishing, playing

guitar, cooking, painting, gardening, and travel; and

Whereas, Leo Alvarado leaves a legacy of accomplishments

that will continue to benefit people in this state for years

to come, and he will long be remembered with deep affection

and admiration by all who were fortunate enough to share

in the richness of his life; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 81st

Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2009, hereby pay

tribute to the memory of Leopoldo ``Leo'' Alvarado, Jr., and

extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

brother, Carlos Alvarado; to his first wife, Gloria Acosta

Farias, and their son, Leopoldo Alvarado Acosta III; to his

second wife, Charlene Alvarado, and their children, Rosemarie

Alvarado-Hawkins, Christina Lisa Morales, Miguel Antonio

Alvarado, and Carlos Andres Alvarado; to his grandchildren,

Maria and Sharet Castillejos and Evangeline and Chloe

Hawkins; and to the other family members and friends of this

esteemed Texan; and, be it further

Resolved, That an official copy of this resolution be

prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of

Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

Leopoldo ``Leo'' Alvarado, Jr.

Joe Straus, Speaker of the House.

I certify that H.R. No. 21 was unanimously adopted by a

rising vote of the House on July 2, 2009.

Robert Haney, Chief Clerk of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I speak today on behalf of H.R. 3155, the Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act--the CARE Act.

The nature of warfare is changing as is the economic requirements of American families. Thanks to advances in medical technology and our outstanding service men and women, more and more of our wounded warriors are surviving their injuries than ever before. At the same time more and more of our families must rely on dual incomes just to get by.

Some of our wounded, though they survived, must now receive full time care due to the extent of their injuries. That second income earner ends up having to quit their job or limit their hours in order to provide care for their loved one. The potential loss in earnings for these families, even with military medical retirement pensions and VA disability pensions, is often catastrophic. And on top of that, the families must navigate the system largely on their own, putting pieces together and connecting the dots by figuring out the right questions to ask.

This bill is a vital piece of legislation that will provide resources in a comprehensive program to engage those wounded warriors who require caregiver assistance and the family and friends who often serve as the caregiver.

This bill provides for mental health and counseling services for those caregivers and ensures health care coverage for those caregivers who may have lost their health care coverage when they gave up their job to care for their loved one.

This bill ensures that respite care is provided that is appropriate to the specific veteran's needs, including, if necessary, 24-hour in home respite care.

And this bill provides the authorization for the VA to provide a stipend to the caregivers to help compensate for their loss of income.

We owe it to our wounded warriors to ensure their care, and to ensure the care of those that sacrifice to care for them. We must pass this bill.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to vote today, Monday, July 27, 2009 because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted in support of the three bills that were before the floor of the House of Representatives today; H. Res. 593, Recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State; H.R. 1376, the Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2009; and H.R. 1121, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act of 2009.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the rule in the legislation H.R. 3288, the Transportation Appropriating bill. In particular, I want to express my support for the passenger rail funding within the bill that amounts to $4 billion.

President Obama, Chairman Olver, and my colleagues on the appropriations committee have demonstrated their commitment to passenger and high-speed rail by providing funding in this bill that would enable the urban, suburban, and rural communities in America to be connected by a system that will deliver both safe, swift, efficient, and economical travel across our Nation.

Texas, in particular, and the congressional delegation, needs passenger and high-speed rail, and we know that throughout the country it's needed. Funding for high- and higher-speed rail will reduce congestion and pollution, create jobs, and connect communities.

The deployment of rail throughout the designated corridors in my State and throughout the country and my district is something that's drastically needed and will help enhance business alike. The San Antonio/Austin corridor area is booming and the highway is congested. Developing passenger rail is crucial to the economic development.

It is vital that we preserve the recommended levels of passenger funding in this bill. Our passenger rail system is terribly underdeveloped and underfunded when compared to other nations such as France, Italy, China, and Japan, so we need to make that investment as quickly as possible. And the high-speed rail is needed.

In Texas, we have intellectual capacity and technology to be able to make this happen and make this happen as quickly as possible. My colleagues in south Texas have joined me in support of this effort, and we will hopefully get this bill passed.

As a member of the committee, I want to encourage everyone to support this piece of legislation that allows an opportunity for us to begin to look with that vision to the future. We need to get on board and support the $4 billion funding contained in H.R. 3288 that deals with rail.

I encourage both House and Texas colleagues to support the piece of legislation that we have before us and support the bill.

Will the gentleman yield?

In listening to some of the discussions earlier of the amendments that had been brought before and of their concerns that they were not going to be listed, I know that the Rules Committee did the right thing in not considering them since a lot of the amendments that were talked about earlier, Madam Speaker, were amendments that should be dealt more appropriately with the authorizing committees. This is an appropriating bill, and they should not be handled in legislation of this matter. In appropriating bills, we don't have those amendments. They should go with that committee, and we need to respect the committees on the authorizing side to make sure that they do the right thing and that they do the authorizing and not through an appropriating bill.

I know this is a technical matter that will hopefully get dealt with, but in response to the discussions that you had had regarding the previous so-called lack of an opportunity to prepare those amendments, those amendments belong in an authorizing bill and not in an appropriating bill.

Let me just say that this is a major piece of legislation. It's a bill that needs to be passed. Throughout this country, there is a tremendous need for our infrastructure. This is a bill that will allow for an opportunity to create jobs, additional jobs, and that will make things happen, especially for the fast rail system, where it makes an investment and begins to look at resources in that area. That's one of the

areas in this country where we're lacking and where we have to have additional resources.

So I just wanted to take an opportunity to share the importance of making sure that we pass this piece of legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3288, the 2010 Transportation-HUD appropriations spending bill. In particular, I want to express my support

for the passage of the rail funding within the bill that amounts to about $4 billion.

I want to thank Chairman Olver for his leadership, and I want to thank the Appropriations Committee for demonstrating their commitment to passenger and high-speed rail by providing funding in this bill that will enable urban, suburban and rural communities in America to be connected by a system that will deliver safe, swift, efficient, and economical travel across our Nation. The $4 billion provided in this bill will support a competitive grant process. The Federal Railroad Administration will oversee the grant application and award process.

For those who have concerns about the funding, I want to stress that current demand for passenger rail exceeds available funds in the pre- application process for passenger rail funding. Texas, for example, has requested $3.1 billion; California has requested $21.6 billion; Nevada has requested $12.5 billion. Overall, 40 locations throughout America have requested in excess of $104 billion.

The fact of the matter is that $4 billion is only a small down payment of investment in passenger rail. Texas desperately needs the passenger and high-speed rail. Funding for high-speed rail will reduce congestion and pollution. It will create jobs, and it will connect America's communities. The San Antonio-Austin area is booming, and the highways are congested. America's passenger rail system is terribly underdeveloped and underfunded when compared to other nations, such as France, Italy, China, and Japan.

My colleagues in south Texas have joined me in supporting this bill, and I ask for the support of this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 417 and 418 on H. Res. 520, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Ms. Beatriz A. Garza, the recent college graduate from Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, and a tribal member of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (KTTT).

Graduating from Haskell Indian Nations University with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 2006 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2009, Ms. Beatriz A. Garza has become the first college graduate from the Kickapoo Tribe in the state of Texas.

Ms. Garza grew up in Eagle Pass, Texas, on the Kickapoo Indian Reservation, graduating from Eagle Pass High School's C.C. Winn Campus. Influenced by her father, Juan Garza, Jr., she pursued higher education at Haskell Indian Nations University.

In 1884, the doors of this fine educational institution opened up to the yearning minds of twenty-two American Indian children. It was known then as the United States Indian Industrial Training School. Today, Haskell Indian Nations University, the largest Indian university in the country, serves roughly one thousand college students per semester, and continues to serve American Indians with a multitude of innovative curricula that prepares students to enter baccalaureate programs in areas such as elementary education, American Indian studies, and business administration, which Ms. Garza, as previously noted, pursued herself, emphasizing her study in tribal management. She currently plans to pursue a professional degree in law.

Students attending this University represent federally recognized tribes from across the United States, producing a dynamic and diverse student body bringing life experiences to the forefront of the classroom while integrating American Indian and Alaskan Native culture into all its curricula. Through my time spent on a Texas school board, I have seen people who, like Ms. Garza, are intelligent, responsible, and driven. Ms. Garza excelled in the classroom and pushed forward toward a brighter future. People like Ms. Garza, are the change makers in our world, the backbone of the American dream, and the reason America succeeds. Boundaries like this are broken by great men and women who lead this country forward, inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.

I am proud of Ms. Garza's success and it is with great honor that I extend my most sincere congratulations to Ms. Beatriz A. Garza as she makes this monumental milestone in her life.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Rosa Walker, former Director of the Texas AFL-CIO, for her 38 years of visionary leadership. As a stalwart trailblazer in the Texas labor movement and Democratic politics, Rosa's accomplishments and admirers are many. Beyond her personal politics or civic niche, we can all celebrate her lifelong commitment to community involvement and public service.

Born in the Piney Woods in Hemphill, Texas, Rosa earned her high school degree from Pineland High School before she took up a career at Southwestern Bell. She subsequently joined the Communication Workers of America (CWA) where organizing piqued her interest. With CWA she served as a commercial job steward, rose through the ranks, and

would ultimately become a member of the CWA Executive Board. Later Rosa would join the union movement in a full-time capacity as an organizer for the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO. After working with the Harris County AFL-CIO, she joined the larger Texas affiliate in 1965, where she dutifully served until her retirement in 2003.

For nearly four decades Rosa served as Director of Community Services/Volunteers and Women's Activities Director with the Texas AFL- CIO. Throughout her tenure she championed the causes of ``the least of these'' and crusaded for social justice wherever it was found wanting. In spite of her often disparate tasks--coordinating disaster relief operations, lobbying the Texas legislature, or directing voter registration drives--Rosa brought a contagious sense of purpose to her duties. Middle class families across Texas owe her a debt of gratitude for her tireless efforts to open doors of opportunity. While politicians are thrust into the limelight, we would be remiss and foolish if we did not salute the too often unrecognized grassroots work of individuals like Rosa Walker. They truly help us to believe that social change can truly percolate from the bottom up.

Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate my friend, Dr. Vic Morgan, as he formally retires after 18 years of serving as President of Sul Ross State University.

Throughout his tenure as President, Dr. Morgan has demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to providing a valuable academic experience for the students of Sul Ross State University. Having begun his career at SRSU as an Associate Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Morgan is the first faculty member to be promoted from within the University to its highest position.

In addition to having fulfilled his responsibilities as President, Dr. Morgan remained extremely active in professional organizations in mathematics, student affairs, and educational administration. He has exemplified community service through his selfless work with the Church of Christ, the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and numerous youth related activities and organizations.

After a decorated career at Sul Ross State University, Dr. Vic Morgan will retire having left a lasting impact on so many students and teachers whose lives he's touched. As a former educator myself, I am especially thankful for his steadfast commitment to students and educators in Texas' 23rd Congressional District. I wish to extend my sincerest wishes to Dr. Vic Morgan and his family for a healthy and much deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with great sorrow. The United States-Mexico border community lost a great champion earlier this month. Carlos Marin, was the Commissioner of the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. This agency is charged with maintaining dams, levees and other infrastructure on the border as well as implementing water and boundary treaties with Mexico. Commissioner Marin tragically died when the plane he was on crashed while on its way to inspect severe flood damage in Presidio,

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in Senate bill 2840, the Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act, sponsored by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. I was a sponsor on the House side. Senate bill 2840 would address the growing backlog of citizenship applications of those men and women that are serving our country and happen to be foreign born.

This bill addresses some of the holdups with the FBI backgrounds, not only for the soldiers, sailors and airmen, but also ensuring that dialogue occurs also with the Department of Defense and the military in the applications.

It creates an office of FBI liaison with DHS and monitors the communication gaps that exist between them at the present time. This bill further requires that the agencies send notice out to the military applicants explaining the delay and estimating the date of completion for any application pending over 6 months.

This bill works in harmony with the recently passed Kendell Frederick Act. While the Kendell Frederick Act will ensure prompt processing of biometric data and timely adjudication after the FBI background checks are completed, S. 2840 will ensure that the background checks themselves are done expeditiously.

Taken together, this bill will be a one-two punch that's required and needed in order for our military servicemen to be able to move forward and become citizens.

Some 7,500 military applications are presently pending with citizenship and immigration services. These men and women represent the best of America, and they unquestionably deserve and are owed the full rights of every citizen in this country.

The provisions on this bill allow it to hopefully expedite this to occur.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity once again to thank Chairman Filner and the ranking member for this opportunity.

Let me just say that the 110th Congress will be seen as the Congress that has done the most for veterans in the history of this House in terms of the funding of over $13 billion from the 2007-2008 budget, in addition to the supplementals. This will be the largest amount of resources for the VA since its inception in any one session. So the 110th Congress is going to be seen as one of those Congresses that provided the resources, but also provided the programs that were needed and the accountability that needs to occur in order to make it happen. The result of that is because of the leadership in the form of Congressman Bob Filner, and I want to once again personally thank him for his leadership.

Let me just say this particular bill has language that begins to make services permanent for those soldiers that participated in what was referred to as Project 112, or Project SHAD, which were the studies during the Cold War that this country did on our soldiers from the use of nerve gas to other items to see how our soldiers reacted.

Now we know these soldiers are in need of services, and this language extends that opportunity for thousands of these soldiers to get those services that they are entitled to. So I want to thank the leadership for that. I know it was a struggle with the Department of Defense in just identifying these projects.

Secondly, I also want to signify that we have four major polytrauma centers throughout this country. The fifth one is going to be built in San Antonio. This particular center allows an opportunity for those soldiers that are out there that come back as veterans that have a multitude of problems, and this will allow the opportunity for returning servicemembers to be able to get the help they are entitled to and the construction of this facility, referred to as the fifth polytrauma center.

In closing, let me also just say that I have one of the largest districts in the Nation. My district runs in a straight line 650 miles and 785 miles along the border, over 20 large counties. Some of the counties are larger than some of the States in the country. I have an area where not a single clinic exists in the Rural Health Initiatives that are out there to provide access for these soldiers and veterans.

It is also important and essential, as indicated earlier, the fact that we have raised the amount of resources for reimbursement rates per mile for gasoline, and we know we might have to come back and revisit this because of the cost of gasoline.

So, once again I thank the chairman and the ranking member for allowing us to pass these pieces of legislation.