Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Dallas Mavericks on winning the 2011 National Basketball Association Championship. This is the organization's first NBA world championship title, and I congratulate the team owner, Mark Cuban, Coach Rick Carlisle, his staff, and the entire Mavericks organization on this great accomplishment. I also congratulate the team's captain, Dirk Nowitzki, on being named the recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, so much deserved.

The Mavericks also display a strong commitment to the Dallas community through its foundation. The Dallas Mavericks Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and motivating our youth to take their education seriously and to strive for healthy bodies and minds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating each member of the 2011 NBA Championship Dallas Mavericks for their very many victories, but their very first championship, the champions of our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the legacy of an exceptional public servant, Lindy Boggs. The former Congresswoman and Ambassador celebrated her 95th birthday earlier this year.

As the first women elected to Congress from Louisiana, Lindy Boggs served as a Member of the House of Representatives for 17 years. However, her political involvement and dedication to public service began long before that election. Lindy Boggs was greatly involved in the political campaigns and Congressional work of her late-husband, Hale Boggs. Following his presumed death in 1973, Lindy Boggs was elected to his seat and went on to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Louisiana with distinction. Congresswoman Boggs helped cofound the Congressional Women's Caucus and played an instrumental role in creating the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. Known for compassion and kindness, Lindy Boggs was a leader in the halls of Congress, and served as a strong proponent of economic and social equality for women and girls.

Following her retirement from Congress, Lindy Boggs went on to serve as Ambassador to the Vatican. Throughout her career, Lindy Boggs has remained extremely dedicated to her family. The success of her children is a testament to that dedication.

Although I did not have the honor of serving in the House with Congresswoman Boggs, her leadership and legacy have left their mark for every women in Congress. Lindy Boggs has served this country with honor and I wish her well on the occasion of her 95th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cedric Allen, a leader in helping to support struggling families and an instrumental person in the battle against premature births, birth defects, and unhealthy pregnancies. Cedric lives in Allen, Texas, a suburb just north of Dallas, and serves as a security officer at the Trammel Crow Center in downtown Dallas.

During his high school years in Mansfield, Louisiana, Cedric had a brief interaction with the March of Dimes. Throughout the progression of his adulthood he saw many people that he knew personally have premature births. It was then that Cedric knew that he had to make a difference. He rose to become an advocate for the March of Dimes. Raising over $250,000 for the March of Dimes foundation, Cedric has become the top individual fundraiser for the March of Dimes Dallas Division for the past 14 years. Cedric has also been ranked as the no. 4 walker in the state of Texas and ranks 12th in the nation.

Cedric understands the importance of research for pregnancies and infant health. Prematurity is the leading cause of death before one year of age. 1 out of 7 babies are born prematurely in Texas each year compared to 1 out of 8 babies throughout the U.S.

Premature birth can have lifelong consequences including cerebral palsy, hearing, vision and breathing problems.

Cedric continues to work towards advancing research and community programs belonging to the March of Dimes. Hundreds have benefited from Cedric's tireless efforts at fundraising and his many other contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in joining his friends and colleagues to salute an extraordinary leader, Cedric Allen.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Governor Bill Clements. Governor Clements leaves behind a deep legacy as an entrepreneur, leader, and public servant. A true Texan, Governor Clements was known for his direct style, dedication and drive.

A native of Dallas, Governor Clements was a graduate and great supporter of Southern Methodist University (SMU). A proud Texan and patriot, he proudly served his country during World War II in the Army Corps of Engineers. In the 1940s, he helped found SEDCO, which at the time was one of the biggest oil drilling contractors in the world.

Governor Clements began his political career serving as Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1971-1977. Thought of as the father of Texas conservatism, Bill Clements became the first Republican Governor of Texas since Reconstruction when elected in 1978. He went on to serve a total of 8 years as the Governor of Texas. An indelible personality, Governor Clements certainly left his mark on Texas politics. He did what he felt was right for the State, and stood by those convictions.

Governor Clements never forgot his roots and remained dedicated to the Dallas community throughout his life. In 2009, he donated $100 million to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. This represents the largest civic donation in Dallas history.

Governor Clements passed away this weekend at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife Rita, and his daughter. I offer my condolences to them, and his many friends and family. His many contributions to the State of Texas and to America will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1082, the Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011.

I commend this legislation, which will provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, including the SBIR and STTR programs.

We all recognize the important role that small businesses play in fueling technological innovation and creating jobs in the United States. That being the case, we should be doing what we can to foster a vibrant small business community and give our small businesses the tools that they need to succeed. The SBIR and STTR programs are such tools--they have been critically important programs for fostering innovation by small businesses.

Through these two competitive programs, the Small Business Administration ensures that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts.

Providing more than 50,000 patents since its inception, the SBIR is the nation's largest source of early stage research and development funding.

Unfortunately, the SBIR and STTR programs are set to expire tonight. This short-term extension of the SBIR and STTR programs will provide for the continuation of these important programs as we continue our efforts to enact a comprehensive, long-term reauthorization. Extending the programs by four months will give us the time we need to resolve the few remaining issues, including the establishment of a formal outreach program for women and minority-owned small businesses. Increasing participation is one of the stated goals of the SBIR program, and one for which the National Academies found a decidedly mixed track record.

As we continue our efforts to keep our economy on the path to recovery, it is more important than ever that we recommit ourselves to these programs and get a comprehensive reauthorization bill enacted. In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to support the Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I requested and received a leave of absence on May 13, 2011. For the information of our colleagues and my constituents, below is how I would have voted on the following votes I missed during the day.

On rollcall vote No. 323, Rogers Amendment that would clarify that Section 411 of the bill, which provides certain authorities for Defense Intelligence Agency expenditures, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote No. 324, Gibson Amendment that would require the Director of National Intelligence to submit to Congress a report containing recommendations the Director considers appropriate for consolidating the intelligence community, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote No. 325, Hinchey Amendment that would require the Director of National Intelligence, DNI, to report to the House and Senate Intelligence panels on information it has regarding the human rights violations of the military government in Argentina that resulted in 30,000 disappearances between the mid-1970's and mid-1980's, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall vote No. 326, Carney Amendment that would establish the sense of Congress that railway transportation should be included in transportation security plans for intelligence agencies, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall vote No. 327, Reed Amendment that would commend the United States intelligence community for their successful operation in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice and their continued efforts against al Qaeda, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall vote No. 328, on Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 754, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall vote No. 329, on final passage of H.R. 754, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Southern Methodist University (SMU) on the occasion of their Centennial Celebration. I am a proud alumnus of SMU, and look forward to their four-year celebration to commemorate this anniversary.

SMU has made amazing strides over the past century, rising from a small rural college to an internationally renowned university. From its founding in 1911 till today, SMU has graduated more than 100,000 alumni. The outstanding achievement and leadership of those alumni serves as a testament to SMU's tradition of success. With seven different schools, SMU ranks as one of the best universities in the Nation. The Cox School of Business is routinely ranked in the top 25 business schools in the United States. In addition to twelve alumni who are past and present Members of the U.S. Congress, SMU has graduated such notable individuals as: John Tyson, CEO of Tyson Foods; former- First Lady, Laura Bush; Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football League; Harriet Miers, former-White House Counsel and Supreme Court nominee; James Cronin, Nobel Prize winning physicist; Mary Ellen Weber, NASA astronaut; and Karen Hughes, former Under Secretary of State.

For these well-know alumni, myself, and thousands of former and current students, SMU holds a special place in our hearts. There is a strong sense of pride amongst the SMU community, and the values we learned in school have stayed with us throughout our lives. We were and always will be SMU Mustangs.

With an eye towards the next generation, SMU is not only celebrating the past, but planning for the future. This Centennial Celebration will serve as a time to ensure the next hundred years are even more successful than the first one hundred.

I congratulate SMU, its faculty, staff, supporters and alumni on this monumental occasion. I look forward to continued involvement with SMU, and hope we can work together to ensure outstanding achievement for the University in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Keller Williams Realty, Inc., a real estate franchise organization which has recognized a significant need to give back to communities.

In 2008, Keller Williams Realty designated and sponsored one day that year to encourage and allow its employees and associates, and other real estate professionals and members of the community, to sponsor and conduct charitable acts, and named and marketed that day as RED Day. RED stands for Renew Energize Donate. RED Day has inspired thousands of real estate professionals across America to volunteer in their local communities. Keller Williams Reality Inc. which is located in my home State of Texas, should be commended for performing charitable acts within the communities where its franchises operate.

Keller Williams Realty is committed to maintaining, growing and celebrating RED Day every year and RED Day has contributed over one- hundred and fifty thousand hours of volunteer service in a single day in the past year alone. RED Day volunteers have helped rebuild houses, nursing homes, children's camps, animal shelters, clean parks and provide meals and activities for the elderly. The scope of the RED Day projects has been limitless.

Mr. Speaker, RED Day volunteers model the best in citizenship and create a climate of goodwill that lasts far beyond one day a year. I ask my fellow colleagues today to join me in honoring RED day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss Democratic initiatives for creating jobs and rebuilding the economy.

While Republicans were busy voting to end Medicare in order to give more tax breaks to big oil, they forgot one important task--job creation.

With the fragile economy just beginning to recover, Americans cannot afford the Republicans' reckless ``So Be It'' attitude toward job creation.

Their failure to propose a single jobs bill after more than four months in the majority is alarming and is indicative of a general lack of concern for the needs of our constituents.

Under the Obama administration, almost 2 million jobs have been created over the last 15 months.

The 244,000 total jobs added last month is the largest in nearly a year, with broad-based gains in retail trade, manufacturing, health care, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

While this is an impressive feat, we need to dig deeper in order to replace the 8 million jobs that we lost during the Bush Administration.

The African American community continues to bear the brunt of the unemployment crisis; close to 16 percent of African Americans are out of work and still looking for jobs.

In some cities, African American unemployment rates have hit Depression levels. This is unacceptable.

The American people have spoken and Democrats are listening; job creation is the key to economic recovery and growth.

Democrats' ``Make It in America'' agenda is a powerful initiative based on the conviction that when more products are made in America, more families will be able to make it in America.

This comprehensive domestic manufacturing strategy is about investing in innovation and clean energy, helping our small businesses and workers compete, rebuilding America, and keeping jobs here at home.

For example, the Make It in America Block Grant Act establishes a grant program at the Commerce Department to provide small to medium- sized businesses, in communities hardest hit by unemployment, with the resources and strategies they need to transition to the manufacturing of clean energy, high technology, and advanced products.

Equally promising is the Job Opportunities Between Our Shores Act, which establishes a Workforce Investment Act pilot program to provide education and training programs in advanced manufacturing.

These bills, along with other Democratic initiatives, prove that Democrats are listening to the American people as they continue to ask, ``Where are the jobs?''

Mr. Speaker, due to a conflicting engagement at the White House I was absent during the votes on H. Res. 264 and H. Con. Res. 50. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on both measures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our nation's teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week, which is being held this year May 1st-7th.

This is a time to express our thanks and admiration for the more than 3 million teachers in the United States. I encourage everyone to express their appreciation for those teachers who have touched their lives or the lives of their children.

Teachers are heroes in our communities, shaping the next generation of great minds. No great leader, scientist, or artist would be where they are today without the influence of caring and dedicated teachers.

Thurgood Marshall once said, ``None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody--a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns--bent down and helped us pick up our boots.''

There is perhaps no other occupation that influences the fabric of our society more than teachers, and we are fortunate to have this week dedicated to recognizing their contributions.

I am particularly proud of our teachers from my home state of Texas-- serving as motivators and mentors for our future leaders. I remain dedicated to working in Congress to ensure that Texas teachers and all teachers have the resources necessary to successfully prepare our Nation's youth for a successful future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th birthday of Mrs. Maura McNiel, a leading women's rights activist whose legacy impacts women in Dallas and all over the United States.

Maura McNiel was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 4, 1929 and grew up inspired by integration in Minneapolis-area schools. She moved to Dallas in 1953 and, dedicated to improve the lives of people and the world around her, became involved in the civil rights movement and environmental issues. Soon after, Ms. McNiel immersed herself in the feminist cause, for which she is applauded today.

The list of Ms. McNiel's activities to improve the lives of others are endless: She spoke to reporters, politicians, organization leaders, and others and had a strong impact wherever she went. She founded Women for Change in 1971, the first women's center in Dallas, and then helped organize the Rape Crisis Center, the National Organization of Women and People for the American Way, Women's Coalition, Family Place (for battered women), the Southwest Credit Union, The Dallas Commission on the Status of Women and the Women's Issues Network.

But it was the personal touch she brought to her efforts that made each one a success.

She famously informed the all-male Rotary Club that just as birds flew better with two wings, marriages worked better as a partnership where both husband and wife shared responsibilities and demands. As her dialogue indicates, her approach was not antagonistic; rather, it was based upon building relationships. And that she did, with the Dallas City Hall, news organizations, and many, many others.

It was this both passionate and rational approach to women's rights that enabled her to successfully fight for Title IX in 1972, which expanded women's education opportunities. She understood that the success of a movement lies not just on its present, but also its future.

More importantly, she knew the importance of following words with action and personal sacrifice. As founding president of Women for Change, which created the first sanctuaries for family abuse victims, Maura took the lead by hosting the first woman in her own home.

A wonderful mother, Sunday school teacher, community leader, effective activist, Maura McNiel's work has led to achievements in women's studies, modern social work, advocacy on behalf of abused women, promotion of the Equal Rights Amendment, and passage of Title

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hilton Kelley, a leader in the battle for environmental justice on the Texas Gulf Coast. Hilton Kelley is an advocate for communities living in the shadow of polluting industries. A life-long resident of Port Arthur, Texas, Hilton joined the Navy which eventually brought him to the San Francisco Bay Area where he began working as a stunt man and actor on several major movies and television shows including CBS's Nash Bridges.

During a visit home, 21 years after he left Port Arthur, Hilton found his community sickened by industrial pollution and on the brink of economic collapse. Hilton realized then that in order to save his community, he needed to first tackle the environmental problems first. He launched Community In-power and Development Association, CIDA, and began training local residents to monitor air quality. As a result of Hilton's advocacy, the local refinery installed state-of-the-art equipment to reduce harmful emissions and also negotiated with them a $3.5 million fund to help entrepreneurs launch new businesses in the community.

Hilton recognizes the disproportionate burden from pollution on communities of color, low-income people and indigenous communities needs to be reduced. These Americans are experiencing the highest rates of morbidity and/or death from asthma, cancer, learning disabilities, lead poisoning, lupus, and several other diseases. Hilton continues to work tirelessly to bring attention to the disproportionate burden of pollution on the most vulnerable members of our society advocating for regulations on the Gulf Coast and serving on the EPA's National Environment Justice Advisory Council.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Hilton Kelley for his determination and hard work to these causes. Our country is a better one because of Hilton Kelley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend of mine, a maverick, a community visionary, a leader, and a true Texan and recognize the achievements and outstanding service of a very special person, Senfronia Thompson.

Senfronia will be ``roasted'' by the Texas Southern University and Governor Rick Perry, Speaker Joe Straus, Senators Rodney Ellis and John Whitmire, Representative Sylvester Turner, former Representative Debra Danburg, former Representative Mark Stiles and others to raise funds for a wonderful cause, the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) administered by The Mickey Leland Center at the University. The event will be held at the Mickey Leland Center at Texas Southern University on April 11, 2011, at the University of Texas Alumni Center.

The TLIP is a premier internship program that introduces the best and brightest of our Texas youth to the innerworkings of government and the true value of public service. The program, developed in 1990, is sponsored by Senator Rodney Ellis. Since its inception, more than 400 students accepted into the TLIP program have interned with members of the Texas Legislature, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This year, 63 interns are working in and around the Texas State Capitol during the current legislative session.

In 1973, Senfronia Thompson was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives from Houston. She has continued to serve her constituents in honor ever since. She now ranks as the longest-serving woman and the longest-serving African-American in Texas State legislature history.

Representative Thompson authored and passed Texas' first alimony law, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, laws prohibiting racial profiling, the state minimum wage, the Durable Powers of Attorney Act, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the Sexual Assault Program Fund, the Model School Records Flagging Act, the Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Enforcement Act, contraceptive parity, prohibiting small print in cell phone ads, and scores of other reforms benefiting women, children and the elderly.

The former chair of one of the Legislature's most active committees, Judicial Affairs, Representative Thompson pushed through major reforms in child support enforcement, simplified probate proceedings, and complete overhauls of statutes dealing with statutory courts and municipal courts. Representative Thompson continues to be among the most successful House members in passing bills into laws.

Representative Thompson has been in the forefront of every major campaign against discrimination in the last three decades. Ms. Thompson has among the highest ranks of any legislator for her voting record on issues of concern to women, minorities, labor, consumers, reform advocates, domestic violence victims, the elderly, teachers and civil libertarians. Among many other honors, she was named ``Woman of the Year'' by bipartisan Texas Women's Political Caucus in 1995.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Senfronia Thompson my friend and my colleague in public service. I had the pleasure of serving beside Senfronia Thompson, a champion of civic participation, when we were both freshman legislators together in 1973. It was an honor to serve with her then and it is an honor for me to be able to recognize her today. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking Representative Thompson for her extraordinary service to Texas and our country.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman Ralph Hall joins me as I rise today to recognize this week's 30th anniversary of the first flight of the Space Shuttle. On April 12, 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A at

7 a.m. Under the capable control of Commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen, the STS-1 mission showed that a safe launch into orbit and safe return of the orbiter and crew was possible. In performing the test flight, Space Shuttle Columbia traveled over 1 million miles at an orbital altitude of 166 nautical miles. This was the first of over 130 shuttle missions over a period of 30 years during which astronauts recovered and repaired satellites including the Hubble Space Telescope, conducted cutting-edge research, and built and supported the largest structure in space, the International Space Station.

Mr. Speaker, on this 30th anniversary of the first flight of the Space Shuttle, we are also on the verge of retiring the Space Shuttle fleet. It is appropriate to honor the brave individuals who have paid the ultimate price so that the Nation could pursue its goals, vision, and leadership in human spaceflight and exploration and to recognize the bravery and heroism of all astronauts who have flown on the Space Shuttle. It is also appropriate to acknowledge the tireless and dedicated work of the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (``NASA''), its field centers, and its contractors without whom these achievements would not have been possible.

The Space Shuttle has been a source of pride and inspiration for the American people. It sparked interest in many fields of engineering and science which benefitted the United States economy, inspired successive generations, and contributed to our leadership in science and technology. We must continue to provide our children and grandchildren with a similar source of inspiration. As the chapter on the Space Shuttle closes later this year, a new chapter in the book of human exploration begins.

Today, unlike 30 years ago, our leadership in space is being contested by many other nations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in reaffirming our support for NASA and in committing to a robust national program of human space flight and exploration. That will be the best way to mark this historic anniversary.