Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I along with Representative Issa rise today to pay tribute to Sergeant Major Tammy Coon, United States Army. Sergeant Major Coon has served a distinguished career in the United States Army, spanning over twenty eight years. She has distinguished herself with exceptional meritorious service in a succession of positions of great importance and responsibility to the Army and the nation. She has culminated her military career in the Army's Office of the Chief of legislative Liaison as a Congressional Legislative Liaison to the United States House of Representatives for the past 2 years. Additionally, she is the first Sergeant Major in the United States Army to serve as a Congressional Legislative Liaison to the House of Representatives. Over the course of the 28 years which she has spent in uniform serving her country, she has been cited by her command as exhibiting outstanding initiative, leadership and professionalism in all of her actions. In doing so, she has made significant contributions to the welfare of soldiers and their families, to say nothing of the service she has provided to the people of this nation.

Sergeant Major Coon's previous positions of significant leadership included: First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Space Brigade, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Chief, Enlisted Promotions, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Senior Enlisted Advisor, Directorate of Personnel, Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I), Baghdad, Iraq; Senior Enlisted Advisor, Special Management Division, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; and Senior Enlisted Advisor for Soldier Programs/Community Recreation, Department of the Army, Alexandria, VA.

Sergeant Major Tammy Coon served as a Congressional Legislative Liaison to the United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC. During this assignment she served as the primary point of contact for 70 Members of Congress within the Pacific Region, which included California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, she served as the Army House Liaison Division's primary point of contact for Wounded Warrior Care issues and for the Mental Health and Invisible Wounds Caucuses, routinely interacting with Members of Congress and senior staffers.

As First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Space Brigade, Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was responsible for discipline, health & welfare, safety, and training of 120 active duty, reserve, and National Guard soldiers as well as 130 Department of the Army Civilians. Even though the unit was deployed in five separate locations, Sergeant Major Coon ensured that the soldiers, civilians, and families were well cared for.

Sergeant Major Tammy Coon served as the Chief, Enlisted Promotions, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia. She managed the Department of the Army's enlisted promotion system, affecting Army enlisted soldiers worldwide. Her guidance and leadership were instrumental in the execution of over 50,000 promotions annually, while markedly increasing the efficiency of the promotion process. Additionally, Sergeant Major Coon reviewed and provided input for regulatory guidance revisions. She routinely proposed new initiatives and prepared correspondence on behalf of the President, Congress and Department of Army Senior Leadership.

As the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Directorate of Personnel, Multi- National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I), Baghdad, Iraq, she was the principal advisor for all enlisted personnel readiness and Human Resource management issues for 150,000 U.S. military and 13,000 members from 25 Coalition Countries deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this time she developed, synchronized, and implemented personnel policies and training that impacted enlisted members throughout the Iraqi theater.

As the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Special Management Division, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia, Sergeant Major Coon was responsible for the manpower management and strength management of enlisted personnel assigned to Special Mission Units (SMU) and Special Access Programs (SAP) which support national security objectives. SGM Coon compiled, analyzed, and produced personnel statistical information for all enlisted career management fields quarterly reviews ensuring that these units were properly manned in order to execute missions directed by the National Command Authority.

While serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Soldier Programs/ Community Recreation, Department of the Army, Alexandria, Virginia, she coordinated and implemented Soldier Programs for 84 United States Army Garrisons and had oversight of a $40 million budget. She co-authored and analyzed strategies and surveys for various Army initiatives and served as lead trainer for all Soldier programs across the Army, training over 30,000 Soldiers and civilians.

Sergeant Major Coon is the perfect representative of the United States Army. We have gotten to know Sergeant Major Coon as the ``soldier with a smile''. She brings an enjoyment and enthusiasm to serving her country and representing the Army that is unparalleled in the halls of Congress. We are grateful for the advocacy Sergeant Major Coon has done on behalf of the physical and mental well being of soldiers and their families. Sergeant Major Coon has provided us with advice and counsel on issues affecting wounded warriors and their families that has lead to legislative action improving wounded warrior care and mental health care. We particularly appreciate the work Sergeant Major Coon has done with our staff in providing them with the materials, briefings and support they need to work on issues affecting the Army.

Sergeant Major Coon's dedication to duty and superior leadership has left an indelible mark on the United States Army, the soldiers with whom she has served, and the Congress of the United States. Her actions, in over 28 years of military service, are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army.

We have been honored to work with Sergeant Major Coon, and thank her for extraordinary service to our nation.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 469, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 404, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member on the committee for allowing me this time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in opposition to H.R. 2578, the Republican lands package. Specifically, I do oppose title XIV, which is H.R. 1565 of H.R. 2578, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act.

This legislation creates a 100-mile--as explained by Mr. Markey--from the north border and 100 miles from the south border inland. You might call it operational control, or if you want to call it drone zone, it still waives over 36 landmark laws to give Homeland Security complete operational control and immediate access to these lands.

Some of these 36 laws that would be suspended in all or part of the 18 States affected would include the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, hazardous waste laws, tribal preservation law, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Park Service Organic Act. This legislation overreaches in waiving dozens of environmental laws disguised as a solution for immigration reform. Guess again.

I was born and raised in the border town of Brownsville, Texas. My hometown is within this Operational Control Zone, or drone zone, if you want to call it that. I am currently the ranking member of the Water and Power Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over the Bureau of Reclamation, and several of the projects owned and operated by Reclamation are in this drone zone. There is concern about how the projects could be managed or mismanaged and its impact in this zone.

Title XIV, which also includes Canada, would disrupt longstanding treaty agreements between the United States and Mexico, and again with Canada, on how we manage our water and power resources. And, of course, the drought planning for the Colorado River.

The projects are part of the Colorado River basin system, like Reclamation's Yuma desalting plant, and are also in the drone zone. One thousand miles of canal and related water delivery infrastructure that provides for a $5 billion economy--$5 billion for the States of Arizona and California--would be compromised as they are in this drone zone.

The proposed legislation will also impede Reclamation from meeting its mission requirements in water delivery obligations pursuant to the 1944 treaty between the U.S. and Mexico on the use of the Colorado and Tijuana rivers, and the Rio Grande. Title XIV also impacts the United States' ability to negotiate with Canada regarding the Columbia River. In fact, several projects of the Federal Columbia River power system in Washington State and Montana are in this operating zone. Water has no international boundary. This is a blatant attack on the environment, on the lives of American citizens, and it threatens their health and safety.

We strongly believe that compliance with laws and regulations is key to ensuring the rights of borderland landowners so rural communities are protected. Ensuring the security of America's borders is an important goal. This bill will not enhance our Nation's border security and will do great harm to our borders and our environment.

I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 2578. I have a list of 54 organizations in opposition, and I would like

just a moment to read some of them--my colleague has already mentioned the Latino organization:

Alaska Wilderness League; American Civil Liberties Union; BorderLinks; California Coastal Commission; Center for Biological Diversity; Citizens for a Safe and Secure Border; Citizens for Border Solution; Coastal States Organization; Cochise County Chapter Progressive Democrats of America; Defenders of Wildlife; Earthjustice; Equality Alliance of San Diego County; Escondido Human Rights Committee; Green Valley Samaritans; Klamath Forest Alliance; Labor Council for Latin American Advancement; League of Conservation Voters; Hispanic National Bar Association; National Estuarine Research Reserve Association; National Parks Conservation Association; National Resources Defense Council; No More Deaths Tucson; Northern Alaska Environmental Center; San Diego Foundation for Change; Southern Border Communities Coalition; and the list goes on.

Environmental and Latino Organizations Opposing Title XIV, H.R. 1505,

the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act

1. Alaska Wilderness League

2. American Civil Liberties Union

3. BorderLinks

4. California Coastal Commission

5. Center for Biological Diversity

6. Citizens for a Safe and Secure Border

7. Citizens for Border Solutions

8. Coastal States Organization

9. Cochise County Chapter Progressive Democrats of America

10. Defenders of Wildlife

11. Earthjustice

12. Equality Alliance of San Diego County

13. Escondido Human Rights Committee

14. Green Valley Samaritans

15. Hispanic Access Foundation

16. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

17. Hispanic Federation

18. Hispanic National Bar Association

19. Klamath Forest Alliance

20. Labor Council for Latin American Advancement

21. Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and

Pomona Valley

22. League of Conservation Voters

23. League of United Latin American Citizens

24. National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives

25. National Association of Hispanic Publications

26. National Association of Latin American and Caribbean

Communities

27. National Conference of Puerto Rican Women

28. National Council of La Raza

29. National Estuarine Research Reserve Association

30. National Hispanic Association of Colleges and

Universities

31. National Hispanic Coalition on Aging

32. National Hispanic Environmental Council

33. National Hispanic Medical Association

34. National Institute for Latino Policy

35. National Latino Coalition on Climate Change

36. National Parks Conservation Association

37. Natural Resources Defense Council

38. No More Deaths--Tucson

39. Northern Alaska Environmental Center

40. San Diego Foundation for Change

41. School Sisters of Notre Dame, Douglas, AZ

42. Southern Border Communities Coalition

43. Southern Border Communities Coalition, Arizona Chapter

44. Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project

45. St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

46. Texas Border Coalition

47. The Sierra Club

48. The Wilderness Society

49. Tucson Samaritans

50. U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute

51. United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce

52. Vet Voices

53. Voces Verdes

54. Western Environmental Law Center

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 315 due to a family medical issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the McClintock of California Amendment No. 3.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 318 due to a family medical issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Matheson of Utah Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 316 due to a family medical issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Hirono of Hawaii Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 317 due to a family medical issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the McClintock of California Amendment No. 5.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 10th, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 246 in order to attend my grandson's graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 5652, To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2013.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 10, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 247 in order to attend my grandson's graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on final passage of H.R. 5652, To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2013.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 10th, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 248 in order to attend my grandson's graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 5326, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 10th, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 249 in order to attend my grandson's graduation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on final passage of H.R. 5326, Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 172 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on Ordering the Previous Question to H. Res. 620, Providing for consideration of H.R. 9, Small Business Tax Cut Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 173 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the resolution, as amended, to H. Res. 620, providing for consideration of H.R. 9, Small Business Tax Cut Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 175 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on agreeing to the Levin Substitute Amendment to H.R. 9, Small Business Tax Cut Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 176 due a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Motion to Recommit to H.R. 9, Small Business Tax Cut Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 177 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on final passage of H.R. 9, Small Business Tax Cut Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 165 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' On Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 619 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4348) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 166 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to H. Res. 619 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4348) to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Chair, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 168 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Ribble Amendment No. 2.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 169 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the motion to recommit on H.R. 4348--Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 170 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on final passage on H.R. 4348--Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 171 due to a family medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2453--Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act, as amended.