Floor Statements

I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Oberstar; the subcommittee chairwoman also, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson); Ms. Pingree also for the work she has done; and, of course, our ranking members, Mr. Boozman, for the work that you and Mr. Mica have done.

This particular amendment is to support government efficiency. We both believe this amendment will eliminate waste and redundancies in the programs and will improve the effectiveness and cut back wasteful spending.

This amendment authorizes the Administrator of the EPA to identify, number one, best management practices for allocating resources in an efficient and effective manner. It would outline key reasons why such practices will result in positive outcomes and disseminate the best practices to the management conferences. Also, this amendment identifies redundant rules,

regulations, and requirements for reporting by grant recipients and instructs the EPA Administrator to develop a plan to eliminate those redundancies in the future.

This amendment, Mr. Chairman, will make our government more efficient, more effective, and more accountable by conducting this type of evaluation. I urge support of this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Wilson County, Texas on its sesquicentennial year. It was 150 years ago when Wilson County was founded in South Texas by an act of the state legislature. The area is rich in culture and history and serves a great part to the state of Texas.

Before the founding of the county, the first Spanish explorers traveled the area in the early eighteenth century and used the land mostly for ranching. Most notably, the birthplace of ranching took place at Rancho de las Cabras. This was a ranching outpost for Mission San Francisco de la Espada where the first ranches and cowboys settled near Floresville in Wilson County. By the 1800s, Mexicans, Anglo American, German and Polish settlers began moving into the area. Soon after, the state Legislature founded Wilson County on February 13, 1860. The county was named after James Charles Wilson, who was an early settler of Texas and a state legislator.

Throughout the years, Wilson County has played a significant role in South Texas history. After the Civil War, Wilson County's population underwent the greatest growth due to the completion of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, which reached Floresville in 1886. By the early nineteenth century, farmers who were once known for cotton crops as the most important cash crop, then diversified into a wider range of like peas, watermelons, and peanuts. Today, some call Floresville the ``Peanut Capital of Texas.'' Wilson County residents have served valiantly in combat from the Civil War to today's conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. One hundred and fifty years has shaped the county and development of Texas through its rich culture and history and of a diversified economy that includes farming, ranching, and even oil discovery.

Wilson County includes towns and cities such as, Floresville, La Vernia, Pandora, Poth, Stockdale, Sutherland Springs, and communities such as Carpenter, Calaveras, Canada Verde, Grass Pond Colocy, Kicaster, Doseido Colony, Saspameo and Sandy Hills. It totals 809 square miles and has a population of more than 40,000.

From a legacy in ranching, to its honorable natives and rich historical culture, Wilson County celebrating its sesquicentennial year is a milestone for the county and for Texas. I am honored to have had this time to recognize Wilson County on its sesquicentennial year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of the late Ed Gotthardt, former Mayor of Seguin, Texas. Mayor Gotthardt served the community through his distinguished business career and great service as mayor for two terms in Seguin, Texas.

Mayor Gotthardt was born on January 1929 in Galle, Texas and passed away of natural causes February 2010 in New Braunfels, Texas. His accomplished lifetime as a businessman and mayor stemmed from his humble beginnings. His childhood was spent on a farm in Galle in a town between Seguin and San Marcos where he learned about produce. He received his education in the public schools of Guadalupe County, where he graduated from high school. At the age of twenty-one, the late Gotthardt was hired as a produce worker at a local grocery store. With a twelfth grade education, he rose through the ranks to store manager, unit director, to the corporate office as a buyer and then as Vice President of Produce Marketing. In the 1980s, he retired having lived during his career throughout the area in Seguin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. The late Gotthardt had a thirty-seven year career in the grocery business before serving two three-year terms as Mayor. After his retirement, he later served as President of the H-E-B grocery store retirees' organization.

In 1990, Gotthardt announced that he planned to run for mayor of Seguin. He had not previously held any position in public office, but his involvement with the community and commitment to the people of Seguin aided to his election. His re-election was without opposition, serving as mayor until 1996. During his time in office, Mayor Gotthardt contributed to the city by ensuring that the Sebastopol State Historical Park in Seguin was renovated and dedicated much of his work for those who served their country in the military. lie worked on the Veterans Memorial at the Guadalupe County Courthouse extensively. The late Mayor Gotthardt was recognized for his tireless efforts to ensure the community and people were provided the services needed.

Along with his business career and terms as Mayor of Seguin, the late Gotthardt was a member of Seguin Masonic Lodge AF&AM 109, Alzafar Shrine, Elks Lodge 1229, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 555, the Seguin Chamber of Commerce, the Seguin Rotary Club and the Comal County Seniors Center. His leisure time was spent with the Seguin Chamber of Commerce, senior center, and with his family.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the late Ed Gotthardt, former Mayor of Seguin, Texas on his contributions to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of the late Ed Gotthardt, former Mayor of Seguin, Texas. Mayor Gotthardt served the community through his distinguished business career and great service as mayor for two terms in Seguin, Texas.

Mayor Gotthardt was born on January 1929 in Galle, Texas and passed away of natural causes February 2010 in New Braunfels, Texas. His accomplished lifetime as a businessman and mayor stemmed from his humble beginnings. His childhood was spent on a farm in Galle in a town between Seguin and San Marcos where he learned about produce. He received his education in the public schools of Guadalupe County, where he graduated from high school. At the age of twenty-one, the late Gotthardt was hired as a produce worker at a local grocery store. With a twelfth grade education, he rose through the ranks to store manager, unit director, to the corporate office as a buyer and then as Vice President of Produce Marketing. In the 1980s, he retired having lived during his career throughout the area in Seguin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. The late Gotthardt had a thirty-seven year career in the grocery business before serving two three-year terms as Mayor. After his retirement, he later served as President of the H-E-B grocery store retirees' organization.

In 1990, Gotthardt announced that he planned to run for mayor of Seguin. He had not previously held any position in public office, but his involvement with the community and commitment to the people of Seguin aided to his election. His re-election was without opposition, serving as mayor until 1996. During his time in office, Mayor Gotthardt contributed to the city by ensuring that the Sebastopol State Historical Park in Seguin was renovated and dedicated much of his work for those who served their country in the military. He worked on the Veterans Memorial at the Guadalupe County Courthouse extensively. The late Mayor Gotthardt was recognized for his tireless efforts to ensure the community and people were provided the services needed.

Along with his business career and terms as Mayor of Seguin, the late Gotthardt was a member of Seguin Masonic Lodge AF&AM 109, Alzafar Shrine, Elks Lodge 1229, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 555, the Seguin Chamber of Commerce, the Seguin Rotary Club and the Comal County Seniors Center. His leisure time was spent with the Seguin Chamber of Commerce, senior center, and with his family.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the late Ed Gotthardt, former Mayor of Seguin, Texas on his contributions to the community. I thank you for this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Wilson County, Texas on its sesquicentennial year. It was 150 years ago when Wilson County was founded in south Texas by an act of the state legislature. The area is rich in culture and history and serves a great part to the state of Texas.

Before the founding of the county, the first Spanish explorers traveled through the area in the early eighteenth century and used the land mostly for ranching. Most notably, the birthplace of commercial ranching took place at Rancho de las Cabras. This was a ranching outpost for Mission San Francisco de la Espada where the first ranches and cowboys settled near Floresville in Wilson County. By the 1800s, Anglo American, German and Polish settlers began moving into the area. Soon after, the state Legislature founded Wilson County on February 13, 1860. The county was named after James Charles Wilson, who was an early settler of Texas and a state legislator.

Throughout the years, Wilson County has played a significant role in south Texas history. After the Civil War, Wilson County's population underwent the greatest growth due to the completion of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, which reached Floresville in 1886. By the early nineteenth century, farmers who were once known for cotton crops as the most important cash crop, then diversified into a wider range of peas, watermelons, and peanuts. Today, some call Floresville the ``Peanut Capital of Texas.'' One of the county's best known natives is John Connally, who was born in 1917 near Floresville. Later Connally served as governor and survived a shot during President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. One hundred and fifty years has shaped the county and development of Texas through its historical sites, involvement in diversified farming, ranching, and even oil discovery.

Wilson County includes towns and cities such as Carpenter, Floresville, La Vernia, Pandora, Poth, Saspamco, Stockdale, Sutherland Springs, Grass Pond Colony, Kicaster, Doseido Colony, and Sandy Hills. It totals 809 square miles and has a population of more than 40,000.

From a legacy in ranching, to its honorable natives and rich historical culture, Wilson County celebrating its sesquicentennial year is a milestone for the county and for Texas. I am honored to have had this time to recognize Wilson County on its sesquicentennial year. I thank you for this time, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, due to a death in the family, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor on Monday, February 22, 2010.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 4425--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2-116th Street in North Troy, New York, as the Martin G. ``Marty'' Mahar Post Office, and ``yea'' on H.R. 4238--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 930 39th Avenue in Greeley, Colorado, as the W.D. Farr Post Office Building.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in support of this particular amendment of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act. I certainly want to thank Mr. Lipinski for all the leadership that he has provided on this bill and the staff that worked so hard. I certainly want to thank my good friend from Texas also, Mr. McCaul, who has worked very hard on this issue, especially on the homeland security. We appreciate your working on that, Mr. McCaul.

This legislation will greatly improve the cybersecurity in both the private and public sector. As any modern business, small or large, will tell you, we live in a highly interconnected, highly technological 21st century.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I know that we are under attack from cyberthreats every single day. Sensitive security and intelligence information pass through the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And more than $1 trillion was spent last year fighting to keep this information safe. The more we rely on IT systems, the more we need to make the necessary investments to reduce cyber-risks and vulnerabilities.

My amendment today is simple. As we improve cybersecurity, we must help put Americans back to work.

My amendment requires that the advisory committee, as it produces a cybersecurity strategic research and development plan, determine how we ought to strengthen all levels of cybersecurity education and training programs to develop a well-trained workforce that meets our Nation's cybersecurity needs. We must work to enlist our Nation's high schools, trade schools, colleges, and universities to bring more young people into this industry.

We can also use the cybersecurity education to harness the technological powers of our own young people to keep our Nation and our Nation's businesses safe. We have an opportunity to strengthen the IT infrastructure in our workforce by getting together in partnership with our Nation's schools.

In my home State of Texas, we are leaders in the cybersecurity operation. As Mr. McCaul understands, Texas invests in people and productive technology both in the public and private academic sectors. In San Antonio, for example, we have the National Center for Excellence for Cybersecurity, which has increased job numbers in the cybersecurity and information assurance industries in Texas. We can also replicate this particular model.

Mr. Chairman, as you know, we want to make sure that we repair our economy and help put people back to work. This is why we must strengthen our cyberinfrastructure both in business, education, and government alike. We can focus on these goals; that is, how can we secure the IT future and how do we put people back to work?

I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to echo Mr. McCaul's words on this, that we need to make sure that we support our business, both public and private. I think this amendment will accomplish that, especially working with our education.

Again, to the chairman, thank you very much, and to the staff who worked so hard on this.

I ask Members to support this particular amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with my good friend, Representative Lamar Smith, to honor The SCOOTER Store, a hometown business in our home State of Texas. They've been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the top 100 places to work in America. Fortune magazine has recognized this excellent work environment for their employees, ranking The SCOOTER Store the 38th Best Place to Work in 2010. The SCOOTER Store was founded in New Braunfels, Texas, by Doug and Susanna Harrison almost 19 years ago. Today, they serve more than 460,000 people across 48 States and Puerto Rico, with more than 70 facilities and approximately 2,000 employees.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time they have been recognized. They were recognized 6 years ago. They're a company built on teamwork and good values. And this is why, Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to have the time to recognize The SCOOTER Store for their ranking as the 38th Best Place to Work in 2010 by Fortune magazine.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the McAllen Monitor, which has served as a vital news source for the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and our communities.

This newspaper has accomplished a ``century of service'' to our community over the years.

From copy boys in the past, to computers in the present, the Monitor has kept an unprecedented pulse on south Texas.

They've generated news and reports of historic people, legends, events, tragedies and accomplishments, that have served to shape the story of the Rio Grande Valley.

The first issue was released on December 11, 1909.

The Monitor was founded in a small facility at the corner of Beaumont and Broadway in McAllen, Texas.

It was ``humble beginnings'' for our neighborhood paper.

Now the Monitor has a 100,000 square foot building, equipped with modern equipment and journalists of all backgrounds.

Over the past 100 years, the Monitor has undergone change, along with changes in news on a daily basis.

The paper was even renamed four times. But the spirit of its content, unchanged through all the years.

For a century now, the Monitor has provided a steady flow of information as a trusted news source throughout the region.

The McAllen Monitor has covered groundbreaking news items that have shaped the Nation, State, and community.

From 1909 to 2009, the newspaper has covered landmark events including:

``Black Tuesday'' when the Nation fell into the Great Depression;

1933 when a hurricane hit Brownsville to McAllen;

and in August 1957, a Russian spy was taken into custody in McAllen.

In 1968, Hispanics participated in a walkout at Ecouch-Elsa High School because of unjust treatment in the school.

Three years later, Cesar Chavez visited the Valley followed by the great late Senator Edward ``Ted'' Kennedy who visited the Valley in October 1980.

These are landmark, local civil rights movements in our community.

For all these events in history, the Monitor was there.

That's why they are our trusted newsource in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen and in south Texas.

They are our local newspaper who understands the spirit of our City and the values of our People.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 100th anniversary of the McAllen Monitor newspaper.

The Monitor is celebrating 100 years of service, continuing its mission for the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas.

A century of news for our community, so I commend and congratulate the Monitor with the greatest gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1517) to allow certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who serve under an overseas limited appointment for at least 2 years, and whose service is rated fully successful or higher throughout that time, to be converted to a permanent appointment in the competitive service, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the bill that is under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 1517 would help fix a previous hiring error for a select number of employees serving oversees in positions for Customs and Border Protection. Through no fault of their own, there are about 35 employees in several CBP pre-clearance locations across the globe that were hired under a limited term appointment by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Some of those workers have been employed, Mr. Speaker, since 1987, with the majority hired in the mid-1990s. Mr. Speaker, they have been, for the most part, treated the same way as other CBP officers and personnel, regardless of their initial appointment status. However these employees, these hardworking employees, unbeknownst to them, were in personnel limbo for the past 15 years to 20 years and were not covered by the protections and immunities afforded to permanent CBP employees engaged in similar work.

This personnel situation was initially brought to the employees' attention in 2005. Since then, the CBP, OPM, and the Department of State have been trying to fix this glitch, but they realize that they need the help of Congress. This is why H.R. 1517 will give the CBP Commissioner the authority to noncompetitively convert these 35 employees to full-time permanent civil service positions.

Doing so would not only ensure that these employees continue to receive their appropriate benefits but also will provide them with the protections they deserve as dedicated employees serving the CBP mission abroad. This ability to convert these employees will also ensure that CBP and that the United States honor the agreements between our countries and others such as Ireland.

Going forward, it is our hope that the Commissioner will take the past histories of these dedicated 35 individuals into account when determining their future. As I had mentioned, through no fault of their own, these employees find themselves in this very difficult situation.

Other employees assigned to work overseas rotate back to the U.S. after a period of time. The majority of these employees affected by the bill, however, have been at their posts for many years and have put down roots in these locations.

In light of these employees' unique circumstances, the bill provides guidance to the Commissioner, stating that the implementation of the bill shall, number one, meet the operational needs of CBP and, number two, to the greatest extent practicable, not be disruptive to this discrete number of affected employees.

In our attempt to right the system, CBP should not unduly disrupt the lives of these dedicated individuals who have provided a very valuable service to our country.

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform,

Washington, DC, December 2, 2009.

Hon. Bennie Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to confirm our mutual

understanding with respect to the consideration of H.R. 1517,

a bill to allow certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection

employees to be converted to a permanent appointment in the

competitive service.

I appreciate your effort to consult with the Committee on

Oversight and Government Reform regarding those provisions of

H.R. 1517 that fall within the Oversight Committee's

jurisdiction.

Given the importance of moving this bill forward promptly,

I do not intend to object to its consideration in the House.

However, I do so only with the understanding that this

procedure should not be construed to prejudice this

Committee's jurisdictional interest or prerogatives in the

subject matter of H.R. 1517, or any other similar

legislation.

I would also request your support for the appointment of

conferees from the Oversight Committee should H.R. 1517 or a

similar Senate bill be considered in conference with the

Senate.

Finally, I request that you include our exchange of letters

on this matter in the Congressional Record during

consideration of this legislation on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Edolphus Towns,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) who is the author of this bill and has been working with the ranking member, Mr. King of New York.

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation that Mr. Engel has been working on, along with the ranking member, Mr. Peter King of New York. This is a piece of legislation that will help those employees that have been working for our country. I would ask all Members to support this important legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3978) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifts for otherwise authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness that are related to preparedness for and response to terrorism, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days with which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3978, which is sponsored by my friend from Alabama (Mr. Rogers). I am pleased to serve with Mr. Rogers on the Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response Subcommittee. He is the ranking member and works with us in a very bipartisan manner. I thank him for his service.

Mr. Rogers' district is home to the Center For Domestic Preparedness. It is the premier training site for our Nation's first responders, and it is the Department of Homeland Security's only federally chartered weapons of mass destruction training center.

DHS has facilitated training at the center for thousands of first responders from all 50 States, territories and the District of Columbia. Given the center's prominence in the first responders' community, it often receives offers of gifts and donations from a variety of sources. These donations and services include training, displays, emergency response equipment, and offers of guest lectures.

These donations and gifts would strengthen the center's ability to offer high-quality emergency response training.

Unfortunately, the center currently lacks the legal authority at this time to accept these types of services. H.R. 3978 will permit the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifts for otherwise authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness that are related to preparedness for and in response to terrorism.

The legislation further directs DHS to report annually to the Congress on any gifts that were accepted in the preceding year and how they have contributed to the center's mission. Other DHS-supported training centers are permitted to accept gifts and donations, and it is past due to give the Center for Domestic Preparedness the same authority.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3978.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this important Homeland Security legislation. The gentleman from Alabama has worked very hard, has been very dedicated in this piece of legislation, and I would ask all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of the Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center serving Laredo, Texas, Webb County, and surrounding areas. This center is nationally renowned and serves a wide range of comprehensive services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, ideological assessment, counseling, and social services.

The late Mrs. Ruthe B. Cowl founded the Center in 1958 with a mission to establish a treatment center for people with disabilities of all kinds. Formerly known as the Laredo Rehabilitation Center, the Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center assists to the needs of disabled, physically challenged and handicapped individuals through a series of treatments and services. This grand initiative started on modest means of two small rooms of an old Health Department in 1959. Since 1966, the Center has continued to expand. The Center was renamed by Board Resolution to the Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center in 1970 to honor Mrs. Cowl for her tireless efforts for disabled services. Today, the Center stands as a beautiful, modern facility of nearly 33,000 square feet.

The Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center has been acclaimed at the State and National levels for being a pacesetter in the services provided in the area of rehabilitation. The Center is responsible for bringing many firsts to the Laredo and surrounding areas. The Center plays a unique role in the community for achieving its mission to provide specialized services to those with birth defects, strokes, brain injuries, amputations, emotional problems and other physical conditions that impact quality of life. For 50 years, the Center has ensured that the certified, dedicated staff equipped with the best equipment and services are able to serve the community. The Center is a nonprofit organization which serves an average of 135 patients per day. It has provided millions of therapy visits to all in need regardless of the patient's ability to pay. The dedication, passion, and commitment that the Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center has provided for the past 50 years have been a great service to the community.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center. The Center is celebrating 50 years of service and continuing its mission to assist all disabled, handicapped and physically challenged individuals who deserve quality life and treatment. I thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3980) to provide for identifying and eliminating redundant reporting requirements and developing meaningful performance metrics for homeland security preparedness grants, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, Congress instructed FEMA in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to develop performance metrics for its homeland security grants programs. As the House Committee on Homeland Security discovered in our October 27 subcommittee hearing I held with my ranking member hearing on emergency communications, these requirements remain poorly implemented and difficult to comprehend. What is most disconcerting is that FEMA still cannot determine our Nation's overall preparedness or how homeland security grants have helped to protect our Nation from acts of terrorism.

It is for these reasons that I come to you today to ask for your support of H.R. 3980, the Redundancy Elimination and Enhancement Performance for Preparedness Grants Act. This legislation would require FEMA to work in conjunction with State, local, tribal and territorial stakeholders to develop a plan to do the following things:

Streamline homeland security grant reporting requirements, rules and regulations to eliminate redundant reporting;

Create a strategy including a timetable for establishing the much- needed performance metrics for grant programs to ensure that the funds are being directed to the areas where they will be best spent;

Require FEMA to take an inventory of each of the homeland security grant programs to include the purpose, objectives and performance goals for each.

The plan will be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees no later than 120 days after the bill's enactment.

It will be updated biannually to ensure that the committee is able to maintain a watchful eye and the oversight on redundancies in the law that might confuse the grant recipients at the local level.

This bill will help identify inefficiencies with the DHS grants programs and this bill will increase the quality of service received by DHS grant recipients.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure,

Washington, DC, December 1, 2009.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I write to you regarding H.R. 3980,

the ``Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for

Preparedness Grants Act''.

H.R. 3980 contains provisions that fall within the

jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to

bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious

manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential

referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration

of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision

to forgo a sequential referral of the bill does not waive,

reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee

on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 3980.

Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees

during any House-Senate conference convened on this

legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the

Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to

support any request by the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 3980

or similar legislation.

Please place a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Committee

Report on H.R. 3980 and in the Congressional Record

consideration of the measure in the House.

I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass

this important legislation.

Sincerely,

James L. Oberstar,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as you heard, this is commonsense legislation that will streamline FEMA's efforts to enhance our Nation's preparedness and response capacity. All we're trying to do is to make sure that we get rid of any unnecessary rules and regulations that cause our local folks problems. Number two, we're also trying to make sure that we measure the results. If we're going to spend billions of dollars on grants, we've just got to make sure that we measure those particular results.

The bottom line is, Mr. Speaker, we're trying to focus on the customers, and the customers are the recipients of these grants. I certainly want to thank our ranking member, Mr. Rogers. He's done an outstanding job there in the committee. I look forward to working with him not only on this legislation to make it law but certainly on other pieces of legislation. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Senior District Judge Solomon Casseb, Jr., for his dedication and contributions to the city of San Antonio and South Texas community.

Judge Casseb was born in 1915 in San Antonio, Texas. He attended St. Mary's University and University of Texas Law. By 1938, he was admitted to practice and later was enlisted as a Private in the United States Air Force at the break of World War II. After his service overseas, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Major to return home to a private practice of law. Thereafter, he was appointed for 2 terms as Judge of the 57th District Court and later served as Presiding Judge of the District Courts of Bexar County, as well as Presiding Judge for the Fourth Administrative District. It was 1985 when Judge Casseb acquired senior status and began serving as Senior District Judge of Texas. Shortly after in 1987, he received the Texas Bar Foundation's Outstanding Jurist Award. He was a member of the Advisory Committee to the Supreme Court of Texas and the Joint Task Force. Judge Casseb's contribution to the community of law was further recognized when he presided over the critical phases of the Pennzoil versus Texaco case, which resulted in the largest jury award in American jurisprudence. The judgment of that case has been upheld by the Appellate Courts of Texas and proves monumental to the state and Judge Casseb's work.

The progression of Judge Casseb's career went hand and hand with the numerous awards, recognitions, and appointments he received. Early on in his career, he was chosen the Outstanding Ex-Student of St. Mary's University. In 1965, Judge Casseb was named Outstanding Judge of 1965 by the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Thereafter, he received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Foundation and the Laredo/Webb County Bar Association. By 1991, Judge Casseb was named Mr. South Texas at the Annual Washington Birthday Celebration in Laredo. A year later, the University of Texas Law School established the Judge Solomon Casseb, Jr., School in his honor.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had the time to recognize the dedication, accomplishments, and commitment of the late Senior District Judge Solomon Casseb, Jr., and I thank you for this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize retirement of Monsignor Thomas A. Davis and his dedication and service as a Pastor and community leader in Laredo, Texas.

Monsignor Davis was born in Tipperary, Ireland on May 31, 1933 to Joseph and Brigid Davis. He has conducted missionary work and been involved with the Catholic Church for many years. More than a half a century has passed since Monsignor Davis began. He has spent his career in five different nations, driven by his devotion and humble beginnings. He will retire on October 28, 2009.

He began his career in 1954 in Ireland and would spend six years in a Monastery. Thereafter, he would spend another six years at St. Kieran's Seminary in Ireland. In 1968, he was ordained for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. In the years following his ordainment, he earned his Masters in Education Degree from Our Lady of the Lakes College in 1974. The next few decades, he continued faith-based and Church involvement in Robstown, Texas to Arteaga, Mexico to help communities and churches. His work would continue as his passion with his faith grew stronger. His contributions to Laredo, Texas have proven monumental for the community, spending a total of 31 years at San Agustin Church, Mother Cabrini Church, and Saint Patrick's Church.

In 2003, Msgr. Davis established the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Patrick's Church, which ensures Laredo residents have a place to go in times of need at any hour. This chapel is the only one of its kind in the area and is a great contribution to the efforts of the church and outreach.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had the time to recognize the faith and dedication of Monsignor Thomas A. Davis.