Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Hidalgo Early College High School, in Hidalgo, TX, for achieving the highest ranking in the State of Texas among the Best High Schools In America by U.S. News and World Report.

Hidalgo Early College High School has consistently worked to provide crucial tools for educational success for its 810 students, more than half of whom come from families that have never finished high school, and these students have overcome tremendous barriers thanks to the leadership of their school, their parents, and teachers. One of the many tools for success the school offers is the chance to earn up to 60 college hours at no cost by the time the students reach their senior year, which gives them the opportunity to obtain both a high school diploma and associates degree upon graduation. This was made possible by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It is also due to the strong leadership displayed by Eduardo Cancino, superintendent of Hidalgo ISD, and by Edward Blaha, principal of Hidalgo Early College High School, that the school has outperformed its peers at the local, state, and national level. I am also proud of the support for the community that the local school board and the administrators and teachers have shown for Hidalgo Early College High School. It is because of their collective effort in providing the best education possible for the students, that Hidalgo

Early College High School has rightfully earned its rank as one of the best high schools in America.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Hidalgo Early College High School for achieving the highest ranking in the State of Texas among the Best High Schools In America by U.S. News and World Report, and I thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support the Peru Trade Agreement. But first I want to thank Chairman Rangel for the leadership, for providing a very balanced approach to trade here in the United States. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The objectives of the Peru Trade Agreement are two. One is to provide a substantial access for U.S. exports, and number two is to promote political stability in the western hemisphere and to strengthen U.S. national security.

Let's look at the purpose of a free trade agreement. The purpose of a free trade agreement is to lower tariffs.

But let's look at the current situation we're in. Right now, currently, 98 percent of the U.S. imports from Peru enter into the United States duty free under the most favored nation tariff rates and various preferences programs, including the Andean Trade Preference Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, GSP, and the Caribbean Basis Initiative. It is a one-way street where those imports come into the United States.

Upon implementation of this Peru trade agreement, 80 percent of all U.S. goods entering Peru will be immediately duty free, and the remaining 20 percent of goods will have the tariffs removed over the next 10 years. So what we're doing by this trade agreement is to make it into fair trade, into a two-way street. It's a one-way street coming in the United States, and what we want to do is make it two ways so

we can also have more exports and, therefore, make sure that we have a trade surplus with Peru.

The passage of this agreement will continue to remove barriers of trade of the Andean region and send a clear message to other nations that the establishment of democratic rights, the removal of restrictive tariffs, and the opening of markets to free trade will net positive results.

Peru is a market of almost 30 million people, and this presents opportunities for the U.S. businesses that they currently do not have at this time.

Although comprising 7.5 percent of the global, this will open up trade.

And I thank again, Mr. Speaker, the chairman for providing this legislation.

Madam Speaker, Whereas, the Vaqueros are the true original cowboys of South Texas, and thus started the development of the ranching industry in Jim Hogg County.

Whereas, the first ranches founded in the area with the help of the vaqueros were Randado, Las Noriacitas, Las Animas, San Antonio Viejo, Las Enramadas, Las Viboritas, El Baluarte, and San Javier. Some of these ranches are still held by descendants of the original owners, such as Randado, which was visited by General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War.

Whereas, the vaqueros were renowned for their exemplary ranching and stock-handling skills, which were needed for the development of ranches in Jim Hogg County.

Whereas, the skills and the ranching practices shown by the vaqueros have left a lasting impact on the present ranching industry. The equipment of the vaquero--saddle, chaps, bandana, lasso, and spurs--has become the standard gear of all Texas cowboys.

Whereas, ranching remains one of the vital elements of the economy in Jim Hogg County because of the efforts of the vaqueros in the nascent start of the ranching industry; be it hereby

Resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar, in representing the 28th Congressional District of the State of Texas, commends the City of Hebbronville on its celebration of the history of the vaquero on November 3, 2007.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Master Sergeant Adolfo ``Popo'' Gonzalez, on his retirement from the Texas Army National Guard, where he served his state and country honorably for the past 39 years.

Mr. Gonzalez was born to Aurelia Lopez Gonzalez and the late Eusebio Bustos Gonzalez in June 17, 1949, in Laredo, Texas. He started working at the family restaurant when he was 12 years old, and then ran a paper route for the Laredo Morning Times. Mr. Gonzalez graduated from J.W. Nixon High School in 1967, and then received his associate degree from Laredo Community College. He joined the Texas National Army National Guard on May 25, 1968, which began the start of his 39 years service in the National Guard. Mr. Gonzalez received his B.S. in Education with a major in English and Spanish from Texas A&M International University.

Mr. Gonzalez is intensely involved in the community as a member of several local and non-profit organizations such as President of LULAC #690, Laredo Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce, Laredo Frontier Days, Webb County Community Action Agency, and the Laredo Veterans Coalition. He also is a member of the Laredo Airport Advisory Board, the Webb County Water Committee, Laredo Evening Lions Club, Santa Isabel Creek Feasibility Study, Non-Commission Officers Club of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas State Teachers Association, and the National Guard Association of Texas.

In addition to his civic involvement with the community, Mr. Gonzalez works as a teacher at United High School, where he has taught oral communications to ESL learners for the past 22 years. When he is not teaching students or working with community organizations, Mr. Gonzalez helps his fellow veterans out as the Laredo Area chair for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, which works with local employers to safeguard the rights of guardsmen and reservists. He was named the Outstanding Volunteer for the State of Texas in recognition of his work with ESGR.

Mr. Gonzalez is a proud father to six children: Adolfo, Jr., Albert, Richard, Annette Marie, Alejandro Jose, and Yvette Magally. He has been married to his wife, Juana Maria Lopez, for the past 25 years.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the dedication and commitment of Master Sergeant Adolfo ``Popo'' Gonzalez to the City of Laredo in the State of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Schertz for being named one of the top 100 best places to live by Money Magazine. The city of Schertz was founded in 1843. It is the largest city in Guadalupe County, which encompasses part of my 28th Congressional District. Schertz is located between the areas of San Antonio and Austin but has retained its small town community feel, which was noted by Money Magazine.

Schertz is the home to over 34,000 Texans. Part of the growth we have seen in this city is attributed to the city's vibrant economy, its schools, and the quality of life enjoyed by the residents and its leadership. It is clear why Schertz was named 40th in the top 100 best places to live by Money Magazine, and the State of Texas is ranked number 1 as the place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the city of Schertz for being named one of the top 100 best places to live by Money Magazine.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 63rd anniversary of the Annual Floresville Peanut Festival, which celebrates the farming and harvesting of the peanut crop in Wilson County.

The Floresville Peanut Festival was first established on July 29, 1938, and has been held on the second full weekend in October every year since its inception. It is a grand celebration that recognizes the importance of the peanut as a crop staple to the South Texas agricultural community. The festival is started with the annual Goober Games on Tuesday afternoon, which is held on the grounds of the court house in Floresville, followed by the coronation of the Queen Tunaep and the Royal Court during the carnival on Thursday, Each member of the Royal Court receives a scholarship from the Floresville Peanut Festival Association.

On Friday, the full festivities begin for the weekend with rides, food booths, and the Kiddie Parade, in which the children of the City of Floresville are given the chance to show off their floats and costumes. Saturday marks the Grand Peanut Festival Parade, and the day's activities also include the annual raffle, arts and crafts vendors, dance groups, and other forms of entertainment that take place in the town square. The Floresville Peanut Festival has drawn in thousands of visitors from all over the great State of Texas, and other states, to celebrate the peanut as one of the most important crops in South Texas.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 63rd anniversary of the Annual Floresville Peanut Festival, and I thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my cosponsorship of H. Res. 106.

I want to thank the distinguished Member from Minnesota for yielding. Again, I applaud the committee's tremendous work and the work of Chairman Oberstar for the leadership and vision that he has provided, along with Chairman Reyes.

This bill creates the Southwest Border Region Commission and will positively impact the State of Texas. Eleven out of the 12 counties that I represent will be impacted in a positive way. These counties are struggling with common infrastructure needs that inhibit the community's ability to increase economic development. Some of these communities on the U.S.-Mexico border can be identified as colonias. As you know, colonias are found in Texas, New Mexico Arizona, and California, all States that will benefit from the establishment of the Southwest Border Regional Commission.

These colonias many times do not have paved roads, hospitals, or even utilities. Many colonias do not have sewage systems, forcing residents to rely on often inadequate wastewater disposal methods, such as small and outdated septic tanks. These conditions often result in sewage pooling on the ground. Even if these colonias do have adequate sewage systems, the border area lacks sufficient facilities to treat wastewater in this area.

Mr. Speaker, again, this Southwest Border Commission will provide the resources to help colonias and other underdeveloped regions to adequately address needs to be solved. By the establishment of this commission, this will address the basic needs that are needed in these areas. This is why I am asking the Members to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, in a bipartisan manner, Congress enacted the Children's Health Insurance Program to provide health coverage to those who need it the most. Since that time it's been a success story providing health care coverage to 6 million children.

When I was a member of the Texas State legislature, I had an opportunity to help implement the first CHIP program in the State of Texas there in Laredo. Again, it's a story that's worked very well.

In fact, as the program grew, the number of uninsured children in our Nation has dropped dramatically, even though child poverty was on the rise and many of the families were losing their employer-based health coverage.

Unfortunately, this trend has started to reverse itself. For 2 years in a row the number of uninsured children has increased. There are now 8.7 million children in our Nation who are uninsured. Those numbers are a clear sign that Congress needs to pass a bipartisan agreement that was reached last week and will be on the floor today that will provide access to quality health insurance to 10 million low-income children.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan agreement. Again, Democrats and Republicans need to come together for the Nation's children.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Radcliffe Killam, one of the greatest members of the community of Laredo, Texas, who passed away at the age of 97 on September 8, 2007.

Mr. Radcliffe Killam was born on July 1, 1910, to Oliver Winfield and Harriet Smith Killam in Grove, Oklahoma. He came to Laredo with his family when he was nine years old. His father established the Mirando Oil Company in South Texas, which would later become Killam Oil Company under the leadership of his son, Radcliffe. Mr. Killam grew up working on oil rigs, and attended Laredo High School. He then received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1935. During World War II, Radcliffe was among those in the greatest generation to answer the call of duty by serving in the U.S. Naval Service overseas in the Atlantic and then in the Pacific.

When the war was over, Mr. Killam returned back to his oil business in Laredo, Texas, with his wife, the former Sue Spivey of Bonham, Texas, whom he had married in 1942. He was extensively involved in the community, and served on the boards and councils of banks, foundations, and educational institutions such as Texas A&M International University whose founding he had helped make possible through his donation of 300 acres for the campus. Mr. Killam truly believed that education was the key to success for the future of the community in Laredo, and endeavored through his various partnerships with TAMIU to ensure the continued success of TAMIU in South Texas. Mr. Killam also extended his philanthropic interests to Mercy Hospital in Laredo, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and to the South Texas Health Sciences Center.

Mr. Killam was also known for his love of the outdoors. He owned several large ranches, and implemented a game management program which allowed hunters to hunt wild game on his ranch. The City of Laredo benefited a great deal from the philanthropy of Mr. Killam. He left behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire those who knew and loved him. Mr. Radcliffe Killam truly led by example and it is to his credit that Laredo has advanced a great deal as one of the leading trade ports and economies in South Texas, with more opportunities for higher education for the youth of the community due to his investments in TAMIU.

Mr. Killam is survived by his wife, Sue, of sixty-five years, his son David and his wife, Hayley, his daughter, Adrian Kathleen, his daughter Tracy DiLeo and her husband, Michael, and four grandsons, Radcliffe Killam II, David Killam, Nicholas and Joseph DiLeo. Mr. Killam was preceded in death by his daughter Terry Killam Wilber, his brother Winfield Killam, and his sister Patricia Louise Killam Hurd.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have this time to recognize Mr. Radcliffe Killam, and I thank you for this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. George O. Jackson de Llano, a noted photographer who is well-regarded for his excellent photographic exhibits of cultural life in Mexico.

Mr. Jackson de Llano was born on October 2, 1941 in Houston, Texas. He has a heritage rich in Mexican culture as a descendant of Manuel Maria de Llano, who was Mayor of Monterrey and later Governor of the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. Mr. Jackson de Llano spent much of his youth in Laredo, Texas, when his great-grandfather, Ruben Villarreal, a silver miner in northern Mexico, relocated his family there during the Mexican Revolution. He attended The University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1961.

Mr. Jackson de Llano did not directly set out on his photography career; he first was an entrepreneur as a successful restaurant owner. In 1971, Mr. Jackson became the associate director of a Houston art gallery that featured prominent American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. He made the decision to explore his life through his love of photography in 1977 by making consecutive trips to Mexico. He became a full-time photographer in 1984 and was increasingly fascinated by folk culture in Mexico, particularly their festival celebrations which are prominently featured in his photography. He created The Essence of Mexico Project, which was a historical collection of photography featuring Mexican indigenous folk culture that spanned the last ten years of the 20th century. This collection of photographs is featured at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the wonderful creativity and dedication Mr. George O. Jackson de Llano has shown in his photography. He has contributed a great deal to the preservation of indigenous folk culture in Mexico through his photography. I thank you for this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the players, coaches, owners and staff of the Laredo Heat Soccer Club in their stunning 4-3 victory rematch against the Michigan Bucks in the 2007 Premier Development League soccer final.

The story of the Laredo Heat Soccer Club is of a team that fought against the odds to receive the PDL Championship. The pivotal moment came when the Laredo Heat played against the Michigan Bucks, a team that they had lost a game to the previous year. The excitement of the crowd exploded when goalkeeper Ryan Cooper registered two saves as the game went into the sixth round of penalty kicks and finished 4-3 in favor of the Heat. Coopers' efforts would gamer the PDL Championship MVP honors.

In the final seconds of the game, 16-year-old Laredoan Felix Garcia became the star of the night as he buried the winning spot kick in the sixth round, thus ensuring the U.S. PDL Championship for the Laredo Heat. Theirs was a story that echoed the classic underdog against the presumptive winner, but due to remarkable coaching by Coach Collazo and his coaching staff, hard work by staff and owners, Shashi and Priya Vaswani, and of course the determination of these talented and hard working players to win, they came out on top. I am very proud that these remarkable players have won the PDL Championship, and that they are from Laredo in my congressional district.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Laredo Heat Soccer Club team, and I thank you for this time.

I rise today to honor Mrs. Manuelita Guajardo Juarez on her reaching

her 100th birthday. She is an inspiring member of the community in Laredo, TX.

Mrs. Manuelita Guajardo Juarez was born on July 30, 1907 in Laredo, TX. She is the third child to Manuel Guajardo and Rafaelita Esparza Guajardo. Her siblings were Abelino, Adela, Jose, Alberto, Guadalupe, Elijia, and Tomasita. As a child, she attended the El Profesor Dominguez School. Her father worked for the Tex-Mex Railroad Company and moved his family to a Tex-Mex substation named ``El Pescador'' where she attended school for several years.

In 1918, at the tender age of 11, she lost her mother to the influenza epidemic that hit Laredo in late 1918. Her father then moved his family to a ranch in Devine, TX, to live with his brother, Guadalupe Guajardo and his family. Manuelita's father lived at the ranch until he passed away in 1924 and is buried in Big Foot, TX.

Manuelita stayed in Devine until she married Victorino Juarez on May 14, 1930 at San Jose Catholic Church in Devine. She returned to Laredo as a young bride and lived with her in-laws in a home located several blocks from San Agustin Cathedral. Manuelita and Victorino Juarez are the parents of three daughters: Maria Minerva Juarez Ramirez from San Antonio, TX, Rosa Alicia Juarez Sciaraffa, and Amelia Juarez Magallanes, who reside in Laredo, TX. Manuelita still lives at 803 O'Kane Street in a home her late husband bought in 1937.

Every morning up to the age of 99, she watered her plants that surround her home. Because she can no longer do this, her daughters now attend to her garden. Gardening and sewing have always been her two favorite hobbies. Manuelita has 15 grandchildren who live throughout Texas, 19 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. She is the proud matriarch of five generations in her family.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize the dedication of Mrs. Manuelita Guajardo Juarez to her community, and ask you to join me in honoring her on her birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Schertz for being named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live by Money Magazine.

The City of Schertz was founded in 1843, and is the largest city in Guadalupe County, which encompasses a part of the 28th Congressional District. Schertz is located between the large metropolitan areas of San Antonio and Austin, but has retained its small-town, community feel which was noted by Money Magazine. Schertz is home to over 34,000 Texans that enjoy all the city has to offer such as its Fourth of July Jubilee which draws visitors from all over Texas.

Schertz has witnessed unprecedented growth since the late 1980s. From 2000-2005, the city's population went from 18,694 to 26,463. In the past year, that population rose by over 7,000 to 34,000. The growth is attributed to the city's vibrant economy, its schools, and the quality of life enjoyed by its residents. It is clear why Schertz is No. 40 on the Top 100 Best Places To Live by Money Magazine. In the State of Texas alone, it is ranked as the No. 1 place to live.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the City of Schertz for their being named one of the Top 100 Best Places To Live by Money Magazine.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Amanda G. Rash on her reaching the milestone of her 95th birthday. She is one of the most inspiring members of the community in the City of Laredo and in the State of Texas.

Mrs. Amanda G. Rash was born on July 26, 1912, to her parents Carlos and Ana Chapa de Gutierrez in Old Guerrero in the State of Tamaulipas in Mexico. She grew up in the town of Zapata, Texas, where her father was a rancher. Amanda became a certified beautician after high school and opened her own beauty salon in Zapata. In 1937, she met Roy Clifford Rash from Granbury, Texas, and together they raised 3 daughters, Eva Linda, Rose Lee, an Arlene Myra.

As a mother, Mrs. Rash is wholly devoted to her children. She also helped her husband to succeed with his highway construction business, Border Road Construction and Border Materials, in the late 1950s. After her husband's death in 1970, the business continued to thrive under Mrs. Rash's leadership and was sold to their employees in 1973. Her Christian faith has sustained her, and that strength is felt through the kindness and caring she has given to others. Her remarkable mind and wit have served her well in her 95 years. She has been an inspiration to all who know her.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize the dedication of Mrs. Amanda G. Rash to her community, and ask you to join me in honoring her on her birthday.