Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, approximately one in five of the children and adolescents in this country will experience the signs and symptoms of a mental health problem this year.

Today, local children's mental health initiatives across the nation will celebrate the strides they have made with children who are experiencing serious emotional and behavioral problems. I congratulate the Harris County Systems of Hope in Houston, Texas, which has been successful in using a family-driven approach to help emotionally disturbed youth become productive, responsible citizens and thrive in their communities, rather than getting caught in the juvenile justice system.

I urge my colleagues to join in celebrating National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day and supporting their local children's mental health initiatives.

Madam Speaker, the government of Taiwan recently submitted a membership application to the World Health Organization. Since the objective of the WHO is ``the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health,'' Taiwan's 23 million people must be considered. For years now, Taiwan has had no representation in the World Health Organization, which is a gross injustice due to Taiwan's health needs and Taiwan's potential contribution to the global health network.

I support Taiwan's bid for membership and urge my colleagues to openly voice their support for Taiwan. At a minimum, Taiwan should be granted observer status at the World Health Assembly this May.

Though Taiwan is now applying to the World Health Organization under the name of ``Taiwan,'' it does not mean there is any change to Taiwan's national status. Taiwan continues to be the same country as before and its Constitution has not changed. The use of the name ``Taiwan'' represents a fresh start for the people of Taiwan and is commonly used around the world. Applying for WHO membership under the new name is consistent with Taiwan's past campaign for observer status in the World Health Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to lend their support to Taiwan's WHO application. No country should belittle Taiwan's sincere intent to be included in the global health network. Taiwan's bid to become a WHO member is too important to be sidetracked by political disagreements because disease knows no boundaries. It is time for China to drop its objections to Taiwan's bid and welcome the 23 million Taiwanese people to the World Health Organization. Taiwan has much to contribute to the health system in China and to all the countries in the world. Taiwan looks forward to fulfilling its obligations as a responsible global citizen and working with international health institutions through medical cooperation and emergency humanitarian work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and wish a happy 50th birthday to my dear friend and colleague, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. Until last week, Judge Eckels was the presiding officer of the Harris County Commissioners Court--the governing body of the county, and the only member that is elected countywide. The position involves executive, judicial, and legislative functions in the third most populace county in the United States. There are 34 municipalities within the county, including the county seat and the fourth largest city in the country, the City of Houston. More than 1.2 million people live in unincorporated Harris County and rely on the county to be the primary provider of basic government services. The term County Judge in Texas is comparable to a County Executive or County Mayor in other parts of the country.

Judge Eckels has been in public service for more than 25 years. He recently retired from public service after a distinguished career to join the private sector. He and his wife, Jet, are dear friends of mine and my wife, Belinda.

Robert Eckels was first elected to the Texas Legislature in 1982. When he began his service in January of 1983 he was only 25-years-old. Few thought he would have much impact his first year, but he passed 8 of 13 bills in his legislative package. Robert's quiet demeanor frequently led fellow members to urge the enforcement of the ``no mumble rule'' so they could understand what he was saying, but his understated nature was also key to his success in Austin. He did not care who got credit for passing legislation, so long as it was good law that did not have to fix later. He understands the legislative process, legislative language and the legislative intent as well as anyone I know.

Robert also cared about his colleagues. He would approach Members towards the end of our legislative sessions to ask them how their legislative agendas were coming along. If a Member complained that their most important bill was in trouble in committee or on the House floor, he would help his colleagues amend their priority onto another bill or find some other way to pass their bills.

In 1991 the Texas Monthly Magazine described his character in its biennial article at the end of the Legislative session entitled ``The Best and the Worst Legislators.'' In that piece he was named an Outstanding Legislator for his work in ethics reform and redistricting, ``the session's most thankless issues.'' It said ``Eckels wrote a bill that outshone its rivals as silver outshines dirt.'' Other quotes describe his character, ``Eckels is unselfish to the point of being sacrificial. He's the Good Samaritan of the House; he finds hurt people by the side of the road and helps them get well.''

In 1994 Robert decided to leave the Legislature, over the protests of many of his House colleagues, myself included, to run for the office of Harris County Judge. He saw an opportunity to work on the issues that were most important to him and his vision for the county he grew up in and served with distinction in the Legislature. He won the election and his opponent in that election later became a member of his advisory group.

Transportation

Judge Eckels believes as I do that one of the most important priorities in our county is improving the major transportation corridors so people do not spend hours stuck in traffic jams. Judge Eckels also believes, as I do, that mobility is vital to our county's future. He served as chairman of the Transportation Policy Council for the Houston-Galveston region and was a major author of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan.

Judge Eckels was also Chairman of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and the Texas High Speed Rail & Transportation Corporation. Texas House of Representatives Speaker Tom Craddick appointed him to the Study Commission on Transportation Financing to look at the broader issues facing the State of Texas. It was Judge Eckels who spearheaded an effort to turn abandoned railroad right-of-way running through my District into major traffic arteries which bring hundreds of thousands of daily commuters into and out of downtown Houston. Today, as a result of his vision and leadership, the Westpark Toll Way, the country's first entirely electronic toll road, is an innovative addition to the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

Homeland Security/Emergency Management

Judge Eckels has always been deeply concerned with hurricanes and other natural disasters and the county's reponse to crises. He commissioned a study showing the impact of a Category-V hurricane coming into Galveston Bay, and he initiated planning procedures to ensure first responders had the proper training and equipment to take action.

He began to set up an interoperable communications system for Harris County that could be expanded regionally to allow communications among first responders across jurisdictional and disciplinary lines. Building such a system has required a strong leader like Judge Eckels to convince various agencies that rely on mission-critical communication to trust Harris County's Information Technology Department to build an interoperable system which was better than one they could run on their own.

Today, the Harris County Regional Radio System is a model communication system that has grown to support a shared intrastructure with more than 133 channels and 17 tower sites. It currently covers all of Harris County and parts of eight other counties, with the intent to expand even farther. As resources are available it will be expanded until it serves all 13 counties in the Houston/Galveston Area Council's service area.

There are more than 20,000 users from more than 400 different departments/agencies with nearly 2,000 mobile data-terminals and the system is growing quickly. The regional radio system is not only an essential response tool when disaster strikes, it can also be adapted to conform to the needs of the partners in day-to-day operations. Harris County has more than 90 different policing agencies operating in very close proximity. This system allows dispatchers to send the closest officer to the scene of an incident regardless of which agency the responder works for.

In his first State of the Union Address after 9/11, President George W. Bush called upon all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives--the equivalent of 4,000 hours--in service to others. He launched the Citizen Corps initiative to inspire and enable Americans to find ways to serve their communities and country. In response to the President's initiative, in August 2002, Judge Eckels created the Harris County Citizen Corps Council The Council coordinates with volunteer groups such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the United Way to identify volunteer opportunities. The Citizen Corps programs include the Community Emergency Response Team, the Neighborhood Watch Program, Volunteers in Police Service, Fire Corps, and the Medical Reserve Corps.

When Hurricane Katrina caused the evacuation of more than 250,000 to the Harris County area, Judge Eckels coordinated and managed the relief effort to create comfortable, welcoming shelters. Approximately 27,000 evacuees came to ``Reliant City,'' which was created in the facilities at Reliant Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center in a 20 hour period in August 2005. This was the largest sheltering operation in U.S. history.

Thousands of volunteers were needed to assist in the relief operation and within one hour of the initial call for assistance to the Citizen Corps, more than 1,000 volunteers arrived at the shelter. In all, more than 60,000

of our citizens came forward, received training from existing Citizen Corps members, and made the massive, weeks-long sheltering operation possible. The Judge said that Katrina was a blessing for our community because it showed us just how much we were able to give when our Louisiana neighbors needed a helping hand.

Just three weeks after the nation watched the devastation of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita was headed straight for Harris County. An already exhausted team, led by Judge Eckels, shut down the last sheltering operation for Katrina evacuees and prepared for the next storm. With less than 48 hours before Rita was predicted to reach landfall on Galveston Island, Judge Eckels worked with Governor Rick Perry and Houston Mayor Bill White to begin the largest evacuation in U.S. history. Under Judge Eckels' watchful eye and calm demeanor, he gave frequent updates to motorists stranded in the exodus and assured them that help was on the way. While the unprecedented evacuation was difficult, it was considered a success. Before the storm reached the shore later that night, the roadways were empty and our citizens were out of harms' way.

The Judge's work during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was recognized with a number of awards. In an article entitled ``The Power of Government to Do Good'' in Esquire magazine, Judge Eckels was named the Best and Brightest 0/2005, Citizen of the Year for his extraordinary leadership. ``When the city of New Orleans evacuated to Houston, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels took them in. He was an island of competence in the face of catastrophe,'' Esquire wrote.

The Partners for Livable Communities, a nonprofit organization headquartered here in Washington DC, gave the Judge the ``Bridge Builders Award'' for his collaboration efforts during the hurricane crises. The Greater Houston Partnership named him one of ``Houston's Greatest Individuals 2005.'' American City and County Leader magazine named Eckels ``2006 County Leader of the Year.''

Under his leadership, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has become a national model for preparedness and response to emergency situations, natural or manmade. Considered an expert in local emergency management and response, Judge Eckels has testified before both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committees and he serves on the State and Local Senior Advisory Committee to President Bush's Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Healthcare

The population of Harris County has grown considerably in recent decades and with that growth has come a disproportionally large population of uninsured and underinsured. Judge Eckels realized long ago that the needs of this growing community cannot be met by government alone. Therefore, under his leadership, Harris County has forged strong partnerships with non-profit, private, public, and faith- based health care providers and clinics to coordinate medical services to the poor and indigent. The Harris County Healthcare Council was created to coordinate a more efficient health care delivery system. He has, throughout his tenure as County Judge, maintained that the Harris County Hospital District should be there for those who have no where else to turn.

Flood Control

In 1996 Judge Eckels asked Congress to help speed some of the critical flood-damage reduction projects to protect the citizens of our county. Under his leadership, the Harris County Flood Control District is now able to take the lead on flood reduction projects. As a result, our constituents along the Brays Bayou and White Oak Bayou are already receiving the benefits of flood mitigation years ahead of schedule.

Clean Air

Harris County is committed to cleaning the air in our region. Judge Eckels is nationally recognized as an expert in devising and implementing acceptable air quality plans on the county level. He has testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on air quality issues and has appeared on national television news shows discussing environmental issues.

He also initiated new monitoring systems to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, funding computer modeling to base our clean air decisions on the best information possible and searching for the newest and most cost-effective technologies to clean our air. Under his watch, the latest state of the art monitors that detect most of the 189 Hazardous Air Pollutants listed by the Environmental Protection Agency are in place in Harris County--paid for by environmental violators, not taxpayers.

Children's Issues

Judge Eckels is passionate about children's issues. As fathers, he and I have shared many stories about raising our daughters. Like me, he always puts his family first. He and his wife, Jet, could not be more committed to their daughter, Kirby Rae.

That commitment inspired Robert to take a vital leadership role in the Do the Write Thing Challenge, a program of the National Campaign to Stop Violence. As chairman for the State of Texas, he has grown the program to an unprecedented size with more than 24,000 participants in 10 communities. Judge Eckels also spearheaded a collaboration that would become the Children's Assessment Center (CAC). The CAC gives victims on-site access to experts in abuse prevention, medical treatment, forensic examination, family counseling, therapeutic services and criminal prosecution. Each year, more than 5,000 sexually abused children, their siblings, and non-offending caregivers are served by this nationally recognized partnership of more than 20 agencies.

Judge Robert Eckels is a sound fiscal conservative who has always taken a business approach to government. Harris County applies common sense business principles to provide the best service at the least cost to taxpayers. Under his leadership Harris County introduced private sector competition to drive down the cost of government services. He led the reorganization of county departments and performance reviews, cut the number of departments in half, reducing service duplication, improving coordination and accountability and saving more than $14 million each year.

Under his leadership the county's debt was restructured, saving more than $60 million since 1995. Confidence in Harris County's financial footing has been restored. All of the major bond rating agencies have upgraded Harris County's bond ratings saving taxpayers millions of dollars in interest each year. Most importantly, financial reserves are up, revenues are up, and spending is under control. Judge Eckels understands that when we decrease taxes here at the Federal level, and cut funding to state and local governments, they cannot and must not increase taxes at the local level. He has found new and innovative ways to deliver the same services that promote the quality of life we have all come to expect here in the greatest country in the history of the world.

I hope that Robert Eckels will reenter public life again someday because he is an exemplary leader. If he chooses not to, there is no doubt that he has left behind a strong legacy in Harris County. I will always value his friendship and counsel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Malcolm S. Morris, a constituent from Houston, who is dedicating his

life to the cause of clean, safe water for the needy of the world. Mr. Morris is the immediate past chairman of Living Water International, a 15-year-old faith-based NGO. Living Water has provided water to over 5 million world-wide on three continents.

Of particular note, Living Water has completed nearly 400 water projects providing clean water to over one million people of Kenya. At the urging of Malcolm Morris, Kenyan President Kibaki made a public commitment to provide water for the 20 million people of Kenya in need of water. In addition, Morris organized the completion of two Peace Wells, dedicated by President Kibaki, to end violence between two tribes that resulted in 20 deaths on Valentines Day, 2005. In fact, Madam Speaker, Mr. Morris and members of the Living Well Board, at the direction of President Kibaki and his cabinet, are dedicating a third Peace Well next week in Kenya.

Malcolm Morris practices what he preaches. His actions are an expression of his faith--to provide clean water and basic sanitation to one child, one family, one village at a time. Through Malcolm Morris' leadership and vision, the men and women of Living Water have become vessels of healing.

Now operating in 22 countries, Living Water has trained over 1,200 volunteers in drilling, pumping repair, and health and hygiene training. The number of persons being served is doubling nearly every 18 months. I should note that Mr. Morris is not just an observer of the international water crisis. He is a drill instructor, conducting drill training camps and has led water teams to schools in both Africa and Central America.

In addition to his ongoing involvement with Living Water, Malcolm Morris founded and serves as Chairman of the Millennium Water Alliance--a group of water related NGO's that includes Living Water International, Africare, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Emmanual International, Food for the Hungary, Lifewater International, Water for People, Water Missions international, WaterPartners international and World Vision. UNICEF acts in an advisory capacity to the MWA. The mission of the MWA is to initiate needed water and sanitation projects in an efficient and transparent manner.

Recently, as a result of Mr. Morris' strong and consistent advocacy, Congress passed a bill known as the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act. The legislation makes access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a specific policy objective of U.S. foreign assistance programs. The legislation will improve the quality of lives for millions of people around the world. Malcolm's insightfulness and persuasiveness made a legislative dream a reality.

One final mention, Madam Speaker. I should note that Malcolm Morris is Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 1000 company-- Stewart Title Guaranty Company, headquartered in Houston.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise and join me in tribute to Malcolm S. Morris. With the dedication of the water wells in Kenya, the peace spigot has been turned on. Clean water is a source of life and sustainable development. Simply put, Mr. Morris has demonstrated that we should view water as a currency for Peace.

Mr. Speaker, the vote today is very simple: Will America give up and walk away from the fight to preserve American civilization? Are we proud of our military and will we support them and protect them in time of war?

The people of Houston's District Seven are immensely proud of the men and women of our Armed Forces. We want our soldiers and their commanders and our Commander in Chief to know that we will always support them and to know that we will do our best to protect them, especially in time of war; and we thank them for keeping us safe and free from another terrorist attack for 1,985 days.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Houston's District Seven, I will vote no, to tell our enemies and our friends that Americans will never quit and Americans will never surrender in the fight to preserve, protect, and defend American freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Pipe Band and Highland Dancers of St. Thomas' Episcopal Scottish Arts Program for their success and community service in Houston, Texas.

On August 26, 2006, the St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band won their fifth Juvenile World Pipe Band Championship title in Glasgow, Scotland. They also received 1st Place in Grade III Competitions at the Inverkeithing and Crieff Highland Games.

The Highland Dancers won more than 120 medals during the August, 2006 Scotland competitions. The 2006 U.S. and North American Highland Dancing Champion, Carla Gardner, received 4th overall at the World Highland Dancing Championships. The Highland Dancers have won 21 U.S. Championships and one World Championship.

The St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band and Highland Dancers are regularly invited to civic and charitable events and have performed for the United States Marine Corps, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Children's Cancer Hospital at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Special Olympics, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Center, the Boy Scouts of America, NASA, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Houston Fire Department, the Houston Police Department, the Galveston Historical Society, the British American Business Council, the Heather and Thistle Society, and the British Consulate.

The St. Thomas' Episcopal Scottish Arts Program serves to inform, educate, and entertain the public about the Scottish performing arts, and has helped to underscore the importance of maintaining and preserving ethnic artistic traditions. The Scottish Arts Program of

St. Thomas' Episcopal School annually performs at Houston's Scottish Festival Spectacular in March at Houston's Toyota Center. This year's festival will be held on March 16, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, on August 14, 2006, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Democratic Pacific Union was formally inaugurated in Taipei, Taiwan. The ceremony drew 76 dignitaries from 23 countries, including the presidents and vice presidents of Taiwan, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Palau.

The Democratic Pacific Union's goal is to promote democracy and encourage cooperation among its 28 member democracies. So far, the Union has planned regular regional meetings in the East and the West Pacific regions, initiated the Pacific Economic Advisory Group and the Pacific Congressional Caucus, established a training program for typhoon and flood disaster reduction, offered scholarships for students to study in Taiwan, planned a Pacific university network in Taiwan, and invited women to Taiwan to discuss women issues in the Pacific region.

On December 8-10, the Taiwan Chapter of the Pacific Congressional Caucus will be holding a special symposium in Taipei, Taiwan. The symposium will examine critical issues such as the legislature and democracy, the legislature and electoral process, and the legislature and campaign finance. Fifty or more legislators from DPU's member states will be invited. U.S. lawmakers are especially welcome to attend this symposium.

We should give encouragement to the leaders of the Democratic Pacific Union by endorsing its goals for democratic and economic cooperation in the Pacific region. I am certain that the Union will attract more members and win even wider international attention and recognition in the months and years ahead.

Mr. Chairman, if this amendment were adopted, it would shut off all funding for all high-technology work that NASA is doing that has multiple applications.

The amendment says, ``no money can be spent in support of the manned mission to Mars.'' There is no manned mission to Mars in this bill. But the technology application, the research work that NASA is doing to develop the next

generation of rocket propulsion, the research work that NASA is doing to develop the next generation of microcomputers, the technology, for example, in this BlackBerry can be used on a manned mission to Mars and also manned missions in low-Earth orbit.

The technology that NASA is developing to fight cancer, any astronaut that goes above the Earth's atmosphere is immediately exposed to a higher risk of cancer, yet the research NASA is doing to protect astronauts in space and low-earth orbit and to travel to the moon, for example, could obviously be used on a mission to Mars. But if the gentleman's amendment is adopted, it would cut off any of that work that is being done right now to help protect our astronauts' lives in low-Earth orbit, because that technology could arguably be used on a mission to Mars.

There is no manned mission to Mars in this bill. The gentleman's amendment is so broadly written, it will have the effect of shutting off most of NASA's research and development work in the cutting-edge technologies that are so essential to the success of the manned space program and to the success of the American economy.

I urge the Members to vote ``no'' against this shortsighted amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the State of Texas today executed one of the most dangerous, vicious killers in our State's history. Maturino Resendiz was known as the ``Railway Killer.'' He had killed repeatedly. He was a serial killer who had been arrested and deported seven times prior to the murder of Dr. Claudia Benton in Houston.

This individual was present in the United States illegally, but the City of Houston has a policy, in violation of Federal law, that prohibits Houston police officers from asking whether or not an individual they pick up is in the United States illegally.

The Federal law is very clear that local governments, local law enforcement agencies, cannot have any policy that prohibits or restricts the ability of a police officer from determining someone's presence in the country, whether or not they are legal. And my amendment simply enforces existing Federal law and makes it clear that, in order for a local government or police

agency to receive Federal money, they must comply with Federal law and follow Federal law in determining whether or not the person they have detained is here illegally.

The City of Los Angeles has a similar policy. Yet 95 percent of their outstanding warrants for homicide are for illegal aliens. This is a law and order amendment, Mr. Chairman.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 20 seconds to point out that the sanctuary policy my colleague is attempting to protect is a policy designed to protect and shield criminal aliens, and my amendment enforces Federal law. Federal law is intended to uncloak those criminal aliens and allow local law enforcement officers to identify people like the Railway Killer so they can turn them over to Federal authorities.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out to the House very briefly that the House has already approved this amendment on a vote of 218.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to my colleague from California (Mr. Campbell).

Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, I want to point out that Congress has passed and the President has signed Federal legislation on the books which requires local law enforcement officers to identify a person who is in the country illegally. Local law enforcement needs every tool in their tool kit possible to identify and uncover criminal aliens.

This amendment is aimed at enforcing Federal law, giving local law enforcement the tools they need to identify and uncover killers like the Railroad Killer, who was executed today in Texas.

The sanctuary policy that my colleague from Houston is attempting to defend is a ``don't ask and don't tell'' policy that prohibits officers from identifying criminal aliens. A vote for this amendment is to help law enforcement identify and report criminal aliens and enforce Federal law.

I urge a ``yes'' on the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the committee has no objection to the amendment and is prepared to accept it

We commend the gentleman for his amendment and are willing to accept it.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the committee has no objection to the amendment and applauds the authors for its intent and for bringing it to the House tonight and are prepared to accept it.

Mr. Chairman, regardless of your opinion about Amtrak, if you are concerned about border security and want to do a better job of protecting our border, you need to vote against this amendment. Because according to the CBO's scoring, this $560 million cut from the Federal Building Fund would come primarily out of the repairs, alterations, and construction account.

The President has asked for six new border stations on the border between Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. These cuts would leave the building fund without the money they need to build secure, critical border crossings with Mexico.

This is not just about Amtrak. This is taking critically needed money to build these border crossings and maintain not just Federal structures across the country but, more importantly, the secure, critical border crossings with Mexico.

I urge Members to vote against this amendment. Whether you oppose Amtrak, you should vote against the amendment, as I would, because I am concerned about Amtrak's accounting, but because I am concerned about border security as the highest priority of this Congress, you need to vote ``no'' on this amendment so we can build these secure, critical border crossings.

Mr. Chairman, one of the most important features of America's homeland security will be our ability to preserve America's leadership in high technology and scientific research. It has been my singular privilege to know and learn from one of the greatest scientists in our Nation, Dr. Richard Smalley of Rice University, and to represent him in the United States Congress. Today I want to honor him and his family and his colleagues at Rice University by celebrating his birthday, and giving thanks to God for bringing Rick into our lives. America lost him last year to cancer, yet the extraordinary research he was pursuing into carbon nanotubes and ``buckyballs'' will undoubtedly one day help lead us to a cure for cancer. Rick Smalley helped me understand that nanotechnology will change our lives as profoundly in the 21st century as oil and electricity changed our lives in the 20th century, and he lit a fire in me to do everything in my power to harness the immense human, medical, technological and financial capital of the Texas Medical Center into identifying and curing human diseases and making America truly energy independent by creating the Alliance for NanoHealth. The Alliance is my single highest priority for funding with our limited tax dollars in my work on the Appropriations Committee, and I am immensely proud that I could launch the Alliance with Rick and his colleagues at Rice and at all of the great institutions of the Texas Medical Center. The Alliance is thriving, especially now that it has the final key ingredient it was lacking, a dynamic and brilliant scientist as president, Dr. Mauro Ferrari. All of the pieces are in place for the Alliance to lead the world in identifying and curing cancers at the very earliest stages before they even become visible tumors. All of the pieces are in place for the Alliance to help make America energy independent of the Middle East and the rest of the world by using the single wall carbon nanotubes Dr. Smalley discovered, and so many other aspects of nanotechnology research and manufacturing that he pioneered. Rick Smalley will always inspire me and fill me with energy and enthusiasm to help America achieve the great dreams he saw for our future by harnessing nanotechnology. My hero Thomas Jefferson liked to say that he liked the dreams of the future better than the memories of the past, which was the way Rick Smalley lived his life. I will always honor Dr. Smalley by doing my very best to make his dreams of the future come true--an America that is energy independent, no longer reliant on fossil fuels, and where no one need suffer or die from cancer.

It is appropriate and fitting, Mr. Chairman, that I add to the Congressional Record a few of the tributes offered by his family and friends at his memorial service.

Richard E. Smalley: A Legacy of Hope

(By Deborah S. Smalley)

I have meditated often upon the gifts that Rick has left

us. And though time will tell the full story, I believe our

greatest inheritance from this amazing man is hope for the

future. Rick may well be remembered as the father of

nanotechnology; he was certainly its rock star. He had every

outstanding honor and award a chemist could earn, and his

knowledge of science and the world extended far beyond his

field. Who knows what applications for the betterment of

humanity will come from his revolutionary research and

inventions? His status as a Nobel Laureate was fascinating

enough to keep me involved in a forty-five minute attempt to

shake his hand during a conference at Rice University. I had

no idea that as we met, my life would be changed forever.

I had taught high school science for 17 years, and sadly

enough, my world view offered the students little good news

for the long term future of man on earth. The problems we

were facing as a growing population would almost certainly

become insurmountable by the time we reached 10 billion

people. I had come outside the classroom looking for answers.

Dr. Richard Smalley shook my hand, and began to fill my mind

with a vision of a clean world with abundant energy. He had a

plan, and it gave hope. He opened the door to a new world

of plenty and set the rod by which we must measure our

efforts. He showed that there was a way; thereby placing

the burden for action squarely on our shoulders. We can

ignore it, but cannot plead ignorance. The prophet had

spoken.

He told me that the means for gaining that future were just

out of reach, but doable. Who knows, perhaps this is the very

blessing we needed most. If he had done it for us, or if we

could shift the responsibility to someone else, then we would

miss the opportunity to demonstrate the magnificent qualities

deeply imbedded within us all; those beautiful giftings that

shine forth in times of great challenge.

In order to bring forth the spirit that can pull us from

complacency and self-focus into the higher realm of courage,

honor, and altruism we need clear vision coupled with the

opportunity for action. Rick gave us all of that. By making

his solution inclusive, everyone became a player. None of us

can in good consciousness sit back assuming that someone more

talented, capable, or concerned will take care of it. There

is an enormous need to empower Americans so that we will take

charge of our circumstances and make a difference in this

world. Rick recognized energy as the one issue touching every

single one of us every day, and put out an alert for children

to ``be a scientist and save the world.'' I saw him give the

message to over seven hundred children, from sixth to twelfth

grades, at-risk to honors. They were so attentive, you could

hear a pin drop.

A hopeless future instills in our youth a sense of urgency

to serve themselves; an attitude devastating to their

character and spirit. But when a great scientist, a trusted

son with a Nobel Prize says we can supply energy for 10

billion people, thereby making possible at least a reasonable

standard of living for all God's children, our faith is

stirred, and the impossible is slowly supplanted by the

possibilities. We need our children, all of them, to be

involved in the making of a whole new era. Science and

engineering does produce the technology that sets the stage

for building our world, and this vision of a world where we

can address shortages that lead to poverty, war, disease, and

ignorance through an abundance of clean energy, gives hope.

When I finally got my turn to meet Dr. Richard Smalley, he

was clearly excited by my profession as a science teacher. I

still remember the intensity of his blue eyes as he told me

that our biggest problems were solvable, but that he needed

my students filled with a sense of mission and purpose to

create a new future, and then asked me if I thought they were

up for the challenge. In that moment, I fell irrevocably in

love--in love with the vision, in love with the passion, and

in love with the man who brought hope to our world, our

children and to me.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the final day in Congress for one of the greatest leaders the House of Representatives has ever seen. In his 22 years of public service to the residents of the 22nd District of Texas, Tom DeLay has always been a tireless and indispensable warrior for the Republican party and the causes of individual freedom, family values, and limited government.

Tom's years of service have been marked by devoted adherence to core conservative principles. His effectiveness can be measured in the countless advances made under his leadership strengthening our national security, restoring individual freedoms, and reigning in a runaway federal government. Tom never backed down from his beliefs and principles, and ultimately his tremendous success made him a target. There is no doubt that the Republican Party, the conservative movement, the state of Texas, and especially the Houston area have lost the services of a great friend and leader.

I will miss having Tom DeLay serving with me in the House, but I am grateful that he has chosen to remain active in the fight to restore the American Republic. I look forward to continuing to benefit from his invaluable counsel and wisdom.

On behalf of the Houston area and on behalf of my fellow Republican House members, congratulations to a fine leader, a great friend, and a devoted husband and father on a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, the government of Mexico has not been friendly to the United States, and the Republican majority in this House is representing the people of America who are flat fed up with the Mexican Government's refusal to control the flow of criminals and illegal aliens to the United States. Let's talk about facts. Mr. Filner is ignoring the fact, and the Democrats are ignoring the fact the Mexican Government is permitting armed training camps for narcoterrorists in northern Mexico. This is a photograph of a Guatemalan Kaibiles militia member training. There is a camp run by the Kaibiles, by the Zetas and just outside of Matamoros, Mexico, across the river from Texas. The weapons these individuals are using, and we will talk more about this in the leadership hour at the end of the day, here is just a sample of some of the weapons these narcoterrorists are using on the border, 40 millimeter grenade launchers. There is open warfare in the Nuevo Laredo areas. These are some photographs of some of the results of some of the gun fights that are taking place there. There are even armed Mexican militia spotters on hill tops in Arizona on U.S. soil who are protecting the smuggling routes.

Mexico has not been acting like a friend. They have encouraged illegal immigration to this country. They have encouraged and turned a blind eye to the corruption and the criminals pouring across our border, and it is time the House cut off money to Mexico to send the message we are sick and tired of them not protecting our border and discouraging illegal immigration.

Offered By: Mr. Culberson

Amendment No. 4: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

limitation on assistance for mexico

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I bring this amendment to the House today to focus the attention of the House, of the White House, of the country on an urgent and very serious problem with the Citizen Immigration Service.

CIS is responsible for reviewing and approving any application for citizenship, for green cards, for visas, for I-90s for people entering the United States temporarily or permanently.

Yet this agency is so incompetent and so poorly run, all of us know, those of us representing border States, that the level of illegal immigration in the country is overwhelming. We have got people entering the country literally at will over our borders.

Based on my own investigation, what I have learned from visiting the border firsthand, it is possible for terrorists to enter the United States just walking over the border, or frankly they can come right through the front door at the Citizenship and Immigration Service offices, the CIS offices, because the agency is not running criminal background checks on people applying for visas or green cards or I-90s or citizenship.

The agency, when they do run background checks, the Inspector General reports, that among people who are applying to enter the United States temporarily, there is a 90 percent error rate in security checks being run on these folks. If you are entering as a refugee, there is a 64 percent error rate.

Now, this is on running criminal background checks on foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States, at a time when we are at war with terrorists who we know are seeking to enter the United States to hurt us. The terrorists who attacked us on September 11 were using dozens and dozens and dozens of fraudulent driver's licenses, phony IDs; they were, many of them, visa overstays.

This agency is so incompetent, so poorly run that in fact they even hired an Iraqi spy and swore him in as an officer of the United States to interview foreign nationals applying to enter the United States. This was reported first in the Washington Times on April 6.

After this was confirmed that this guy was an Iraqi spy, he flew to Baghdad and walked out of the Green Zone and disappeared. This is a huge national security problem, Mr. Chairman. And the problem is really systemic throughout CIS, because their focus is not on national security, but customer service.

This agency's sole primary motivation is on the convenience of the foreign national, to make sure that Osama bin Laden's cousin out in the lobby is not hindered or slowed down in any way, that his application is stamped and approved as rapidly as possible.

Chairman Rogers has done a superb job in doing everything that he can to bring the CIS, and ICE and Homeland Security, to heel. I know he is aware of the severity of this problem.

My amendment would stop the use of any funds for CIS to process immigration applications other than H1Bs for 1 year, so they can catch up and catch their breath. We know the backlog is so bad right now that they are simply overwhelmed, they are years behind. We know they are not running criminal background checks, and the criminal background checks they do run on these foreign nationals are just riddled with errors.

My amendment is intended to shut that process down for a year to allow them to catch up. The Homeland Security reauthorization is coming up this summer. I intend to pursue this very aggressively with Chairman King. I bring this amendment to the attention of the House today and do intend to withdraw it.

I understand we need to work through the Homeland Security authorization bill on this, Mr. Chairman. But it is an extraordinarily serious and dangerous problem that the country needs to be aware of. There has even been information brought to my attention and to the chairman's attention that the foreign intelligence agencies have probably penetrated CIS at very high levels and are able to remotely print out visas, I-90s, passports, citizenships to fraudulent individuals remotely on command using laptop computers from anywhere in the world.

This agency I think poses a very serious threat to the national security of the United States. I intend to pursue it very aggressively with the reauthorization of the homeland security bill.

Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment to the House today to focus the House's attention on it, bring it to the attention of the Nation. And I thank the chairman, Chairman Rogers, on trying to clear up this agency and homeland security.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.