Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lasting love and commitment of two great Texans.

On November 2, 1938 millions of Americans recalled the thrilling race the day before between thoroughbreds Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Others were still recovering from Orson Welles' legendary War of the Worlds radio broadcast from the previous weekend.

Willie Heselmeyer and Elda Zeplin of Taylor, TX had bigger things on their minds. They were joining hands at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (founded by Elda's family in 1894) to become husband and wife.

75 years later, they still walk together hand in hand. Willie, with Elda constantly by his side, worked the land as a cotton, corn, and milo farmer. They brought two sons into the world and were united through feast and famine. Together they witnessed their nation's brave soldiers defend freedom on foreign shores, watched a humble midwesterner take mankind's first steps on another world, and marveled at technological advances beyond any of their dreams.

What began in 1938 continues strong into a new millennium. Willie and Elda still live independently in their home on their farm east of Taylor. They play dominoes with friends nearly every day. Family and faith remain at the center of their happy life together.

Willie and Elda will gather this November with friends and family at the Fellowship Hall of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor to celebrate 75 years of love and commitment. Marriages like the Heselmeyers are the foundations of one of our most cherished institutions and give us all an ideal to which we can aspire. They make both Texas and our nation strong. Erika and I, who will celebrate a half century of marriage in a few years, congratulate Willie and Elda on 75 years together and wish them the best in the years to come.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

We can talk about Bill Young all night, a man who came from nothing and grew to be head and shoulders above, champion for America's military. But I think the thing that struck everybody who ever met Bill Young was his humanity. He was just such a kind, gentle, fine man. He cared about every soul he met. He took the time when I was a freshman to meet me and talk to me. I told him I had some interest in appropriations and learning how it worked, and he sat down and talked to me about it. Whenever I had any questions I needed to ask him, he was always very, very informative and very, very kind in explaining things to people, to me and others.

Bill Young was a very special man because he came from very, very meager means and he rose up to a position of power, but you would have never known by his interaction with humanity that he was a man of power in this government because everybody who draws a breath was important to Bill Young. But the most important people were those who served in our armed services.

I wanted to share something which I think is a perfect description of the kind of man Bill Young was. I had the privilege to go on a trip with him to Normandy for an anniversary of that landing on D-day, and on the way we landed in Shannon, Ireland. When we arrived, it just so happened that at least one or two brigades from Fort Hood, Texas, which is in my district, were there, ordinary soldiers and their officers in transit to Afghanistan.

When Bill Young came into the room, ordinary soldiers, as if he were some kind of star that you would see in a rock concert, started moving over to have their picture taken with Chairman Young. Chairman Young at that time was in a wheelchair most of the time. But as he did when he presented his bill on this floor, he stood with every soldier and took a picture. I stood on the periphery of that and listened. He asked about their parents and where were they from and about their deployments and their needs. Just a gentle, kind, friendly man with hundreds of soldiers gathered around him.

I heard one soldier ask another soldier:

Who is that guy? It looks like everybody here wants to have their picture taken.

The other guy said:

I don't know for sure, but the way I understand it, he is the guy who makes sure when we go to battle, we have everything that we need to be victorious.

That is a great statement about a human being and a great statement about the man. He cared about all who serve our Nation, but in particular those who risk their lives on our behalf. In honor of Bill Young, I will always remember that day where soldiers flocked to him just to be seen with Mr. Young.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 90 years of extraordinary service by the Georgetown, TX Noon Lions Club. Throughout their history, the Club has helped where help is needed--in their own communities and around the world--with unmatched integrity and energy.

Founded in 1923, the Georgetown Noon Lions Club has made a real difference in Central Texas. They've provided generous scholarships to deserving high school seniors.

Through the Kid Sight team, they've promoted eyesight health for hundreds through regular vision screening events. The Club's philanthropy has directly benefited the Boys and Girls Club as well as the Texas Lions Camp.

When the Georgetown Noon Lions Club gets involved, problems get smaller and communities get better. The Club continues to fulfill the inspiring personal code of Lions Club founder Melvin Jones, ``You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else.''

The Georgetown Noon Lions Club's commitment to service reflects the best values of Central Texas. I applaud their work and wish them well on their 90th birthday and for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 371, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 79) making continuing appropriations for certain components of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 79, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

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

I rise to present the House with a bill that sustains our critical border security and enforcement operations within the Department of Homeland Security.

Right now, at this very moment, there are brave men and women patrolling our borders, manning our ports of entry, and conducting border enforcement, drug interdiction and investigative missions, but they are not being paid.

Right now, at this very moment, border security and enforcement operations are being conducted but with minimal essential personnel.

Right now, at this very moment, the National Targeting Center, at which Customs and Border Protection officers check traveler watch lists and ensure that dangerous criminals and cargo never reach American soil, is operating, but its personnel are not being paid.

Right now, at this very moment, the E-Verify system is not operating, making it impossible for employers to check the lawful immigration status of potential employees.

So this bill before us provides for continuing appropriations to ensure that frontline agents along our borders receive their pay and that certain components of DHS can carry out their border security and enforcement missions at full strength.

Let me remind my colleagues that our border is not secure. In fact, our border is constantly under siege from smugglers and traffickers alike, and it is our duty to ensure that sufficient resources are provided to carry out the necessary security, enforcement and interdiction efforts. That is precisely what this bill does.

This bill ensures that Border Patrol can fully conduct its operations from San Diego to Brownsville and all along our northern border as well. This bill ensures that ICE can fully conduct its investigations. This bill ensures that the Coast Guard can fully conduct interdiction in both the source and transit zones and off the coasts of California, Texas, Florida, and all maritime approaches to the United States. This bill ensures that our immigration verification and biometric identity systems are up and running. This bill also takes steps to turn on our E-Verify system.

Mr. Speaker, all of us are aware that the government is shut down despite the numerous attempts to move forward. We have repeatedly offered versions of continuing resolutions to sustain the government's operations, but to no avail. Furthermore, we have offered to negotiate, to convene a conference and work out the differences in a professional and orderly manner, but such offers have been refused out of hand.

This bill is yet another offer to the other side of the aisle to at least fund vital components of the government. We have a duty to ensure our borders and coastlines are safe and secure and that our laws are being enforced. This bill does this without increasing the rate of spending and in a manner entirely consistent with the text of the noncontroversial H.J. Res. 59. In short, the bill before us is about getting our priorities right.

It is my hope that the passage of this bill will not only support our border security and frontline agencies but will also lead to the reopening of the entire Federal Government.

In closing, I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to lower their partisan blinders, to come to the table and work out the current impasse so that we can get on with the business of fixing our Nation's budgetary mess.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the chairman of the authorizing Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan, Candice Miller, vice chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the chairperson of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security and a member of the great class of 2002.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), my colleague, the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and a hardworking member of our subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire if my colleague has any more speakers.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, if anyone has been watching what has gone on in this House for the last couple of weeks and this week, it reminds me of the movie ``Groundhog Day.'' The alarm rings, and we stand up and we do the same thing and we hear the same arguments consistently. I mean, you could have just heard this argument, and that is the argument that has been made throughout the entire almost-2 weeks now. So maybe it is time to talk about something that is called regular order in this House of Representatives.

We have something called the appropriations process. We divide up the funding of the government into 12 sections, and we have classification of those sections and each subcommittee presents a bill to the committee for the funding of a certain Department. In our case, Mr. Price and I deal with Homeland Security. That bill is then brought to the floor and passed by the floor after it passes out of regular committee, and then it is sent to our colleagues in the Senate on the other side of this great building. At that point in time, normal procedure would be for them to deal with the appropriations process on their side.

So I can't speak for all of government, but I certainly can speak for Homeland Security, and Mr. Price, I don't think, would dispute this: we passed our bill out of the House. So we don't even need to be here today, and we shouldn't even have needed to be here last week when we were here because, quite frankly, we have given a bill to deal with the problems of financing and supporting those people who defend our borders and all of the other things that we take care of in Homeland, and it has been sitting on the desk of Mr. Harry Reid in the Senate since June of this year, a long time before this so-called crisis arose. We could have it completely passed and signed by the President if the Senate

had just done regular order. But they haven't.

So as it relates to the issues we discuss here today, the reason these issues even come up is that the Democrat-controlled Senate has not done their job, and they have not dealt with the appropriations process.

Today, as last week, we are dealing with an important portion of this process. It is so important that the very security of our Nation depends upon a secure border. The great debate that has gone on for 3 or 4 years, recent years as we look at the overall immigration crisis, is: What about the security of our borders?

We have spent billions of dollars making it as secure as we can, and we will continue to secure those borders. All we think we should do is pay the people that are doing the job now and get the border secure. This is important to the future of our Nation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's motion.

Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the instructions contained in the motion violate clause 7 of rule XVI, which requires that the amendment be germane to the bill under consideration.

As I am sure you are aware, the Chair has ruled on October 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 of 2013, the instructions contain a special order of business within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules, and therefore, the amendment is not germane to the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the appeal on the table.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 371, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 85) making continuing appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 85, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present to the House a bill to fully sustain funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), the hardworking chair of the authorizing Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness and Response and Communications.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), whose State seems to be possibly in the path of this coming storm.

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

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe we ever took a vote to shut down the government. If we did, I certainly missed it. I don't believe anybody ever took a vote recently to sustain the government.

But it's an interesting comment, and I thank my friend for making it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

No, I don't believe so.

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

In brief closing, Mr. Speaker, we have a storm coming toward our shores. We need to get this done.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's motion.

Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the instructions contained in this motion violate clause 7 of rule XVI, which requires that an amendment be germane to the bill under consideration.

As the Chair has recently ruled on October 2 and 3, 2013, the instructions contain a special order of business within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules, and therefore, the amendment is not germane to the underlying bill.

So, Mr. Speaker, I must insist on my point of order.

Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the appeal on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the upcoming National Day of the Republic of China; an important day which led to the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912.

Taiwan and the United States have been good friends and strong trading partners for many years. Both countries share common values and desires. Taiwan has proven to be a valuable trading partner to the United States and it is time to formalize the U.S.-Taiwan trading relationship through a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan.

As a trading leader in the Asia Pacific region, I encourage my colleagues to support Taiwan in their efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Taiwan is a trusted trading partner and an economic leader; their inclusion would bring credibility to the partnership and enhance their reputation.

In closing, I encourage United States and Taiwanese leadership to continue their cultural exchange by diplomatic visits to further strengthen this important relationship.

Mr. Speaker, this rhetoric is wonderful and I'm enjoying it, but I represent Fort Hood, Texas. Fort Hood has put more human beings in the fight in the last 10 or 11 years than any place on Earth.

Not only soldiers go to war, but wives or husbands or spouses and children stay home. And they have the same human problems that everybody, every one of us have. I would venture to bet that every Member of this Congress when they're away from their spouse at some time has a conversation with their spouse to find out that the water heater went out or the air conditioner isn't working or the kids have a problem in school or some other thing. You know, it weighs on us even when we have this job in this beautiful Chamber. But think about the soldier on the line in Afghanistan, with every waking and sleeping minute he's there, someone is trying to take his life; and yet they talk now freely with their families back home, and that same weight on them is magnified a thousand times.

This bill tonight is about human beings, the fighting warriors of the United States of America and their families. And this bill tries to make sure that, in the outside chance that we ``reasonable people'' in this Chamber and the other Chamber can come to a compromise to keep this government going, and in the outside chance that nobody wants, that this government shuts down for whatever period of time, that the fighting men and women of this Nation and their families at home will have a paycheck.

I think that this is such a small token to put before people who risk their lives, it would be almost a shame to debate any other way. I move that we pass this bill, and I hope, as my colleague said, 100 percent of us vote for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my longtime friend Eloise Lundgren. On October 1, 2013 Eloise will be named the John Garth Person of the Year by the Bell County Judge and Commissioners' Committee on People with Disabilities.

Eloise's life has been one of service to others. A consummate people person, she's worked in public and community relations at the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Hood, and has been public affairs officer with the U.S. Army Operation Test Command since 2006.

Yet unbeknownst to many of her friends and colleagues, Eloise has been living with complications of Guillain-Barre syndrome since 1998. A disorder where the body's immune system attacks the nerves, Guillain- Barre syndrome begins with weakness and tingling in the extremities which eventually paralyzes the whole body. She's undergone years of treatment yet still suffers from the ravages of the disease.

Eloise's tenacity hasn't let her illness slow her down. She fulfilled a promise to visit her mother in Hungary over the summer. A vital member of the community, her commitments to Rotary, United Way, and her faith are as strong as ever. She remains an inspiration to all who know her.

Eloise is living proof of Sam Houston's maxim, ``Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.'' I admire her perseverance and I'm proud to call her my friend. Both Erika and I wish her nothing but the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Hutto, TX City Councilman Michael J. Smith. Michael was awarded a coveted place on the Walk of Fame at Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, TX which is the world's first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind yet built to be enjoyed by everyone.

Michael thought he would pursue a law-enforcement career after graduating from Texas A&M University. After seeing the condition of facilities for adults with special needs he realized changes had to be made and committed his energies to being of service.

He opened Beyond the Limits, an award-winning day habilitation center where adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities gather to learn social and life skills that can be used at home, in the community, or in the workplace. Along with being a catalyst for change in the special-needs community, the center's cardboard-recycling efforts have earned recognition from the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling and Keep Texas Beautiful.

Michael's activism doesn't stop there. In addition to his duties as a Councilman, he works closely with the Texas legislature to promote legislation that benefits adults with disabilities by providing support and assistance to them and their families.

Michael J. Smith's commitment to advocacy and service reflects the best values of Central Texas. I applaud his work and wish him success as he continues to be a champion for the special-needs community.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, for years, I have pushed for the return to regular order. This short-term CR will allow us to do just that by giving us time to finalize a broader budget deal, complete the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bills, and get our Nation's fiscal house in order by getting the budget process back to regular order.

Our appropriations process matters. It matters for the oversight of the sprawling Federal bureaucracy. It matters to control our government's spending, and it is a basic duty of the Congress that is explicitly spelled out in the United States Constitution.

This is necessary. A base CR prevents a disastrous government shutdown that no one wants and that would especially harm our men and women in uniform. I urge the Senate to pass this and the President to sign it into law as soon as possible to avoid a devastating and avoidable government shutdown.

Furthermore, this bill responds to the clear will of the American people by defunding ObamaCare, a tremendously flawed law that is casting havoc upon businesses and citizens alike and that must be repealed.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the leadership you are giving us on this bill, and I thank you for your commitment to regular order and to ensuring that, in the next few weeks, we wrap up the FY14 process the right way--by accomplishing all 12 of the appropriations bills.

I urge the Members to support this CR, and I look forward to its quick passage by the Senate and signature by the President to keep the government running and to avoid a needless shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, this is a nice evening to be introducing what I have to say. This Roll Call of Heroes is inspiring to any and all Americans, including myself.

Yesterday I dropped into the hopper a bill entitled Fort Hood Heroes Act, H.R. 3111. This bill was introduced with 119 original cosponsors on a bipartisan basis.

This bill declares the shooting that took place at Fort Hood an act of terrorism that should have been prevented and that Nidal Hasan was an Islamic extremist. The bill would award Purple Hearts to the soldiers who were killed or wounded in the attack, and award the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom to civilians who were killed or wounded in the attack.

This bill would provide benefits to the victims of the attack who were killed or wounded and their families, deeming the killing or wounding to have occurred:

For soldiers, in a combat zone and at the hands of an enemy of the United States;

For civilian DOD employees, by hostile action while serving alongside the Armed Forces during a contingency operation and in a terrorist attack.

The possible benefits they will receive will be:

Combat-related special compensation;

Maximum coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance;

Tax breaks after death in combat zone or terrorist attack;

Special pay for subjection to hostile fire or imminent danger;

Unearned portions of bonuses;

Combat-related injury rehabilitation pay; and

Meals at military treatment facilities.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for bringing this bill forward.

Mr. Speaker, I'd be willing to bet if you took a poll in any household in America and asked, Who do you trust, the IRS or your doctor, doctors would overwhelmingly be trusted; the IRS would be overwhelmingly distrusted.

I don't understand when we actually pass laws in this Congress restricting the access to health care information and putting severe penalties on our health care providers for releasing health care information and these HIPAA laws--they've been around a while now, I'd say--and then we write a bill that turns the entire health care system administration over to the one agency that the American people hate more than any other agency.

Some of the Democrats like it because they like to get other people's money and spend it. The reality is the IRS is not trusted, and it wasn't trusted before the events that have been described here today. Today they're totally distrusted. In fact, they are totally feared because of what they can do to the private lives of American citizens. This bill speaks for the American people, and they say don't let the IRS get their hands on our health care. They will destroy us.

Remember, they're the one agency that doesn't have to meet a burden of proof. They require the public to meet the burden of proof.

Don't let the IRS get their hands on our health care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a fallen hero of the 31st District of Texas, Police Officer Robert ``Bobby'' Hornsby. Officer Hornsby, of the Killeen Police Department SWAT team, was fatally shot in the line of duty on Saturday, July 14, 2013. After four years of service on the force, he was accepted by the SWAT team in November of 2012. Officer Hornsby was a valued asset and one of Killeen's finest. He is described by his fellow officers as dedicated, patient man who was a strength to the department. Officer Hornsby is survived by his loving wife, daughter and son.

I am deeply saddened by this tragic loss; it is unfair whenever a young life is taken from us too soon. Officer Hornsby's bravery and commitment to the badge will be honored and remembered. My prayers are with Officer Hornsby's family, his brothers and sisters in blue at the Killeen Police Department, and the Killeen community as they mourn this remarkable life.

I would also like to recognize Officer Juan Obregon Jr. of the Killeen, Texas Police Department SWAT team. Officer Obregon was injured in the line of duty next to his fallen brother, Officer Hornsby. My prayers of healing are with him and his family as he begins his road to recovery.

I thank Officer Hornsby and Officer Obregon for their service, as well as all law enforcement. We are safe because heroic men, like Officer Hornsby and Officer Obregon, put themselves in harm's way to defend others. Their bravery and commitment to the badge will be honored.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the chorus of those honoring the late William Herbert Gray III. Congressman Gray's 21 years in the House saw him rise to the Chairmanship of the Budget Committee as well as being elected Democratic Whip. While many have honored Bill for his contributions to public affairs, I would like to recognize his distinguished service in the corporate world.

Following his career in the House, Gray served on the Board of Dell Inc. for 13 years and was an integral part of Dell's global success. In the corporate setting, Bill took his duties as a Board member very seriously. Not only did he actively participate in Board meetings, but he also brought his vast knowledge and experience to the daily workings of the company.

During his tenure at Dell, he regularly met with Government Affairs and Human Relations teams, among other employee groups, to provide insight, guidance, and counsel. As Dell grew globally, Bill underscored the importance of the company engaging in a dialogue with government leaders in markets from the US to Europe to China. He understood that corporate success globally meant more jobs in the United States.

Bill's passing was sudden and unforeseen, and a great loss to U.S. business and government. Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell, shared that, ``Bill was a great friend and trusted advisor to me and our Board members. He brought a unique and distinctive perspective on our business and our industry. I valued his wisdom and insight on public policy matters, and benefitted greatly from his sage counsel for so many years.''

I appreciate the opportunity to pause for a moment to remember the many ways Bill Gray served his country. Erika and I extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.