Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 622 and 625, I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 626 I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Second Lieutenant John E. McMahon of the U.S. Army Air Corps, and his distinguished service in World War II as a Radar Navigator flying the B-24 Liberator.

Volunteering for service on November 2, 1942, Second Lieutenant McMahon underwent training in the United States. He was then assigned to the 528th Squadron of the 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and reported for duty in the Western Pacific. Second Lieutenant McMahon flew 27 missions from airstrips on New Guinea, Luzon, Mindoro, the Philippines, and Okinawa. His campaigns included the Western Pacific, Southern Philippines, Luzon, Air Offensive Japan, and the China Offensive Campaign. His decorations and campaign awards include the Air Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with silver star), and the Philippines Liberation Medal (with one bronze star). Through his bravery and selfless service in direct combat actions, he helped take the fight to the enemy and bring the war to a decisive and victorious close.

After his service in World War II, he chose to settle in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Texas Christian University and married the former Willie Mae Wittie, his wife of 60 years.

This Nation should always remember how much we owe the Greatest Generation. The service and sacrifice of John McMahon and his brothers in arms is a manifestation of all that makes this country great. We are honored to have such men walk among us, and must always remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and are no longer with us.

I wish to extend my greatest appreciation to Second Lieutenant John E. McMahon for his gallant service to our Nation in World War II.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Marine Sergeant Zachary Walters who was killed in Helmand, Afghanistan on June 8, 2010 while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Sergeant Walters attended Flagler Palm Coast High School and was a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). He graduated in 2005 and joined the United States Marine Corps the next day, passing up college scholarships and job offers so he could serve the country he loved. During his initial tour in the Marine Corps, he deployed from August 2008 to March 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After his initial enlistment was complete, Sergeant Walters could have returned to civilian life, but he instead chose to re-enlist in the Marine Corps. Sergeant Walters learned that the Marines whom he had trained would be deployed to Afghanistan, and he felt it was his duty to lead the Marines he had prepared into combat. He selflessly chose to answer the call once again. Sergeant Walters shipped out in May for Afghanistan, just days before his 24th birthday.

Sergeant Walters lost his life to a roadside bomb while doing what he had chosen to do: leading men into combat. Our Nation can never repay the debt we owe to this brave man and his family. Sergeant Walters represents the best values of this Nation and the Marine Corps, embodying the Corps' values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I cannot state it any better than Sergeant Walters' mother, Regina Walters, did, when she said: ``I've never been prouder in my life. My precious boy made the ultimate sacrifice. He would not have had it any other way.''

I wish to extend my condolences to Sergeant Walters' family and hope that they continue to find solace in his lasting impact on both his grateful Nation and his proud Corps.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the First National Bank of Weatherford, Texas, which has been serving the banking needs of the families and businesses of Weatherford and Parker County for 130 years.

The First National Bank has operated in the City of Weatherford, Texas, continuously since May 15, 1880, and is the oldest national bank charter in the state. Given the trouble the banking industry has faced in the last several years we can all appreciate this enormous accomplishment, which speaks to the strong leadership that has steered the bank over the course of its impressive history.

First National Bank is a true community bank with directors, officers, and employees who are committed to serving the needs of its customers. As with so many community banks the employees are so engaged in the Weatherford community because they are from the community.

The bank has a strong record as a good neighbor, contributing to the growth of the City of Weatherford and Parker County by supporting commerce, local charities and community events.

I congratulate the First National Bank on this significant milestone and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear that Petty Officer Second Class Matthew McCabe was acquitted of all charges against him in relation to the capture and detention of Ahmed Hashim Abed, a conspirator in the 2004 murder of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah.

Mr. McCabe can now rejoin his shipmates, Petty Officer Julio Huertas and Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, who were both acquitted of all charges as well, with the juries reaching the same verdicts.

While these have been acquitted, what is left behind is significant legal debt. All three men sought civilian counsel. Based on the results of these trials, I can understand their decision. Up against the United States Government in court, the soldiers faced prosecution with unlimited resources.

Today I am introducing the Service Member Legal Relief Act, which reimburses soldiers who seek the best defense available and are subsequently acquitted, or the charges dropped, in cases relating to the handling of terrorists. Our warfighters face great personal risk every day on the front lines

in the global war on terror. They are right to defend themselves in court against egregious claims from known terrorists.

We need these men on the front lines to continue battling those who are actively trying to kill Americans at home and abroad. If a court finds that they have done nothing wrong and have simply executed their mission, we should repay their legal fees and get them back into action as quickly as possible. That's exactly what my legislation does.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 241, I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 242, I was absent from the House.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to the TCU Women's Rifle Team. Last month the team won the 2010 NCAA National Championship. This is the first National Championship win since 1983 for TCU, so this is a huge victory for both the team and the school.

In addition to the accomplishment of the entire TCU Women's Rifle Team, several of the ladies on the team received individual distinctions. Freshman Sarah Scherer won the individual National Championship in the smallbore rifle portion of the competition. Senior Erin Lorenzen was honored as the Most Outstanding Athlete of the championship. These two TCU ladies were also honored as All-American athletes. Sarah Beard, Caitlin Morrissey, and Simone Riford received All-American athlete honors as well.

It is evident that the TCU Women's Rifle Team is a very skilled and accomplished group. Head coach Karen Monez has done an excellent job of leading the team. This National Championship is the height of achievement for the team, which has had phenomenal success for the past several years under the leadership of Coach Monez. I am confident that their success will continue.

Again, I congratulate the entire TCU Women's Rifle Team on their National Championship win. They have made their entire school and all of Fort Worth proud.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue of concern to me and to my Taiwanese American constituents.

Today's Taiwan is a strong ally of the United States that shares with us the ideals of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. Taiwan enjoys elements of independence, although Taiwan continues to be under an ominous shadow cast by the over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed in its direction. China continues to refuse to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, continues to claim Taiwan as a renegade province, and in 2005 passed an ``Anti-Secession Law'' that mandated military action if Taiwan moves towards formal and legal independence. The U.S. Congress quickly and strongly condemned China for this action with a vote on the House Floor.

A 2009 Pentagon report on the military power of the PRC stated that ``in the near-term, China's armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan's pursuit of de jure independence.'' It added that these ``same capabilities could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing's terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict.''

Madam Speaker, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act is the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations and the ``Law of the Land.'' It declares that it is the policy of the United States ``to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.''

Furthermore, section 3(b) of the Act stipulates that both the President and the Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of such defense articles and services `based solely' upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan.

On January 29, 2010 the Obama Administration notified Congress of a long-awaited package of arms sale to Taiwan, totaling US$ 6.4 billion. The package included 114 Patriot PAC-3 missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, 12 Harpoon missiles for training purposes, two Osprey- class refurbished mine hunters and military communication equipment. However, not included in the package were 66 F-16 C/D fighter aircraft, which Taiwan requested in 2006.

Prior to the notification, in a report dated 21 January 2010, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency made an assessment of the status of Taiwan's air defense. It concluded that Taiwan's air defense is showing increasing vulnerability due to the aging of the air force fighter aircraft.

Madam Speaker, let me conclude my remarks with urging my esteemed colleagues to join me in requesting the Obama administration to immediately move ahead with the sale of F-16s to Taiwan at this time. One of the main reasons to move now is that the production of the F-16s is nearing its end, as more countries are switching to the advanced F- 35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks against this flawed health care bill. My district is a military district. We are a district of men and women who served this Nation in all branches of our Armed Forces. We are a district that builds the weapons that our war fighters depend on in the battlefield.

Unfortunately, when rushing this legislation through Congress, the Democrats failed to exempt 9.2 million military families from being forced to pay a penalty under this health care bill the President wants on his desk so quickly. Congress was forced to fix this in the eleventh hour. But it remains unchanged in the Senate bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Air Force Colonel Bob Purcell who died in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 6, 2009.

He was born on February 14, 1931 in Louisville to the late William Tilden Purcell and Mary Baldwin Purcell. He was a 1949 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville. Upon graduating from St. Xavier, he attended the University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School. He attended primary flight training at Marianna Air Base in Marianna, Florida. He received his basic training at Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi. He graduated in December 1954 as a 2nd lieutenant and also received his pilot wings. He went to advanced training in the F-100, assigned to Kadena AFB in Okinawa. He subsequently upgraded to the F- 105 and flew combat missions in Vietnam until he was shot down on July 27, 1965. He was the 17th American captured. He remained a prisoner of war for seven-and-a-half years. He repatriated on February 12th, 1973.

After repatriation, he returned to school and completed studies earning a BA from Bellarmine University and an MA in Political Science from Auburn University. He was also a graduate of the United States Air Force Air University Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base. He finished a distinguished Air Force career as a full Colonel.

After he retired from the Air Force, Percy became a simulator pilot Instructor with American Airlines in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was a former member of St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church in Louisville where he also attended elementary school.

He loved his family, his friends and his country. He was a true American hero, and I am honored that we live among such men of courage and character.

Mr. Speaker, soon courts-martial of the three Navy SEALS accused of beating a suspected terrorist will begin. These trials and the outcomes are being followed closely by our servicemembers. There is broad concern that political correctness may be impacting the decision to accuse servicemembers of crimes stemming from the treatment of terrorists and accused terrorists. This is not acceptable. Our soldiers must be able to carry out their missions without considering the sensitivities of the ACLU.

There is another group that is also following these courts-martial, the terrorists. In fact, the al Qaeda handbook specifically directs any operative who is detained to immediately claim he is tortured and mistreated. We cannot stand by and allow our warfighters to be manipulated by the enemy.

When these charges are brought, many of our servicemembers elect to have civilian defense counsel, based on their level of experience and expertise, at their own expense. Even when acquitted or the charges are dropped, these servicemembers are left with significant debt. This is also unacceptable.

The people who so willingly defend this country deserve the very best defense and should be acquitted or the charges dropped. It is the responsibility of our government to pay these costs. Today I am introducing a resolution to address this inequity. I will continue to fight for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, and I urge all Members of Congress to do the same.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 939, 940, 942, 943, and 945 I was absent from the House.

Had I been present, I wouId have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 941, 944, and 946, I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''