Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 30th anniversary of the Mid Cities Pregnancy Center in Euless, Texas. In its history, MCPC has ministered to over 70,000 women by providing Christ-centered counseling, professional medical services, and connections with resources to help as many as possible choose life for their preborn child.

MCPC began in the First Baptist Church in Euless, Texas. First known as the ``Crisis Pregnancy Center,'' it was inspired by the preaching of Dr. James T. Draper in January of 1984. On August 20, 1984, after prayerful consideration, a small group of church staff and laymen opened the center to begin its life-saving ministry of outreach to any woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Sixteen were served in the first month and were lovingly provided Biblical counseling by volunteers as well as community resources and options.

Since then, MCPC has grown tremendously and done great work as one of the first Christian pregnancy centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. In 2006, the Center was awarded a grant by Focus on the Family and Dr. James Dobson for a new ultrasound machine. Their site visit report included a positive review of practices and a recommendation that led to MCPC's incorporating independently. First Baptist Church continued to provide leadership to the center through board membership majority and ongoing support of their pregnancy mission. On March 26, 2009, the Center, after having operated in North Richland Hills for a time, opened a satellite facility in Irving, Texas. Not long after, the new opening was met by another generous grant for a new ultrasound machine. Three professional ultrasound techs joined the MCPC staff. Last year, MCPC's main office returned to Euless and moved into a new 7,800 square-foot building in the city's hospital district. A full-time nurse manager was added to supervise a staff of volunteer professional registered nurses to ensure that each client received medical attention and prenatal education.

Over the years, MCPC has helped promote health, security, life, and the Gospel for women in need. Of the 70,000 whom they have worked with, 40% had positive pregnancy tests, 25,000 said they would choose life as a result of MCPC's ministry, and thousands of others have received the Christian faith. In the future, MCPC plans to work even harder to specifically reach out to women in underserved communities who are the most desperate for hope and direction. This effort will include the use of a mobile unit that was donated last year.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of gratitude for their good work in my district's communities that I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Mid Cities Pregnancy Center.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jon Casey of the Southlake Fire Department in Southlake, Texas. Casey was honored yesterday, September 7th, by the Southlake Baptist Church during a special service for first responders. Though only having been a firefighter in Southlake for a short time, Casey has demonstrated noteworthy courage and dedication to serving others.

Jon Casey was hired by the Southlake Fire Department on June 17, 2013. In little more than a year, he has made a difference in the lives of those around him numerous times. He and his colleague, Kevin Barry, stayed with fellow firefighter, Justin Speaker, and cared for him as he went through a medical tragedy and eventually passed away. Later they helped his family when they came to town to mourn and settle affairs.

On another occasion, Mr. Casey was off duty and driving outside of Southlake with two other firefighters, Kyle Warden and Isaiah Gonzalez, when they approached an overturned and ablaze ATV. They sprang into action and gave medical attention to an 11 year old girl who had been trapped underneath it and found nearby with severe burns. They then accompanied the local paramedics who arrived afterward and continued to provide needed assistance. They have since visited her at Parkland Hospital's burn unit and have followed her recovery.

Instances of Mr. Casey going out of his way to help others have also been noted in ways that would seem small but that made a world of difference to those whom he has touched. He was among three firefighters who helped Betty Hawthorne, a woman who was traveling and had pulled over at their station for help with her power window that would not roll up. Little did they know that she was coming from the funeral of a dear friend and lost many other loved ones that year. She was deeply distraught and was driving hours on a blistering hot day to see her grandson play in a baseball game. Along with Lieutenant Marshall Urbanosky and Engineer Tony Peyton, Casey successfully repaired her window. Their compassion left Betty with such an impression that she wrote a letter to the Fire Chief, describing the whole story with great gratitude.

Southlake Fire Department Deputy Chief Wade Carroll, reflecting on Jon Casey, has written that he cannot ``help but think that his kind heart toward those in need has driven his career choice, his actions, and the actions of his friends. Because of people like [Jon] the fire service will continue to stand for showing the compassion of Christ to those in need.'' The City of Southlake will be most fortunate as Casey continues to devote himself to public service, both on and off duty.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Jon Casey on his well-earned community recognition for his exceptionally sacrificial and caring service as a member of the Southlake Fire Department.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Duy Bui, a constituent of mine from Carrollton, Texas, who is a rising junior at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in biochemistry, and a recipient of the United Health Foundation Diverse Scholars Initiative scholarship. This week, Duy will be in Washington, DC participating in the Diverse Scholars Forum, during which time he will have a unique opportunity to interact with experts in various health care fields, engage with policy-makers, and network with his peers. Additionally, he will spend an afternoon here on Capitol Hill to participate in an activity to examine some of the nation's most pressing health care problems and discuss proposed solutions. Beyond his significant academic achievements and his goal to become a physician to change the way health care is administered and communicated, Duy has spent a significant amount of time giving back to his community.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for Duy's dedication to making the health care system more enriched by professionals with varied perspectives and backgrounds. His

enthusiasm for his work and his promise to improve the health outcomes of the individuals he will one day serve will be a great asset to our nation's health care system.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Duy Bui and wishing him success in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I just visited the Texas-Mexico border for the third time. I saw, firsthand, a real manmade crisis, a crisis created by an administration that urges amnesty.

I spent time with our Nation's border agents. They are doing an incredible job under the extreme circumstances. Despite their hard work, wave after wave of illegal immigrants is coming in from Central America.

I also witnessed the State of Texas Department of Public Safety's heroic efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Sending these illegal immigrants back to their home country promptly is one of the most humane things that we can do. Failure to do so will only encourage others to risk their own safety to pursue the false promise of amnesty.

My constituents in Texas demand a permanent border security solution. The law blocking a fast return of illegal immigrants to their home countries must be changed.

Until our President supports this major part of the solution, he will remain a major source of the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of one of my noted and civically active constituents, Mrs. Irene Dugan Wright of Dallas, Texas.

Irene was born on July 19, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest of three children. Both of her parents were hearing impaired and, many years later, she would come to serve as an interpreter for the deaf at church. After spending most of her childhood in Philadelphia, Irene graduated from Commerce High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. She went on to work as a secretary for Trinity Church in Springfield and met her husband, Bob, through a church event and they married in 1951.

Irene's life in Texas began in 1954 when the family moved to Dallas on a temporary assignment from the Sun Oil Company. It did not take long for Texas to appeal to the Wrights, and they successfully requested that the assignment in the area become permanent.

Since moving to Dallas, Irene has continuously been very active in our community's civic and political life. The first time she ever voted was for Dwight D. Eisenhower after attending a debate between him and Adlai Stevenson. In 1957, the Wrights were having air conditioning installed in their home when they were asked to host a backyard event to gather and identify Republicans in Dallas County. Since then, Irene attended many state conventions in Texas and was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in her birthplace of Philadelphia in 2000. She has worked on numerous campaigns, including those of John Tower, Jim Collins, and Sam Johnson.

Irene also maintains active ties with her faith community. She is not only a member of the Golden Corridor Republican Women's Club but also serves as a chaplain. She is a member of Christ Church in Plano, Texas, and has taught women's Bible Study for thirty-five years. Irene and Bob, who passed away in 2003, had three children together--Susan, Lisa, and John--and she has six grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the ninetieth birthday of one of my most civically engaged constituents, Mrs. Irene Dugan Wright. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone in her remarkable life.

Madam Speaker, I was recently contacted by a constituent of mine, Lois Doyle. She shared with me the tragic passing of her daughter, Amanda, at the hands of a drunk driver. Words cannot fully express my sympathy for her family and her loved ones.

This is a tragedy that could have and should have been prevented. No driver should have ever got behind the wheel after drinking, but this drunk driver was in Texas illegally. He should not have been in the country. He should not have been driving.

To make things even worse, the illegal driver was released on bail and has fled the country and will never stand trial. This tragedy would have been avoided had our border been secure. This was a preventable and avoidable tragedy.

Mr. President, please secure our borders now.

Mr. Speaker, after months of requesting all of Lois Lerner's emails, the agency now tells Congress that it has lost 2 years' worth of her emails. The IRS knew about these problems for months. They even told the White House about the lost emails, but withheld this information from Congress.

This stonewalling by the IRS must end. The complete lack of faith of my constituents in the IRS compels me to demand a special prosecutor to independently investigate the lost emails of Lois Lerner.

There needs to be an independent investigation that leaves no stone unturned. This should also include a forensic audit of their IT systems. Only then will the American people know the truth. This will send the message to the IRS that the American people will not tolerate further abuses.

Mr. Speaker, the current situation on our southern border is a direct result of this administration's failure to enforce our laws.

Since October, 47,000 unaccompanied women and children have illegally entered the U.S. By year's end, 90,000 minors will have illegally crossed into our country. When apprehended, the majority of those questioned say they came

expecting to be able to stay, to get a free pass. This is wrong, and my constituents are angry about it and will not tolerate it.

The President should immediately begin returning these illegal immigrants to their home countries. He must demand cooperation from the respective foreign governments and press them to stop spreading the false belief that America rewards illegal immigration with a de facto amnesty.

This is a crisis of the President's own creation. He must take real action to strengthen the border and strengthen security before it grows even worse and send a strong message that illegal immigration will not be rewarded.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the launch of two new flagship routes at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which I represent. Today, American Airlines opens direct service from DFW to both Hong Kong and Shanghai.

These new flights are the latest additions to the growing international hub at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Hong Kong and Shanghai join an impressive list of other newly launched international flights from DFW, including Bogota, Dubai, Lima, Seoul, and Sydney.

Many businesses have operations in my district because of the easy access to direct flights from DFW. These new flights will promote further business development and make it easier for my constituents to travel to Asia and across the world. More good news will come next month as DFW will soon add a direct flight to Doha.

My sincere congratulations to everyone at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the

Grapevine Historical Society of Grapevine, Texas.

In 1973, the Grapevine Historical Society was organized and incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The first project that the group undertook was to preserve the Cotton Belt Depot. The railroad had no further use for the Depot and intended to demolish it. In order to save the Cotton Belt Depot, members of the Grapevine Garden Club, led by Alberta Nettleton, organized the Grapevine Historical Society to move the Depot off the railroad land to Heritage Park.

The Grapevine Historical Society solicited items of historical significance from the community to start its first museum inside the Depot. Due to the growth of the collection, the Society eventually employed a curator for the museum. The railroad later sold the land where the Depot had been on Main Street to the City of Grapevine. The Heritage Foundation had been formed in the meantime and took over the project of moving the Depot back to its original location and restoring it.

Over the past forty years, the Grapevine Historical Society has published several books that detail the history of the City of Grapevine. In 1979, the first edition of The Grapevine Area History Book was published under the direction of editor Charles Young. In 2006, editor Sandra Tate and members of the Society assembled a second book entitled Grapevine's Most Unforgettable Characters. This book contains over 400 stories from people who pioneered the City of Grapevine and individuals who are currently living in the city today.

The Grapevine Historical Society has also sponsored a program to preserve the oral history of Grapevine. The Audio History Project includes stories from city leaders on education, business, and government. In addition, the Grapevine Historical Society compiled the first inventory of headstones in several area cemeteries including Grapevine, Bear Creek, Minters Chapel, and Parker Cemeteries.

The Grapevine Historical Society originated the Historical Marker Program and has dedicated and provided markers for various landmark buildings throughout Grapevine.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the Grapevine Historical Society for its 40th anniversary. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in commending the Grapevine Historical Society on its commitment to preserve the history of the City of Grapevine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate R.L. Turner High School's Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program, in Carrollton, Texas, for being recognized with the Distinguished Unit Award based on performance and service during the 2013-2014 school year.

The NJROTC Distinguished Unit designation is awarded annually to schools whose program ranks in the top 30 percent of units throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Competing units are ranked according to the degree of excellence attained in administration, military proficiency, and host school support. Accordingly, R.L. Turner High School and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District have contributed to the strong support and development of the NJROTC program

R.L. Turner High School's NJROTC is a citizen leadership program designed to develop informed and responsible young men and women who embody honor, integrity, loyalty, courage, and respect for authority in a democratic society.

In addition to achieving numerous accolades, the R.L. Turner's NJROTC program, under the leadership of Lieutenant Martin Caro, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and Master Chief Martin Wesley, U. S. Navy (Ret.), is actively involved in service programs throughout the local community. The cadets volunteer for various color guard events, Veterans Day events, and parades. In addition, the NJROTC participates in the March of Dimes, Toys for Tots, and the Dallas Day of Service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating the R.L. Turner High School's NJROTC program on receiving the Distinguished Unit Award.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday a new plane debuted in the skies above Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. From the outside it may have resembled other aircraft you've seen, on the inside this state-of- the-art bird offers passengers a better travel experience, with more leg room, bigger overhead bins, and a brighter cabin.

This plane is the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, a new regional jet built by Bombardier, the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. American Airlines will be the first carrier to fly these aircraft, and will begin adding them to their fleet next month.

American Airlines has been an operator of Bombardier's CRJ family of aircraft for a long time. And though we are all familiar with American, our DFW-based airline, you may not be as familiar with Bombardier who also has strong presence in our hometown.

Bombardier employs more than 8,500 people in the U.S., whether at their manufacturing facilities that build aircraft and rail equipment for both domestic and export markets, at their network of service centers that maintain the products they build, or at their flight test, engineering and training centers that are an extension of their core manufacturing operations.

Bombardier has four facilities in the North Texas area alone, including two in the 24th district: Bombardier built and currently operates the Skylink automated people mover at DFW, the free system that swiftly connects passengers to all five airport terminals. Bombardier also has a pilot and technician training facility at DFW, which I had the pleasure to visit last year, where six full-sized, state-of-the-art aircraft simulators train pilots and maintenance technicians on Bombardier aircraft. Pilots and technicians from around the world come to this training facility in my district.

Bombardier is a key employer in the 24th district, and I am excited for American to be the first to take delivery of this sophisticated new regional jet. I congratulate them both on this partnership and look forward to flying on the new CRJ900 in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Honorable Mary Lib Saleh who is retiring from her position as the Mayor of Euless, Texas, after 21 years of service. Mayor Saleh has been an instrumental leader in the successful growth of Euless and the greater North Texas region. Throughout her tenure, the City of Euless has developed into a premiere location where families want to live, businesses want to operate, and people want to visit.

Mayor Mary Lib Saleh was elected as the first female mayor of Euless in 1993 after serving two years as a council member and two years as mayor pro tem. Prior to her service on the council, Mayor Saleh was an at-home mother of five children. She was active in church, scouts, school activities, and the PTA where she holds a Texas Lifetime Membership. All five of her children are now married, and her family has grown to include seven grandchildren.

During Mayor Saleh's time in office, the City of Euless has greatly developed its infrastructure. Some of the developments that have occurred over the last two decades include an outstanding library, which has been voted the best in Northeast Tarrant County; a State recognized municipal golf course; a premier park with great baseball stadiums; a state-of-the-art police and courts facility; new public works and parks buildings; a new fire station; revitalization of all city buildings, including City Hall; and Veterans Park, complete with a beautiful Eagle and Liberty Bell sculpture.

Mayor Saleh serves on a number of local boards that address healthcare, business, and transportation. She has also founded community organizations such as the Women in Government organization for Tarrant County elected women and directed the formation of the Mayor's Roundtable as a branch of the Northeast Leadership Forum.

Mayor Saleh is a proponent of public art, historical preservation, and education; furthermore, she has been instrumental in bringing talented people together who have been successful in documenting the history of the city through photographs, written histories, and historical markers.

Mayor Saleh spearheaded an art program with the mission of sharing original artwork at public facilities. The art program has most notably impacted the community with ten beautiful original bronze statues created by a Texas artist. In addition to public art around the city, Mayor Saleh formed the Euless Library Foundation to enhance the artistic image of the library and provide educational programs. As a result, the Foundation has provided two bronze statues for the library grounds.

Under Mayor Saleh's leadership, the City of Euless won the prestigious U.S. Conference of Mayors City Livability Award in 2006 for a composting program developed for its citizens. In 2008, Euless was also selected by Business Week as the Best Small City in Texas to Raise Children, and Money Magazine rated the Euless as one of the Best Small Cities in the United States. In 2009, Euless, Bedford, and Hurst jointly received the North Texas Council of Governments Regional Cooperation Award, and in 2012, Euless received the award again alongside Arlington, Fort Worth, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Many organizations have recognized Mayor Saleh for her contributions and leadership. The distinctions Mayor Saleh has earned include the Clyde Mooney and the Gertrude Tarpley Spirit Award from the HEB Chamber of Commerce, Legacy of Women Honoree for Volunteerism from the Women's Shelter, and the prestigious title of Tarrant County's Most Influential Woman in 1998.

Mayor Saleh has also been a terrific partner with my congressional office. With her assistance, my office has been able to host numerous events for the constituents of the 24th District such as town halls, Congressional Art Competition ceremonies, community casework meetings, and veterans fairs.

Mayor Saleh has enjoyed much success during her time in public office. Her impact on the City of Euless, as well as North Texas, has been tremendous. Mayor Saleh's presence on the Euless City Council will be sorely missed, but her legacy in the area will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking the Honorable Mary Lib Saleh for her years of service on the Euless City Council.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the National MPS Society for their 40 years of supporting families while searching for cures for this genetic disease. Mucopolysaccharidosis or MPS is a group of genetically determined lysosomal storage diseases that render the human body incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break down complex carbohydrates. The damage caused by MPS on a cellular level adversely affects the body and damages the heart, respiratory system, bones, internal organs, and central nervous system. MPS often results in intellectual disabilities, short stature, corneal damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility, speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity, chronic respiratory problems, and, most importantly, a drastically shortened life span. Symptoms of MPS are usually not apparent at birth and without treatment; the life expectancy of an individual affected begins to decrease at a very early stage in their life. Research towards combating MPS has resulted in the development of limited treatments for some of the MPS diseases.

I ask my colleagues and their staff to join me in recognizing May 15, 2014 as National MPS Awareness Day. This is an important time during which the MPS disease community will help increase the awareness of this

devastating disease, as well as supporting research to improve treatments, find cures and receive early diagnosis. The MPS families are encouraged to reflect and support each other and to reach out to those families who have lost loved ones to MPS. By wearing their purple ribbons and sharing these ribbons within their community, they are increasing public awareness about this disease. This date is also the start of the National MPS Run/Walk season along with other local community activities to raise awareness along with money for research and for family assistance programs. I commend the National MPS Society and their many volunteers for an unwavering commitment to bring about awareness of this disease and to continue to advocate for federal legislation to streamline the regulatory processes and to speed effective treatments and cures for their loved ones. More must be done to find cures and effective treatments, but let us reflect on the importance of this day. I ask that all of my colleagues join me in commemorating National MPS Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the establishment of the select committee on Benghazi.

Constituents in my district demand to know what really happened on September 11, 2012, in Libya. Almost 2 years have passed, and Congress continues to get stonewalled by the administration. The most serious of these offenses is that the terrorists who are responsible for this action have not yet been brought to justice.

The creation of a House select committee is a serious matter. We owe this to the families and loved ones that were lost. This is the best way forward to uncover what actually happened. Under the leadership of Congressman Trey Gowdy, I am confident we will get to the bottom of this.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the creation of the select committee on Benghazi.