Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 50th wedding anniversary of Robert D. and Mary Anne Bailey. This event took place on July 15, 2006.

Robert D. Bailey is originally from Mystic, Connecticut. His wife, Mary Anne Williamson Bailey, is originally from Clayton, Alabama. The couple met in April of 1956 at the Seale Road Baptist Church in Phoenix City, Alabama. The next month on Mary Anne's birthday, May 26th, Robert asked her to marry him. On June 15, 1956, the couple was united in marriage at Seale Road Baptist Church where they are still members today. Together they raised four children. They have three daughters, one son, twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Bailey was also recently selected for the Audie Murphy Award, which is the highest award one can receive from the Society of the Third Infantry Division. He was selected out of over 3,900 applicants and will receive the award at Fort Benning, Georgia on Veterans Day.

I salute this lovely couple on the 50th year of their life together and join their family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay tribute to Mr. Clinton Kirk, a constituent of mine who has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to staying healthy and fit.

Mr. Kirk resides in Valley, Alabama, and is in his eighth decade of life. He is known around the area as the Walking Man. Kirk says when he began his walking in 1986, he would walk around 5 to 6 miles a day in the early morning. Twenty years later, he says he now walks about a mile a day and says he attributes his good health to his walking habit. Amazingly, Mr. Kirk has walked over 50,000 miles since 1986, the year he began keeping a daily log of the distance he covers.

I salute Mr. Kirk for his continued efforts to exercise and stay healthy, and commend him at this milestone for serving as an example for us all to take care of ourselves and stay fit.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6160) to recruit and retain Border Patrol agents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6160, the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006. This legislation will help Border Patrol put agents along our Nation's borders now, quickly and cost efficiently.

Securing our Nation's borders is an issue that ranks at the top of the list for many Americans. The President has responded by committing at least 6,000 new Border Patrol agents on our borders over the next 2 years. I wholeheartedly support this commitment, and the provisions in my bill will help us reach this goal.

Shockingly, the Border Patrol statistics show that an average of 33 applicants must be vetted before just one is hired. This means that 66,000 applicants must be screened before just 2,000 new agents are hired.

In addition, Border Patrol typically loses 700 agents annually to retirements and other law enforcement agencies. My bill addresses these personnel challenges.

First, it provides the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to pay recruitment and retention bonuses. Second, it allows the Border Patrol to rehire recently retired agents.

From the outset, my bill's incentives will encourage highly qualified individuals to become career Border Patrol agents; and once we make these investments to train each agent, we should also make sure these new agents are not recruited away by other law enforcement agencies. Therefore, retention bonuses are essential to maintaining a premier workforce.

My legislation also provides authority to the Secretary to rehire retired Border Patrol agents. While some agents hired recently will be able to work until age 60, current law requires most agents to retire at age 57. At a time when the American public is calling for a larger, stronger Border Patrol, it is wrong to overlook this talent pool. After all, most of these retired officers can provide cost-effective and valuable expertise almost immediately.

These officers could not only manage field operations and oversee agents, but also could serve as instructors. This provision would ensure the invaluable experience of knowledge of these retired agents is brought back to the field instead of going unused.

Mr. Speaker, I have toured the southwest border twice and visited the Border Patrol Training Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. I have heard firsthand about these personnel concerns from Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar and from the National Border Patrol Council.

This legislation has been crafted to directly and immediately address the Border Patrol's concerns. I am proud to note that the National Border Patrol Council has endorsed the legislation as well. The National Border Patrol Council president, T.J. Bonner, wrote: ``The council strongly supports this legislation and urges the United States House of Representatives to enact it swiftly in order to provide the Border Patrol with some of the essential tools that it needs in order to be able to recruit and retain well-qualified individuals to help secure our borders,'' and I include the entire letter for the Record.

National Border Patrol Council of the American Federation

of Government Employees,

Campo, CA, September 25, 2006.

Hon. Mike Rogers,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and

Oversight, Committee on Homeland Security, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Rogers: The National Border Patrol Council

appreciates your leadership on homeland security issues, and

is especially grateful for your commitment to ensure that the

Border Patrol has adequate staffing in order to carry out its

vital border security mission. At your invitation, we

recently met and discussed this issue at length. H.R. 6160,

the ``More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006,''

incorporates the Council's central recommendations regarding

this matter.

This legislation will enable the Border Patrol to

substantially increase its ranks immediately through the

addition of retired employees who possess invaluable

experience and knowledge. It will also assist the Border

Patrol in its efforts to attract and retain well-qualified

individuals by establishing recruitment and retention bonuses

for them, as well as by requiring the Department of Homeland

Security to develop a comprehensive plan to enhance

recruitment and retention incentives.

On behalf of the nearly 11,000 front-line employees that it

represents, the National Border Patrol Council expresses its

gratitude to you for introducing this important bill. The

Council strongly supports this legislation, and urges the

United States House of Representatives to enact it swiftly in

order to provide the Border Patrol with some of the essential

tools that it needs to be able to recruit and retain well-

qualified individuals to help secure our borders.

Sincerely,

T.J. Bonner,

President.

I want to especially thank Chairman Tom Davis of the Government Reform Committee for his leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank Mr. Issa for his cosponsorship and his leadership on this issue as well. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6160, the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act for 2006.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I too want to recognize and thank my colleague from Florida. He has been a real ally in this effort to make sure that our Border Patrol have the resources they need and work in a very cordial and bipartisan way. I appreciate him.

I do want to acknowledge his concern over Border Patrol officers. I share that. It is my hope that as soon as we can get this agent issue behind us that we can turn our attention to try to make sure that these officer ranks are swelled as well.

But the thing that I want to most emphasize with my colleagues in the House is that with this legislation and with our circumstance on the border and the understaffing, time is of the essence; and so I urge my colleagues to favorably consider this legislation and vote ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by once again thanking Ranking Member Meek for his support and hard work; and I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 6160.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1030) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Border Patrol is performing an invaluable service to the United States, and that the House of Representatives fully supports the more than 12,000 Border Patrol agents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and insert extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of this resolution, I further ask unanimous consent that the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), be allowed to control the time in support of H. Res. 1030.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the First United Methodist Church of Roanoke, Alabama, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of their sanctuary on October 1, 2006.

In 1836, the Randolph Mission was created and serves today as the earliest recording of a place for Methodists to worship in Roanoke. In 1870, the church joined the newly organized North Alabama Conference. The First United Methodist Church of Roanoke continues to be a part of the conference today.

From 1906 to 1908, George Stoves served as pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Roanoke during a rapid period of growth in the town and during construction of their present church. Stoves is recognized for designing the beautiful building.

The celebration will include opening the corner stone, memorializing a newly renovated kitchen, and paying off the mortgage of their family life center.

I salute the members of the First United Methodist Church of Roanoke, Alabama, for reaching this important milestone in the history of Roanoke, and congratulate the church family on their sanctuary's 100th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay tribute to Mr. Gary E. Harvey, a constituent of mine who has dedicated his life to serving our Nation in uniform. Mr. Harvey was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, and served from 1958 to 1961 as a member of the Royal Canadian Armored Corps. In May 1961, Mr. Harvey enlisted in the United States Army and was commissioned at the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1965.

Mr. Harvey has served two tours in Vietnam. He has also worked as Executive Officer at the Anniston Army Depot; Assistant Professor of Military Science at Marion Military Institute; Operations Officer at the U.S. Army Chemical School; and Deputy Director and Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization, Security and Reserve Component Support and Base Transition Coordinator at Fort McClellan in Alabama.

Mr. Harvey has received numerous awards and decorations including the Bronze Star Medal with ``V'' device with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and Vietnam Campaign Medal with five campaign stars.

I salute Mr. Harvey for his continued efforts today to help serve and protect our country, and for proudly serving our Nation for the past 45 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

I commend the distinguished majority leader, Mr. Boehner and the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. King of New York, for moving this bill and for their strong leadership on border security issues.

The last two years, I have toured parts of our nation's southwest border with Mexico. Only after seeing the vastness of the landscape and the nearly invisible line that separates our country from Mexico, did I come to fully appreciate the border security crisis our nation faces today.

I support this bill because it provides for the use of personnel and technology--such as cameras and sensors, satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles--to gain operational control of our borders. These are vital tools for our Border Patrol agents who are the tip of the spear in protecting our country.

Beginning in June of last year, the Homeland Security Subcommittee that I chair began a series of hearings to closely examine the Department's existing border technology program, know as ISIS--the Integrated Surveillance Intelligence System. Unfortunately, our reviews uncovered waste and mismanagement of precious funds provided for border technology.

Last November, the Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of the Secure Border Initiative--the Department's multi-billion dollar effort to integrate technology, infrastructure, and personnel to secure our borders.

While I support the Department's efforts, my subcommittee has already begun to closely monitor this program and we will hold an oversight hearing this fall on the new SBI contract.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my support for this important bill and hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request the House's attention today to pay tribute to the people of Clay County, Alabama, who on August 12, 2006, will celebrate the centennial anniversary of their county's beautiful and historic Courthouse.

Known across East Alabama as an architectural gem, the Clay County Courthouse was built in 1906 overlooking the square with a Seth Thomas clock. The building has been the site of a number of historic events over the years.

Over the last decade, Clay County citizens have witnessed the ongoing restoration of this beautiful building. In recent years these renovations were completed, helping bring the landmark back to its historic splendor. Today it continues to serve as the county seat in Ashland, Alabama, and features an art gallery, a small museum dedicated to Hugo Black, and a historical display of World War I arms.

The community centennial celebration will occur on Saturday, August 12, where locals will gather for music, food, arts and crafts downtown.

I am delighted to be able to congratulate the people of Clay County at the celebration of this historic milestone, and hope this fine building will continue to serve the people of Alabama well into its next one hundred years. I thank the House for its attention on this important day.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Robert P. Kassin, 29, born in Flint, Michigan, died on July 16, 2006, in Afghanistan. Sergeant Kassin was assigned to the Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and according to initial reports was killed due to injuries when his dismounted patrol came under small arms fire. His survivors include his wife Judy; his two step-daughters; his son; and his mother and father Robert Joseph and Lucia Kassin of Clovis, New Mexico.

Robert Kassin was a proud father and husband, and from a young age expressed a desire to serve his country in uniform. Like all soldiers, he dutifully left behind his family and loved ones to serve our country overseas.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Sergeant Kassin died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty, on a noble mission to help spread the cause of freedom in Iraq and liberate an oppressed people from tyrannical rule. He was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's remembrance on this mournful day.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay special recognition to Air Force Captain Ronald Chastain, a native of Jacksonville, Alabama and the son-in-law of a longtime colleague of mine who was recently honored for saving a man's life.

On May 29th, Captain Chastain, an Air Traffic Control specialist stationed in Okinawa, Japan, was on his way to welcome home a fellow airman returning from Iraq when he noticed a vehicle that had crashed and caught fire. He, and two other men, acted quickly and risked their own lives to pull the victim from his burning car. Their heroism helped save the victim's life, and on June 15th, the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department held a ceremony in Chastain's honor for his actions.

A graduate of Jacksonville High School, Chastain is fulfilling his dream of seeing the world and serving his country. He is guided by God's grace and love for his family. He said his wife, Susan, and sons, Hayden and Caleb, were in his thoughts as he worked to rescue the man from his burning car that dark and rainy night.

I salute Captain Ronald Chastain for working to save this man's life, for his continued efforts to serve and protect our country, and for helping serve as a role model for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request the House's attention today to recognize the mission of the Opportunity Center-Easter Seal located in Anniston, AL. On September 6, 2006, the Opportunity Center will reach a 50-year milestone for having served people with disabilities in and around Calhoun County.

The Opportunity Center acts as a rehabilitation, training and employment facility designed to aid disabled people to achieve their highest potential. The mission is important, and should be commended for helping rehabilitate those who have been disabled from birth and those who have become disabled. The Opportunity Center-Easter Seal seeks to help those with barriers to employment maximize their employment potential, an important resource for many across East Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a proud achievement for the Opportunity Center. I congratulate those who built and have maintained this fine facility, and thank the House for its attention to this important matter today.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 50th wedding anniversary of Jerry and Virginia Greenwood.

In April of 1954, Jerry Greenwood of Blue Mountain, and Virginia Hicks of Oxford met while working together at the Anniston Playland Skating Rink. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood married 2 years later, on June 30, 1956. They lived and worked in Oxford, and moved to Blue Mountain where Jerry worked for the City of Anniston Parks and Recreation Department.

The couple relocated to Saks and raised their two sons, Rodney and Ryan. Mr. Greenwood was involved in the Saks Youth baseball program and coached and sponsored several of his sons' teams. Mr. Greenwood retired from the City of Anniston and opened Greenwood Auto Sales, while Mrs. Greenwood retired from Blue Mountain Industries.

Today, the couple attends Saks Baptist Church, where Mr. Greenwood once served as the bi-vocational music director. They are proud grandparents of Chase, Cameron, Caylor, Carmyn and Cassady Greenwood.

I salute this lovely couple on the 50th year of their life together and join their family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 50th wedding anniversary of Bobby and Nilie Snider. This event will take place on July 14, 2006, but the Snider Family is celebrating the event on June 25, 2006.

Bobby Joe Snider was born on February 6, 1938 in Weaver, AL, to Herman and Gertice Snider. His wife, Nilie Finley Snider, was born on May 7, 1938, in Cedar Springs, AL, to Claude and Nile Finley. Mr. and Mrs. Snider were married on July 14, 1956 at Weaver Methodist Church. Together they raised three children, and Nilie went on to work in retail after the children were grown. Bobby retired from Liberty National as an insurance agent. They have two sons, one son-in-law, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, and one great- grandchild.

Bobby and Nilie are active members of Weaver Baptist Church in Weaver, AL where Bobby has served as a Deacon. On June 25, 2006, a reception will be held in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. I salute this lovely couple on the 50th year of their life together and join their family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, SGT Carlos E. Pernell, 25, from Prattville, Alabama, died on June 6, 2006, in Iraq. Sergeant Pernell was assigned to the Army's B Company, 46th Engineer Battalion at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and according to initial reports was killed due to injuries when his camp came under indirect fire. His survivors include his wife Tiffanie; his daughter Kassidie; his mother Hattie of Prattville, Alabama; and his father, Eugene of Montgomery, Alabama.

Carlos Pernell loved sports, and was a proud father. Like all soldiers, he dutifully left behind his family and loved ones to serve our country overseas.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Sergeant Pernell died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty, on a noble mission to help spread the cause of freedom in Iraq and liberate an oppressed people from tyrannical rule. He was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's remembrance on this mournful day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting Her Excellency Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia.