Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3550, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users . . . and I commend Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Oberstar for their leadership on a difficult bill before the House. I also thank Chairman Petri and Ranking Member Lipinski of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines for their hard work on this legislation the last couple of years.

Despite the funding level limitations placed on the committee the committee has done an outstanding job in bringing a good bill to the floor that provides $275 billion for highways and transit. I was hopeful we would be moving the bill preferred by the Senate, with a higher investment in national transportation system. By improving our infrastructure in the United States, we grow our economy. This is the best sort of job-creation bill.

With the Southwest international border shouldering a greater and greater load of NAFTA commercial traffic, there is a greater and more urgent need for an interstate highway corridor down to Southern border. The border corridor infrastructure will help our local communities through which so much of the commercial trade passes.

Investing in these inter-modal improvements means investing in the future of efficient movement of people and goods in the 21st Century to remain competitive, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, and provide for the safety of everyone traveling along our roads and highways.

Investments to improve the security of America's critical infrastructures, including passenger rail and public transit, will benefit not only our national security but also our economy and the safety and reliability of systems that Americans rely on every day.

This bill provides important funding to the state of Texas and my district. While there are still issues to be resolved, in particular the donor-donee issue, I am confident that this will be addressed as we move this bill further along through the process and on to the conference.

Transportation is literally the lifeblood of trade and commerce that winds its way through South Texas, creating and supporting a number of jobs. The funding the Committee included in the bill for our neck of the woods will help with a number of safety issues, as well as generally contributing to creating new commercial opportunities for our area.

The Committee included several public transportation projects for our area. Utilizing public transportation helps move people around more economically, it reduces pollution, and it reduces traffic in the area . . . all of which will go a long way to provide congestion relief for area commuters and a new level of safety for South Texans.

Mr. Chairman, House Republicans offer a budget today out of touch with reality, with everyday Americans and with basic math. It undermines veterans, working families, States, the southwest border, education, homeland security, military housing--and lays bare the real math beneath Medicare Reform.

This House budget provides $1.3 billion less than what the Veterans' Affairs Committee recommended--on a bipartisan basis--for these vital veterans health care programs. The Democratic budget provides the full committee-recommended level of $32.3 billion for 2005, and includes $6.6 billion more than the Republican budget over the next 5 years.

The Democratic budget will: improve access and reduce waiting time for all veterans; meet statutory requirements for long-term care by increasing the current number of nursing home beds to 1998 levels; reduce or eliminate the increased co-payments and enrollment fees proposed in the President's budget; increase funds for medical facility construction and renovation; and provide the resources necessary for more responsive reviews of claims and appeals.

Lord knows, Mr. Chairman, our veterans desperately need these improvements.

Basic complaints from veterans I have talked to in South Texas have focused on access, waiting times, and a severe lack of in-patient care in close proximity. We must be guided on spending for veterans by this fact: the numbers of soldiers coming home will rapidly increase the population of veterans needing services, from health care to education.

This year, accounting changes at CBO will kill the hugely successful Military Housing Privatization Initiative that leverages defense money to build quality housing for military families. This Budget Resolution effectively cancels adequate family housing for almost 50,000 military families.

I have a personal attachment to the housing privatization initiative--it was conceived in Kingsville, TX, out of a need to leverage Navy dollars for quality housing for military families. With toilets falling through the roofs of housing in South Texas--and no money to build other housing--the need was great--and so was our creativity.

The program was a great success. Defense Secretary Perry became a big fan of the program in its second year and then made it service-wide. This is the very best way to get better housing at our military bases, at the best price to taxpayers. I am disappointed that the budget does not meet the long-term needs of our veterans and our military families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 254, which improves elements of the North American Development Bank, the mission of which is to leverage Federal funding to borrowing entities to improve the infrastructure for water conservation and irrigation.

Most importantly, this bill says the board of the North American Development Bank should support qualified water conservation projects in the lower Rio Grande Valley, a show of the importance of the injury to south Texas regarding Mexico's noncompliance with the 1944 water treaty.

This bill enables the North American Development Bank to make grants and nonmarket rate loans out of its paid-in capital resources with the approval of its board of directors for qualified water conservation projects.

I am so grateful to the gentleman from south Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for carrying the water for us on this bill and trying to help educate the Members of this House about the travesty that we have lived through in south Texas in the Rio Grande Valley as a result of Mexico's noncompliance with our international treaty.

In this bill we formalize the following findings:

That Texas irrigators and agricultural producers are suffering enormous hardships in the lower Rio Grande River Valley because of Mexico's failure to abide by the 1944 water treaty entered into by the United States and Mexico;

That over the last 10 years, Mexico has accumulated a 1.5 million acre-feet water debt to the United States which has resulted in a very minimal and inadequate irrigation water supply in Texas;

That recent studies by Texas A&M University show that water savings of 30 percent or more can be achieved by improvements in irrigation system infrastructure such as canal lining and metering;

That the North American Development Bank's Water Conservation Investment Fund offered up to $80 million for grant financing of water conservation projects which grant funds, the money divided equally between the United States and Mexico.

While South Texas farmers were disappointed, to say it mildly, that farmers in Mexico were granted equal status with Mexico in the division of these

funds, the money is certainly better than nothing.

We appreciate the gentleman from Nebraska and the rest of the Members who realize that we have a very, very serious business to do in South Texas with this bill. I hope that all the Members will support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.

Rollcall Vote No. 42 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 43 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 44 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 45 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 46 ``yea''; and rollcall Vote No. 47 ``yea.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.

Rollcall No. 32 ``yes''; rollcall No. 33 ``yes''; rollcall No. 34 ``yes''; rollcall No. 35 ``yes''; and rollcall No. 36 ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather and travel delays from my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.

Rollcall No. 25, ``yes''; rollcall No. 26, ``yes''; rollcall No. 27, ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.

Rollcall No. 12 ``yes'';

Rollcall No. 13 ``yes'';

Rollcall No. 14 ``yes'';

Rollcall No. 15 ``yes'';

Rollcall No. 16 ``yes'';

Rollcall No. 17 ``yes''; and

Rollcall No. 18 ``yes''.

Mr. Speaker, as we take up H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act, for a third time in the 108th Congress, I cannot help but feel we still find ourselves with a flawed piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the original intent of this bill was a worthy one, to reimburse Social Security benefits if people representing the recipient misuse them. That is not controversial. But the provision reducing the spousal Social Security benefits for countless teachers, school support personnel, police officers, firefighters and other public servants is most certainly controversial; and I intend to oppose the entire bill since it contains this provision and will adversely affect teachers and others across our State.

Let me say one thing, when teachers work one day, that does not mean that they are going to qualify to get a Social Security benefit for 30 years. What it means is that their spouses who have paid in 30 or 40 or 50 years into the Social Security system and then they die, that is money that they have earned, the family has put into Social Security. That is the money that you will get.

Now we need to understand that targeting pensions of teachers and other school employees will discourage qualified individuals from entering the classroom at exactly the same time the Nation is experiencing a shortage of teachers.

We say we are committed to education, yet in this bill we are profoundly uncommitted to educators.

I am also a co-sponsor of H.R. 594, a bill introduced in the 108th Congress that will eliminate the Government Pension Offset and windfall elimination provisions that target our teachers and other public servants by denying them the opportunity to retain their full Social Security benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that this provision was included in an otherwise good bill because the rest of the bill is a good bill, and I compliment my friends.

Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.--

Roll Call No. 6, Yes.

Roll Call No. 7, Yes.

Roll Call No. 8, Yes.

Roll Call No. 9, Yes.

Roll Call No. 10, Yes.

Roll Call No. 11, Yes.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise before you to recognize a tremendous public servant from my district. Mr. James Springfield, President and Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen, Texas, was recently named ``Young Healthcare Executor of the Year'' by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a national organization based in Chicago.

Mr. Springfield will receive the 2004 Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award on March 1 at the Parker B. Francis Distinguished Lecture Hall during ACHE's 47th Congress on Healthcare Management in Chicago.

The Hudgens Award is presented annually to an exceptional healthcare executive who is less than 40 years old and who is the chief executive officer or chief operating officer of a health services organization.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Springfield attended Baylor University in Waco where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He earned a Master's in Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Houston--Clear Lake. His awards include the ``Emerging Leader'' and the ``Regents Award'' from the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as serving as a Diplomate for the College.

He received the ``Distinguished Alumnus'' award from the University of Houston--Clear Lake. The Rotary International Foundation also awarded Mr. Springfield the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this unique patriot. James Springfield has dedicated his life to the field of healthcare and he represents a level of professionalism and achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to another fallen patriot, United States Army Pvt. Rey David Cuervo, who gave the last full measure of devotion to the Nation of which he was not yet a citizen when he was killed in Iraq after his vehicle hit an explosive device in Baghdad.

After almost 5 years in the United States Army, Pvt. Rey Cuervo, a 24-year-old from Laguna Vista, was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad, based out of Fort Polk, LA.

Pvt. Cuervo was one of an estimated 50,000 legal permanent residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces when he died for the country he loved and the ideals he believed in. He died for the United States as a foreign national in the Army . . . and he won his citizenship posthumously.

This is an important point to make to the House of Representatives at a time when many of our members are raising their voices against those who want to have a national policy that appreciates the actual faces of immigrants in this country who wish to be citizens here.

This brave young man was not here to take a job from a citizen. These soldiers play a big part in defending the country. They believe in the hope and opportunity they feel when they come to this country. This young man's death may serve to educate some members of Congress about the importance of soldiers who put their life on the line, be they born in this Nation . . . or new to this Nation.

To date, five Mexican nationals have died in the war in Iraq. The willingness of Cuervo and the others to fight and die for the United States is an illustration of the love of this Nation from our immigrant community, and of the extraordinary relationship between the United States and Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, the entire community of South Texas mourns this fine young man.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending the life and service of United States Army Pvt. Rey Cuervo, and in expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I wish today to commend the 2003 ``Mr. Amigo,'' Bertha Noeggerath, better known as ``Dulce,'' chosen recently by the Mr. Amigo Association of Brownsville, TX, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. Each year the Mr. Amigo Association honors a Mexican citizen with the title of ``Mr. Amigo,'' and that person acts as a goodwill ambassador between our two countries.

The Mr. Amigo Award began in 1964 as an annual tribute to an outstanding Mexican citizen who has made a lasting contribution during the previous year to international solidarity and goodwill. ``Mr. Amigo''' presides over the annual Charro Days Festival.

The Charro Days Festival is a pre-Lenten event, much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, held in Brownsville and Matamoros. Charro Days festivities last for several days; this year they will be February 25- 28 and will include parades and appearances by Dulce. Charro Days is an opportunity to enjoy the unique border culture of the Rio Grande Valley area.

As Mr. Amigo 2003, Dulce will head the international parade of Brownsville Charro Days and Matamoros Fiestas Mexicanas festivities.

During Charro Days, South Texans celebrate the food, music, dances, and traditions of both the United States and Mexico. The United States- Mexican border has a unique, blended history of cowboys, bandits, lawmen, farmers, fishermen, oil riggers, soldiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and teachers.

The border has its own language and customs. On both sides of the border, there is a deep sense of history, much of which the border has seen from the front row. We have seen war and peace; we have known prosperity and bad times. Charro Days is a time for all of us to reflect on our rich history, to remember our past and to celebrate our future.

The 2003 Mr. Amigo, Dulce is a musician and actress who continues to have a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. She is originally from Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Her music career began while singing in small nightclubs in her hometown in the early 1990's, before joining the group ``Toby y sus Amigos.'' Her 27-year career includes not only Gold Records and several Spanish-language hits, but numerous television appearances and work in Mexican telenovelas, including ``Sonadoras'' and ``Mujeres Enganadas,'' with Andres Garcia, Laura Leon, Kuno Becker and Susana Gonzalez. This year she joins the cast of ``Las Vias del Amor.''

The Mr. Amigo Committee selected Dulce because ``she is a good role model for local youths interested in the arts,'' and because ``through her acting and her music she represents the Mexican culture.''

I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Dulce Noeggerath, the 2003 Mr. Amigo, as well as the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, for their dedication to international goodwill between the United States and Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special organization in Brownsville, Texas: Good Neighbor Settlement House, a non-profit related to the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

They have been serving the needy people in the Brownsville-South Texas area for 50 years, and I commend them for their longevity in doing the most important work neighbors can do: taking care of each other. December 11 marks their 50th anniversary, and their work will be celebrated in Cameron County.

Just last year, Good Neighbor Settlement House served meals to 57,000 men, women and children in our community. They provided a variety of services to over 100,000 people--including rental assistance, clothing, food, after-school programs, children's summer programs, and referrals to other social service agencies.

In 1953, with the guiding principle ``Helping People Help Themselves,'' Good Neighbor Settlement House launched themselves into the business of their mission: to provide the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, meals, housing assistance and educational programs to the needy.

Just a few examples of their unique offering to the low-income families in Brownsville: the Mother's Club, a gathering of women who quilt to help supplement their income; family budgeting classes (with American Express) to help families maximize their resources and be self-sufficient; and Las Culturas (with Cameron Works/United Way) offers music and dance classes for young children.

In today's economy, our need for the Good Neighbor Settlement House is every bit as urgent as it was 50 years ago. Because of our government's reductions in social programs to help the needy--in favor of tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans--the less fortunate are facing ever more serious economic hardships.

Today we celebrate both Good Neighbor Settlement House's dedication to the less fortunate on this anniversary . . . and their commitment to the principle of giving people what they need to fend for themselves: if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day--if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this 50th anniversary of Good Neighbor Settlement House's work in South Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in fond memories of our friend and colleague, Joe Skeen, easily one of the most even- handed, honest, fair legislators elected to the House of Representatives.

Joe was only a little more senior than me, but his route here was considerably more entertaining than most of ours. Joe was elected as a write-in candidate over another write-in candidate and the nephew of the sitting governor. He made history, becoming the third Member ever to win election to Congress without being on a ballot.

For the next 22 years, Joe served with us in Congress, making excellent representation for his home district in New Mexico the standard of his service. He chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Those he represented in New Mexico could have had no better steward in Congress.

He was tireless in representing the needs of ranchers and farmers in his role as an appropriations cardinal.

Joe was my friend, and he was my neighbor on the third floor of Rayburn where we would often visit in each other's office.

He spoke Spanish, and he spoke the all-important language of bipartisanship. Joe Skeen was the best example of how a member of this House should comport themselves in any circumstance. He did more than just talk the talk, he walked the walk on bipartisanship, an art often lost in the House of Representatives today.

He was a pragmatist, and he was a guy who really enjoyed life, teasing colleagues and playing practical jokes. He was truly a gentleman, and he made our work here in the halls of Congress more pleasant when he was involved.

I join my colleagues here in the House in offering our collective and individual sympathies to Joe's wife Mary and their two children. The House has been a poorer place for Joe's absence. He was a great legislator and an exceptional man.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Porter Cowboys on their incredible season, as they just completed their first- ever winning record and were one win away from a perfect regular season record.

In the almost 30 years of the school's history, the Cowboys football team has endured many tough seasons and constant criticism to their program.

However, last week they won their first-ever playoff game beating PSJA 45-8 and advanced to the second round of the Texas high school playoffs where they now face Gregory Portland. I wish them the best as they continue their amazing playoff run and season.

The Porter Cowboy story is one that has everyone in the community and in the Rio Grande Valley extremely excited and energized. Guided by Coach Jim Helms and his exceptional staff, this talented group of players exceeded virtually all expectations that many had for them coming into the season. Of course, the players and coaches had something else in mind when they were preparing in the off-season and now they are in the middle of a dream season; a season that the faculty, students and families, along with the players, will never forget.

As these Porter players make history on the football field they are now only opening the doors to the future in which they will be part of a generation that will make positive changes to the lives of many living in the community. The same determination and commitment they possess on the football field every Friday night will prepare them to respond accordingly when faced with life's challenges and obstacles.

The Porter Nation as they have come to be known were led by their star quarterback and he was surrounded by a cast of gifted athletes that contributed to the success of the stellar season. The arsenal in the passing game, complemented with a tremendous defense and an excellent kicking game enabled them to truly dominate their opponents.

I am so proud of these guys and wish them the best as they continue to achieve their goals both on the field and in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that the roster with the names of each player, coach, and trainer be inserted in the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives.

2003 Porter Cowboys Football Varsity Roster

Chris Walker, Evy Chavez, Emmanuel Gutierrez, Rick

Monsivais, Jason Bernard, Chris Vasquez, Billy Garza, Ivan

Villarreal, Michael Verduzco, Mike Salazar, Manuel Hernandez,

Steve Garcia, Jimmy Gutierrez, Benny Salazar, Moises Salinas,

Ivan Iglesias, and Louie Pineda.

Rogelio Camarillo, Ben Gomez, Jesus Chapa, Carlos Lozano,

Angel Ramirez, Jesus Ferrer, Luis Cruz, Jose lzaguirre,

Thomas J. Rios, Joe Espinoza, Juan Leal, Javier Ruiz, Josh

Burguete, Eli Perez, Ernesto Olivarez, Isaac Almaguer, and

Omar Avila.

David Pallares, Emmanuel Lopez, Eliseo Balderas, Christian

Lara, Stephen Cisneros, Eber Flores, David Diaz, Julian

Mendez, Oscar De Los Santos, Juan Pena, Julius Williams,

Frankie Ramirez, Danny Palacios, Juan Perez, Jose Guerra,

Will Jaramillo, and Gilbert Flores.

Athletic Director: Joe A. Rodriguez.

Athletic Coordinator: Jim Helms.

Football Assistants: Art Cantu, Ruben Cortez, Bill Deen,

Luis Garza, Benny Gonzalez, James Kizer, Abel Moreno, Danny

Pardo, Armando Rangel, Tom Rios, Jeffrey Rodriguez, and Jose

Luis Zarate.

Trainers: John Prosek and Jerry San Pedro.