Ted Poe

Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor and a privilege to represent the great City of Humble and the best folks in Texas. I live right outside the city line, over in Atascocita. But I have always considered Humble my home. If folks ask me where I live, I reply Humble. There are two ways to pronounce Humble--the right way and the wrong way. The right way is Umble (the H is silent). Towns like Humble, Texas are why so many new folks and businesses continue to move to Texas. It is only fitting that Humble was founded by a little-known hero, Joseph Dunman, who some believe is the true father of Humble.

In 1836, William Barret Travis penned his famous letter from the Alamo, ``The Travis Letter.'' Travis pledged he would ``never surrender or retreat,'' swearing ``victory or death.'' Travis's letter requesting reinforcements at the Alamo was delivered by Joseph Dunman. The most famous letter in Texas history was delivered by horseback from the Alamo to Liberty, Texas by a volunteer. Dunman not only volunteered but he survived. Dunman like Travis believed in these words that the cause for independence was his life. Dunman was a true freedom fighter that understood America is worth fighting for and that defeat is not an option.

Unfortunately, Travis' call for help was not answered in time. Commander Travis and 187 volunteers sacrificed their lives after 13 glorious days at the Alamo. After delivering the letter to Liberty, Texas, Dunman rode on to Anahuac to spread the message to the colonist. Now the rest is as they say--Texas history. The Battle of San Jacinto was fought. General Sam Houston and his men defeated Santa Anna winning Texas' Independence.

In the 1840s Dunman received a land grant that would later become the city of Humble. In 1844, he acquired over 177 acres on the

banks of the San Jacinto River. He also raised cattle. By 1854, more than sixteen families settled around what was known as the Joseph Dunman settlement.

After the war, Dunman continued working for the Republic of Texas by driving and fencing cattle for Fort Galveston.

Because of men like Joseph Dunman, Texas is the great State that it is today. His legacy embodies the passion and loyalty that make Texans stand out around the world. The backbone of our nation was formed from hardworking citizens like Joseph Dunman. He is an example not only to those from Humble, but to all citizens of our great Nation.

The Dunman family always found a way to give back to their beloved Humble. They used their home as a polling location for the Republic of Texas and Harris County elections. Joseph Dunman's son, Joseph W. Dunman, opened the very first school in 1873. The school was called Joe Dunman's Schoolhouse. It was the only school in the district. The district is now called the Humble Independent School District.

Beginning as a small sawmill town, Humble was home to rugged Texas ranchers, farmers, and loggers. In 1869, a Civil War veteran named Pleasant Humble moved to Harris County. He purchased prime land from the Dunman family along the south side of the San Jacinto River. Humble opened a grocery store and ran the existing ferry. He soon took over the responsibility of the mail.

One of the best things about Texas is the fact that Texas towns each have their own unique history. There are hundreds of stories about towns and their colorful past and the settlers who founded them. However, the most interesting part of their unique history is how each town received its name. According to local historian Dr. Robert Meaux, ``legend states that mail carriers from other towns were instructed to ``deliver to Humble'' meaning Pleasant Humble. Through continued use of this phrase, ``Humble'' eventually became the name of the town.'' In 1886, Pleasant Humble became the first postmaster of Humble. He was also Commissioner of Harris County and elected to Justice of the Peace for Harris County Precinct 4 in 1887 to 1895.

The name Bender should sound familiar to Humble folks. Bender Avenue, Aldine-Bender Road, and Charles Bender High School were all named after Charles Bender Sr. In 1889, Bender purchased a sawmill and moved it to Humble. The sale included thousands of acres of timberland. C. Bender and Sons became a very successful lumber company. They shipped wood all over the world. Bender was a very generous man. He built houses for his employees and allowed them to purchase them from his company.

In 1904 Bender filed an official street plan for the town of Humble, which is still in use today. The four main streets in town were named after four oil pioneers drilling in Humble: Higgins, Barrett, Granberry, and Staiti. The Bender family were hardworking, well- educated, God fearing Americans who emigrated from Germany believing the impossible. Recently the City of Humble renovated the abandoned Charles Bender High School and converted it into the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center. Hung over the top of one of the doors at Charles Bender High School read ``Impossible Is Un-American.'' This motto was true of the Bender family.

Modern amenities were brought to Humble at the turn of the 20th century. They opened a bank, a theater and skating rink known as the Opera House, utility companies, a hardware store and saloons. Influential leader and citizen, Ross Sterling, moved to Humble in 1904. After completing a fourth grade level education, he began working as a clerk at the age of 12. The experience led him at the age of 21 to launch his own feed store. Sterling could have taught a course about the hardworking man--Work Ethic 101. In 1910, Sterling's big break came when he purchased two oil wells, leading to the charter of The Humble Oil and Refining Company, which later became Exxon. Sterling went to open many banks, one of which is Humble State Bank. He also was a newspaper publisher after buying the Houston Post, and owned KPRC radio station. He went on to become the governor of Texas from 1931 to 1933. In all of his endeavors, he always found a way to give back to his community. He left a legacy long after his death. Ross Sterling Middle School in Humble is named in his honor.

The 10s and 20s roared in with the founding of oil. Oil derricks made of wood covered Moonshine Hill and Humble. The first oil boom in Humble was made up of shallow wells that formed lakes of oil around the derricks. What a sight. As a result, Humble grew along with the refinery when oil roughnecks began purchasing homes in and around the town.

They weathered the depression better than most in the 30s and the 40s. And they solidified the Greatest Generation in our Nation's history. Humble is home to many heroes who served in the military during this time. One such hero who lives in Humble is Tom Morgan. Tom volunteered to serve his country during WW2. He joined the Marines in 1942 and was deployed and assigned to island hopping along Southeast Asia. Despite contracting malaria, he continued to serve our country. He then served as a reservist, and again deployed for his country in the Korean War. But he was not done serving. He worked the pipelines for 30 years and raised 3 kids in Humble. He retired, but felt lazy, so he answered an ad in the paper for positions with the Harris County Sheriff Office as a reserve officer. At the age of 72, he was the oldest cadet to ever graduate from the academy.

For 26 years, he has put on a badge and a gun to protect and serve the people and communities that he loves. At the age of 98, Tom Morgan is retiring as the oldest active lawman in the state of Texas. He still lives in Humble.

The McKay family name is well-known in Humble. Dr. Haden Edwards McKay II brought his family to Humble in 1919. He practiced medicine and served on the Humble ISD School Board. His son, Haden Edwards McKay III, followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a physician, too. He became known as Dr. McKay Jr. He started practicing medicine in 1938 in Humble. He met his wife, Lillian, a nurse at St. Joseph's hospital and they were married in 1941. That same year, Dr. McKay built a white limestone house for his new bride, in Humble. This home is considered a piece of local history. Another Humble landmark is the McKay Clinic, which is now a museum thanks to the efforts of Mrs. McKay. Dr. McKay saw patients at that clinic until his death in 1996. I cannot imagine what Humble would be like today, had it not been for the McKay's. The city thrives because of their work and tireless efforts. Dr. McKay served as the mayor of Humble for 24 years and Lillian was the First Lady.

Bringing in air conditioning, the baby boom, and the Vietnam War the 50s and 60s presented many more changes to the small town. The 50s was the beginning of an economic boom in Humble. Population of Humble increased as many families moved to the suburbs to escape the City of Houston. In 1969, Houston's largest airport, now called George Bush Intercontinetal Airport, was built on the west side of Humble. The 70s saw the biggest rise in fame and fortune with the oil boom, but was followed by the biggest fall from grace in the 80s. Nonetheless, Humble emerged unscathed in the 90s and continued to thrive. Not to say there were not hard times over the years. They had their share of hurricanes and fires--the latest was Hurricane Harvey. And we all know the damage Harvey poured onto Humble. But Humble proved Texas Strong. It is truly a city rich in history, pride, and perseverance.

Humble's fire and police departments are among the best in Texas. As a prosecutor and Judge for over 30 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of America's best, the men and women in blue. Each day they wake up, place the badge--the shield--over their heart and head out into our communities to protect us. It has been and honor to call many first responders in Humble, my friend.

It has been an honor to represent the citizens of Humble, Texas in the United States House of Representatives. I am proud to have worked with Retired Humble Mayor McMannes, Humble Mayor Merle Aarons, and the city council on numerous projects concerning the city. I commend them for their leadership in helping Humble grow.

I look forward to seeing Humble continue to prosper in the future.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Communist China is a growing threat to the United States and global peace. Its values and interests do not match our own. This is evident by recent reports of a atheist China imprisoning thousands of Muslim Uighurs in reeducation camps and the ongoing persecution of Tibetans and Chinese Christians. China's interests completely conflict with our democratic principles and the international order that has kept the peace since the end of the Second World War. China is cheating, stealing, and bullying its way towards great power status. It is our duty to stand up to Beijing's bad behavior.

Two decades ago, America, as the leader of the free world and the largest economy on Earth, gave the People's Republic of China a chance to prove itself as member of the global economy. We believed they were making free market reforms and potentially ending their communist system which had kept millions in poverty. By granting Beijing permanent normal trade relations, many in Congress hope that opening the global market to China would encourage further liberalization within the repressive state. But instead of the world changing China, China has been working to change the world to get ahead. While it did embrace some elements of capitalism, it bent the rules using state- owned enterprises and corruption to cheat. It made investments in innovative American companies so it could steal technology. It forced American companies wanting to do business in China to surrender certain rights, including intellectual property. And Beijing instituted a widespread cyber theft campaign to steal trade secrets and cutting-edge research. Beijing made the decision to cheat the international system it was invited into so that it could gain strategic dominance.

Until now, China's deception worked. It even tried to export its unfair business practices through the Belt and Road Initiative. But this too proved to be a giant debt trap that Beijing sold to developing nations. Countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia have ended their participation in China's ambitious plan because they realized that all of the projects the People's Republic was building in their countries benefited only China. Even the workers employed to construct Belt and Road infrastructure in these countries were Chinese rather than local workers. Instead they were left with were roads to nowhere and crushing debt to China. Fortunately, the world is waking up to Beijing's modern colonialism.

But China's ambition to pull ahead at others expense did not end there. Within all of Beijing's economic malpractice, it has aimed to seize technology and strategic positioning that would also give it a military edge over the United States. By stealing American technology, China has been able field advance weapon systems before our own forces. Meanwhile through Belt and Road, China acquired ports and airports around the globe that can be used as military bases that then enable them to control strategic chokepoints and resources without firing a shot. We have most evidently seen this in illegal island building in the South China Sea. Combined with its rapid military build-up, which will give China a fleet that outnumbers the U.S. Navy by 2020, we are quickly losing our military supremacy to China. The ramifications of such a dramatic shift in power from the U.S. to China will be devastating to our way of life.

Against an authoritarian China that can overmatch our own forces, American will be severally limited in how it protects its interests abroad and respond to Chinese aggression. Principles such as freedom of the seas and free flow of trade will be in jeopardy, having a direct impact on the daily lives of Americans. We must also remember that throughout history such major shifts in geopolitical power rarely came peacefully. In humanity's enduring battle between tyranny and democracy, America has played a decisive role in creating world where freedom preserved over evil. That world is now again in danger.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, after speaking on the House floor more than 2,000 times since joining Congress some fourteen years ago, I can promise you the majority of the many hours spent in this chamber were focused on history. This comes as no surprise. You could say I am a history buff of sorts. Heck, everyone knows it. My walls at home in Texas and here in Washington have been filled with memories from the past. Texas history in particular is what I love most.

Well, Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about a little piece of Houston, Texas history that many Houstonians may not know about, the Majestic Metro. The Majestic Metro is the last remaining in-tact theater in Houston built before 1930. It is safe to say that parking garages have taken the place of many former historical theaters. But, not for the Majestic Metro. It still stands strong in the vibrant heart of downtown Houston.

Originally owned by sisters Stella and Lillian Scanlan, and opened April 15, 1926 under its maiden name, the Ritz, the primary role of this theater was to entertain the masses. Its grand opening showcase was the Buck Jones feature, ``The Fighting Buckaroo.'' What better way to start off its tenure than with a country-western film. But, there is one unique aspect about this movie and others during its time, there was no sound, except for that of the live music in the background. That's right, no fancy high tech sound systems, just a pipe organ. So, the only thing movie-goers were hearing was the chuckles, sniffles, and gasps of their neighbors with the organ in the background. With tickets ranging from 5 cents and 15 cents during the beginning of the Ritz, many Houstonians found their way to Preston Street in downtown Houston for a night out.

The history of the Ritz is so rich because of the many stories its walls can tell. From different owners and styles such as silent country-western films to Spanish films, the Ritz became the Cine Ritz during the 1940's. Decades later, in the 60's and 70's, the name that Houston now knows, the Majestic Metro, was born. The Majestic Metro at this time saw a transition from the old fashion silent country-western and Spanish films to exploitation and kung fu films, then to more mature films, a little too explicit for the Record I'm afraid.

Well Mr. Speaker, times were tough, and the theater came to a close. However, like every good feature film, or at least the ones I like, there was light at the end of the tunnel for this Houston landmark. Local businessman, Gary Warwick, and history buff like me, had a vision for this unique piece of the past.

Instead of allowing the theater to be demolished or showing those old westerns the theater had once known, Gary turned this historical landmark into a place where history would continue living. Today, the Majestic Metro captures the beauty of the past by maintaining many stylistic features of the original architecture.

The Majestic Metro wasn't Gary's only historical contribution to Houston. He was also a pivotal player in the project to restore the Market Square Clock in Houston's Market Square, just a few feet from the Majestic Metro. The Market Square Clock which is a part of the Louis and Annie Friedman Clock Tower is on the corners of Travis and Congress in downtown. For Gary's efforts in the restoration project, he was able to be the first person to hand wind the clock upon its completion in the restoration.

Mr. Speaker, this is exactly why I love history. The Majestic Metro saw the best of times and the worst of times, but it has withstood time as one of Houston's most authentic historical landmarks. The walls of the Majestic Metro have quite a few stories to tell, and thanks to Houstonian Gary Warwick, they can continue to share their history and beauty for years to come.

And that's just the way it is.