Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, over the past several years, Southeast Texas has been the target during Hurricane Season. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita hit in 2006 and the very recent Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Not to mention Hurricane Gustav, which did not cause a disaster in Texas, many believe it was just a trial run before Hurricane Ike. Hurricane Ike came along two weeks later on September 13, 2008.

These hurricanes have taught emergency management officials to be prepared in time of a disaster. Through their preparedness they are able to assist and help other individuals evacuate the city in a timely manner. The most recent development is the Portable Inflatable Hospital presented by the East Texas Gulf Coast Regional Trauma Advisory. With the help of the emergency management officials, numerous area hospitals and others, this incredible development was established. State and federal Grants help fund the hospital that cost around 1.5 million. This portable hospital is a great way for medical personnel to assist patients during a disaster and for the patients to get the quick response medical help they need. The medical assistance can range from distributing medications to on site emergency care. The facility can operate as one or three separate facilities. It is equipped with beds, living areas, and other units. This project has had a great response from individuals willing to donate, but still needs any help it can get from our local Southeast Texans. The medical personnel and emergency officials are very grateful for this newly facility. It will be located in Southeast Texas, but can be set up across the state. The hospital will cost five thousand dollars to operate daily plus an additional twelve thousand dollars to generate the portable hospital.

Emergency preparedness is very crucial in time of a disaster. With our great response teams in Southeast Texas the portable hospital will be ready in time of need. I would like to thank the individuals who spend endless hours preparing for Hurricane Season.

Madam Speaker, I stand in this hall that is a symbol for the world of our country's freedom. Americans have fought and paid the ultimate price for this nation and the freedoms we value so deeply.

That is why it is such an honor for me to stand before you today Madam Speaker, because today I am standing to say thank you and to cheer from the gallery for the world to hear--All hail the men and women of the United States Navy and all hail the brave men of the Navy SEALs.

For all the flags we fly and yellow ribbons we tie, for all the times we stand in support of the job carried out by our service men and women. Rarely does a moment come when we as a nation get a chance to thank these individuals whose duty and job it is to go far beyond the limits and demands of a normal soldier.

Rare is the chance this nation gets to see and understand exactly how good these men are at their job, till now.

On Wednesday April 8th a crew of pirates took hostage an unarmed American merchant ship. Captured was Captain Richard Phillips and for 5 days this Sea Captain was held at gun point on a small boat drifting at sea.

On Easter Sunday after many days of unrest, a team of Navy SEALs were sent in to rescue Captain Phillips. It only took 3 shots from sniper rifles and a matter of minutes for the SEALs to disable all the 3 pirates on the ship and free Captain Phillips.

These brave Navy SEALs take the responsibility to continuously put themselves in the thick of the most dangerous situations the world presents. These SEALs risk their lives to protect Americans and they do it not for their gain and not for glory. They do it out of love for a country and fellow Americans.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy stood before this nation and talked about the ever changing world that we lived in, how war itself was changing and in order for this country to continue to thrive and protect its own interests this country needed to establish a small, elite military force that could conduct covert missions and battle unconventional warfare. To that end the United States created one of the most highly trained and skilled unit in our armed forces, the Navy SEALs.

A SEAL spends two years training in the harshest conditions simply for the right to do this job. A SEAL's life is one of just being a step ahead of death. These brave men begin a mission and all too often only their failures are ever known.

An opportunity for this nation to stop and thank these SEALs for all that they have done does not come around that often and I for one am glad that today I get this chance.

We need more people like these SEALs in this country, people who are willing to put this nation first and their petty differences aside for the greater good.

We need more people in this country who are willing to stand for all that is right and honorable in this world and be willing to defend those that are weak, held down or scared to fight for themselves.

We need to stop expecting someone else to do the tough jobs for us and start doing them ourselves.

These SEALs are heroes, plain and simple and the debt we owe them, I fear we will never truly be able to repay them. God bless these SEALs, God Bless the men and women who protect this nation each and every day and God Bless America.

And that is just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, it is that time of year again; backyards and ballparks are back in swing. I remember when it only cost a few bucks to go to a ball game. Recent news reports show that it costs nearly $200 for a family of four to go to a major league baseball game these days--that is if you want to park your car, eat a hot dog, drink a Coke and maybe buy your kids a baseball cap.

I remember going to the Houston Buff's games over on the Gulf Freeway, where Finger's is now, and to Colt Stadium to watch the Colt 45s. When the wind blew, the wooden bleachers at Colt Stadium would sway. It was a big deal back then to go to a game. Most of the time, we listened to the broadcast on a transistor radio. (Are there any of those left?) Okay, now I am sounding really old, but there's still nothing better than listening to a game on the radio.

I will never forget the first game in the Eighth Wonder of the World--the Astrodome. I was there, as a high school student, on April 9, 1965, to see the Astros beat the Yankees, 2-1 in 12 innings. Governor John Connally threw out the first pitch and President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird joined Astros President Roy Hotheinz in his suite.

There were so many flashes going off it was blinding. It was a marvel to the world, the ushering in of indoor baseball.

I've got to say, there was nothing else like the Dome. I remember the players would stand in centerfield and hit balls straight up to see if they could hit the roof. And who could forget the gun slinging cowboy on the scoreboard? It was the best.

My kids remember going to the games, wearing Nolan Ryan's number 34, and cheering for players like Terry Puhl, Joe Niekro, Craig Reynolds, Alan Ashby, Billy Doran and yelling out Jose Cruni-u-u-u-u-u-z. Of course we have had many greats along the way, including Biggio, Bagwell and Berkman--the Killer B's. But one of my all-time favorite players happens to be none other than Kingwood's own, ``Scrap-Iron'' Phil Garner. You may not have known it, but we have been living amongst a legend right here in our own backyard.

Phil Garner was known for his hard-nosed style of baseball. His defense as an infielder, playing both second and third base in his career, earned him the nickname ``Scrap-Iron.'' He was known for breaking up double plays, diving for balls, and always playing tough. He left it all on the field every play, every game. He didn't start his career in Texas, but like I say about all great transplants--he got here as fast as he could. And lucky for us he did.

As a two-time All-American for the Tennessee Volunteers, he was drafted by Oakland in 1971. Ten years, three All-Star appearances and a .500 average in a World Series victory with the Pirates later, he landed in Houston. After hanging up his cleats, he hired on as an assistant coach under then Astros Manager Art Howe. He went on to later become manager for the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers before coming back to Houston. And like I said, lucky for us he did.

As Skipper for the Astros, Garner led the team to greater success than any other manager in franchise history. Among the many successes the team had under his leadership, nothing was greater than the team's first and only World Series appearance. Even though I lost the bet with a Chicago Congressman and had to send them some real Texas barbeque from the ``Tin Roof'' Bar-B-Q when the White Sox beat the Astros, I went down swinging with ``Scrap Iron.''

I have known Phil and his family for many years. His example and character has had a tremendous impact on my son, Kurt, as well as many other young people that have had the pleasure of knowing him. The Astros, and the entire city of Houston, are lucky to call him one of our own.

The great thing about baseball is everyone can enjoy the game. You don't have to be the biggest or the fastest to play. And if you don't want to take out a loan to go to a major league game, there's still plenty of ball to been seen. You will be hard pressed not to find a little league, high school or college game just about any day of the week and I can assure you our local talent won't disappoint and won't break the bank.

I can't wait to start baseball all over again--this time as a grandfather and take my grandsons and granddaughters to the ``National Pastime.'' I wish all the area youth leagues, high schools, colleges and of course, the 'Stros the best of luck this season. Now, let's play ball!

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recently released secret memo by Homeland Security, America now faces new serious threats. I'm not referring to al Qaeda, the Somali pirates, or radical Islamic terrorists. The memo states we are in danger from single-issue groups like gun owners, returning military veterans, the recent tax protestors at the TEA parties, and those who want to protect the unborn.

Mr. Speaker, these Americans simply disagree with the administration on certain issues. But by disagreeing, they are now labeled and vilified by Homeland Security as extremists and threats to America. So is Homeland Security going to watch those people and spy on them all under the guise of national security? We shall see.

This is a dangerous policy, an attack on individual liberty and a denial of free speech. Homeland Security should do their real job, like figuring out what countries and spies are stealing secrets about the famed F-35 Fighter rather than making a watch list and snooping around in the private lives of patriots who are just exercising their absolute right to disagree.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, growing up in Houston, Texas, I always liked this day, April 21, because it was a school holiday. I believed there was no school because it was my mother's birthday. She never told me differently. I was proud to be the only kid that had a mother with a school holiday.

It was only later that I came to find out that the holiday also represented the most important military victory in Texas history, one that occurred near my hometown of Houston. It was a unique holiday for Texas called ``San Jacinto Day.''

It all started when Texas declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. Texans held off the invading Mexican army at a place called the Alamo. They were led by a commander by the name of William Barret Travis, a 27-year-old lawyer from South Carolina. The 187 volunteers held out for 13 days and inflicted vicious casualties on the invaders. But Santa Anna, dictator of Mexico, was able to storm over the Alamo walls on March 6, 1836, and killed all the remaining defenders. He went looking for the rest of the Texans that wanted independence from Mexico. General Sam Houston had been building the Texas army, and Santa Anna's three armies from Mexico were giving chase. The Texans and their families fled east in what historians call the ``runaway scrape.''

Finally, near the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou at Lynch's Ferry near Houston, Texas, they stopped to fight. Houston and his army of 700 faced Santa Anna and his army of twice that number on the marshy plains of San Jacinto. Scout Deaf Smith was ordered to burn the only bridge and trapped both armies on the peninsula between the river and the marshes.

It was April 21, 1836. General Sam wanted to charge into battle the next day at dawn, but after discussions with his troops, he decided not to wait any longer. So in the middle of the afternoon, General Sam and the boys marched in a single line in broad daylight with little cover toward the Mexican army.

The outnumbered Texans were an odd, terrifying-looking bunch. Without regular uniforms, they were dressed in buckskins, with pistols in their belts, bowie knives, long muskets, and tomahawks. They came from numerous States and foreign countries like Germany, England, Scotland, and Mexico. The Tejanos, Mexicans loyal for independence, were led by Captain Juan Sequin. So as not to confuse these Tejanos with Santa Anna's army, General Sam had Captain Sequin put a playing card in the headband of each Tejano so they could be easily recognized as Texans and not the invaders.

This was General Houston's first Texas battle. Santa Anna's veteran army had yet to lose any conflict after they invaded Texas. The Texans charged down the hill yelling ``Remember the Alamo,'' ``Remember Goliad.'' They carried a flag of a partially nude Miss Liberty, and the fife played a bawdy house song called ``Come to the Bower.''

Santa Anna's army was caught napping and was routed. Most of the enemy were killed or wounded. The rest were captured or disappeared. The victory was stunning. The Texans wanted Santa Anna hung because of the Alamo and for murdering Colonel Fannin and his 13 volunteers at Goliad after they had surrendered. Wise and politically astute, Sam Houston would have none of the lynching and spared Presidente Santa Anna for later bartering power.

Texas became a free and independent nation that day and claimed what is now Texas but also parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and Idaho, all the way to the Canadian border. It was one of the largest land transfers in world history as a result of one battle. The latter land was sold to the United States to pay for Texas' war debts. But Texas was a free independent republic for 9 years and then was admitted into the United States in 1845 by one vote. A Louisiana Senator changed his mind and voted for admission for the State of Texas to become part of the Union. Some now wished the vote had gone the other way.

Texas still has the right, Mr. Speaker, to divide into five States. It also has the absolute right to fly the Texas flag at the same level of the United States flag because Texas was a country once. In 1936 Texans built the San Jacinto Monument in honor of the Texas War of Independence and General Sam's victory. It looks like the Washington Monument but it has a star on top. But, of course, Mr. Speaker, it's taller than the Washington Monument.

Today the bugles are silent and the battlefield is surrounded by petrochemical plants. Not much is said about Texas Independence or San Jacinto Day. It's not a school holiday anymore. But once again this year, proud Texans were at the San Jacinto battleground today to honor the few brave Texans and Tejanos that made Texas a free nation. We remember our past, knowing we were a nation once, and sometimes we still act like an independent country. I have a grandson who was named in honor of William Barret Travis and Sam Houston. His name is Barret Houston. I flew the Texas Lone Star flag today proudly on this San Jacinto Day. But, also, Mr. Speaker, I sent my mom a bunch of flowers remembering that this glorious day was a school holiday to celebrate her birthday.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, the small town of Cleveland, Texas, lost one of their finest citizens this week when Fire Chief Steve Wheeler was killed. Steve was more than a Fire Chief. He was a fireman's firefighter--dedicated to the people of his town.

Steve decided at 13 he wanted to be a fireman. He worked at the local barbershop and watched the firefighters next door at the station jump on fire trucks--and he got the urge to do the same.

After high school, he drove an ambulance and joined the volunteer fire department. He has held just about every position there ever since--most recently, head of the Cleveland Emergency Management Department. That's

the folks that take over during hurricane disasters.

Steve will be remembered most for the 30 years as Chief of the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, for that firefighter spirit that he had, and that unwavering devotion to his firemen.

Today, Chief Steve Wheeler answered his last call. Flags will be lowered; the final radio call will be made; and the final fire bell will be rung.

Our prayers go out to the Wheeler family, the Cleveland Fire Department, and the good people of that entire community.

Steve Wheeler--fireman, father, fine Texan.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, due to other congressional business in my district, I unfortunately missed recorded votes on the House floor on Thursday, March 26, 2009.

I ask that the Record reflect that had I been able to vote that day, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, and 162.

Madam Speaker, when most people think about taking a cruise, they imagine dream destinations, sunny days, and boatloads of fun. What people don't imagine is that these so-called fun ships are not free from crime. Sometimes American passengers disappear on the high seas or become victims of sexual or physical assault.

You see, American passengers board these ships in U.S. ports and do not realize the ship is likely registered in a foreign country. That means these luxury ships are not required to report crimes to our government unless the crime occurs within U.S. territorial waters. This creates a serious problem for protecting the rights of Americans.

As founder of the Victims Rights Caucus and a former judge, it seems to me Americans should be concerned by the absence of law enforcement on cruise ships, concerned by the lack of duty to report crime and concerned with the sometimes careless way that crime scenes are handled or not handled at all.

Americans should be protected on U.S. soil or on the high seas. Representative Matsui's Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act will help protect Americans on cruise ships. It's high time we take back the high seas.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the so-called Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act really doesn't help anyone. It's just feel-good legislation that makes Big Government bigger and costlier.

It certainly doesn't help stop smokers from smoking. Our own Congressional Budget Office estimates that smoking by adults would decline by only .2 percent a year, or by just 2 percent over the next 10 years.

This bill certainly won't help farmers, many thousands of whom will struggle to comply with the bill's regulations and who will be forced to entertain the Federal tobacco police coming on their properties to inspect their crops.

It certainly won't help anyone who eats, drinks, or uses medication. An already dysfunctional and overburdened FDA will become even more distracted by this new Big Government program.

And the bill certainly won't help Federal law enforcement officials. They should spend their resources policing real crime rather than arresting people for violating the tobacco laws. Regulations that drive up the cost of cigarettes and reduce their appeal will only benefit the smuggling industry.

One advocate of the Big Government approach in this bill told a Senate committee that, We want to create Marlboros so they are like lard, but we want to regulate the contents, we want to regulate the toxicity, we want to regulate everything so it sits on the shelf and no one uses it, even though it's legal. That, Mr. Speaker, is a prescription for more prohibition that will lead to smuggling, lost revenue, and lawlessness.

On top of everything else, H.R. 1256 places additional Federal restrictions on tobacco advertising. In other words, it's more speech control by the Feds. Some of the Federal regulations on advertising in H.R. 1256 include the following specifications for the size of warning labels on tobacco products, and let me quote.

``The text of such label statements shall be in a typeface pro rata to the following requirements:

45-point type for a whole-page broadsheet newspaper

advertisement;

39-point type for a half-page broadsheet newspaper

advertisement;

39-point type for a whole-page tabloid newspaper

advertisement;

27-point type for a half-page tabloid newspaper

advertisement;

31.5-point type for a double-page spread magazine or whole-

page magazine advertisement;

22.5-point type for a 28 centimeter by 3 column

advertisement; and

15-point type for a 20 centimeter by 2 column

advertisement.''

Doesn't the government have better things to do than regulate the type of font used in tobacco advertising? Mr. Speaker, we have gone a little too far.

The CBO estimates that the new fees on tobacco companies would be about

$235 million in fiscal year 2009. The country's in a recession, people are out of jobs. Is this really the best time to tax companies for a program that really, on its face, will not work even though it sounds good?

This is not reform. It's mindless Big Government that will only create more problems than the one it claims to address. I urge my colleagues to vote against more government bureaucracy, vote against this bill that won't stop smoking, vote against the rule and final passage.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has gotten into the business of picking winners and losers in the automobile industry. The government has decided that GM is a winner and Chrysler is a loser unless--Chrysler obeys the Federal Government and partners with Italian carmaker Fiat to begin producing Chrysler Fiat as automobiles. No telling what those cars will look like.

Since when, Mr. Speaker, did the Federal Government get the authority to fire CEOs of private companies and take over their businesses?

Well, the Feds did just that by taking control of GM and Chrysler. Now we should change the name of both companies to ``Government Motors.''

If you like the way Uncle Sam runs government businesses like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Post Office, FEMA, and the IRS, you will love the new Government Motors automobiles.

The Federal Government is picking winners in the auto industry with taxpayer bailout money. We don't need any more bailouts. The government spends too much, borrows too much, taxes too much. The government needs to stop cutting deals with special interest groups and start cutting taxes for Americans.

And that's just the way it is.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. Res. 290. This resolution honors the lives of Oakland Police Department's Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege.

Madam Speaker, just a little over 2 weeks ago on March 21, these peace officers were brutally slain while in the line of duty protecting the people of the State of California. These officers were valuable members of their police department, they were community leaders, and they were family men. They risked their lives every day to protect their fellow Californians, and at the end of the day, they were all killed for doing so.

Sergeant Mark Dunakin was an 18-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department and resided in Tracy, California. According to his captain, the experienced homicide investigator was absolutely committed to every investigation he led. He leaves behind his wife Angela and their three small children.

Sergeant Ervin Romans, ``Erv'' to his friends, was from Danville, California. He gave 13 years of service to the Oakland Police Department. He was a member of the police SWAT team and highly regarded for his work with the narcotics division in solving several complex drug cases in California.

Sergeant Daniel Sakai of Castro Valley, California, was also a member of the police SWAT team. While he's remembered for his outstanding work on the SWAT team, he's also remembered and respected for his love of serving other people, most notably during his time as a community officer at the University of California in Berkeley. And he also taught English in Japan.

He was a devoted husband and father to his wife Jennifer and their young daughter.

Officer John Hege of Concord, California, was a 10-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department and was known by his colleagues for his willingness to help out with any department projects. Before joining the force, Officer Hege was a high school teacher and spent his free time umpiring high school baseball games.

Madam Speaker, almost 40 years ago, four California Highway Patrolmen lost their lives in the line of duty in a single incident. Since that time, our Nation's law enforcement officers have made a considerable effort to reform police safety training programs and procedures. And because of that dedicated work over the past 20 years, we've seen a decrease in the number of police officers killed by gunfire.

Although there has been great progress in protecting the safety of these men and women who wear the uniform, the death of these four officers serve as a reminder to the whole country that our Nation's law enforcement officials still face dangerous and potentially deadly situations every day. When a peace officer puts on a uniform in the morning, they represent everything that is good and right about our country.

Today, we honor the lives and the commitment to protecting our community of these four peace officers.

I urge the adoption of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, not a day goes by that law enforcement officers do not face danger in the mission to keep us safe from crime, acts of violence, and even terrorism.

As founder and a co-chairman of the Congressional Victims Rights Caucus, I know unfortunately peace officers are also often victims of criminal conduct. After all, they are the last strand of wire in the fence between the law and the lawless.

Over my years as a prosecutor and a judge, I have known several police officers who gave their lives for the rest of us. Today, we are grateful for the families and to the officers of California who selflessly gave their lives while protecting the rest of us: Sergeant Dunakin, Sergeant Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege.

Madam Speaker, on May 15, on the West side of the Capitol grounds, we honor all peace officers that have been killed in the line of duty in the United States. There will be thousands of peace officers from all over the United States, and the families of the slain will be not far from where we are today to honor those. This year we will honor four more from Oakland, California.

I would like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for introducing this resolution and the chairman for expediting this legislation to the House.

I yield back the remainder of my time and urge the adoption of this resolution.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I have the greatest

respect for the ranking member, my friend, Mr. Smith from Texas, and I appreciate his legal analysis of this legislation. But I do rise in support of the Free Flow of Information Act.

This act is a Federal shield law that would protect the identities of reporters' confidential sources. By protecting the sources of reporters, we protect the public interest and the free flow of information to the public. Forty-nine States and D.C. have some form of protection for reporters' confidential sources, but there is no Federal standard in place. This lack of consistency actually weakens State shield laws.

Madam Speaker, if reporters back in Texas are worried about reporting the whole story to the public because someone might slap a subpoena in their face, the public suffers. Whistleblowers and other potential sources are more hesitant to come forward with information.

Even though I am a former prosecutor, prosecutors should not make their criminal cases based upon confidential information that is given to reporters by forcing those reporters before grand juries to reveal the names of those sources.

This bill protects the first amendment; in fact, it encourages the first amendment, while making appropriate exceptions for some serious criminal investigations.

I want to thank my colleague from Virginia for introducing this important piece of legislation that supports the first amendment provision of a free press and encourages free speech by citizens. Therefore I urge the adoption of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, the nationalization of the auto industry continues. The President has announced the Federal Government is going to exercise more forced control over American car companies. The President fired the CEO of General Motors and wants more automotive restructuring the Federal way.

General Motors and Chrysler have already received billions in taxpayer bailout money and are poised to win favor with the White House for even more money.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, General Motors and Chrysler have already failed. Why should taxpayers continue to subsidize these failures? Why? Because the almighty Federal Government forces taxpayers to pay off these special interest groups. The government ought not to pick who wins and

who loses in the business world. The free market should decide.

General Motors and Chrysler should not receive any taxpayer money and should restructure under bankruptcy like other failed businesses do. But the socialization of the American economy continues.

By the way, Madam Speaker, if you like the way the Federal Government runs other government businesses like the post office, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FEMA and the IRS, you will love the new federalized auto industry.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, even though the alarmist global warming crowd claim humans are the evil CO2 pollutants of earth, the jury is still out on the theory of global warming.

At a recent meeting of the International Conference on Climate Change, as reported by the Heritage Foundation, 31,072 American scientists subscribe to this statement: ``There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the earth's atmosphere and disruption of the earth's climate.''

Madam Speaker, how can this be? We're all told that global warming is a fact, and don't even argue this issue.

Even though global warming is still a theory, it hasn't stopped the Federal Government from presuming it to be an absolute fact, and it now has an energy policy based upon the global warming theory. It proposes an energy consumption tax called the cap-and-trade, or the cap and tax on all Americans and all businesses that use any form of energy.

Here's the plan. Every person and business that uses energy will be taxed for the use of that energy. For example, if a homeowner turns on the lights in their home, they will be taxed for the use of the electricity in that house.

If a person wants hot water in their house and they turn on the hot water, coming from the hot water heater that's usually heated by natural gas, they'll be taxed for that use of that hot water because they're using the energy of natural gas.

If you turn on the furnace in the winter in the Northeast, you'll be taxed because you're using home heating oil. All of these taxes are called the cap-and-trade, or cap-and-tax, as I call them.

What this means is that it will increase the taxes of individual homeowners in this country, about 50 percent a year. And of course, it will raise

taxes on businesses. Businesses, as they normally do, will send that tax on down to the consumer, and the consumer will have to pay for that tax.

How much are we talking about? Individuals will have to pay an additional $1,800 a year for this new energy tax, this new cap-and-tax that will be placed on Americans.

Madam Speaker, Americans don't need or want any more taxes for any reason. Supposedly, this money's going to be used to subsidize green energy products. Now we're learning that so-called renewable energy may be more expensive than the use of nuclear power and fossil energy.

Madam Speaker, remember how we were all told that ethanol was going to save us all; how it's not going to pollute like crude oil; how it's going to be cheap renewable energy? Now we're learning something opposite.

We learned that it costs too much to produce ethanol without a Federal subsidy. It caused a food shortage not only in the United States but throughout the world, because we had the idea that we should burn corn for energy.

And we also learned that ethanol was, in fact, a pollutant. Now people don't talk so much about the benefits of ethanol, although the Federal Government has spent millions and millions of dollars with the ethanol program.

Madam Speaker, no question about it. We need to explore all types of energy, solar, hydrogen, wind and nuclear. But we should also use the resources we have, like clean coal and crude. We need them to provide energy for Americans.

Madam Speaker, America's the only country that doesn't use its own natural resources for its energy, and that includes the fact that we should drill offshore because that will bring jobs to America. It will keep money in America, instead of going overseas. And that lease revenue that the oil companies pay will go to the Federal Treasury. We need to do all of the above until we can move to alternative energy.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I bring you news from the border war with the cartels. Our Homeland Security Director has recently announced the effort to beef up the ports of entry on our southern border by using the Federal agencies of the ATF, the DEA, and more Border Patrol, mainly at the ports of entry.

I am encouraged that we have finally recognized that we have a problem on the southern border, but the plan unfortunately omits the obvious: The

problem is not at the legal ports of entry; the problem is between the legal ports of entry; and between the legal ports of entry we ought to use the National Guard. The reason being is Mexico is engaged with the battle of the cartels, and they use the military. They have several thousand on their border. Why? The cartels are an army of evildoers. They commit beheadings, murder, corruption, and terror along the border. It is violent, and it is now becoming a cross-border problem.

So let's be serious about the border war with the cartel. Let's join Mexico, and put our National Guard on the border. The Texas Governor and the Arizona Governor have both asked for the National Guard. They should know that they need that help. We need the National Guard to squeeze out the vicious cartel army and put them out of the business.

And that's just the way it is.