Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, after returning from Iraq over the Easter weekend, I want to report my observations. The military situation is progressing positively with the Iraqi Security Forces, the National Police, and the new-found group of citizen soldiers called the Sons of Iraq doing ever improving job of securing their own nation.

The Iraqis and the U.S. troops are working better together as both nations use their troops in combined patrols. U.S. Commander and Four Star General Petraeus understands not only the military situation, but the complex political situation as well. The Iraqi government is showing signs of more stability than it has in previous months.

My observations of the U.S. troops: they have very high morale, a strong sense of purpose, and are well trained and ready to meet U.S. objectives in Iraq. The most notable concern I saw was the ever increasing interference and influence of Iran. The Iranians are funding insurgents and supplying weapons from small arms to rockets to any group that will cause chaos. It appears Iran wants instability in Iraq to further its own political and military objectives.

The U.S. presence in Iraq is necessary to prevent the circling Iranian vulture from preying on the peoples of Iraq.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding, and I also want to thank the chairman for moving this piece of legislation.

I introduced this legislation to declare March as National Criminal Justice Month, and the purpose is to educate Americans on how important our justice system is and encourage discussion on how to prevent and respond to criminal conduct.

Our criminal justice system employs over 3 million Americans at the local, State and Federal levels of the government. And the word and the emphasis should be on the phrase ``justice system'' because it involves the cooperation of law enforcement and prosecutors, courts, correctional officers, and many other persons.

In my former life, I spent 8 years as a prosecutor in the Houston area, and then I spent 22 years on the criminal court bench in Houston, hearing over 25,000 felony cases.

When I came to Washington, D.C., I established the bipartisan Victims Rights Caucus to advocate on behalf of crime victims and law enforcement. It is apparent to me that victims need a voice in Congress. They don't have high paid and high-dollar lobbyists; they expect Members of Congress to be their advocates.

Each year, millions of Americans become victims of criminal conduct, everything from stealing to homicide, and these individuals do not choose to become victims. They are thrown into the criminal justice system without ever having a say. The devastating consequences of crime remain with the victims long after the crime is over with; and the purpose of the criminal justice system is to provide closure for victims and punish people who commit crimes against the rule of law, which is society's rules of law.

I hope this resolution encourages communities to discuss the causes and the consequences and long-term effects of criminal conduct. When a crime occurs, a community must respond by apprehending the individual and ensuring appropriate punishment if that person is found guilty, and, of course, helping the victim that is in need.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 35 percent of Americans have little or no confidence in our criminal justice system. It is unfortunate that one-third of the people in this country feel that way. If you turn on your local news each night, the first thing that most local newscasts have is the latest crime that has been committed in a neighborhood. It is mostly bad news, and much of that bad news is about criminal conduct. Americans should have more confidence in our criminal justice system. I am convinced that our criminal justice system is the best system in the world.

I had the opportunity to visit the former Soviet Union. They don't have a criminal justice system. They just have a system. The same is true with China, when I visited their system on how they administer their laws. There is no justice in that system. It is just a system.

And here in the United States, we do have the best criminal justice system in the world on determining the guilt of an individual and giving defendants and victims of crime certain rights in the court, and maintaining the worth of the individual. Every year individuals, communities, businesses, and all levels of government spend millions and billions of dollars administering our justice system. The cost of crime is not cheap, and the aftermath of crime is not cheap either. Yet the price is worth it because of the price we pay to ensure our order, safety and appropriate punishment for those who fail to follow our laws.

As my fellow Texan and former judge, Judge Gohmert, has mentioned time and time again, there are numerous cases where we both have seen individuals who have come to the criminal justice system that have been victims of criminal conduct. And long after that trial is over with, even if the offender is convicted and sent to the Texas penitentiary for the maximum period of time, they suffer the repercussions of criminal conduct. Many of them are never able to cope with that conduct, and spend the rest of their lives in desperate hope, and wishing that crime had not occurred against them.

We as Americans need to be sensitive to those individuals. We need to be sensitive to the people who live among us who have crime committed against them.

So I hope this resolution gets more communities talking about the best way to prevent and respond to crime, and I want to urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, the year was 1993, 15 years ago, when two teenage girls, Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, 14 years of age and 16 years of age, were walking home one evening. Unfortunately for them, when they took a shortcut, they came across a gang by the name of the Black and Whites. Their gang leader was Jose Ernesto Medellin.

He and his fellow gangsters kidnapped these two teenage girls, brutally assaulted them, taunted them, raped them for over an hour, and then with the shoelaces from the tennis shoes of these two girls, they made a noose and strangled both of these girls.

The brutal killing that took place, Madam Speaker, as you are aware being from Houston, incensed the people of the Houston area, especially the way in which these two girls met their death. But 5 days later, Jose Medellin was arrested, and in his possession, he had on his wrist a Mickey Mouse watch that he had stolen from Jennifer Ertman, his token of the murder of a little girl. He was proud of what he had done. He was so proud of it he even bragged about it and confessed to the Houston Police Department of raping and killing these two girls after he was properly warned.

He was tried for capital murder. The State was seeking the death penalty, and 12 jurors in a court in Houston, Texas, convicted him and gave him the death penalty, which he earned and deserved for what he did to these two teenage girls. He appealed his case all the way to Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the United States upheld his conviction saying it was lawful. But that was not the end of the story.

Because, you see, 15 years later Jose Ernesto Medellin is still alive. And back when this trial occurred 15 years ago, I met the families of these two teenage girls, and they to this day continue to suffer and wonder if justice will ever be served. And the reason that he has not met his just reward is because he appealed his case again to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court right down the street last week upheld the conviction for a second time.

His second appeal was somewhat unique because, you see, it turns out Jose Ernesto Medellin, who was fluent in English, apparently is illegally from the nation of Mexico, and he was an illegal immigrant when he committed this homicide. Back in the days of 1993, the Houston Police Department didn't even ask people what nationality they were when they arrested them, but be that as it may, the Mexican Government then decided to sue the United States of America in the World Court, claiming that the State of Texas should have told Jose Ernesto Medellin that he had the right to consult with the Mexican consulate before he confessed. Of course, the Houston Police Department never told him he couldn't consult with the Mexican consulate. He was warned properly under Federal law and under State law.

But the Mexican Government was not satisfied with that after the conviction was upheld, and 10 years later, they filed this lawsuit in the World Court. And the World Court ruled that the State of Texas had to retry Jose Ernesto Medellin for capital murder because he was not told he should have been allowed to talk to his Mexican consulate.

Of course, this gets more complicated because, you see, the President of the United States intervened on behalf of the nation of Mexico. After this decision was made in the World Court, the President of the United States told the courts in Texas to follow the World Court order, retry Jose Ernesto Medellin for capital murder, and the Texas courts, in all due respect to the administration, ignored the President's request because, as they said, the judicial branch is independent of the executive branch, and the President has no jurisdiction over telling any court, much less Texas courts, what to do.

It turns out that Jose Ernesto Medellin is not the only Mexican national on death row in the United States. There are 54 others who have been tried throughout the country, most of them in Texas, and have been given the death penalty for heinous crimes committed against people in the United States.

So, after that second case came before the Supreme Court, the issue was, after being sued in the World Court by

Mexico, whether or not the State of Texas must abide by a World Court decision telling them to retry a case. And the second issue was, does the President, any President, have the authority, as the executive branch of government, to order a State court to do anything, including retry somebody for a case where they have been found convicted.

Well, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the World Court opinion has no bearing in Texas courts and that the President of the United States, the executive branch, has no jurisdiction over Texas courts to tell them what to do. The International Court of Justice, as the World Court is called, lacks jurisdiction in this case to order the courts of Texas to do anything because, you see, part of the problem was Jose Ernesto Medellin never complained for over 10 years that he didn't have the chance to talk to his Mexican consulate, and as most lawyers know in the legal profession, and as a former trial judge, if you don't object at the trial, you've waived that right indefinitely.

So, Madam Speaker, maybe justice will be served in this case if Jose Ernesto Medellin will meet the fate he deserves, and maybe our Federal Government will stop taking the wrong side of this issue of supporting illegal immigrants over people in the United States, like little girls who are murdered.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the Bill of Rights confers liberties on individuals to protect us from government power. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the second amendment. It states, ``A well-regulated militia, being necessary to a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.''

The second amendment confers two rights; it allows individuals to bear arms, and it allows for a state militia, or the National Guard.

There are several reasons for the second amendment. But notice the phrase, ``the right to bear arms.'' This is a military term. The colonists, who all owned firearms, were somewhat fearful of a strong Federal Government that would be oppressive and totalitarian. So it seems they wanted the right to protect themselves, individually and also collectively, through militias from not only outlaws but an outlaw Federal Government.

As the Supreme Court decides if the government can ban gun ownership, it would do well to adopt a lower court opinion which said, ``The right to bear arms was premised on the private use of arms for activities such as hunting and self-defense; the latter being understood as a resistance to either private lawlessness or the depredation of a tyrannical government.''

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the youth of our Nation have always been willing to

volunteer and take care of the rest of us in times of war. Sometimes those young men and women give their lives for the rest of us. United States Army Corporal Scott A. McIntosh, of Humble, Texas, was one of those noble few. He was killed in Iraq on March 10, 2008 by a suicide bomber, and he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Not only was he a loyal and courageous soldier, but he was a beloved son, a caring brother and a friend to many.

His life was special not just because of how he died, but also because of how he lived. He was both the kid next door and a proud soldier defending this Nation.

He was born on February 4, 1982 in Humble, Texas, and he graduated from Cypress High School in 2001. After trying college for a little while he decided it wasn't ready for him, and he joined the United States Army. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He re-enlisted for three more years when his first tour of duty was over.

His parents, Alex and Gwenn McIntosh, did an excellent job raising such a fine son. His family described Scott as someone who loved people. His mission in life was to meet and make friends with every person he came in contact with. He shared his hearty laugh and always had a smile to give. Scott always had a positive outlook on life. He loved to hunt and fish in his spare time, but most of all he loved his family, the Army, the country he lived in and his life.

His smile matched his fun-loving personality, which carried over into everyday tasks, like work, with humorous results.

Eric McIntosh described his brother's comical attempt at being a golf caddy. When Scott went to work, he said, ``it was like a scene right out of the movie Caddy Shack. Scott barely showed up on time, still tucking his shirt in his pants and tying his shoes, and he would grab the golf bag and march down the fairway with all the clubs and balls falling out all over the place.''

Scott would have fun with everything that he did and his joyful, worry-free personality was contagious to those that knew him and everybody around him. Not only did he love to laugh, but he truly cared about others, especially his family in Texas.

Scott was always looking out for other people, and that's why he joined the United States Army. He wanted to protect and serve those he loved. And as the Good Book says in John 15:13, ``Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'' Scott's life was a shining example of this greater love which he demonstrated for family, friends and country.

Scott went off to war because he was a faithful son of America. Over Easter weekend this past weekend I had the opportunity to be in Iraq with our troops. And Mr. Speaker, there is no finer military in the long history of warfare than our troops that are in Iraq that proudly wear the uniform of the American fighting man. Scott McIntosh was among those elite fighting forces.

Scott's wonderful life is a huge loss to those that were close to him. His father said, ``My family is devastated by this loss, and it is something that we will have to carry with us for the rest of our lives. At the same time, however, we are bursting with pride for our son's service to this country. We understand the sacrifices required to keep this country free. And Scott was the best son anyone could ever have asked for. I will love and cherish him for the rest of my days.''

Mr. Speaker, this is a photograph of Scott McIntosh. He was a real person and he was proud to wear the uniform of the United States soldier.

In a moving speech at his brother's funeral, Eric told hundreds of friends and family that he loved his big brother. He thanked Scott for being such a good friend, a good son, a great person and the best brother anybody could ever have.

In a final act of sacrifice for others, his family has established the Scott McIntosh Memorial Fund. In the attack that took Scott's life, four other soldiers were also killed. Three of them were married and had small children. And the purpose of the fund will be to raise money for those kids who lost their fathers that were soldiers in Iraq. Even in death, the eternal spirit of Scott's love and care for others will continue.

We do not forget, as a Nation, Corporal Scott A. McIntosh and all those who sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. Scott's memory will live on in the hearts and minds of friends and family, while his life will always be an inspiration to Americans.

We can honor his sacrifice by following his example, to live life to the fullest and to take care of those people around us.

In 1940, a reporter, right before the great World War II, made this comment, he said, ``This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.''

Our country, Mr. Speaker, will long survive and live free because of the likes of Scott McIntosh and his band of brothers.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to pay tribute to a personal friend, Ms. Pat Avery, Administrative Manager of Total Petrochemicals. Patricia Avery came into this world a double minority--black and female, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream of making it in an industry dominated by white males.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she was surrounded by people who looked like her. When she graduated from high school, and stepped off of the plane in Iowa, to attend college at Drake University, that all changed. She was among the first women to live on the fourth floor of the university's Goodwin-Kirk Hall, previously an all male dorm. Ms. Avery graduated from Drake University, with an undergraduate degree in biology and a graduate degree in public administration.

After graduating from college, Ms. Avery joined Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., as a Personnel Assistant and later Regional Personnel Manager. She noted, ``You may not start out where you want to be in your career, but take advantage of every opportunity and make the best of it.'' Five years later, she took the helm of corporate personnel management at Bleyle of America, Inc., a German company that manufactures international women's better sportswear. Pat then joined Mobil as an employee relations representative in Houston and quickly began her march up the corporate ladder. She served as employee relations advisor at Mobil's plastic packaging division in New York. She became the first woman and first minority manager of employee relations at Mobil's chemical specialty division in Beaumont, the first woman and minority manager of employee relations at Mobil's Mining and Minerals Co. in Houston, and manager of Human Resources at Mobil's Polyethylene Plant in Beaumont.

Ms. Avery joined Total's Port Arthur Refinery in March of 1998, again as the first woman and minority on their management team. As the Administrative Manager, she manages the refinery's human resources department, as well as the accounting, security, training, labor relations, purchasing, warehouse, contracts, and public affairs activities. She admits, ``I have been the first female and the first African-American throughout my entire career in my industry and really in all of the industries I have worked in. Having been the first and the only in many jobs that I have had has been bittersweet. It was lonely, awkward, challenging, very scary, and extremely hard at times, but it was also invigorating, exciting, rewarding, and historic. I don't want to give the impression that it all happened in perfect order. That is far from the truth. Many times, I wanted to run back into the comfort of my own community where I felt safe, but I didn't. It's one of the most significant lessons I've learned: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.''

As busy as she is, Ms. Avery still finds time to serve the community. She is involved in numerous projects and serves as a Board Member with Communities in Schools; United Way of South County; Art Museum of Southeast Texas; the Texas Association of Business; Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation Board; Julie Rogers Gift of Life Board; and Inspire, Encourage, and Achieve Board. She is the Vice Chair of the Golden Triangle Business Roundtable, and also served as their Safety Committee Chairperson for 5 years.

Ms. Avery was appointed by Mayor Evelyn Lord to the Beaumont Board of Adjustments, and reappointed by Mayor Becky Ames. She currently co- chairs Golden Triangle Days in Austin for the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and will again be co-chair in 2009. She chaired the Texas Museum Blowout in 2007; is a member of the Port Arthur Rotary Club; and will be President of the 2009/2010 Season of the Symphony of Southeast Texas. In addition, Ms. Avery serves on my Service Academy Board. From 1999-2002, she served on the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Board. She was recognized as Business Advocate of the Year in 2002 by Lamar State College's Small Business Development Center, and is a graduate of the 2000 class of Leadership of Southeast Texas.

Madam Speaker, Pat Avery, a former high school track star and cheerleader, found her niche by helping people through employee relations and management. She is a pioneer in the male dominated petrochemical industry, and I am proud to celebrate her accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to pay tribute to Kathleen Jackson, Public Affairs Manager of ExxonMobil Corporation, who is in the elite club of women in the male dominated petrochemical industry.

A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and Pulp and Paper Science & Technology. She attended college on a Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarship, and became their first woman graduate in 1975. She was a North Carolina Leadership Institute Fellow and recipient of the W.E. Cauldwell Fellowship for Chemical Engineering studies.

For more than 30 years, Ms. Jackson has held various positions at the ExxonMobil Beaumont, Texas Refinery in engineering, operations, and environmental departments--including Operations Supervisor of the refinery's natural gas liquids processing facility.

Kathleen has been responsible for the refinery's Capital Budget Planning Program, Environmental Audit Program, and Water Quality issues. She is currently responsible for managing Public Affairs and Community Relations for Exxon Mobil Corporation's Refining & Supply, Chemical, and Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties business in Beaumont, Texas. She is a Texas Registered Professional Engineer and past Chairman of the Southeast Texas Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Kathleen serves on the Lower Neches Basin Water Quality Assessment Program; the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee; the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board; and is the past Chairwoman of the Southeast Texas Industry Public Relations Association, chartered by the Southeast Texas Plant Managers Forum.

In 1994, Ms. Jackson received Mobil Oil Corporation's prestigious Chairman's Award and Team Venture Award. She is also a recipient of ExxonMobil Chemical's Responsible Care Award, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineer's Outstanding Presentation Award. Kathleen is active in numerous community activities including Lamar Institute of Technology's Foundation Board of Directors; Beaumont Independent School District's Educational Improvement Committee; Young Audiences of Southeast Texas Board of Directors; Junior League of Beaumont; Rotary Club of Beaumont; JASON Alliance of Southeast Texas' Board of Directors; and is past President of the American Cancer Society.

Kathleen was appointed to the Governor's Focus on Reading Task Force by former Texas Governor George W. Bush in 1997. She currently serves as an appointee of Texas Governor Rick Perry as President of the Board of Directors for the Lower Neches Valley Authority.

Madam Speaker, Kathleen Jackson is a pioneer in the male dominated petrochemical industry, and I am proud to celebrate her accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, Army specialist and medic Monica Brown was on patrol in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan when a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees. As Humvees burned and shrapnel filled the air, Monica ran through insurgent gunfire and mortars to protect wounded comrades. With total disregard for her safety, she used her body to shield five injured soldiers as she administered aid and then dragged each of them 100 meters away to safety.

Monica Brown is from Lake Jackson, Texas, and she's 19 years of age. A teenager, and yet she has already shown more courage, selflessness, and honor than many show in their entire lifetime. Amelia Earhart said, ``Courage is the price that life requires for granting peace.''

This month Monica Brown will be awarded the Silver Star, the Nation's third highest medal for valor for that courage she showed. She is only the second woman since World War II to receive this medal.

She said that she didn't think of anything except taking care of her fellow soldiers and protecting them from the attack. It was instinctive for her.

We thank her for her service. She is a great Texan and a true American teenage idol.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, Homeland Security shouldn't be left strictly to the Federal Government but requires the vigilant assistance of State, county and city police departments. When local law enforcement agencies choose not to detain criminal aliens for immigration enforcement officials, it is like a city police officer ignoring a bank robbery because it is a Federal crime. That kind of head in the sand mentality is ridiculous and will not make our Nation safer.

In Houston, Texas, Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas is blazing a path with a common sense approach to dealing with illegal aliens arrested for committing crimes. Sheriff Thomas recently announced that employees at the Harris County's Inmate Processing Center will receive Section 287(g) training from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officials.

This program will train deputies to identify, process and detain illegal aliens arrested for criminal activity in Harris County. Instead of catch and release, this new training will allow deputies to catch and begin the deportation process for criminal aliens.

This program will help take more illegals off the streets and make the county safer for Texas families. For example, illegal aliens will no longer have the opportunity to continuously endanger lives by getting arrested multiple times for DWI. The deportation process will start in the county jail the first time they are arrested.

Besides trespassing into our Nation, illegal aliens commit many other crimes such as driving without car insurance, drug trafficking, human smuggling, theft, burglary and murder. As a result, American citizens and legal immigrants end up carrying the financial burden created by illegal aliens such as increased medical and prison expenses.

Empowering local law enforcement officials to start the deportation process immediately after an illegal alien is arrested, sends a clear message that international trespassing will not be tolerated. Protecting citizens and legal immigrants from criminal acts by illegal aliens is the essence of Homeland Security.

By not passing off responsibility for dealing with criminal aliens to the Federal Government, like in some cities, Sheriff Tommy Thomas is finding solutions to reducing crime in Harris County instead of making excuses. He is setting an example that other agencies should follow.

He is a great sheriff who's recent actions demonstrate that he is committing to protect our communities from both foreign and domestic criminals. It will take the leadership of other sheriffs like Thomas and police chiefs with the backbone to enforce all of our Nation's laws, instead of just the ones they prefer, for effective Homeland Security.

Today, I salute Sheriff Tommy Thomas for his local efforts and leadership in moving Harris County, and the rest of our Nation, in the right direction to protect citizens and legal immigrants from criminal aliens.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I have the privilege to recognize Dr. Vida Davoudi of Kingwood, TX. Her life as an Iranian immigrant turned proud American citizen is an inspirational tale of not only living the American Dream but of someone who diligently works daily to improve it for others.

Her journey to success in America began early. With encouragement from her parents, they told her to dream big and that the key to great achievement was to obtain an education. While in high school, Davoudi became a foreign exchange student to the United States through the American Field Service Program as well as a sponsorship from a Rotary Club. For one year, she lived with an American family and fell in love with the democratic political system of the United States.

After returning to Iran to graduate from high school, Dr. Davoudi participated in a competitive exam conducted by American International Development and was awarded a four-year, full scholarship to attend American University of Beirut. Continuing her journey of academic excellence, she returned to the United States to attend graduate school at Southern Illinois University.

After Dr. Davoudi earned her masters and doctorate degrees in political science, she returned to her country and ran for a seat in the Iranian Parliament. Davoudi won and become the youngest member ever elected. She served for three years in the national assembly representing the city of Tehran and championed issues such as the abolition of polygamy and divorce law reform. She left Iran for the United States shortly before the Shah of Iran was overthrown in 1979.

When Dr. Davoudi arrived in the United States, the only things she brought with her were a suitcase, her nine-year-old son and her education. Davoudi credits her education as the key ingredient to her success.

``Education was the only thing that enabled us to survive,'' she said. ``I have no doubt that education is the key to opening doors and improving lives financially and intellectually.''

She was hired as a government professor at Kingwood College in 1989 and has used the opportunity to impact the lives of numerous young people.

For example, a recently divorced student approached Davoudi one day in tears. The young woman told her that she was having great difficulty coping with her divorce and wanted to drop her class. Davoudi told the woman that she would not let her withdraw, but instead would provide her with flexibility and whatever she needed in order to complete the course. The young lady successfully finished Davoudi's class and eventually became a practicing nurse. Years later, she was very thankful to Davoudi for not letting her quit during a difficult time in her life.

Davoudi is also the faculty sponsor for the college's Student Government Association. She fosters leadership development in her students by actively encouraging them every year to seek state-level positions in the organization. Through her diligent efforts and advice,

one of her former students was even elected to the highest level of State leadership as president of the Texas Junior College Student Government Association. She teaches her students not to simply attend college but to become leaders.

In addition to pursuing state office positions within the organization, Davoudi has led the students of SGA at Kingwood College in multiple community service projects such as food, clothing and toy drives for non-profit organizations and local area shelters for abused women and children. In the words of one of her colleagues, Dr. Davoudi is ``changing the world one student at a time.''

I salute Dr. Vida Davoudi for being a shining example of a distinguished scholar and advocate for lifelong learning. Her life and eternal gratitude for living in a country so richly blessed with opportunity and freedom is an inspiration to us all.

Madam Speaker, our own backyard is in jeopardy. Recently Colombia, our ally in the war on drugs and in combating Marxist rebels bent on undermining democracy in the Americas, was threatened with military action by its neighbors Venezuela and Ecuador. Colombia had taken the military initiative to eliminate a FARC commander across the border in Ecuador in order to maintain its own security. Yet the leftist and anti-U.S. leaders from Venezuela and Ecuador took grave offense to the killing of one of their comrades in arms, and rolled up tank battalions to the border to try to intimidate Colombia. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed in this round, yet the United States should be concerned from some emerging big dogs in our own backyard.

With our attention turned elsewhere around, other nations and interests have been undermining US influence in the Americas. As seen already, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been trying to gather support of other Latin American leaders to oppose the U.S. This latest incident in threatening our ally is a prime example.

Yet there is an even bigger dog, and it is hungry. China is growing in influence in Latin America. Seeking trading, political, and military ties with Latin America nations, China's hunger for expansion is part of its goal to be a chief player in world politics. As China seeks greater ties and influence in South America, it will naturally rely on its Communist ties with Marxist and leftist leaning groups.

What is the result of these two big dogs in our backyard? US influence is lessening in Latin America. For decades we stood by and militarily backed our Monroe Doctrine. In essence, we claim that the Western Hemisphere and the Americas is our sphere of influence. While we were able to keep Europe out, we are failing to keep the Far East and Communism out. Theodore Roosevelt added his corollary to the Doctrine, stating that the US reserves the right to intervene in Latin America. American foreign policy should take notice of this situation. While we have our chickens outside grazing, the coop is empty and under threat. We should hold fast to our Monroe Doctrine, and include all emerging threats, whether from Europe, the Far East, or ideas such as Communism and radical Islam. Strangers in one's backyard do not make for a secure household.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize a young constituent of the Second Congressional District, Mr. Connor Konz, for his participation in the Discovery Kids Channel competition Endurance Fiji.

Connor is a 15-year-old sophomore at Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas. He was selected in June of this year as a participant after submitting a five-minute video describing himself and how he spends his free time.

The game consists of teams collecting 13 pyramid pieces which are essential inner qualities to complete the Pyramid of Endurance. They are Strength, Heart, Courage, Perseverance, Luck, Trust, Leadership, Discipline, Knowledge, Commitment, Teamwork, Ingenuity and Friendship. The first team to collect all 13 pieces wins the game. The teams earn pieces by winning physical and mental competitions.

Connor and his mother, Debbie Konz, were flown to Fiji on Aug. 12. After arriving, he was taken by boat from the airport to an island hotel and from there to another island for the competition.

By no means was this tropical island competition a Sunday picnic or vacation for Connor. He was without all of the daily teenage essentials such as no cell phone, MP3 player or digital camera the entire time he was on the island. He slept in a sleeping bag, in a bamboo hut with a thatched roof and no air conditioning. Connor said that the worst part of the experience was no electricity or indoor plumbing.

The teens also faced isolation by sleeping on a separate island away from their parents and didn't get to see them again until they were kicked off the show for losing a competition.

Connor had to use his physical and mental abilities to overcome the obstacles and challenges in the competition. It was an experience that pushed him farther than he thought he could go and resulted in lifelong friendships with the contestants.

Connor not only represented his family in the competition but Humble, Texas as well. I salute Connor Konz for enduring Fiji.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, the next Air Force plane that you will see in the air will be branded with ``Made in France'' on the side of it. Not only France but Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom will be making 170 or more of the new Air Force supertankers built by that European subsidized company, Airbus.

This $40 billion contract will rob thousands of workers of Boeing Company of their jobs. Why is our Air Force outsourcing national defense to the Europeans, of all people? Aren't they the ones that take every opportunity to bash our U.S. military?

The Air Force is trying to do damage control by saying the Airbus is better than the Boeing plane.

Madam Speaker, that dog just won't hunt. U.S.-built planes have been successfully defending our skies and our homeland since before World War II. We are not talking about outsourcing some cheap Wal-Mart product that's made in China. We are talking about outsourcing sensitive military equipment. Some things should always be made in America, by Americans, for Americans.

What's next? Is the Air Force going to outsource those airplane crews with the French as well?

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, police officers dedicate their lives to keeping our streets and communities secure. They selflessly venture into dangerous situations every day and put their lives on the line so that the rest of us can sleep safely. Houston Senior Police Officer Alphonso ``Al'' Amato, Jr., is one of those elite individuals, who dedicated his entire career to protecting the innocent from evil-doers.

Officer Amato enrolled in the Houston Police Academy in 1981. His first assignment upon graduation was with the Patrol Division of the Houston Police Department. One of his more notable experiences occurred when he was testifying against an aggravated robbery defendant in the 177th District Court. While he was testifying, the defendant jumped up and threw his chair at the prosecutor. Officer Amato responded, like any top-notch officer would, and without giving it a second thought, jumped up and immediately took the defendant into custody. He was later prosecuted as the trial continued.

Officer Amato has been responsible for removing dangerous outlaws from the streets of Houston. In 1983, he began working on cases involving juveniles and spent the majority of his career working in the Juvenile Division of the police force. While working in the Juvenile Sex Crimes Unit, he investigated more than 1,000 child exploitation cases. Time and again, he has successfully arrested the worst kind of criminal, the one who preys on innocent children.

He has a knack for difficult cases and has taken on the most challenging, where little or no information has been available. Each time, he managed to track down the criminals and bring them to justice.

Not only does Officer Amato have fine-tuned investigative skills, he is also known for his ability to manage a crime scene. He always kept order, even in the most difficult situations, while questioning the involved parties.

During his many years of dedicated service, he has received countless commendations, expressions of appreciation, Unit Citations, an FBI recognition for Task Force and Sting Operations, a U.S. Marshal recognition for Gang Task Force involvement and a Houston Fire Department recognition. He is also well respected throughout the community and among his peers.

Officer Amato's family has a history of service. His father served in the military. Before becoming a law enforcement officer, Officer Amato served in the United States Air Force in Vietnam for 4 years. After his time in the military, he joined the Federal Protective Services and was there until 1977, when he left to join the Chicago Police Department. He stayed in Chicago until 1981 and then began his career with the Houston Police Department. This year, he is retiring from a distinguished career after more than 26 years of service.

According to his fellow officers, Officer Amato served the citizens of Houston with pride, honor and commitment. He is known as an upstanding citizen, a patriotic American and a devoted law enforcement officer.

I would also like to recognize the contributions of Al's wife, Sandy, and daughter, Raven. I commend them for persevering over the difficult job of their loved one serving as a law enforcement officer. Many of the most successful officers have a significant family support system behind the scenes.

On the date of his retirement, March 21, 2008, I congratulate and thank Senior Police Officer Al Amato for wearing the badge of a Texas lawman with distinction while serving the people of Houston. Future law enforcement officers can learn by the example of Officer Amato and realize that one person truly can make a difference.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, due to other congressional business, I unfortunately missed recorded votes on the House floor on Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6, 2008.

I ask that the Record reflect that had I been able to vote that day, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes Nos. 94, 95, 96, 99, 101, 103, 104, 106, and 107 and ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 97, 98, 100, 102, and 105.