Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name from

Mr. Speaker, Federal judges have been trying to rip the pledge of allegiance out of our schools and have prevented it from being recited by school kids in nine States. Now our pledge is under siege again. Our kids are being intimidated into pledging allegiance to a foreign flag.

Velasco Elementary in Texas celebrated Mexican Independence Day by handing out small Mexican flags and making children as young as pre- kindergarten stand as parents recited the Mexican pledge in Spanish. That pledge honors the heroes of Mexico, promising always to be faithful and dedicate loyalty to that nation.

Pledging allegiance to a foreign flag is un-American. The principal of the school, Sam Williams, justified reciting the pledge meekly by saying, ``Well, we want to be diverse at our school.''

There is only one flag our children should uphold and hold. There is only one pledge that they should recite. The Mexican Government and illegals may have their sights on retaking the Southwest, but we will not hand it over to them one student at a time. In the words of the Texans who fought originally for Mexican independence, you'll have to ``come and take it.'' Our loyalty is to America, not to Mexico.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 965) commending the people of Montenegro on the conduct of the referendum on independence, welcoming United States recognition of the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Montenegro, and welcoming Montenegrin membership in the United Nations and other international organizations.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 965. This resolution was introduced by the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). H. Res. 965 commends the people of Montenegro for conducting their referendum on independence and welcomes the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Montenegro.

Madam Speaker, the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formally ceased to exist in February of 2003, when the Serbian and Montenegro Parliaments and the Yugoslav Federal Parliament adopted a constitutional charter creating the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. This constitutional charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro established provisions and procedures for the withdrawal of a member state from the State Union, including that a decision to withdraw from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro shall be made after a referendum has been held.

In accordance with this constitutional charter, the parliament of Montenegro unanimously adopted, in March of 2006, the law on the referendum on the state legal status of the Republic of Montenegro which established the conditions for conducting the referendum on this state independence.

On May 21, 2006, the people of Montenegro conducted the referendum on independence and voted in favor of independence by a margin of 55\1/2\ percent, with over 86 percent of all eligible voters participating in the referendum.

And then on May 23rd, 2006, the U.N. Ambassador to Serbia Montenegro congratulated the people of Montenegro for the peaceful, democratic and transparent manner in which the referendum was carried out and stated that the United States fully supports the Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe, referred to OSCE, and the assessment of the election which determined that the referendum was conducted in line with the OSCE and the Council of Europe commitments and other international standards for a democratic electoral process.

On June 13, 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the United States has formally recognized the Republic of Montenegro as a sovereign and independent state, following the request of its government and consistent with the provisions of the constitutional charter which establishes the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

It is important to state for the record that the government of the Republic of Serbia has acted responsibly in accordance with the commitments following the referendum of the Montenegrin people.

On June 5, 2006, the Serbian parliament accepted the independence of Montenegro.

On June 15, 2006, the Serbian Government officially recognized the independence of the Republic of Montenegro.

Over the course of the summer, Montenegro has become a member of the United Nations and numerous international organizations and established formal diplomatic relations with countries throughout this world.

Today, it is important that the United States House of Representatives consider this resolution and recognize Montenegro's historic achievement. Madam Speaker, this resolution congratulates the people and government of Montenegro for conducting their free, fair and responsible independence referendum, welcomes Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state, and urges the people and government of Montenegro to continue to embrace the principles of democratic government, human rights and freedom.

I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from California (Mr. Lantos) for his leadership in this resolution; and I ask for adoption of the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 940) recognizing the 185th anniversary of the independence of Peru on July 28, 2006, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, today, I am here to recognize the government and the people of Peru as we extend our warmest congratulations to them as they celebrate their 185th year as an independent nation.

Since independence, the people of Peru have faced many problems, including economic despair, an authoritarian regime, and a violent insurgency. During the 1980s, notorious terrorist groups such as Shining Path and MRTA destabilized Peru and the entire region and spread fear among the people.

Financed in part by elicit narcotics, these terrorist groups reduced Peru to the position of the world's second largest producer of cocoa, dimming Peru's prosperous future. However, despite years of political turmoil and violent internal conflict and through the perseverance of its people, Peru was able to escape the stranglehold on its democracy and has recently blossomed into a vibrant free state. This is evidenced by the success of the recent elections in 2001 and 2006 and a growing economy.

Today, Peru shares our Nation's most treasured ideals and standards, a success story that demonstrates the power of a democracy. Peru has played a key role as a force for stabilization and peace throughout the Western Hemisphere, as well as the rest of the world.

Along with providing over 200 troops to the United Nations mission in Haiti, Peru has been a staunch supporter in the global war on terror and the fight against drug trafficking and production.

Today, farmers from Peru are beginning to cast off the specter of a narco-economy by cooperation with the United States on alternative development crops, such as Peruvian oranges and bananas.

Peru has proven to be an invaluable ally and a role model for freedom in South America as well as the rest of the world. The United States stands with them on the continued progress and development of both democracy and as a nation.

With my best wishes to the people of Peru and most sincere congratulations on the 185th anniversary of their nation's independence, I fully support H. Res. 940. I urge all colleagues to join me in recognizing the shining model of democracy, a dedicated ally on the global war on terror, and one of the United States closest friends.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask for adoption of the resolution. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 430) recognizing the accomplishments of the American Council of Young Political Leaders for providing 40 years of international exchange programs, increasing international dialogue, and enhancing global understanding, and commemorating its 40th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 430, which was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), recognizes the 40th anniversary of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and commends it for 40 years of working to prepare young political leaders to play a leadership role in international relations and world affairs.

This council is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., which was incorporated on September 1, 1966. Since then, it has worked to promote understanding and cultivate lasting political, economic, and cultural relationships among young political leaders and policymakers throughout the world through the regular exchange of bipartisan delegations, educational forums, leadership training and ongoing dialogue.

When this Young Political Leaders group was founded during the Cold War, its efforts initially focused on Western Europe. Over the past 4 decades, its programs have expanded to include over 90 nations throughout the world, including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Hemisphere, East Asia, and the Pacific Rim.

The organization has also worked to better prepare young political leaders between the ages of 25 and 40 years old for future positions of responsibility in local, State, and Federal governments. It offers young leaders, some who may have never traveled outside the United States, the opportunity to enhance their awareness and understanding of other cultures through in-depth study tours, which are strictly bipartisan and carefully selected to represent geographical and cultural diversity.

It is important to note that every Member of Congress and all 50 Governors may nominate young political leaders as possible candidates to participate in the organization's in-depth study tours.

It has more than 6,000 alumni throughout the world, many of whom have risen to positions of great responsibility. In the United States, alumni include Members of Congress, the Cabinet, ambassadors and many senior level officials who serve in local, State and national government. Internationally, past participants of its program now serve as Cabinet members, ambassadors, parliamentarians and as other senior level policymakers.

The council's work to establish early relationships among such future leaders helps facilitate international dialogue and strengthen and promote U.S. policies and objectives. Accordingly, Congress congratulates the American Council of Young Political Leaders upon its 40th anniversary and wishes it continued success in its efforts.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this House concurrent resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 989) commending the United Kingdom for its efforts in the War on Terror, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 989, a resolution that I introduced that commends the United Kingdom for its efforts in the war on terror and for their work in stopping a terrorist plot in July that could have resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.

Madam Speaker, since the attack on the United States on 9/11, the United Kingdom has been our closest ally in the war on terrorism. In this effort, there has been extremely close cooperation between American and British police and intelligence agencies.

In addition, Britain has stood side by side with us both in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The British still have more than 7,000 troops in Iraq, and 118 British soldiers have lost their lives in that war. In Afghanistan, 40 soldiers from the United Kingdom have been killed fighting the Taliban and those warlords. Currently, Britain heads the NATO-led international security assistance force in Afghanistan, and British troops have been involved in particularly heavy fighting in the southern part of Afghanistan.

In both of these countries, Iraq and Afghanistan, Britain is the largest contributor of troops of any country after the United States. The American people will not soon forget the sacrifice of our British allies in those wars.

Madam Speaker, H. Res. 989 focuses on the outstanding work of law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom in preventing the planned terrorist attack that would have blown up in midair multiple transatlantic flights from London to the United States. This plot was thwarted by British police and intelligence officials on August 10, 2006, with the arrest of 24 people.

In addition, the resolution cites terrorism as a grave concern for all nations, regardless of boundaries, as terrorist attacks have killed innocent people in countries such as Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, Turkey and, of course, the United Kingdom and here in the United States.

Britain has been a close, long-time friend of the United States, and now they are standing with us in the war against terrorism. It is entirely appropriate for the House of Representatives to recognize their friendship and contribution in this war.

This resolution was approved unanimously by the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats of the House International Relations Committee on September 20. I would like to thank the subcommittee chairman, Chairman Gallegly, and the International Relations Committee chairman, Chairman Hyde, for moving this

resolution very quickly through the committee, and I urge its passage by the full House.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the support of my good friend from California (Mr. Lantos).

Madam Speaker, Winston Churchill once said that the United Kingdom and the United States are two people separated by a common language. As that may be true, we are not separated but united in our determination and we speak in concert in our mission, to win this war on international terrorism.

To the people of the United Kingdom, we, as Americans, are very grateful for their support.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I request permission to address the House for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, Houston police officer Rodney Johnson was larger than life. At 6'5", 300 pounds, strangers were intimidated by him. But those who knew him knew a gentle giant who always did the right thing; and because of his honor and loyalty, he was respected and well-liked by fellow officers and citizens.

He was a loving husband. He was married to a fellow HPD officer, Joslyn; and he was a dedicated father to three daughters and two sons. But those three daughters will never again run to meet their father when he comes home, those two sons will never play ball with their father, and a wife who will now face every day as a single mother. All because a man who made a habit of running from the law finally got caught.

On Thursday, September 21, 2006, as the sun was setting in Texas, Officer Rodney Johnson made his last routine traffic stop. He didn't know the outlaw he arrested was hiding a pistol in his pants, and this desperado took desperate measures.

What happened next wasn't just homicide. It was robbery, robbery of Officer Johnson's life, and it was stolen from him, from his family, and from a community that loved him. Stolen by a man who had no regard for the law or lawmen.

This criminal was sitting behind Officer Johnson in that patrol car. He was handcuffed, but this bandit withdrew a hidden pistol and fired it. Even the thick plastic partition meant to protect peace officers couldn't survive the blast. At point-blank range, Officer Johnson was shot four times in the back and in the face.

Although fatally wounded, Officer Johnson pushed an emergency response button alerting dispatch, ``officer down, officer down.'' And when his fellow officers in blue rushed to the scene, the criminal still had the smoking gun in his hand, and he even took another shot at a wrecker driver.

The vitality, loyalty and all of the virtues that Johnson stood for were drained from his body; and the family and fellow officers feel shock and rage for his death. Other families who he protected every day are saddened as well.

One neighbor says, ``It just breaks my heart. I feel so bad for his wife. He got up and went to work this morning, and this is what happened to him. This is what happened to one of the people who protects us, the citizens. He truly cared about us.''

They weren't the only ones Johnson took care of. He once rushed into a burning building thinking not what the flames would do to him but only what the flames were doing to the children trapped inside.

It was not his only heroic act. Others earned him lifesaving awards, and the prestigious Medal of Valor was given to him by the citizens of Houston.

This native Houstonian served in the United States Army as a military police officer. Back in the great State of Texas, he spent several years as a corrections officer, as a jailer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and, finally, in 1994, Rodney Johnson was sworn in as a Houston police officer.

He would spend the next 12 years of his life protecting and serving the citizens of Houston, Texas, his hometown. And since 1996, Officer Johnson has been a well-respected member of the Southeast Houston Gang Task Force.

Some say he could have been a superman because of his size with his commanding presence and mission to help others. He protected the communities and ensured justice for all.

Sadly, his kryptonite was a downfall for our Nation. Our inability to shut down the borders, our inability to send illegals home and make sure they didn't come back.

This criminal who shot Officer Rodney Johnson murdered him because he feared being deported back to Mexico again. Juan Quintero is a lawless illegal whose disregard for the United States and its rules started when he illegally set foot in American soil. He was deported once for indecency with a child, but he came back to finish a string of crimes. Having snuck back into America, he then shot an American lawman in the back.

During the 25th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial service in June, a powerful statement was given to honor those who had fallen in the line of duty. I reiterate this statement. It says, ``Well served peace officer, may you rest in peace.''

But I add, may our country's poorly enforced border control policies also rest in peace so we may never again see another family member put through what this family has endured because of lawless illegals who never should have been here in the first place.

Officer Johnson is a role model for future officers who wear the badge. We wish his family the best as they mourn for their superman. The Houston community has poured out their hearts for his family, and people have started donating money to his five children.

But our task is not complete. We must strengthen the border for his five

children and all of America's children. Peace officers, Mr. Speaker, are the last strand of wire in the fence between the good and the evil. They wear the badge with pride, and tonight the peace officers wear the black cloth of sacrifice against their badges.

Mr. Speaker, God bless Officer Johnson.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, big changes can come from small places. For President Eisenhower and every American born since his time, big change came from a dusty old church pew.

One early Sunday morning, Eisenhower ceremoniously went to Abraham Lincoln's former church, where a new preacher, an immigrant, would re- shape Ike's ideology.

That preacher described, in his Scottish accent, how he had no answer for his children when asked why God wasn't in the Pledge of Allegiance.

He eloquently assured his children God was what made America better than any other country. So eloquently that Ike would see the pledge changed in a matter of months.

While activist judges and militant atheists want you to believe that taking God out of school and government is the right thing to do, 91 percent of Americans disagree. They still believe ``in one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.''

We have proved that we will not bow to terrorists. But 91 percent of Americans also vow not to bow to extremist judges and a tiny atheist minority.

Americans overwhelmingly support ``One Nation Under God'' so much that they are giving their children's lives to save it.

That's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, last year the tiny coastal community of Sabine Pass, Texas, was literally drowned by Hurricane Rita. A year later it is still in shambles. Now the people who live in Sabine Pass say that they survived Rita, but they may not survive the illegals hired to repair the area.

Jason Pitts writes about these fears. In the morning hundreds of vehicles loaded with illegals make their way into my town of Sabine Pass. The traffic problems caused by the illegals are terrible. These drivers have no regard for traffic laws. They pass on the top of bridges, and they speed like they are in a NASCAR race.

To add to the insult, free washers and dryers were brought in for Sabine Pass citizens who lost everything. Soon, illegals were dropping off their clothes and their wives so they could get clothes cleaned for free.

My family and neighbors lost everything they own. There is no way to purchase food or fuel in my hometown. Immigration officials will not send anyone to Sabine Pass to perform immigration checks, because they have been mandated not to do so. This is not acceptable.

Madam Speaker, Jason Pitts is right. Seal our borders, crack down on employers hiring illegals, or risk losing the quality of life of our own citizens.

And that's just the way it is.

Request permission to take Mr. Burton's time and speak out of order.

Mr. Speaker, it is said that justice is the one thing that you should always find. And hopefully we will find justice soon. Just a few days ago in South Carolina, on an afternoon like every afternoon throughout America, school buses take children home, and this particular school bus dropped off a 14-year-old girl named Elizabeth near her home so she could walk through this rural place where she lived.

Soon after getting off the school bus, though, she came in contact with a local villain. His name is Vincent Filyaw, 37 years old. He started talking to Elizabeth. He kidnapped her. He took her to the woods. He was posing as a police officer. And after he finally walked her around so she could be disoriented about where she was, he took her to a hole in the ground, 15 feet deep, where he kept her for 10 days.

In this hole in the ground, the cover of it was a piece of plywood. Down in this hole he had a camp stove, he had another hole dug for a toilet, he had a shelf and some dirty cooking utensils. It looked like an underground outhouse. I have seen photographs of it.

This was Elizabeth's dark dungeon of depravity for 10 days. He had booby-trapped this hole in the ground so that when he was gone, and if she tried to leave, it would blow up and kill her.

When he was there, he abused her. He abused her as much as he wished. He had weapons. He had homemade grenades to protect himself from the police if they ever found him. It is hard

to imagine what happened those 10 dark days for this 14-year-old girl.

One night when this villain was asleep, Elizabeth was able to take his cell phone away from him and text message on the cell phone to her mother a note: Hey, Mom, it is me. And with those simple words, the police were able to track down, through cell towers, the near location of where this little girl was.

The deputies came looking for her. The villain had already left. And as these deputy sheriffs approached Elizabeth, she saw them, and, of course, she immediately started to cry because she was safe in the arms of the law.

After deputy sheriffs rescued her, they were still looking for Filyaw. He was not out there. He wasn't in this hole because he was out trying to carjack a woman at 2 o'clock in the morning.

The sheriff's department had been looking for him for 10 months because he was wanted for, yes, kidnapping and assaulting a 12-year- old. And when they went to his house months before to try to find him, he had already dug a tunnel, like the rat that he is, to escape. And he had escaped the police and was on the lam for 10 months. By the way, he was aided in this escape by his mother and his mother-in-law, who, by the way, are in jail where they ought to be.

He was finally caught this week, and he went to court to see the judge, to have a bond hearing. And this little girl, this 14-year-old, decided to go to court to see this outlaw of the underground here in this bond hearing. And his bond, thank goodness, the judge did the right thing and denied this bond. Now he awaits trial for committing a crime against the greatest resource in our country, children, little girls.

Mr. Speaker, like most Members of this House, I am a parent. I am a father of four kids; three of them are girls. I have five grandkids. I have a granddaughter named Elizabeth. It is hard to imagine pain that is suffered by your own child. And here we have this little girl suffering pain because of this criminal that lives among us.

While it is true we should be concerned about the terrorists overseas, we need to be concerned about the street terrorists that live among us. As a former judge, I hope that justice prevails in this case.

Mr. Speaker, I do not normally quote Toby Keith or Willie Nelson, but I think they had the right thing to say in their song, when they said, Back in my day a man had to answer for the wicked that he had done. You have to find a tall oak tree, round up all of the bad boys and hang them high in the street for the people to see.

We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds, we have got too much corruption, too much crime in the streets. It is time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground. Send them all to their maker, and He will settle them down, because justice is the one thing you should always find.

Mr. Speaker, like a rat living underground, the fact that this criminal likes living underground, hopefully the good people of South Carolina will do the right thing and justice will prevail in this particular case.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, ``Let them eat cake'' is what Marie Antoinette said to the starving French people, showing her ignorance of the world around her. Today it can be used to describe France's position on handling terror threats.

France's current Prime Minister said last week: ``Against terrorism, what we need is not a war. It is, as France has done for many years, a determined fight based on vigilance at all times and effective cooperation with our partners.'' In other words, more talk, no action.

What France fails to consider is we tried that. Madrid's trains have been attacked. London's buses and subways have blown up. American embassies were bombed. The USS Cole was attacked, and, of course, there was September 11.

This war started years ago. The terrorists struck first across the globe. They declared war on us. They don't want to talk. It is now our duty to win this war, not wave France's new national white flag of surrender. What France and free people need is the spirit of Lafayette in this war on terror, not the current ignorance of Marie Antoinette, who was talking all the way to the guillotine and lost her head because she failed to see the real world around her.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, some say it's the best part of Wal-Mart, those happy greeters wearing a smiley face like this one I have here, giving helpful directions, giving coupons away. Others say these greeters even help with shoplifting. I just love Wal-Mart and those greeters. If a product is not at Wal-Mart, you just don't need it. Wal-Mart greeters make a good place even better.

However, the same could not be said of our national greeters. When I look at our southern border, I see policies that have turned our Border Patrol into an army of glorified gun-toting Wal-Mart greeters. They stop some of the thieves from coming into America, but they seem to end up acting like our official greeters, because our government has tied their hands.

Our government seems to be more concerned about the people who enter America illegally than our border agents, those that are already here and charged with protecting our border. Their work is subject to extensive intimidation by the Mexican Government, because Mexico doesn't want their own citizens, so they send them to the United States. Mexico uses treaties and lawsuits to give their citizens the protection that even Americans don't have.

The Mexican Government even gives illegals, heading north, maps so they can know where they illegally enter the United States and confront our border agents. Mexico is handing out shopping carts and the store directory to the virtual Wal-Mart, America.

But because we don't secure the border, we are opening up our aisles. But our version of Wal-Mart has an even better deal for these invaders, because it's all free. The American taxpayer pays for everything the illegals take from our Nation.

Take for instance, aisle number one, free health care. Mexico won't take care of its citizens, so the United States has become the free HMO of Mexico. It is a known fact that there are signs in Mexico telling expectant mothers what clinics across the border can deliver their anchor babies. Once those babies get sick, aisle one is the place where all their health care needs can be met: doctors, free health insurance, formulas, immunizations with no questions asked, and, of course, no bills. What a deal.

Aisle number two, it's the best education money can buy. Illegals enroll their child, and they can go to school through the 12th grade for free. In Mexico, that government only educates their children through the sixth grade. So the government says, go to America. The Americans will give you a free education in our language, Spanish, and if the student is hungry or needs after-school care, don't worry, aisle number two has free hot lunches, free after-school programs and, after all, our Wal-Mart only has the best.

We can't forget aisle number three. For all your identification needs, we have matricular cards for these illegals. Plenty of States and even the government accepts them for driver's licenses, Social Security and even fake IDs.

Let us go to aisle number four, free Social Security benefits for you and your kids. Aisle number five. It's free welfare to illegals, food stamps, housing, day care.

Mr. Speaker, I did not come up with the idea of calling our border agents Wal-Mart greeters. The truth is, that's what they call themselves. Because they know they are on the side of the American law, but the American law is not really on their side. They end up appearing to greet illegals instead of having the authority to send them back home.

If border agents are really allowed to do their job, our government doesn't seem to back them up. Today, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, two Border Patrol agents who shot a Mexican drug dealer, are being punished by a disloyal American government for just doing their job. After all, shooting a drug smuggler is no way for a greeter to act.

A border agent told me in Laredo recently that agents are told by supervisors at our legal ports of entry, quote, We are a port of entry, not a port of denial. So when in doubt, let people in, don't keep them out.

What an absurd policy for security, but a great greeter policy. Our Border Patrol agents should not be Wal-Mart greeters. They are law enforcement officers. They need American policy that is very clear. Keep the drug smugglers, the human smugglers and the terrorists out of America. Protect the sovereignty of our Nation.

After all, it is illegal to come to America without permission. It makes no difference what the Sly Fox of Mexico or his replacement, Commander Calderon, think. It is still our country. Unless we are serious about border security and have firm, well-defined laws on border security, we may as well replace the badge our Border Patrol agents wear with a smiley face of a Wal-Mart greater.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, over the last few days, radical Muslims burned the Pope in effigy, destroyed churches in Israel, preached hatred against the Pope and Christians, and cowardly killed a 65-year- old nun, shooting her four times in the back. So much for nonviolence by these radical Muslims.

All this because the Pope quoted a Byzantine emperor from the 1400s who commented on Muhammad's purported command ``to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'' The Pope, of course, was not agreeing with this Byzantine emperor. The Pope was promoting discourse among all religions.

But when the feelings of these radicals get hurt, we overreact, blame ourselves and apologize. That is what the Pope did.

I question whether the Pope should have even apologized. So much for free speech, so much for religious freedom, and so much for nonviolence.

In our world, hypocritical, radical Muslims may preach hate and violence against Christians and Jews, but heaven forbid anybody mention or quote slightly negative comments about radical Muslims, because this extremist sect will react with violence to prove just how nonviolent they are.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, to be a police officer or a member of the United States military is a gift, a sacrifice; and it is an honor. The uniform they wear is a commitment to protecting society, guarding the weak, giving back to the community, and fighting the forces of evil. Every day, they risk their lives, and tonight I want to talk about one of these of the rare breed.

Ryan Adam Miller from Pearland, Texas, and 19 years of age, was a third generation marine. His grandfather was a marine in the great World War II. His father Frank was a marine in Vietnam. Ryan was so committed to a future defending others, he graduated from high school early just so he could enlist into the United States Marine Corps and follow in the footsteps of Dad and Granddad, those who came before him.

While Ryan loved the Corps, his dream didn't end with service to his country. He has another wish, another sacrifice he wanted to make. He wanted to finish his military career in the Marine Corps and join another force, the very same police force both his mother and father gave decades of their lives to.

Both Ryan's parents served for years in the Houston Police Department. I know both of them because of my experience as a prosecutor and as a judge. At the last Houston Police Department cadet graduation this summer, I spoke to Ryan's mother Jeannie, who told me her son was coming back to Houston after he finished his tour of duty in Iraq to be a Houston police officer. This dream was almost a reality. Ryan even had planned to wear his mother's badge once he returned home for good.

With two parents who were dedicated law officers, Ryan knew the tough, rugged life that lay ahead. He also knew the joys that came with the job. Both his parents instilled in Ryan community pride, dedication, and passion to serve others. Ryan Adam Miller's goals, commitment, and faith are proof of that.

His mother recalls speaking to him last week when he talked of the fear that battle brings. He told her that he was praying, and God took away the fear of battle. One of Ryan's last acts was to give that peace to his parents, leaving them with the comfort that God would take care of him.

Sadly, he was just days away from returning home when, on September 14, this young marine 5 days ago was killed on patrol by an IED during combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

A loss not only for his family and our country, but our community back home in Texas. In these dark days of mourning, many people are no doubt trying to muster an encouraging word to comfort his parents. But it is their fellow police officers who have the most powerful and comforting thing to say. They say to him, they say to his parents, these officers in blue, ``He would have made a fine police officer.''

Ryan Miller was a fine marine. He was a fine human being, and today as a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I send my best to the Miller family and give them America's support as they fight their own battle over his death.

His death was not a loss, because he gave his life over there for all of us over here. Today we honor Ryan, we honor the parents of this marine and their sacrifices. I also pause today to remember the marines who served with Ryan, and all those who volunteered to defend and protect this great country. They are the fabric of this great Nation.

While the blood of their fellow comrades is the red color in the stripes of Old Glory, these few, these proud, these marines, keep us free to see the stars, stars of liberty, freedom and justice. So Semper Fi, Lance Corporal Ryan Adam Miller, Semper Fi, and God bless these sons of America.

And that's just the way it is

Mr. Speaker, it has been one year since Hurricane Katrina flooded Texas with evacuees. It's almost a year since welcoming Texans weathered their own storm, Hurricane Rita.

But today there are still shells of smashed buildings left standing. There are still homes where roofs were peeled back by wind and rain. Today only a blue tarp remains over the heads of countless families.

But these victims, these Lone Star Voices, are crying out for help.

Maggi Carter of Beaumont writes, ``Hurricanes Katrina and Rita handed the State of Texas an unprecedented housing challenge. To date, there are grossly inadequate resources for the 75,000 victims of Hurricane Rita. We support a 5-step plan to provide housing to the more than 100,000 families living in Texas who are victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.''

Mr. Speaker her plan includes: Transferring long-term housing from FEMA to HUD, the people who understand housing; settling the elderly and disabled into long-term government housing; and developing affordable rental housing while repairing the battered homes of survivors.

We cannot turn a blind eye to survivors. The victims of these natural disasters and their needs cannot be ignored. They need their government to finally help them find the calm after the storm.

That's just the way it is.