Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the sequester was a bad idea. I voted ``no.'' It actually came from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, however. The House has voted twice to replace the President's sequester with other spending cuts. However, the ``siesta'' Senate ignored the House bills and did what it does best--nothing.

Now, in the 11th hour, the President has disowned his sequester and instead has launched the taxpayer-funded tour de blame. He has also dispatched his Cabinet on a tour de fear. The White House ``sky is falling'' crowd says flights will be delayed and undocumented immigrants in custody will be freed. That is a Madison Avenue-style campaign to instill fear into Americans.

The President holds the power to determine what bills will be paid, not Congress--but he does not have the will to prioritize spending or manage the people's money. He only knows one way to lead: tax more, spend more, and continue the tour de blame.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, sequestration is a bad idea. I voted ``no.''

The idea for the sequester came from White House advisers. The President quickly signed the sequester and made it the law of the land. Now he has buyer's remorse. The House, in seeing the error of its ways, repented, and two times replaced the sequestration with rational cuts. The President's siesta Senate, however, ignored the House legislation and went missing in action.

Rather than administer with a smidge less taxpayer money, the President blames others for his fate. This is in spite of his power to determine priorities in spending, so he says the sky is falling because his government cannot operate without more money. He does not have the ability to produce a balanced budget or cut back waste, duplication, inefficiency, or fluff.

As the sequester is upon us, it is time for the President to lead America and govern with less money, but the President only knows one way to rule--tax more, spend more, and scare the people more. This is the inability to govern.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a remarkable individual that serves with us in the House of Representatives.

We are really surrounded by remarkable people, 435 individuals who came from other walks of life. Most of them had other careers before they came to the House of Representatives. But tonight, we're going to talk about the anniversary of one individual. Because, you see, 40 years ago, Colonel Sam Johnson was released as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He had spent 7 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

It all started when he was flying one of his F-4s, being a pilot. This was not a new experience. I mean, after all, he had served in Korea and flew 62 combat missions in an F-86 Sabre called Shirley's Texas Tornado, after his wife, Shirley. So he flew 62 in the Korean war; Vietnam, he's on his 25th mission flying an F-4 Phantom. He left Laotian airspace, came into North Vietnam, and he was shot down by ground fire. This was not his first tour of duty in Vietnam; it was his second tour of duty. Sam Johnson is an American warrior.

After he was shot down on this day, April 16, 1966, his life took a turn, a different turn. When he parachuted out of his plane, his shoulder was injured--of course the Vietnamese, they didn't do anything to help his injuries, and he still carries some of those wounds from his prisoner days and from when he crashed or when he came back down to Earth in that parachute. He was captured by the North Vietnamese Army and he was put in a prisoner of war camp.

The North Vietnamese probably developed prisoner of war camps better than anyplace on Earth. They were hard, they were tough, they were mean, and not everybody survived those camps. So he spent 7 years as a prisoner of war, and they interrogated him every day. But Sam never gave in. In fact, the Vietnamese called him ``Die Hard.'' He was the first person that I know of that was called ``Die Hard'' because he would never die no matter how hard they beat him.

He was so obstinate, Mr. Speaker, that they sent him to the infamous ``Hanoi Hilton''--satire, of course; it was everything but a hotel--and put him in a section called Alcatraz, where he and 11 obstinate prisoners of war were put together. Sam Johnson was so tough, would never break, would never give information, that they finally put him in solitary confinement.

Mr. Speaker, I want to describe the cell to you that he spent 4 years of his life in--solitary confinement. It was 3 feet by 9 feet. It's about the size of this table, 3 feet, over to about that podium, 9 feet. That was his cell. That's where he was for 4 years. They left the light on constantly. At night, they would come in and put him in leg irons--4 years solitary confinement. But he never gave up.

He learned how to communicate with other prisoners by tapping on the wall. He learned the names of the other 374 members, memorized their names so that when he got out--because he expected to get out--that he could tell their families that they were there.

But he never broke. He was never broken. He continued to do what he was supposed to do to honor America and represent America, but he never gave information to America's enemies.

So tonight, we commemorate his 40th anniversary of being released from that prisoner of war camp when the war was over. Seven years of his life he gave to this country in a camp that most of us would never survive.

At this time, I'd like to yield to the majority leader, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

I thank the majority leader for his important words.

I now yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Pete Sessions.

I thank the gentleman. The gentleman, Mr. Sessions, points out a little-known fact that after Colonel Sam Johnson got out of that prisoner-of-war camp, he stayed in the Air Force and served a total of 29 years. He also served in the famed Thunderbirds. He has quite a remarkable Air Force career.

I now yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Ralph Hall, the senior member of the Texas delegation and the House of Representatives.

I thank the gentleman for his wise words.

I now yield to the gentlewoman from Fort Worth, Texas, Ms. Kay Granger.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Michael Conaway.

I thank the gentleman from Texas.

I now yield to the gentleman from Round Rock, Texas, Judge John Carter.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Carter points out something that happened to Sam Johnson during that 7 years that a lot of people don't realize.

When he was in that little cell, 3-foot by 9-foot, he was so obstinate, the North Vietnamese Army would take him out of the cell; they would beat him up. He would never break. They would get so mad at that, that he wouldn't break, that they would line him up against the wall and they would tell him they're going to shoot him. They would blindfold him. They would get their AK-47s ready and, as Judge Carter mentioned, they would pull the trigger--click, click, click--then they would laugh at him.

Sam Johnson would say, ``Is that the best you got? Is that the best you got?'' He didn't take anything from the Vietnamese, even though they tried to do everything they could to break him down.

That's what makes him so remarkable. You may notice, Mr. Speaker, he's sitting back here on our scriptural row. All the Texans sit on the same row. He sits in the middle. One reason we sit back there is because that's the row he picks. So we all sit next to him. And you'll see every day when the House is in session, the Texans, we're all together sitting around Sam Johnson. We kind of stick together for a lot of reasons.

I now yield to the gentleman from Texas, Dr. Michael Burgess.

Mr. Speaker, I now recognize the gentleman from Tyler, Texas, Judge Gohmert.

I thank the gentleman from Tyler, Texas.

I now recognize a gentleman from Texas, Mr. Lamar Smith.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize another aviator, although he wasn't in the Air Force--he was in the Navy, which still counts. He served our country as a naval aviator before coming to the House of Representatives, Mr. Pete Olson of Sugar Land, Texas.

I thank the gentleman from Sugar Land, Texas, for his insightful words. You pointed out, Mr. Olson, that he spent 4 years in a prisoner-of-war camp. During those 4 years, he didn't talk to another American for 4 years. He could tap on the wall to contact them in codes that they'd developed over the numerous years they'd all been in confinement. They tapped out the names of the other prisoners, the 374 other prisoners that had been in the Hanoi Hilton at one time. They all memorized the 11, the Alcatraz Gang, as they called themselves. They memorized those names because they all expected that they were going to escape and get back and be able to tell those families who had come into the camp. A remarkable story.

I now yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Roger Williams.

I thank the gentleman.

I now yield to the gentleman from Lubbock, Texas, Mr. Randy Neugebauer.

I thank the gentleman.

I would ask the Speaker how much time I have remaining.

I thank the Speaker.

I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Blake Farenthold.

I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Steve Stockman.

I thank the gentleman.

I now yield to Mr. Bill Flores from Texas.

I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, Sam Johnson is a remarkable individual. The nickname that the Vietnamese gave him of Diehard, he's still that way. He's hardcore. He is opinionated, and he can back up everything he says. But that's a good thing. He does represent the best that we have in this country.

His military background: We have, in the House of Representatives, Members of Congress, both sides, that have served in our military, all branches, in the Reserves, the National Guard, they served in World War II, they served in Korea and Vietnam, like Sam Johnson. They've served in both Iraqi wars, the Afghanistan war, and they're still serving today.

We have Members who have lost their limbs for this country while on active duty serving this country. And Sam Johnson is among that elite that have represented America, the flag, and our country when our country needed our military.

He's married, three kids--you now know that one of them died recently--and he has 10 grandkids.

He served in the war, the second war, not the Korean War, but the second one, the Vietnamese War, came back home. Americans didn't treat our war veterans from Vietnam very well. They were treated real bad, in fact. Some of our American troops, when they came back home from serving in Vietnam, they wouldn't wear the uniform because Americans would ridicule them for what the country asked them to do.

America has learned since Vietnam. We treat our warriors a lot better now. We treat them like they ought to be treated when they come back home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world.

Our warriors from Vietnam didn't get the appropriate welcome back, as already mentioned. Tonight, we welcome back one of them. We welcome back Colonel Sam Johnson, United States Air Force, reporting for duty.

After spending 7 years in a prisoner-of-war-camp, 4 years in solitary confinement, as I pointed out, 9 feet by 3 feet for 4 years, 24 hours a day, leg irons at night, taken out in the daytime and beat. Never broke. Diehard. Never gave in. He was never broken.

Remarkable individuals, these Americans who serve and wear the uniform. It's a rare breed, but it's the American breed, and that's what makes us free, those people, those remarkable people who wear the uniform and serve, and serve overseas, and serve in prisoner-of-war camps, if necessary.

So we thank Sam Johnson. We thank all who have served and are serving today for their service to our great country. But especially tonight, we welcome home Sam Johnson of the United States Air Force. And that's just the way it is.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Mike, a truck driver, pulled over at a rest stop. He noticed a young girl approaching multiple trucks. The girl, who was clearly under age, came up to his cab and offered him sex for money. She seemed scared, and he asked her a few questions. She told him that, if she did not bring in enough money for her trafficker, the beatings by him would get worse.

Thank goodness she had the courage to call for help.

Mike understood the signs of human trafficking through an organization called Truckers Against Trafficking. He called the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, and authorities immediately arrived. The trafficker was arrested, put in jail, and the girl was rescued.

I commend Truckers Against Trafficking. It is critical for our citizens to be educated about sex trafficking so we can end this scourge. America cannot continue to be blissfully silent while modern- day slavery is occurring in our communities.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it was fall of 1835. Mexican President Santa Anna had dissolved the Constitution and made himself dictator. Tensions began to flare between his oppressive government and the liberty minded desires of Texians and Tejanos. To suppress

the rumblings of unrest and revolution the Mexican military leaders began their quest to quietly disarm the Texians. One of the first actions was to retrieve a cannon lent to the Texian colonists at Gonzales. The famous bronze cannon was loaned to the Gonzales colonists by the Mexican government in 1831 to defend themselves from hostile Apaches and Comanches. Mexican Corporal Casimiro De Leon and a few soldiers were sent to reclaim the cannon. That task was easier said than done.

The feisty Texians said they were keeping the gun and took the soldiers prisoner. The ladies of settlement even made a flag bearing the words ``Come and Take It!'' to be flown over the cannon. The cannon had been buried in a peach orchard near the Colorado River for safety, but was retrieved shortly after and readied for battle and mounted on cart wheels. The Mexican government responded by sending Lieutenant Francisco de Castaneda of the Mexican Army and 150 troops to put an end to the dispute. They were met by a militia of frontier Texians and Indian fighters who simply said, ``There it is--come and take it.'' After a few shots were fired by both sides the Mexican army left the engagement. The Battle of Gonzales went on to be known as the ``Lexington of Texas''. It was Act I of the Texas War of Independence. It was similar to Lexington because sixty years earlier the British had tried to seize the weapons of the colonists at Lexington and Concord. The Texas War, like the American War of Independence, began because oppressive government tried and failed to disarm the people. The citizens of Texas would not surrender their arms to appease the overbearing Mexican regime. History has an odd way of repeating itself.

Flash forward 200 years. One night I was at a town hall meeting in Spring when a local preacher came up to me to share his concerns about where our country was headed. It is always refreshing for me to hear from normal people in Southeast Texas after spending all week long in the land of the bureaucrats. I will always remember this particular neighbor because of his strong opinions and his shirt. It had a photograph of the Bible and two .45 Colt revolvers with the words ``I love my Bible'' and ``I love my guns''. Naturally, they were in the right order. God then guns. Leave it to a Texas preacher to keep it all in perspective. You wouldn't see that shirt up in Washington, DC. Some elites outside of our Great State fear ``us southerners'' and our colt 45s, and ridicule those who cling to their guns and religion. In Texas we have a rich tradition of proudly celebrating the right to bear arms. The elites seem to forget that not only do we cling to guns and religion, we cling to the Constitution that protects these rights. Many Texans believe the call for gun control is really a call for more government control.

Texans aren't the only ones who have historically defended this right. During the birth of our nation, the Founding Fathers were very concerned--almost paranoid--that a strong Federal Government would trample on the rights of the people. Their concerns were warranted because that is exactly what happened to the colonists, and that's what governments historically do--trample on individual liberty. So after the ratification of the Constitution, the Framers purposely included a list of inalienable rights that are endowed by our Creator, not from government. One of them being the individuals' right to bear arms. They knew from their experiences in the American War of Independence that an armed citizenry and a citizen militia were not only needed for personal defense, but were also the best safeguard against the tyranny of government.

But here we go again. Today some in government once again fear the freedom of its citizens and are now calls to round up all the guns. Ironically, each day in the U.S. Capitol there are guards with guns by the doors--to the north, to the south, to the east, to the west--on the roof, on all of the entrances, and by the steps. Many elitist politicians and lifelong bureaucrats expect protections for themselves while advocating for more restrictions on guns for the people of America--hypocrisy at its highest. Most citizens don't have government guards protecting them 24/7. Many people feel defenseless. In fact, one of the proposals for more gun laws mirrors the stringent DC. gun laws. If the DC gun laws worked, DC would not be such a violent city. If DC gun laws worked, why are there so many armed guards at the Capitol?

The elites want more government power and control while taking away liberty from the rest of us. They want to punish the guns, not the people who commit crimes with guns. They want to keep their special government protection while redlining the Second Amendment for the people. They say, ``Protection for me but not for thee''. Not much has changed since the days of the Santa Anna. Oppressive governments will always seek to limit the freedom of their citizens. Mexico eventually lost Texas and Great Britain eventually lost America. Both wars started because those in charge wanted to take guns away from the citizens. Those who seek to take guns away from Texans should open a history book. Those early Texans defied Santa Anna, hoisted the flag ``Come and Take It'', and the rest they say is Texas history.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, no matter where I go, I always meet someone who wants to share a memory about my former life as a criminal court judge in the Harris County courtrooms. Most times, people reminisce about some of the creative punishments that I handed down or about the time they served jury duty in my courtroom. But, sometimes the conversation turned to the courthouse itself, or as I call it, the Palace of Perjury.

I presided over more than 25,000 criminal cases in the Palace of Perjury for 22 years. My particular courtroom was massive. Paneled in a dark wood, it gave off an ominous, serious mood. As it should--some of the worst and most horrid crimes were tried within its walls.

That courthouse--now the Juvenile Courthouse in Harris County--was just one of 235 courthouses in Texas. Each is a symbol of our state's rich history and a symbol of our promise to follow the law and pursue justice. Courthouse construction began in Texas after it won independence from Mexico in 1836. Counties were formed and courthouse construction began in each. Because the counties were booming and populations were increasing, many courthouses served multiple purposes: schools, churches, dancehalls and meeting places, not just a place to settle legal issues. Courthouses became the heart of the town--or the ``square'' of the town. Here Main Street businesses grew, and communities were shaped. Trials, elections, marriages, parades and festivals are forever linked to our historic courthouses.

At times as a judge, I traveled to other counties to try cases. Along the way, I began to photograph Texas' historic courthouses. I was drawn to their impressive and varied architecture. Built with bricks, stone, and stained glass, some have clock towers; others have domes. Each is unique. I like the Renaissance Revival style of the Anderson County Courthouse and the Romanesque Revival style of Fayette County Courthouse in La Grange. Some like the Newton County Courthouse known for its Second Empire style, while others like the La Salle County Courthouse known for its Moderne-style structure.

Along the way, I learned that other Texas officials shared my love and admiration for our State treasures. In 1993, my friend and then- Governor George W. Bush, together with the Texas Historical Commission, established the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, a plan that provided $200 million in matching grants to communities working to repair and restore these structures. By the end of 2012, 63 Texas counties have received full funding for their construction project. That includes the Harris County Courthouse--``the Jewel of the South.'' Built in 1910, restoration on the courthouse was available through funding from the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program and was completed last year. There's a lot of history in our great State, and it's our responsibility to preserve this rich heritage for future generations.

In 1998 and again in 2012, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named all historic courthouses in Texas to its annual list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Some of those historic courts are located in rural counties with limited funds, but are in need of insurmountable repairs. Unfortunately, some are on the brink of abandonment or demolition. Budgets are tight all around, but I think these treasures are worth saving.

This spring break and summer, as you pack up the family and head across our great state, get off the interstates and drive downtown to any Main Street. There you can share a little Texas history with your kids and grandkids. On each Main Street is a Texas treasure. And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, as the sun was rising in the Iraqi desert, three dozen mortars rained down on Camp Liberty. Camp Liberty is where innocent Iranian exiles, including women and children, live. This unprovoked attack left six people dead and dozens wounded.

Now, who was responsible? Was it the Iraqis, the Iranians? Looks to me like both governments should be held accountable. These dissidents stand for an Iran free of the extreme mullahs and the tyrant Ahmadinejad.

Over 3,000 unarmed freedom fighters currently live at Camp Liberty and remain in imminent danger. The Iraqi Government has proven on more than one occasion it is unwilling to protect Iranian dissidents in Iraq.

The United Nations has the responsibility to ensure these people are moved to safer locations and even other countries. Not one more life should be stolen by those who protect the oppressive Iranian regime and the little fellow from the desert, Ahmadinejad.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I regret not being able to be here in Memorial Park with all of you this morning, but I am joining you in celebration today from Washington, DC. Memorial Park is my favorite place to run. The three-mile, crushed granite trail was once shaded and surrounded by the most beautiful trees. As you all know, the 2011 Texas drought took its toll and because of it, there's one thing that is becoming more and more noticeably absent: our Texas trees.

In 2006, I obtained $28.5 million in funding for beautification, erosion prevention and flood-control programs in the Houston area. One year later, over 20,000 trees were planted along Will Clayton and Highway 59. Thousands more trees have been planted along Houston Freeway, which I call Treeways. Many of the trees were planted by civic groups and non-profits. Apache Corporation was one of the groups that donated thousands of trees. I want to thank the thousands of volunteers who showed up that rainy, muddy morning during a Texas Gully Washer to help plant trees. Today, the trees are maturing and thriving--I smile every time I see them. I now refer to our highways as treeways.

I support the goals and ideals of National Arbor Day, and I wholeheartedly support the planting as well as the management of healthy trees in our community. I would like to recognize the City of Houston, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Park Conservancy, Apache Corporation and the citizens of Houston as they celebrate the value and beauty of trees in our community. By planting trees today, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the quality of life for those who come after us.

In 2009, Mayor Bill White started the Million Trees + Houston program. The goal was to plant more than a million new trees in the City of Houston, and today, Houston Parks and Recreation along with Apache Corporation will plant its 3 millionth tree.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, last November, we once again witnessed a remarkably low turn-out among this nation's youth. Sadly, the majority of the youngest demographic group, our nation's future, Republican and Democrat alike, failed to take part in the democratic process. I met a group of young high school students trying to buck that trend.

The Bellaire High School Young Republicans, led by Michelle Knesbach, Jennifer Knesbach, and Michael Scheinthal, push to create a spirit of activism at their high school, in the city of Houston, and around the state of Texas. At the age of fourteen, these three students began working on local campaigns, block walking on weekends and helping fundraise on school nights. Soon after, the three started the High School Republicans of Texas, an official auxiliary of the state party which focuses on giving a voice to those too young to vote, and encourages activism among their schoolmates. Through voter registration drives and get out the vote campaigns in their community, the Bellaire High School Republicans engage young people in the political process, making a difference on Election Day.

I met this group at a dinner I spoke at and was impressed by their initiative. I was invited to speak at their school, and when I walked into the building, taking me back to the days of too much homework and pop quizzes, I was surprised that around 300 students came to the event during their lunch break. We had a discussion, about Hamas, about drug cartels, about policy and bipartisanship, topics that I often find bore people twice their age; yet they were intrigued. An age group, often over-looked, often deemed to not care, was just as fascinated, cared just as much, about these vital topics as anyone. The Bellaire Young Republicans and the High School Republicans of Texas are changing the status quo by inspiring their classmates to avoid being a part of another disappointing statistic.

Campaign events of the future will be full of young faces. Students too young to vote learn that they can make a difference, impact their state, and impact their country. Further merit should be credited to the Bellaire Young Republicans as they fight for ideas that are widely rejected by their peers as they work to end the ``youth involvement drought'' slowly eroding the Republican Party and the Conservative Movement. Looking into the young crowd, I knew there was hope for my party and for my county.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, today I'm honored to recognize a Houston legend, Bob Allen who recently signed off from the sports desk at KTRK Channel 13 after nearly forty years. Bob's last broadcast was Thursday, January 17th after the Houston Texans' closed their electric 2012 season. The timing of his exit was no coincidence; he had high hopes of a Super bowl for the Texans just like the rest of us. Bob has brought sports into our homes for decades. His outstanding career at KTRK may have come to an end but for many of us Houston sports will always be synonymous with Bob Allen.

KRTK hired Bob as a weekend sportscaster all the way back in 1974, but his passion for sports and the news began long before that. Legend has it that when he was just ten years old, Bob took off on his bike from his West University house to the KTRK studios just to get a peek at the newsroom. In those days Guy Savage was the sportscaster. Young Bob was shown the exit that day, but little did they know that this bright eyed young boy would be the future face of sports in Houston.

After Bob joined KTRK it took just six months for him to be named sports director. And the rest is history. Bob has been in our living rooms through some of the greatest sports moments of the last half century; the Rockets championships in the '90s and the Love Ya blue oilers in the 70s just to name a few. I spent many nights after supper watching his sports casts after the Oilers and Astros games with my son Kurt. Bob has told the story of sports to generations of Houstonians. He has interviewed some of the greatest sports legends, including Nolan Ryan, Stan ``the Man'' Musial and George Foreman. Bob even tested out his acting skills with roles in the ABC TV movie Murder at the World Series in 1977, and another sports mystery thriller, Night Game, in '89. He played a sportscaster and an announcer for the Houston Astros, of course.

Bob has also given back to the Houston community in other ways through his charitable work with the Special Olympics and the Sunshine Kids, which helps children struggling with cancer. His commitment to service earned him recognition from the Special Olympics, who awarded him the Spirit of Special Olympics award.

Bob's departure from KTRK marks the end of an era for Houston but it also marks a new beginning for Bob. He dedicated forty years to a fantastic career in sports broadcasting. Now that this chapter is over, he's looking forward to pursuing new projects. He insists that he is resigning, not retiring. He won't stop, that's just the kind of guy he is. When asked about his future he said ``I'll probably end up being busier than I was at 13.'' I don't doubt that one bit. He plans to start a media company that includes public speaking engagements and radio, and he will write a book about working on TV with some of the world's greatest athletes. Bob is a credit to the broadcasting profession and a credit to Texas. We will miss him in our homes but wish him well on his next adventure. Congratulations, Bob, on a fantastic career. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the domestic use of drones is on the way. There will be more eyes in the sky looking over America.

According to the FAA, by 2015, it will allow the use of drones nationwide, and by 2030, 30,000 drones will be cruising American skies--looking, observing, filming, and hovering over America. They will come whether we like it or not. We will not know where they are or what they're looking at or what their purpose is, whether it's permitted or not permitted, whether it's lawful or unlawful, and we really won't know who is flying those drones.

Sometimes drones are good. We can thank drones for helping us track terrorists overseas and for helping us catch outlaws on the border. Legitimate uses by government and private citizens do occur, but a nosy neighbor or a Big Brother government does not have the right to look into a window without legitimate cause or, in the case of government, probable cause.

Mr. Speaker, drones are easy to find. I learned from a simple Google search that you can buy a drone on eBay or at your local Radio Shack. It's very easy. And as technology changes, Congress has the responsibility to be proactive and to protect the Fourth Amendment right of all citizens. The Fourth Amendment states:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons,

houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches

and seizures, shall not be violated.

It doesn't take a constitutional law professor to see why legislation is needed to protect the rights of the American people. The right of a reasonable expectation of privacy is a constitutional right. Any form of snooping or spying, surveillance or eavesdropping goes against the rights that are outlined in the Constitution.

Today, I will reintroduce the Preserving American Privacy Act because it's time for Congress to be proactive in protecting the rights of civilians from the private use and government use of drones. This legislation balances individual constitutional rights with legitimate government activity and the private use of drones. We don't have time to wait until 2030 when there are 30,000 drones in the sky.

This bill sets clear guidelines, protects individual privacy and informs peace officers so they will know what they can do and what they cannot do under the law. Nobody should be able to use drones for whatever purpose they want. This bill will make it clear for what purpose law enforcement and citizens and businesses can use drones.

There will be limits on the government use of drones so that the surveillance of individuals or their property is only permitted or conducted when there is a warrant. This applies to State, Federal, and local jurisdictions, but there are exceptions. Law enforcement could use a drone for fire and rescue, to monitor droughts and to assess flood damage or to chase a fleeing criminal. And of course, the exceptions, called exigent circumstances, which are already in our law, will apply.

This bill includes a clear statement so that it does not prevent the use of drones for border security. The bill also sets guidelines for the private use of drones.

The bottom line of the bill is simple: nobody should be spying on another unless they have the legal authority to do so. The decision should not be left up to unelected bureaucrats to decide the use of drones, so Congress has the obligation to set guidelines, to secure the right of privacy and to protect citizens from unlawful drone searches. Just because the government has the technology to look into somebody's yard doesn't give it the constitutional right to do so.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Groundhog Day has come and gone.

The little fella did not see his shadow, and once again, Congress saw no budget from the White House.

That's right, MS, for the fourth time in five years this Administration has missed its legally required deadline to submit a budget.

The Budget Act of 1974 says: ``On or after the first Monday in January but not later than the first Monday in February of each year, the President shall submit a budget of the United States Government for the following fiscal year.''

But once again the White House ignores laws it doesn't like.

Ironically, the Administration missed the legal deadline the same day that the ``No Budget No Pay'' act was signed into law.

That law freezes pay for Members of Congress unless we pass our own budget by April 15.

Last year, the President's tardy budget failed to receive a single vote in either Chamber.

So what's the plan now?

Show us the budget.

Your move, Mr. President.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Bryan Wilburn is a young man from Baytown, Texas

who has attained the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. But the way he achieved his ranking isn't something we hear about often, especially for someone his age. He made his way to the top through a unique and much-needed service project. As just an eighth grade student at Barber's Hill Middle School, Bryan initiated a project that has honored those who protect our community. Not limited to just people, but also our four-legged friends. Bryan and a team of volunteers renovated the Baytown Police Department K9 Cemetery.

The need to serve law enforcement stemmed from Bryan's appreciation for the strong bond between officers and police canines, as well as their vital role in protecting the community. Bryan and a group of recruited volunteers of neighbors, friends, family, and other Boy Scouts worked hard to beautify these dogs' final resting place. After researching everything from types of plants to styles of landscaping, Bryan lead his team of volunteers as they cleaned the existing burial plots, removed dead shrubbery, replaced fence post tops, and planted new bushes and trees. It was after about 140 hours of hard work that the Baytown Police Department had a cemetery, where they could be proud to lay their beloved dogs to rest.

Bryan's leadership role in this final project is one of the many qualifications needed to obtain his new rank of Eagle Scout--he has had to earn 21 merit badges in subjects including first aid and personal fitness, as well as obtaining letters of recommendation, and going before an Eagle Scout board of review.

This is a prime example of a young man with an outstanding character and a go-getter work ethic. Bryan is well-deserving of his Eagle Scout rank. In honoring the sacrifices and hard work of the police force and their canine companions, Bryan has upheld the Boy Scout tradition of community service and stands as an example of the integrity and honor of a true Eagle Scout.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Ronald from Kingwood, Texas, writes me this:

My family and I paid taxes, raised a family, contributed to

the community and our church. But we are very disappointed in

Washington. Our government is spending money it doesn't have.

And our President says, in other words, Tax those Americans

who have worked hard, balanced their household budgets,

saved, and have been successful.

My wife and I always thought that was the American Dream.

In 2013, our taxes have gone up. Why? Why? Why? Because

Congress doesn't cut its spending. There should be no tax

increases on any Americans until there are significant

spending cuts. Normal Americans can't simply borrow money. So

why should government? I've worked hard for what I've

achieved. Now why should we pay more taxes just because

Washington has a spending addiction?

Mr. Speaker, we can't tax our way and spend our way into prosperity.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following. Disease. Death. Bankruptcy. That's how the Panama Canal got started. At the time, the nineteenth century, trade and economic activity boomed in this part of the world and with it, other nations tried to cash in. As the U.S., Britain and France competed to assert their influence in the region, they ran into one problem: land. They didn't have a way to ship goods from the Atlantic to the Pacific without making the treacherous and lengthy journey around the tip of Cape Horn in South America. All three nations knew there was a need for a shorter sea lane connecting the two oceans. Unfortunately, the French got there first.

In 1881, the French sent veteran builder Ferdinand de Lesseps, who oversaw the successful construction of the Suez Canal in Egypt, to build a canal in Panama, then a province of Colombia. In the first nine years of construction, the French spent hundreds of millions of dollars, lost 20,000 workers to malaria and yellow fever and only completed eleven miles of the canal. The project went bankrupt and failed. The dream of a connection between east and west seemed all but dead . . . then came Teddy Roosevelt. The former Roughrider knew an opportunity when he saw one and seized upon it.

The U.S. was emerging as a world power and Roosevelt saw that having a shorter route to the Pacific and beyond was a way to expand American Naval Power and Economic opportunity. Such foresight proved correct in WWII. Roosevelt quickly got to work, having his Secretary of State, John Hay negotiate the Hay-Herran Treaty to purchase land in the Colombia province of Panama. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty. But there was a big hiccup: the Colombians wanted more money and refused to approve the treaty.

Roosevelt wasn't about to be duped and pour more money in the project, perhaps ending up like the French. He knew that the Panamanians wanted the U.S. to complete the 51-mile canal and he knew that they wanted independence. (Some claim that Roosevelt took advantage of the unrest and stirred up Panama's revolution against the Colombians, but that's for historians to debate). The U.S. did not get involved in the fight, but helped the Panamanians by sending the gunboat, the U.S.S. Nashville, and ten other warships from both the Atlantic and Pacific to show support. This is now known as ``gunboat diplomacy''. Panama's non-violent coup-de-tat was successful, and the nation of Panama was born. With that, the U.S. and Panama ratified a treaty and construction of the canal began. One revolution, $700 million and ten years later the Panama Canal Zone--now U.S. Territory-- was completed in 1914.

Fast forward 99 years. After President Carter returned the canal zone to Panama, it has since maintained control of the security and operation of the canal. Panama has undertaken a critically important expansion of the canal. One that will add a third channel and a new set of locks, allowing larger cargo ships to pass through. Approved in 2006, this new expansion--dubbed PanamEx--will finally completed next year. Surprisingly, no Panamanian chapter of the EPA held it up, and only a few environmental groups opposed. Perhaps it's a transportation miracle.

Of course, Panama benefits from this widening and deepening of the canal, but so will the United States. The recent implementation of the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement approved by Congress, along with this $5.25 billion canal expansion project, ensures that free trade between the U.S. and Panama will continue to grow. And, because of our geographic location, this expansion will ``expand Texas' position as a global gateway for the nation,'' according to the Panama Canal Working Group. That means a huge increase in exports from the gulf coast and our Great State, including the Port of Houston, to countries around the world.

Trade in Texas and Houston drives our economy, and the engine for trade is ports. With that, we'll see more exports of dry and liquid bulk, agriculture products, coal, petrochemicals, military cargo, and consumer goods. Larger and wider vessels, like tankers carrying liquefied natural gas, will now be able to enjoy quick, reliable transit through the canal. That's good news for us here in Houston and good news for our State.

Next year, we celebrate 100 years since Roosevelt's dream became a reality. Thanks to Teddy's dream, the U.S. built the canal and our economy and security have benefitted from the opportunities that it created. God bless Teddy. And that's just the way it is.