Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, there is good news about energy. We have untapped natural resources here at home. In the United States, we have natural gas that can be turned into liquefied natural gas. Other nations don't have this. We have so much natural gas that we can export it by selling it as LNG. Not only will exporting LNG bring money and energy back home; it will create jobs. This means jobs and capital for Americans and American companies.

Even the Department of Energy says that expanded export of LNG will benefit the United States economy. In 2010, the oil and natural gas industry added $476 billion to our economy. To

top it off, the oil and natural gas industry employs 9.2 million people in America. We are missing out on this opportunity by not exporting LNG. We've ignored this opportunity far too long. Let's stop relying on Middle Eastern nations and use more natural gas and export it as LNG.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, in a remote region of Algeria at an oil and gas facility, in the dark of night before the sun rose, workers from all over the world were getting ready to sit down for breakfast when suddenly gun-wielding Islamic radicals stormed the facility.

Some of the workers were killed; some were able to escape; some were taken hostage. One of the hostages killed in this attack was a member of my congressional district, Victor Lovelady.

Victor was a native of southeast Texas. He was originally from Nederland, Texas, a town of primarily hardworking, blue collar folks centered around the energy industry. Victor had recently moved to Atascocita, Texas, his home not far from where I live. He was 57 years of age.

When he died, he was on a contract assignment for ENGlobal, an energy company in Algeria. According to his family, Victor waited to take that contract until his children had finished school so he could attend their sporting events. This was not surprising for someone who was described as a ``dedicated family man and a fantastic coworker.'' Although it was hard to be so far away from his family, Victor was excited to take the contract assignment so he could ensure a secure future for his family. That's just the kind of father and husband he was.

The deal for this contract was 28 days on, 28 days off, and he was just 10 days in with only 18 days left to go. He was scheduled to come home to Texas the day after his daughter's birthday. His life was stolen by those who seek to destroy Americans, the radicals who inflict terror on all who believe in freedom.

Victor is survived by a loving family, including his wife, Maureen; daughter, Erin; and their son, Grant. Over the holidays, the close Lovelady family expressed concern for the safety of Victor, but he reassured them saying, ``It's so safe. We have protection.'' It's hard for people to understand such unspeakable evil.

I spoke with Victor's brother, Mike, throughout the crisis and as did Congressman Randy Weber. Yesterday, after we heard the terrible news, Mike told me:

I can associate with my brother getting in a car wreck or

having cancer. But terrorism and Nederland, Texas, don't go

together.

He was described as ``a great family man and a fantastic coworker'' and ``a leader who mentored countless individuals during his tenure.'' He was also known for his spontaneous wit. Victor moved from Nederland, Texas, to Atascocita to be closer to work, but he went back and forth so that his children could finish school there.

Mr. Speaker, Victor was killed not just because of what he did; he was killed because of who he was. He was killed because he was an American. A radical Islamic al Qaeda group by the name of the Signatories in Blood claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack, those who seek to destroy us and kill indiscriminately.

They hate us for who we are and what we stand for. Diplomacy is not in their vocabulary.

Two other Americans were also killed in this attack. Their names were Gordon Lee Rowan of Sumpter, Oregon, and Frederick Buttaccio of Katy, Texas.

The Algerian military retook the compound after 3 days, and they found that 34 other hostages had been killed, as well as dozens of terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, our thoughts, prayers, and concerns are with the Lovelady, Rowan, and Buttaccio families today.

Secretary Panetta said that America must respond to these murders. That is correct. We should go after these killers who have malice and evil in their hearts, that kill Americans because they are Americans. That would be justice, and justice is what we do in this country.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, as I speak on the House floor, there are 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: the armed guards of the excellent Capitol Police protecting us.

But most citizens don't have government guards protecting them 24/7. Many people feel defenseless. Some people of this Chamber expect protection for themselves while advocating more restrictions on guns for the people of America--hypocrisy at its highest. In fact, one of the proposals for more gun laws mirrors the stringent D.C. gun laws. If the D.C. gun laws worked, D.C. would not be such a violent city. If D.C. gun laws worked, why do we have so many armed guards at the Capitol?

The elites forget it's the shooter, not the gun. They 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.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, in 1985, 13-year-old Lavinia Masters went to sleep in her bedroom, which should be the safest place on Earth for children. But a few hours later, she was woken up by an outlaw who sexually assaulted her and put a knife to her throat. She went to the hospital. DNA evidence was taken from her. She did everything she was supposed to do. But that evidence sat, untested, on a dusty crime lab shelf for 20 years while the perpetrator ran loose somewhere in Texas. When the kit was finally tested, police discovered that Kevin Turner had committed this crime. Justice could not occur for Lavinia because the statute of limitations had run.

Mr. Speaker, Lavinia is not alone. There are 400,000 untested rape kits with DNA evidence in the United States. That's why I have introduced, along with Congresswoman Maloney of New York, the SAFER Act. And we can pass it today by unanimous consent. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. New Yorker, Texan, Democrat, and Republicans, speaking different languages, it doesn't get much more bipartisan than that. This act would allow funds to be used to test untested sexual assault kits for DNA evidence so justice can be done for victims.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it's New Year's Day 2013. What an excellent time for Congress to make at least one New Year's resolution.

Congress is addicted to spending money. Maybe Congress should join Spending Anonymous. Here is the 12-step plan:

One, Congress should admit it's addicted to spending someone else's money;

Two, make a list of the wasteful spending;

Three, pass a yearly budget and a constitutional balanced budget amendment;

Four, stop giving money to countries that hate us;

Five, have the resolve not to spend money we don't have;

Six, don't contribute to the addiction by taking more money away from Americans;

Seven, don't borrow any more money from China;

Eight, don't make excuses for our addiction;

Nine, don't blame others for the addiction;

Ten, run Congress like most people run their family budgets;

Eleven, remember, we are to do the will of the people;

Twelve, have a support group and meet regularly to confess our addiction.

Mr. Speaker, Congress should join Spending Anonymous.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, ``We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.'' That was Ronald Reagan in 1982.

President Reagan went on to lead America out of a recession, but history has a way of repeating itself. Somehow, Washington never gets the message, and here we are, 30 years later on the brink of another crisis on New Year's Eve, still addicted to spending money. Now we are over $16 trillion in debt. President Reagan's words and principles remain true today, and they were true when he said them: the problem is spending money.

Mr. Speaker, the American people know this. Why doesn't the Federal Government and Congress understand it? Why? Because Washington is obsessed with spending someone else's money. It's the arrogance of power that Congress spends the people's money without regard to how this obsession affects those very people.

When American families are in debt, they sacrifice and they cut spending, whether that means taking one less

family vacation or fewer presents under the Christmas tree. Homes across the fruited plain are feeling the pain of the economic squeeze in their wallets, and they adjust accordingly, because that's what happens when times are tough. American families don't have a limited credit card like Congress does.

The people are angry because they wonder why reckless Washington can't do the same. I hear that message every day from southeast Texans. These citizens are wiser than the tax-and-spendocrats here in Washington, D.C. Let me share a few of those straight-talking Texans' words with you.

Michael says this:

You can't have the cookies without the milk. Tax reform and

spending cuts, not one without the other.

Hubert from Baytown, Texas, says this:

Our children and grandchildren will have to recover from

reckless spending. Washington has a spending problem, not a

taxing problem.

Jeff says:

You don't become fiscally responsible by continued

increases in your credit card spending limit. Folks in

Congress need to quit running from the hard choices and stop

burying our children and grandchildren in debt.

David from Humble, Texas, said this:

This isn't really rocket science. Stop spending money we

don't have, cut back on what we do spend, and stop sending

money to our enemies.

Now there's a novel idea.

Paul from Beaumont said this:

We do not have a revenue problem; instead, we have a

spending problem.

And it's been a spending problem for a long time.

Larry said:

If I'm out of cash, I stop spending. Perhaps Congress

should do the same thing that I do in my house. When I don't

have enough money, I quit spending. But Congress has its own

printing press backed by the Chinese.

Ashley says:

Spending must be stopped. Just taking more from Americans

will not fix this problem. Even if my direct taxes are not

affected here, my employer's are. So what will that mean for

me in the long run? I'm afraid I'm going to find out.

Yes, Ashley, you're going to find out here on New Year's Eve.

Jimmy from Crosby, Texas, says:

I'm fed up with them never agreeing to a budget and

spending like there is no tomorrow. This out-of-control

action has got to stop.

And, finally, Renee from Crosby, Texas, said:

Please demand that spending be cut; fraud, waste, and abuse

in government spending be addressed before any new taxes be

forced upon hardworking Americans.

Mr. Speaker, the American people, they actually do get it--at least those people who work and pay taxes. The backbone of America--the workers of America--say stop the spending obsession.

Mr. Speaker, the problem is spending. We got here by spending too much, not by taxing too little. We're going off the cliff with our pockets full of somebody else's money.

And that's just the way it is.

I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding and for his support on this legislation. I also thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.

Madam Speaker, they said that World War I would be ``the war to end all wars.'' But it wasn't. It was a world war and encompassed the entire globe and most of the countries in the world.

The war started in 1914, and the United States entered in April of 1917. The United States entered the war for three main reasons: one, the sinking of the British liner Lusitania and 128 Americans being killed in that submarine attack; and then seven U.S. Merchant Marine ships were sunk by German submarines when they had unconditional rights to sink any ship on the high seas, according to the German Government; and the third thing was when the Germans sent the Zimmerman telegram to Mexico.

Madam Speaker, a lot of Americans don't know what that was, but basically the Germans were telling the country of Mexico if they would enter the war on the side of Germany, the central powers, that they would help Mexico invade the United States and take the States of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and give them to the country of Mexico. So the United States entered the war in April 1917.

H.R. 3159 would create a commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. Over 116,000 Americans died in World War I. That's more than in Korea, Vietnam, and both Iraq wars and Afghanistan combined.

Madam Speaker, to my left is a photograph of American doughboys, as they were called because of the color of their uniform, going over out of a trench, ``over the top'' as it was called in World War I. They were primarily teenagers. Like in most of our wars, the teenagers go to fight those wars. And they are leaving the trench going into what is called ``no man's land.'' And those Americans served, along with their allies in World War I.

Two U.S. Presidents served in World War I, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. And if World War II veterans were known as the Greatest Generation, then World War I veterans should be known as the Selfless Generation. After all, these World War I veterans--the ones that survived--were the fathers of the Greatest Generation.

America's last doughboy was Frank Buckles. He died on February 26, 2011. He was 110 years of age. I got to know Frank Buckles when he came to the United States Capitol on some legislation that I will talk about momentarily. Frank Buckles in World War I was too young to join. Nobody would let him in. He went from recruiter to recruiter. He was 16--he might have been 15--but he lied about his age, and he finally convinced an Army recruiter to take him in. He joined the doughboys, and he went ``Over There,'' that song that George Cohan wrote talking about the Americans that wouldn't ``come back 'till it's over, over there.''

He drove an ambulance in World War I helping rescue other doughboys that were wounded out here in no man's land and some that had died bringing them back behind the lines. After the Great War was over with, he was in the Philippines when World War II started. And, sure enough, he's captured by the Japanese. Frank Buckles was held in a prisoner-of- war camp by the Japanese for 3\1/2\ years, and he was finally released when rescued by Americans who liberated the Philippines.

After the war, he moved to West Virginia and he worked on the farm until he was 106 driving the tractor. Frank Buckles, the last surviving doughboy, lived half of our Nation's history. So, today, we have an opportunity to remember Frank Buckles, these doughboys, other doughboys, and all those great Americans who fought for America 100 years ago.

The bill establishes a commission to commemorate the centennial of World War I. The commission will plan programs and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that Great War. Time is short. The centennial for the start of World War I is in 2014, and many of our allies have already started planning different events. It must be noted that no Federal funds will be spent for this commission--they have to raise their own money from private funds.

Madam Speaker, in the last century, there were four great wars where Americans participated, and we have built memorials on the Mall for all of them, except one. We built a memorial for the Vietnam veterans, the Korean veterans and the World War II veterans; but there is no memorial on the Mall for all of those doughboys that served in World War I. There is a D.C. memorial that recognizes and honors the D.C. soldiers and sailors that served in World War I, but there is no great memorial for all that served throughout the United States.

It is my hope and the intent of the original legislation that passed the House that there one day will be a national World War I memorial on the Mall.

And that's where I met Frank Buckles. He came to Washington, D.C., as the guest of many of our Senators. And it was his hope, and really it was one of his dying wishes, that we would build, that Congress would authorize the building of a memorial on the Mall for all of those that served in the great World War I. The original bill that passed this House by unanimous vote had that memorial in the bill. It went to the Senate, and now we have only the commission.

So it is my intent to reauthorize, or reoffer, that bill in our next session of Congress, and I'd encourage the commission to consider this building of a memorial on the Mall in their commemoration. There would be no better way to commemorate these brave Americans than to honor them with a memorial on the Mall.

When one of our warriors dies, Madam Speaker, for our country, they become a casualty of war; but the worst casualty of war is to be forgotten. So I hope we would build that memorial on the Mall. But now let's pass this bill to commemorate them and honor them with this commission.

Mr. Speaker, ``Can't have cookies without the milk. Tax reform and spending cuts, not one without the other.'' That was a comment on my Facebook page from Mike in Texas.

The American people get it. Why doesn't the government? Because Washington is addicted to spending somebody else's money. The House has already passed two bills that would avert the fiscal cliff, but as usual, the Senate is missing in action.

In August, we passed a bipartisan bill, an extension of current tax rates for all Americans through the end of 2013. Then, the week before Christmas, the House again passed legislation to avoid defense sequestration by cutting spending. But as usual, both bills lie in the graveyard of the Senate, where good bills go to die.

Mr. Speaker, it's time for the Senate and Senator Reid to man up, consider these bills, and get serious about the root of the problem: spending. We got here by spending too much, not taxing too little.

And that's just the way it is.

I thank the gentlewoman and appreciate her yielding me this time. I want to thank Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Member Berman, and House leadership for getting this bill to the House floor, and also Mr. Connolly from Virginia for his support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3159, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, is a simple, bipartisan bill. We have, in fact, equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats as cosponsors of this legislation.

Last year, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed this bill unanimously as an amendment to the state authorization bill. This bill does two things: it increases monitoring and evaluation of our foreign aid programs, and it also increases transparency of foreign aid.

Our foreign aid can do some good to other countries, but there are also problems with American foreign aid. Unfortunately, we do not keep track of what we're spending, and we don't ask for real results.

Since the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, foreign aid programs have spread across 12 departments, 25 agencies, and almost 60 Federal offices. There are so many Federal Government programs that they often don't know what each other is doing, and many Federal Government programs don't even keep track of what they're doing.

According to an independent study commissioned by USAID in 2009, agencies don't assess the impact their aid is having on foreign countries:

Do we know if our money actually helps people?

Is our money helping people become more self-sufficient or more reliant on U.S. dollars?

And does American aid leave people better off?

We don't know the answers to these questions. This bill addresses this problem by requiring the President to set up tough monitoring and evaluation guidelines for development programs.

These guidelines will be used for monitoring and evaluation of every foreign aid development program from agriculture to AIDS to democracy promotion. Monitoring will allow us to cut programs that simply do not work.

We also need transparency. Americans don't know what we spend our aid on, and so that is why many Americans are frustrated when the word or phrase ``foreign aid'' is mentioned. We need to be honest with American taxpayers.

Until November of 2011, the United States ranked 22nd out of 31 countries when it came to transparency in foreign aid programs. That's according to the Brookings Institute and the Center for Global Development.

We should have nothing to hide when it comes to foreign aid. Let's tell the American taxpayers what they're getting for their buck. This bill requires more information about foreign aid to be posted online so Americans can know what we are doing.

We can't continue down the path of the same-old same-old regarding foreign aid. We need to restore trust with the American people. Lack of transparency and accountability invites corruption, waste, and incompetence.

The losers are those who the programs aim to help and also Americans who pay for foreign aid. Regardless of whether a Member believes we need more foreign aid, less foreign aid, or no foreign aid at all, we should all agree that accountability and transparency are an absolute must.

Mr. Speaker, it's a privilege to speak today about Operation American Heroes, an organization founded in 2009 by Vietnam War Veteran and Houston businessman, John Carloss. Mr. Carloss recognized gaps in government support programs and has been working endless hours to create Operation American Heroes.

Mr. Carloss knows American heroes consist of more than just our warriors fighting overseas. Police officers, firefighters, border patrol agents, and first responders are just a few of the occupations fighting the front lines at home. They all sacrifice to make sure Americans are safe. As Mr. Carloss likes to say, we can give a little for those who have given much and have suffered difficulties and deserve our support overcoming obstacles they may be facing due to their service.

Operation American Heroes provides immediate and long term funding for non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those who have sacrificed so much to ensure we are safe. Their unpaid Board of Directors works with local businesses to raise these funds. They are proud to cover expenses so one hundred percent of all funds raised go towards immediately helping heroes, or to the foundations endowment which will support many future generations of heroes.

Every year American Heroes are honored during the week of September 11th by Operation American Heroes. Individuals can show their support in a unique way by becoming a ``21 Gun Saluter'' and business owners are encouraged to donate a small percentage of their sales for the week. Mr. Carloss said, ``These brave men and women are the reason that we have the freedom to start, grow and prosper our businesses. It is only right that every business gives a small portion of their success in thanks.''

This organization proves, yet again that, in Texas, patriotism is alive and well. Texans honor not only our fallen heroes, but those who have survived.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, service to God and country are the most honorable accomplishments and contributions that a person can make in life. Those who choose the path are the few, the bold, the brave, and the courageous. Today I am proud to honor decorated soldier, successful business owner, and devoted family man Lamont Meaux for his work on behalf of his country and his community.

Lamont Edward Meaux has known the cost of service to one's country since the day he was born. On September 2, 1945, his father Clifton Meaux, who was serving his country in the United States Navy at the end of the Second World War, received a telegraph with 6 simple words that would change his life forever: ``Son born, Mom and baby ok.'' This sense of purpose and sacrifice would go on to define Lamont's life.

As a young child, Lamont's family moved from Beaumont, TX, to the Winnie-Stowell area of South East Texas. Farming is the main economic activity in the area, and Lamont would learn at an early age that he possessed quite the green thumb. Before the age of 10, he was growing and selling tomatoes for 17 cents a pound. He is still happy to share his secrets with anyone who will listen. Lamont would also spend time working in the abundant oil fields across Southeast Texas before graduating from East Chambers High School in Winnie, Texas.

His success growing tomatoes made Lamont a natural fit for Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets Company C-2, whose motto ``Our family is our strength'' is very appropriate. As a proud Aggie, Lamont would drive his ``Old Blue'' car to as many football games as possible, both home and away. He would earn his BS in Industrial Distribution in 1968 and a week later married JoRella White.

Upon graduation, the United States was entrenched in the Vietnam War. Knowing that he would be called to duty, Lamont did all he could to protect his family while he was gone. He worked for a few months at an engineering firm in Dallas and even sold his Texas A&M Senior Boots. Senior Boots are the most prized possession of any Aggie. In May of 1968, as a member of the United States Army, he left for Fort Benning in Georgia for Officer's Infantry School. The next year he took off to Panama to train at the Jungle Operations Training Center to prepare him for conditions unlike anything he could see in Southeast Texas. His grandsons love to hear how he was taught worms and bugs and jungle survival.

Lamont was then ready for deployment as 1st Lieutenant of the United States Army's 199th Light Infantry Brigade. While he was being transported to his assignment in Vietnam, Lamont was asked if he knew the average life span of an Infantry Lieutenant in ``The Country.'' He was shocked to hear ``27 seconds'' but continued on, determined to serve his country to the best of his ability Lt. Meaux fought in the hot steamy jungles of Vietnam against America's enemy. He doesn't talk much about what he saw. He does remind those at home that a lot of good men served with him. Some returned. Some returned with wounds of war. Some did not return. According to a man who served under him, Lamont ``was a good soldier's officer who cared and felt for his men, but still served his country as an officer and a gentleman.'' He was known as a leader who would do anything to protect his men.

When Lt. Meaux returned to America he, like most Vietnam veterans, was treated badly by Americans who did not serve America. In February of 1970, Lamont would be discharged from the United States Army with numerous honors. He was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, and two Over Seas Bars. When asked why he did not put in for the Purple Heart, Lamont responded that there were others he sent out in the jungle that came back with more serious injuries. One souvenir he was proud to bring home was a telegram with the same 6 words that his father brought back: ``Son born, Mom and baby ok.'' They would have 3 sons before the marriage ended in 1994. Those sons were Edward, Terrell, and David. Lamont would remain a member of the Army Reserves through 1974.

The heroic service Lamont made during his time in the Vietnam War lined him up for a promotion to Captain, but his heart belonged to his family back in Southeast Texas. He returned home and took up what was natural to him--farming. For the next 25 years, he would farm rice, wheat, soy beans, and milo, at one time up to 3,000 acres. Mr. Speaker, I probably represent more rice farmers than any other member in Texas. Let me tell you, rice farming is hard intense working of the land.

Lamont Meaux's ingenuity was not confined to the battlefield or the farm. In 1976, Lamont saw the need for some corrugated metal drainage pipes on the farm. Thinking big, he ordered a train load, used what he needed and sold the rest to the other farmers in the area. This is the beginning of Seabreeze Culvert, Inc. Lamont would eventually start designing his own drainage control structures, turning Seabreeze from a simple agricultural dealer to a respected creative solution provider for industrial, environmental, commercial, and municipal areas. He would go on to create Seebreeze Chemical, Inc., to provide cheaper products for the local farmers as well as raising chickens as Seabreeze Farm.

Lamont is a vital part of the community as well. He is a member of the Winnie Chamber of Commerce, Society of Professional Engineers, Texas Farm Bureau, and Corps of Cadets Association at Texas A&M. Meaux is Master Chairman for the Beaumont A&M Club, board member of the East Chambers Agricultural Historical Society, and committee member of the Regional Advisory Council of the General Land Office. Lamont is a past member of the American Rice Growers Association, American Soybean Association, and American Rice Growers Exchange.

A lifelong interest in politics paid off for Lamont in a much unexpected way. In 1997, Hazel, a staffer working on Kay Bailey Hutchison's U.S. Senate campaign, heard about a former Aggie much like herself that was very politically minded. They met at a Beaumont A&M Club meeting in 1997 and hit

it off instantly. They bonded over the Aggies, and whiskey, and politics, and the rest, as they say, is Texas history. Hazel gave Lamont the birthday present of a lifetime when they married on September 2, 1999.

Lamont Meaux has dedicated his life to serving his country and his community, and they are both better places because of him. Lamont Meaux is as Texan as they come. He is vocal, opinionated, and a hard core patriot that never forgets honor, duty, country. I am honored and privileged to call Lamont Meaux a close friend. Thank you Lamont Meaux for serving our nation and the great State of Texas.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, since the United States of America entered the War on Terror, many things have changed with what our troops encounter overseas. Our soldiers are not only fighting a war where guerrilla tactics, suicide bombings, and targeted killings are used, but they are fighting over values and morals versus territory. This war has not been in one specific country, but takes place wherever our enemies are attacking or hiding.

A lot has changed in this modern day war, but thankfully a lot has changed with how we help our troops when they return home. 2.4 million Americans have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan and the Department of Veterans Affairs have diagnosed roughly 200,000 of those Americans with post-traumatic stress disorder with many more that have gone undiagnosed. Many of these men have come home and are still fighting internal demons from these perilous places that they have returned from.

Thankfully, Harris County Texas District Judge, Marc Carter, an Army veteran himself noticed that many of the defendants coming through the Harris County courts were veterans who had recently come home from fighting oversees. Judge Carter is judge of the 228th Criminal District Court of Texas. He replaced me after I served as judge in that court for 22 years.

Judge Carter and other members of the Harris County community recognized this problem in 2009 and took the initiative to create the first veteran's court in the state of Texas. The Harris County Veteran's Court Program specifically works with first time misdemeanors and felonies. If veterans choose to go through the program instead of going to prison, it requires two years of probation and treatment.

The reason why the Veteran's Court Program is so successful is because it addresses the root of the problem, which is PTSD and drug abuse. Many of these veterans are still mentally oversees fighting for ours and their lives and these programs give them the help they need to readjust back into society. Since 2008 veteran's treatment courts have been created in 27 States.

These men have been to the darkest places on earth to protect the American people and although there is a lot we owe our veterans, most importantly, we owe them a second chance.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Next week, Americans throughout the fruited plain will come together and pause from the bustle of their everyday lives to celebrate Christmas with the ones they love. To Christians, Christmas is the day to honor the birth of Jesus. The word ``Christmas'' actually comes from the words ``Cristes Maesse,'' which literally translates to Christ's Mass. The word ``holiday'' derives its meaning from the words ``Holy Day''. It also means Grandma's apple pie, Christmas carols, wreaths, cookies, Santa, presents, ornate Christmas trees and other rich traditions that symbolize December 25th.

In the midst of the holiday cheer, we should never forget that some families will have an empty chair at their Christmas dinner this year. For some homes, the empty chair represents a loved one who is serving overseas. For others, the chair is a somber reminder of the warrior who served but never returned. As you celebrate the season within the warmth of your home, think of the families without a full house and the sacrifices they make not just at Christmas time but the other 364 days of the year as well. These families bear the burdens of war, and these burdens weigh heaviest during this time of year.

War at Christmas is not new, and this year will be no exception for those who are still on call serving America. But there is a special way to connect with our troops throughout the world. Each year in Southeast Texas, children and businesses in the community come together and volunteer to make handmade cards for our troops who won't be home for Christmas. It began when my office gathered dozens of cards for me to bring in my suitcase to visit NATO troops overseas. Then we teamed up with Operation Interdependence and the Red Cross to collect 6,000 cards. And every year since it has grown. This year a record-shattering 69,000 handmade cards from the community are on their way overseas. The cards come from all walks of life in the community from the third grader to the local business employee. Each card is different but their message is the same: Thank you. Texans are especially grateful during this time of year for that soldier, that warrior, that sailor, that airman who can't be with their families because they're representing the United States in lands far, far away. There is something about a warrior from the United States opening up a handmade Christmas card from some kid in the United States. At that moment, the darkness of war seems to disappear because of the brightness of a child.

No matter what is going on in the rest of the world, the Christmas spirit of good will and generosity is alive and well in America. Random acts of kindness are seen throughout the nation whether it is a handmade holiday card, a charitable donation to a stranger to ensure that families get to eat a Christmas dinner or a toy drive for children who may not otherwise get to experience the joy of giving and receiving. Christmas really does bring out the best in America.

So next week pause. Eat Grandma's cookies, sing Christmas carols, open presents and enjoy your loved ones. Think of those who have an empty seat at the table this year because their husband, wife, son, daughter, mother or father is serving our country in lands far far away. And don't forget the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus that occurred over 2,000 years ago. Wish your neighbor a Merry Christmas, and be thankful that you live in a nation where you can.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, 27-year-old Marine Corps veteran Jon Hammar honorably served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he was on Active Duty, Hammar's battalion was hit very hard in Fallujah, and 13 of his fellow Marines were killed in action.

When he came home to America, he suffered from PTSD, as many of our warriors do. He spent time in a recovery facility in California to cope with the mental wounds of war.

Then, in August, Jon decided to get some R&R. He wanted to go to Costa Rica with a fellow marine, Ian McDonough, and they wanted to go on a surfing trip. According to McDonough, surfing gave Jon peace of mind and really helped with his therapy.

So the two packed up their car with their surfboards and began their journey from Florida to Costa Rica. Their trip took them through Texas to the border, in Brownsville, Texas. There they crossed the international border into Matamoros, Mexico, and that is as far as they got.

On the trip, Jon carried with him a 100-year-old antique gun, a family heirloom that belonged to his grandfather. When they arrived at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Texas, Jon did what he was supposed to do; he filled out all the necessary paperwork. He talked to U.S. Customs and verified with them that the rifle did not violate any Mexican law.

The two allegedly handed the Mexican officials the paperwork regarding the rifle. But instead of continuing on their way to Costa Rica to go surfing, Hammar was immediately detained and dragged away to a notorious prison in Matamoros where they house narcoterrorists.

Now, Mr. Speaker, here's a photograph of our marine when he served America. This is a photograph of him recently taken in the Matamoros prison. As you notice, he is in solitary confinement, and, similar to the old days, chained to his bed where he cannot go anywhere. This is all because of a misunderstanding and a mix-up about what the law is and what should have happened to him at the border.

So he's being held as a criminal because the size of the barrel on that rifle was, apparently, too long--even though U.S. Customs told Hammar he was not violating any American or Mexican law in having the rifle. Hammar had no criminal intent when he took that old rifle into Mexico.

Jon Hammar should not have to spend another holiday away from his family--holidays he spent when he served as a marine--and certainly he shouldn't spend a holiday away from his family in a Mexican jail where he is illegally being detained. Obviously, there appears to be a misunderstanding between U.S. and Mexican officials, with Hammar literally caught in the middle of this. So Mexican President Enrique Nieto should intervene and have Hammar released. It is in the power of the Mexican President to solve this international incident and do so in a diplomatic way. So I ask that he do so and release Hammar by Christmas.

Mr. Speaker, this marine and veteran has spent his life defending freedom, defending America, taking care of America. It's time that America take care of him by asking for and expecting his release from this Mexican prison where he ought not to be.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the United States State Department has haughtily told Israel not to build homes in East Jerusalem. It might upset the Palestinians, sayeth the State Department. It might even hurt their feelings.

The United States has no business telling Israel or any other country where they can or cannot build homes in their own country. Israel doesn't need a construction permit from Washington to build a house on their own land. What would we think if some country told us we couldn't build homes in certain parts of our Nation? We would tell that country, in probably not very polite language, ``Mind your own business.''

The United States is once again meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. This is the arrogance of power. In the meantime, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is going ahead with the housing project without the United States building permit. And good for him.

And that's just the way it is.