Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, when I meet with small business owners back in southeast Texas, the one thing they always tell me is that they are not comfortable with expanding their businesses or hiring new employees because of the Federal regulators. ``We just don't know what the Federal Government is going to do next,'' is what I often hear. And considering that the code of Federal regulations is currently over 150,000 pages long, no wonder they are saying that they cannot plan for the future.

Mr. Chairman, do we really need more than 150,000 pages of regulations to be imposed across the fruited plain? Good thing the regulators weren't around to draw up regulations on the Ten Commandments. No telling what that would look like.

Anyway, a recent Gallup Poll found regulation and red tape is the most important problem currently facing business owners. That's right, not the economy but red tape. Why are we allowing the regulators to administratively pass many unnecessary rules that destroy this economic system?

Unnecessary regulations hurt all American businesses, but hurt the small businesses the most. It's not easy for a mom-and-pop shop to hire a legal department to navigate through the ever-growing list of Federal regulations that may be applicable to their small business. In fact, on average, small businesses spend 36 percent more per employee per year complying with Federal regulations than large businesses do.

This legislation will help the problem by requiring that Federal agencies just analyze the impact of a new regulation on small businesses before adopting the regulation. Once a mom and pop shop goes out of business, there's often no going back.

Regulators and elitist bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., do not always know what is best for people who own a small business. Many of these regulators have never owned a small business or even understand capitalism. They have never signed the front of a paycheck. But yet they make rules. Congress needs to ensure that we do not over-regulate America to death and self-destruct our economic system.

Mr. Speaker, this week Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani said that there will be no more ``business as usual'' with the United States. I couldn't agree more. The United States should not be doing business as usual with our unfaithful ally Pakistan. Since 2002, we have given Pakistan over $14 billion in so-called security-related aid and over $6 billion in economic-related aid. The American people have not gotten their money's worth.

Pakistan seems to be the Benedict Arnold nation in the list of countries that we call allies. They have proven to be deceptive, deceitful, and a danger to the United States. Here's some of the evidence.

In May of this year, Navy SEALS discovered Osama bin Laden living the high life in an Abbottabad mansion right in the backyard of the Pakistani military community, but Pakistan claimed they had no knowledge of the world's most-wanted terrorist that was living right under their noses. This is questionable at best. Mr. Speaker, that dog just won't hunt.

Since then, the more we learn about Pakistan, the worse it gets. Shortly after that raid, Pakistan also arrested CIA informants in Pakistan that led the United States to capture or take out Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan has tried also to cheat the United States by filing bogus reimbursement claims for allegedly going after militants; 40 percent of these claims have been rejected by our government.

There is more. Pakistan tipped off terrorists making IEDs, not once, but twice, in June 2011, after we gave them intel on the bomb-making factory location and asked Pakistan to go after them.

CIA Director Leon Panetta asserted that Pakistan had not done enough to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, saying there is ``total mistrust'' between the United States and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan is chumming up to the Chinese. It sounds to me like Pakistan is playing both sides in the war on terror.

This so-called ally takes billions of dollars in U.S. aid while, at the same time, supporting the militants who attack us. According to Admiral Mike Mullen, the Pakistani Government supported the groups who were behind the September 11 truck bombing attack in eastern Afghanistan that wounded more than 70 U.S. and NATO troops.

Based on this evidence, I have introduced legislation to freeze all U.S.A. aid to Pakistan with the exception of funds that are designated to help secure their nuclear facilities. By sending aid to Pakistan, we are funding the enemy, endangering Americans, and undermining our efforts in the whole region.

In the past week, relations between American and Pakistani officials have even further deteriorated. Saturday, NATO and Afghan forces near the border of northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan reportedly came under attack from Pakistani fire and responded in self-defense. Twenty-four Pakistani soldiers were killed. But Pakistan says it was NATO who fired the first shot. Of course we cannot believe what Pakistan says. They will lie when the truth is obvious. But the facts will eventually come out as to what really happened in this episode.

Hatred for America is still at an all-time high in Pakistan. This week on TV, Americans have seen Pakistanis burning American flags and cursing our Nation. And just today in Politico, we have this lovely photograph of Pakistani women proclaiming ``Down with U.S.A.''

Pakistan leaders are continuing to vilify the United States on the one hand and, on the other hand, take our money. Most importantly, crucial NATO supply routes have been cut off by Pakistan, stopping supplies from getting to our troops in Afghanistan. Monday, 300 trucks full of supplies were turned away at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan has cut off the supply routes to our troops; now it's time we cut off the money to Pakistan.

Pakistan has made it painfully obvious that they will continue their policy of dangerous, dishonest deceit by pretending to be our ally in the war on terror while simultaneously giving a wink and a nod to extremism. By continuing to provide aid to Pakistan, we are funding the enemy, endangering Americans, and undermining our efforts.

Seven in 10 Americans believe we need to stop or decrease foreign aid to Pakistan. After all, it is their money. We should stop foreign aid to Pakistan until we know whose side they're on. We don't need to pay them to hate us; they'll do it for free, Mr. Speaker. Maybe we shouldn't pay them at all.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, in 1 month, every home in America must be lit with the special $3, CFL government-approved lightbulb. The 75-cent incandescent lightbulb, Thomas Edison's greatest invention, is going to be banned by the Federal Government. The Federal Government's anti-consumer choice law leaves Americans no other option but to purchase and use a harmful mercury-filled product.

Also, this new ban is an American job killer. The government's new ban ended a manufacturing industry that went back to the days of Thomas Edison and instead shipped most of those jobs overseas, primarily to China. Isn't that lovely. Where does the Federal Government have the constitutional authority to force anybody to buy anything, from health care insurance to a box of doughnuts or even a lightbulb?

It's time for the bureaucrats to quit forcibly micromanaging America. Let Americans choose how to light their own homes. Otherwise, we will have to turn out the lights. The party is over--even for Thomas Edison's lightbulb.

And that's just the way it is.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Gabe Zimmerman, I didn't know him, but I know many people that are just like him. They are called the congressional staffers.

Gabe Zimmerman dedicated his life to public service, and he died dedicating his life to public service. He died from an assassin's bullet in January of this year hosting a Congress on Your Corner event for Gabby Giffords, which he organized.

There are many men and women just like Gabe Zimmerman who come to work every day and work in Congress. These staffers work very long hours, sometimes late into the night. They work weekends, they deal with people from our districts, and sometimes they get little or no appreciation for their hard work.

Congresswoman Giffords is blessed to have a wonderful staff. I had the pleasure to be with her legislative director, Peter Ambler, and her director of operations, Jennifer Cox, when they hosted me at the Arizona border so I could talk to ranchers in Arizona; and this occurred after Gabby was shot and wounded.

I was impressed with these staffers and their work and keeping up the mission of our fellow Member of Congress, Gabby Giffords, as she was recovering from her wounds. The energy and drive of these bright Americans represent really all that is good about our country. So on this day, it is good that Members of Congress remember and give thanks for Gabe Zimmerman, his colleagues in Representative Giffords' office, for Representative Gabby Giffords, and for all the men and women who allow this great body to continue to be the people's House.

Mr. Speaker, those who say that the border is secure and the violence is contained in Mexico are living in a blissful state of ignorance. Case in point: Last week, according to the Houston Chronicle, three SUVs carrying Mexican Zeta cartel soldiers tried to hijack a tractor truck rig loaded with drugs on a road in north Houston. They unleashed blazing gunfire. A shootout occurred with police who were tracking the truck from Mexico. The truck driver was killed and a peace officer was wounded. Three Mexican nationals and another of unknown citizenship were charged with capital murder.

The local head of the DEA, Javier Pena, said, ``we are not going to tolerate these thugs using their weapons like the Wild Wild West.'' Sadly, this brazen case of violence is a familiar scene on the streets of Mexico. And now it has become a reality in the United States.

Until Washington realizes what happens in Mexico doesn't stay in Mexico, more cartel shoot-outs on American streets are coming our way.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, China should not dictate what America can or cannot do. But, when it comes to our Taiwan policy, it seems we kowtow to the wannabe empire of the East. China has over 1,400 missiles pointed at Taiwan, and military experts agree that Taiwan is losing its ability to even slow China

down if it chooses to attack. Yet China tells the U.S. ``don't sell F- 16s to Taiwan'' and so we don't.

On September 21st, the Administration officially notified Congress of its decision to only offer Taiwan an upgrade of existing F-16A/Bs, rather than sell 66 new F-16 C/Ds as the Government in Taipei had requested. The C/D aircraft would've gone to replace the 30-year-old F- 5s. Now, the Ft. Worth, Texas production line may close because of lack of new orders. This should not be an issue. Our good friends, the Taiwanese, want to buy them.

The U.S. needs to boost its economy and prevent Chinese aggression. This sale would've been good for everybody. Everybody, that is, except China. America has to do what is in our best interest. And, it is not in our best interest to give in to a brutal, communist regime while forsaking our democratic ally. I fully support selling modern aircraft to Taiwan.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, this week marked the passage of an important milestone in American history. But don't just break out the confetti and the fireworks so quickly.

According to the Treasury Department, our national debt just passed $15 trillion for the first time in history. Mr. Speaker, here is what $15 trillion looks like. That seems like a lot of money to me. That totals over $48,000 for every man, woman, and child across the fruited plain.

Now, how did we get here? Through unchecked, excessive spending by the Federal Government.

This addiction to spending somebody else's money has got to stop. We must be bold and cut unnecessary spending. Tough times call for tough actions, and we must even do more.

Congress must pass the balanced budget amendment. Force the government to balance its books just like Americans are supposed to do. We keep digging ourselves into the dark abyss of debt. Maybe we should quit digging before we reach Greece or the bottomless pit of bankruptcy.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, T is for Tenacious.

Withelma ``T'' Ortiz-Macey who was recently awarded a Woman of the Year award by Glamour Magazine exemplifies tenacity.

T is a survivor of domestic minor sex trafficking, but she does not let her past trauma get in the way of her advocacy for other victims of this horrendous crime.

She shares her story with Members of Congress, advocates, the public, and other victims in order to put an end to this dastardly deed so that no one else ever has to go through the violence and trauma she endured.

T's life has not been easy.

She was abused as a child and when she met someone who she thought would love and care for her, she was made into a sex slave, her innocence crushed.

Domestic minor sex trafficking is a hidden crime, one that many do not realize occurs in communities all over our country.

Young girls are sold on the street and on the Internet for profit.

And to make matters worse, these girls are usually treated as criminals, when in reality they are victims.

These girls need specialized treatment, not to be thrown in a jail cell.

And T is working to change this.

T is an incredible young woman, and I commend her for her great work and congratulate her on her recent award.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, halfway around the world, in the desert of the sun and the valley of the gun, the American warrior stands fighting the forces of the enemy.

But one such soldier returns from battle to America with a flag- draped coffin. He is Cody Norris, Army private first class, a machine gunner in the infantry, just 20 years old, barely an adult, but still an all-American man.

For the Norris family in La Porte, Texas, Cody was a son and a little brother. He died in a gun battle last week in Afghanistan for our country. He was the 38th warrior in my area of Texas to give his life for his country.

Cody grew up in La Porte. He graduated from La Porte High School just last year, but he quickly volunteered for the United States Army in October.

In high school, Cody loved to restore old military trucks. He restored a 1952 Dodge M-37 Army truck and drove it to school. He was a member of the Junior ROTC Color Guard at La Porte High School. But this year, his former classmates and peers in the Color Guard honored his life.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, before deploying to Afghanistan. It was his first deployment in Afghanistan.

October 1 marked his 1-year anniversary in the United States Army. Cody was killed in Kandahar province last week on November 9 when the enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

Kandahar province in Afghanistan has been called the birthplace and fanatical home of the notorious Taliban. It is a dangerous part of the world. I've been to Afghanistan several times, and the sun is unbearable in the summer and the cold is brutally piercing in the winter. And our soldiers fight on, undeterred, tenaciously focused.

They go to battle in a land seemingly cursed by God. Our military in Afghanistan go where others fear to tread and the timid are not found.

When I spoke to Cody's mother, Teresa Denise Norris, she told me Cody marched to the beat of his own drum. He didn't care what others thought of him; he did what he thought was right.

She said Cody was proud to be a solider and that their family believes in the red, white and blue; and they all love this country. That pride is carried through in Cody's older brother, Michael Norris. He's a cadet in his last year at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The Norris family is a soldier's family. Cody's Facebook page is filled with heartfelt messages from his friends, classmates, and fellow soldiers. It is evident how much he made people laugh in his very young life.

Cody wrote on his Facebook in the ``About Me'' section, ``I'm in the Army and I am an infantryman. I love what I do as my job and my dream in life, and no one can take that away from me. I am trained by the best, and I will be the best I can. Wanna do all I can for the ones I love and my country--to keep us all free, even if it means death, so that every American can live their dreams out as well.''

Cody loved what he did. He loved his country. He was selfless, and he was an American patriot.

For his service in the United States Army, Cody has been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, and the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantry Medal.

Cody Norris was a part of the rare breed, the American breed-- soldiers who take care of the rest of us and watch for the evildoers who would bring us harm. They prove their commitment to America by giving their lives for this Nation.

General George Patton said of the fallen soldiers, ``Let us not only mourn for the men who have died fighting, but let us be grateful to God that such men ever lived.''

Mr. Speaker, we are grateful to Private First Class Cody Norris and that he lived. He was a Texan, a soldier, an American Warrior.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, in the vast, wide open, rugged, desolate

hinterland, southern border regions between the safer legal ports of entry, the cartels smuggle people and drugs into the United States. State and local officials do what they can to help the Feds protect these areas, but they are simply outmanned and out-equipped.

Madam Speaker, the Border Patrol needs help from local officials. Millions of pieces of equipment will soon return from Iraq. This includes UAVs that could be used as eyes in the sky for the border defenders. This equipment could fill in the massive gaps in surveillance of remote areas of the border.

I've introduced the SEND Act that would send UAVs, HUMVEES, and night surveillance equipment to our border governments. Washington could partner with border States to protect America. Sending surplus military equipment to the southern border will give Americans a return on their investment by enhancing our national security.

The American people have invested billions of dollars in equipment used to secure Iraq. Now it's time to use this same equipment to secure the United States.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the folks I represent down in southeast Texas are concerned about many things; but two things they are concerned about probably the most are jobs and energy, because, you see, in southeast Texas, that's still the energy capital of the United States. I probably represent more refineries than any Member of Congress.

There is an answer to jobs and energy, and it's called the Trans- Canada pipeline, commonly called the Keystone XL pipeline.

The plan is for our allies in Canada to ship crude oil from Alberta, Canada, through a pipeline all the way from Alberta, Canada, down to Port Arthur, Texas. Most Americans have never heard of Port Arthur, Texas, but it sits on the gulf coast, really close to the Louisiana- Texas border. It is part of that energy development going all the way back to Spindletop days in 1901--the energy capital of the world. The plan has been, for several years, to ship that crude oil down to American refineries and have them refine.

That decision, or that request to get a permit, started about 3 years ago, and no decision has been reached yet on whether to build it or not to build it. The latest development is that the administration has decided: Still, we'll not make a decision until 2013, after the elections.

That's unfortunate because these are times when we need American jobs, and this pipeline would create American jobs in America-- thousands of American jobs--and then there is related industry all up and down the area where the pipeline will be built to Port Arthur, Texas. Then it will give us crude oil, energy that we can use from a stable ally. Instead of having to ship oil in from all over the world-- from the Middle East primarily--we will have a stable ally where we can bring crude oil into the United States.

About how much oil are we talking about?

Well, it's about 700,000 barrels a day. That's just a number--most people can't relate to that. I really can't--but that's about as much crude oil as we buy from Venezuela and bring into the United States. When the pipeline is fully completed, it will be 1,200,000 barrels a day. Now, that's a real number. How much is that? That's about as much oil as we bring in from Saudi Arabia; yet we could bring that in from Canada to our refineries in southeast Texas.

Pipelines are the safest way to move crude oil--the safest way, Mr. Speaker. It's safer than rail; it's certainly safer than trucks; it's safer than bringing it in on ships from overseas; and it's safer than barges, because pipelines have a history of being the most environmentally safe, as they should be safe. In fact, the new pipelines that are developed are taking newer technology. They put a machine in the pipeline--it's called a pig machine--which goes through the pipeline with the crude oil and looks for dense or even small leaks which would automatically shut the pipeline down. Nobody wants a leak in a pipeline--the people who build it or the people who live in that area--but the administration has decided, primarily the State Department has decided, not to make a decision until 2013.

The Prime Minister of Canada is very disappointed that the United States will not be a partner in this crude oil development. But there is a country that will take that Canadian crude oil, and it's China. So we may not see the pipeline built from Alberta to Port Arthur, Texas; but we may see that pipeline built from Alberta to their west coast where they could pipe that crude oil off to their west coast and sell it and put it on tankers going to our buddies, the Chinese, who are eager to take that crude oil.

Recently, however, there was a development that the pipeline folks, the TransCanada people who want to build a pipeline, have started to work with the legislature in Nebraska. Nebraska is primarily the holdup where the environmentalists have gone and said they can't build a pipeline here for a bunch of reasons. The new plan is to build that pipeline to the east, the northeast of Nebraska. Hopefully they will work out something. Unfortunately, the State Department said last night or this morning, Well, nothing has changed. So it seems like delay, delay, delay is still the answer.

We need to get crude oil to our refineries someway. What is the answer? What is the answer for those who say that they don't want a pipeline? There is no answer. And until we get to that green energy that we all want to get to eventually, we have to get that crude oil and have it refined not only into gasoline and jet fuel but into the byproducts, plastics that we all use. And the answer, Mr. Speaker, I think is, we need to pick a horse and ride it, sign up, and build that pipeline immediately.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, the troops in Iraq will be home by Christmas. Also coming back to America is a large amount of military equipment. Why not send some of that taxpayer-funded equipment to secure our southern border? Our border sheriffs say they are outmanned, outgunned, and out-financed by the drug cartels.

Today, I've introduced legislation which mandates that 10 percent of certain military equipment coming back from Iraq will go to our southern border. If there's an urgent need, the equipment could be kept by the Department of Defense. This equipment includes Humvees, night- vision equipment, and surveillance UAVs.

This is not a new idea. The Department of Defense already has a program for distribution of surplus equipment. My legislation will simply utilize this already-existing program, expand it, and allocate resources to our southern border.

Americans have paid for this equipment to bring safety and security to the people of Iraq. It's time we use this equipment to protect our own citizens from the invasion of the drug cartels.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, during the hot days of last summer, the Veterans of Foreign Wars went to battle with the Veterans Administration. The VFW claimed the VA was censoring free speech and preventing the free exercise of religion at the National Cemetery in Houston. The VFW says the chapel at the cemetery was closed. The Bible, the cross, the Star of David were removed, and the chapel became a storage shed. VFW members also said the director of the cemetery censored prayers and prohibited the religious ceremony during burial of veterans.

The VFW sued the VA, and the VA naturally denied the whole thing. Recently, a Federal judge approved and agreed to an order requiring the chapel to be reopened, the Bible, the cross, the Star of David to be returned, and said that the VA must not interfere with free speech or the free exercise of religion at burials.

Madam Speaker, it is ironic that Americans have gone to war, fought for the principles of the Constitution; then when they come home, they face government hostility and the denial of First Amendment rights to the citizens when these veterans are buried in VA cemeteries. Now the veterans have won a battle against a government that wanted to deny them the American freedoms they fought for in lands far, far away.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach Veterans Day, the day we honor those who served and came back home, I want to talk about a very special veteran.

Frank Buckles, Jr., when he was 16 years of age--some say 15--during the beginning of the great World War I, wanted to join the military and go overseas. Remember they sang that song, those doughboys, when they went overseas, George Cohan's song ``Over There.'' And they wouldn't come back until it was over ``over there.''

The war started. He tried to join the Marines; they wouldn't take him because he was not 18. He tried different recruiters. He finally found an Army recruiter. He says he just told the recruiter a whopper--that he was 21. The recruiter took him, swore him in; and the fastest way he could get to Europe and get into action was to drive an ambulance. This is a photograph of Frank Buckles, Jr., when he served in the great World War I.

After that war was over with, he came back home, although 116,000 Americans did not come back home. Four million of them served in World War I. Frank Buckles, Jr., joined up as a seaman on a merchant ship. He was in the Philippines when World War II started, and he was captured by the Japanese and held in a prisoner of war camp for 3\1/2\ years. He was rescued, came back home to America, went to his farm in West Virginia, and he worked on the farm until he was 109 years old.

Frank Buckles, Jr., died this year at the age of 110. He was the last surviving doughboy from America that served in the great World War I. This is a photograph taken shortly before his death this year.

Frank Buckles, Jr., the loan survivor of World War I, a veteran of that great war, came back home. And his wish before he died, Mr. Speaker, was that we would have a permanent memorial for all who served in World War I on the Mall. You see, we have a memorial for Vietnam veterans, we have a memorial for the Korean veterans, the World War II veterans. There is a small memorial for the D.C. troops that served in World War I, but there's no memorial on the Mall for all of the doughboys like Frank Buckles, Jr., that served. And they have all died, Mr. Speaker. And it's our job, it's important for us to have that memorial for them, to allow it to be constructed.

There is one memorial in Kansas City for the World War I doughboys, but we need one here also on the Mall. And it's important that we honor these great Americans because they are the veterans that we honor, that we appreciate, and that we should not forget, although all of them, including the loan survivor, Frank Buckles, Jr., has died. So I hope this House will join me and the gentleman from Missouri, Emanuel Cleaver, in passing legislation to authorize this memorial for those World War I doughboys.

Veterans Day is approaching. We are approaching the 100th anniversary of the great World War I. We should remember them, and we can do this by erecting and allowing a memorial to be constructed on the Mall. The veterans are the greatest that we have. We should remember every one of them, those that served and came home, those that served and did not come home, and those that are serving and representing us today.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, as we near Veterans Day, I want to pay a special tribute to my friend First Sergeant David McNerney. Here is a photograph of him, here to my left. After high school in Houston, David volunteered and enlisted in the United States Navy. He spent two tours of duty in Korea. And after leaving the Navy in 1953, he joined the United States Army. In 1962, McNerney was one of the first 500 soldiers sent to Vietnam. During his third tour of duty in Vietnam, he was stationed near the Cambodian border. And in March of '67, he and his company were sent to recover a missing reconnaissance team.

Coming under heavy Vietnamese attack, McNerney was wounded by a grenade, and his commander was killed. Nonetheless, McNerney continued the fight, calling in close artillery fire. He destroyed an enemy machine gun, he pulled wounded to safety, he secured a landing zone for medical helicopters, and he refused to be evacuated himself. His actions stopped the enemy advance and saved his own men's lives. His valor earned First Sergeant McNerney the Congressional Medal of Honor, and it was presented to him by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Then McNerney volunteered yet again for a fourth tour of duty in Vietnam.

After serving in the Army and the Navy, McNerney returned to Crosby, Texas. And last year, my friend First Sergeant McNerney died in Texas, still a patriot. Mr. Speaker, where does America get such men as these, these warriors, this rare breed, these Americans?

And that's just the way it is.