Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a program that has provided an invaluable service to our nation's wounded veterans. The Homes For Our Troops organization is a non-partisan, non- profit 501(c)(3) group that provides specially built homes to veterans who have received debilitating injuries while fighting for our continued freedom in the ongoing military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. These homes are provided at no cost to the family receiving assistance. John Gonsalves founded this wonderful organization with the aim of providing a service for our soldiers which was much needed and even more appreciated. He has dedicated his time to this noble endeavor and his organization has proven to be of the highest standard of excellence. Homes For Our Troops has been awarded the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence. This award, bestowed upon members of the Local Independent Charities of America and the Independent Charities of America is recognition of the highest level for charity work. Fewer than 5 percent of all eligible charities are honored with this award.

Providing these homes for our injured service men and women is a team effort. Recently, ground was broken on a home for Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Keil and his wife Tracy, of Parker Colorado. Numerous organizations have teamed up with Homes For Our Troops and provided their expertise, materials and time to make this home a reality. Pulte Homes, under the guidance of Mike Meneguzzi has designed the Keil's future home. Their organization has graciously donated over $31,000 to the building effort and one of their employees, Bret Hribar, will be operating as the general contractor. Pulte has further demonstrated their dedication to worthy projects such as this by providing their employees 2 paid days of leave annually to participate in charitable projects.

With the help of other local businesses, Homes For Our Troops and Pulte Homes have performed a great service for a great American hero. Their continued dedication to the welfare of our returning veterans is a great example of patriotism which we should all strive to achieve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Taiwan's outgoing President Chen Shui-Bian and Vice-President Annette Lu.

Chen Shui-Bian and Annette Lu became Taiwan's second elected President and Vice-President in the year 2000. Perhaps more importantly, however, their election signified the first peaceful transfer of power from the Chinese Nationalist Party or Kuomintang-- which had imposed martial law and ruled Taiwan for over a half-century.

In many ways, President Chen and Vice-President Lu's rise to the highest offices in the country is, itself, the story of Taiwan.

President Chen and Vice-President Lu's paths crossed for the first time among difficult circumstances. Ms. Lu was facing sedition charges for her work on the staff of Formosa Magazine, which had been critical of the Kuomintang dictatorship. Chen Shui-Bian, a young lawyer at the time, was a member of her defense team.

Ms. Lu was ultimately convicted and spent more than five years in prison, but the sentence failed to break her will or extinguish her passion for bringing democracy to Taiwan.

Mr. Chen lost the case, but he was won over by his clients' ideals. The defendants and their lawyers subsequently became the core of the democratic opposition in Taiwan. And Mr. Chen too, would spend time in jail for his political beliefs.

But the democratic movement they helped to spark would ultimately triumph. Martial law was lifted in 1987, and by 1996 then-President Lee Teng-Hui had initiated democratic reforms that allowed for the direct election of Taiwan's President and Vice-President.

After the lifting of martial law in Taiwan, Mr. Chen became a member of the Taipei municipal council, and after the birth of multi-party

politics and the formation of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he became the capital city's first popularly elected Mayor in 1994. And in 2000, his election as President of Taiwan marked the first peaceful, democratic transfer of power in the history of either Taiwan or China.

After her release from prison, Ms. Lu was elected to Taiwan's legislature and later, Magistrate of Taoyuan County--the equivalent of a Governor here in the United States. In 2000, she was elected as Vice- President on the DPP ticket with President Chen.

In the span of two decades, Mr. Chen and Ms. Lu had gone from political prisoners to political leaders. Ms. Lu's response to a TIME Magazine reporter's question shortly before she and Mr. Chen were inaugurated in 2000 perhaps summed up this amazing transformation best:

The reporter asked, ``Fifteen years ago you were sitting in a jail cell as a political prisoner. When you take the oath of office, what thoughts will be going through your head?''

She responded, ``What I'm proud of is that the same party, the KMT, that suppressed me 20 years ago will be transferring power to me, peacefully.'' -

President Chen and Vice-President Lu spearheaded efforts to amend Taiwan's antiquated constitution to modernize Taiwan's fledgling democracy. They also conducted Taiwan's first ever citizens referendum--a milestone for democracy not just in Taiwan, but in all of Asia. Taiwan's voters rewarded the two for their diligence and commitment by re-electing them in 2004.

Under their leadership, Taiwan has deepened its democratic roots, and has become an even brighter beacon of democracy than when they first took office eight years ago. I hope that very soon, Madam Speaker, the people on the Chinese mainland will see that light, and emulate in that country what the Taiwanese have accomplished in their own.

Later this month, Mr. Ma Ying Jeou and Mr. Vincent Siew will be sworn in as Taiwan's new President and Vice President--signifying yet another peaceful transfer of power from one party to another in Taiwan.

So Madam Speaker, I rise to once again congratulate the people of Taiwan, and to recognize President Chen and Vice-President Lu for their contributions to democracy and human rights. I wish them both the best of luck as they leave office.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifice of a fallen hero and Marine from my district, First Lieutenant Matthew Ryan Vandegrift, of Littleton, Colorado. First Lieutenant Vandegrift was killed while conducting combat operations in Basra, Iraq, just four days after celebrating his 28th birthday.

First Lieutenant Vandegrift, stationed in Iraq since August 2007, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, NC. Matthew was part of a team responsible for training Iraqi security forces. Through his service, Matthew played a critical role in establishing Iraqi sovereignty by preparing Iraqi security outfits with the knowledge and expertise necessary to survive as a free and independent democracy.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, First Lieutenant Vandegrift found his home in Colorado, when his family moved while Matthew was studying international business at Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, Matthew maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average, and participated in the Midshipmen Battalion NROTC program. Following graduation, Matthew returned to Littleton, when in 2005 he courageously decided to continue the Vandegrift family tradition of serving America, by joining the United States Marine Corps.

First Lieutenant Vandegrift fought to protect and preserve the freedom and democracy that we as Americans enjoy. First Lieutenant Vandegrift exemplified what it is to be an American, and he will forever be remembered for his sacrifice and patriotism.

Madam Speaker, my most heartfelt condolences go out to Matthew's family and friends. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Dale Jieh the Congressional affairs chief at Taiwan's Embassy here in Washington.

Dale, like so many others at Taiwan's missions around the world, is among the hardest working diplomats in the world. Given Taiwan's unique position in the international community and the relentless efforts of China to shrink Taipei's diplomatic space, Taiwan's public officials face challenges that their counterparts from other countries do not, making their jobs more difficult.

Dale has been serving his country for nearly 20 years. His service has taken him to Belgium, Thailand, Chicago, and here to Washington, DC. And he will be leaving Washington soon for Taiwan's consulate in Kansas City.

Madam Speaker, I wish Dale and his family the best of luck in Kansas City.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to also welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the United States and to Washington, D.C., and congratulate him for delivering an important message on the role that faith plays in the lives of every believer.

Over the years, the Vatican has been a strong voice for religious freedom, for human rights, and was an invaluable partner in defeating Communism during the Cold War. The Catholic Church has long been a source of charity and benevolence helping some of the world's most vulnerable people in some of the world's most dangerous places.

However, as President Bush welcomes Benedict XVI to Washington this week, Americans might be surprised to know that the Pope isn't here just to minister to his flock. He's here to lobby for amnesty for illegal aliens. According to news reports, the Pope met with President Bush yesterday to add his voice to the open border lobby by encouraging the President to give the 20 to 30 million illegal aliens in this country a free pass to stay here.

Now, I'm not taking issue with the Pope's moral authority. I respect his views on the threats of Islam, the sanctity of human life. But I don't think it's in his job description to engage in American political activities.

Worse yet, the Pope chided America, insinuating that immigrants are subject to ``violence'' and prevented from leading ``dignified lives.'' Madam Speaker, I would like to know what part of our American lax immigration policy is ``violent.'' I fail to see how accepting more refugees than any other Nation while providing free health care, free education, free housing and free social service benefits to millions of illegal aliens in this country is in any way degrading to them or undignified.

I would like to remind the Pope that America has long been dedicated to the principle of the rule of law, and there is absolutely nothing inhumane about American immigration statutes or the robust but civilized enforcement of it.

But perhaps the Pontiff has made these comments with a motive more broad than simply spreading the gospel. It's no secret that the Catholic Church has been having difficulty maintaining its membership levels and a growing number of religions are competing for parishioners.

Indeed, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that the ``Catholic Church has long been losing members and as much as a third of the native-born Catholic population is diminished. Meanwhile it has gained members among foreign-born (mostly Hispanic) residents.''

Madam Speaker, it's possible and unfortunate that the Pope's immigration comments may have had as much to do with spreading the gospel as it does recruiting new members to the Church.

I regret that the Pope used some of his time with the President to engage in faith-based marketing trying to attract new parishioners instead of preaching amnesty for illegal aliens to try and enlarge the size of the global Catholic congregation. I would urge the Pope to subscribe to the wisdom of one of his cardinals, Cardinal Biffi. A few years ago, the cardinal told The Times of London, ``Countries can choose to let in whoever they want. There is no such thing as a right of invasion.''

Madam Speaker, the United States already has a legal immigration system unparalleled in its generosity. In the meantime, we assist illegal aliens, and those affected by them, by reimbursing hospitals for costly illegal emergency room hospital visits, providing free public education to illegal alien children. I would challenge the Pope to name any other country on Earth that demonstrates this kind of compassion on such a large scale.

I hope, Madam Speaker, that the American people will welcome the Pope with open hearts and open arms but that they will reject his demand to replace our efforts to achieve genuine border security with a faith- based immigration system.

Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose H.R. 5570, a bill which will again reauthorize the Religious Worker Visa. The new majority apparently thinks we need to add ``ministry'' to the list of jobs that ``Americans won't do.'' Then again, with the level of hostility the Democrats have towards religion in America, there may come a time when we do have to import religious workers. Fortunately, we aren't to that point quite yet.

Regrettably, this program is far from comical. Just last year, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service attested to the fact that this visa had been ``compromised.'' The fraud rate is ``excessively high'' according to Emilio Gonzalez, head of USCIS. In fact, a DHS fraud- prevention task force found that a whopping 33 percent of the visas in this program were granted based on fraudulent information.

Even worse, rampant fraud and abuse has characterized this program, practically since its inception in 1990. A GAO report about the program back in 1999 found that, ``As a result of . . . fraud investigations, both [the State Department and the INS] have expressed concern that some individuals and organizations that sponsor religious workers may be exploiting this category to enable unqualified aliens to enter or stay in the United States illegally.''

Madam Speaker, some might point out that this program is not very large in the scope of the total number of visas. But I would remind them that we know the amount of damage a handful of determined enemies can inflict when they are allowed to abuse our visa system.

The last thing we want to do is perpetuate a program we know is fatally flawed, and continue a policy that just might be rolling out a welcome mat for some of the most radical imams in the Middle East. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill. Let's close this giant loophole in our national security.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas L. Wyscaver for his service and leadership in the Boy Scouts of America.

Thomas has dedicated his time and his heart to the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Council serves over 55,000 youth with the assistance and mentorship of over 11,000 adult volunteers. Thomas is a standout among equals in his commitment to instill the values of service and patriotism in the young men of our nation.

Due to his outstanding and distinguished service to the Denver Area Council, Thomas is being awarded the Silver Beaver Award, a recognition given to Scouting's volunteers for their exemplary service and character. It is the organization's highest honor. Thomas has been able to support the Denver Council in all 10 counties that it serves and has helped countless young men from Cub Scouting to Venturing programs.

It is an honor for me to recognize Thomas and highlight his dedication to the youth of our nation. The Centennial State is glad to call him our own.

Madam Speaker, some in the most radical elements of the pro-illegal immigration groups advocate something called ``Reconquista,'' or that is to say, they want to have that part of the United States that was ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They want to have it voided, and either that chunk of America returned to Mexico or become a second nation. I mean, it's pretty bizarre, but that's what they push for.

Sometimes I hear some of the things said by some of the officials in San Francisco. And I would suggest that if advocates for this Reconquista would agree to take San Francisco first, I might be sympathetic to their particular point of view. Because some of the things that are done, some of the statements that are made are quite bizarre, to say the least, and would indicate a lack of willingness on the part of its citizens, or at least expressed by some of its public officials, a lack of willingness to adhere to the laws of this United States of America.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported recently that Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a new initiative advertising his city as a sanctuary for illegal aliens. According to this report, San Francisco plans to spend $83,000 to print brochures in half a dozen languages reassuring illegal aliens that they are welcome to stay and access public services. He went on to declare that, we don't care what your status is, we want you to participate in the life of our city.

It goes without saying that this is dangerous policy, and it makes no sense in a post 9/11 environment. It's also a flagrant violation of Federal law. In 1996, Congress passed and President Clinton signed immigration enforcement legislation making policies like San Francisco's that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens and potential terrorists by refusing to report them to Federal authorities, making that action illegal, as I say. But unfortunately for America, the Bush Administration doesn't seem to care.

Dozens of major cities have enacted these kinds of reckless policies, barring law enforcement personnel from cooperation with Federal immigration enforcement efforts, and with disastrous results I might add. In Denver, a sanctuary city, a police officer was shot and killed and a second officer critically wounded on Mother's Day of 2005 by an illegal alien who was later arrested. He had been stopped twice for driving without a license and had to appear in municipal court twice. In April, less than one month before the shooting, the man was in court with a Mexican driver's license, yet no one asked him about his immigration status because of Denver's sanctuary city policy. If the perpetrator had been deported in April, that police officer might still be alive.

This tragic case is just one example, and there are countless others. These policies are responsible for thousands of major crimes around our country, and could have been prevented. These irresponsible city leaders gamble not only with the safety of their own residents, but with the residents of neighboring communities and the entire United States as well.

Madam Speaker, the American people have demanded an end to these dangerous policies, and Congress has responded by passing legislation to outlaw them. So the question is, will President Bush allow this rogue mayor to put the rest of the country at risk, or will he finally live up to his oath of office and enforce the law?

Madam Speaker, on March 22, 2008, Taiwan held its fourth presidential election. Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, a Harvard-educated former Mayor of Taipei, won convincingly. Mr. Ma's victory was welcome news for friends of Taiwan, including the United States. Mr. Ma pledged that he would seek an immediate dialogue with the People's Republic of China on issues such as direct airline flights, an economic accord protecting investments, more tourist visits by mainlanders to Taiwan and a peace accord under which China would withdraw the thousands of missiles it aims at Taiwan. I hope Mr. Ma succeeds in doing business with Beijing. If the accords Mr. Ma seeks are reached, both countries will benefit and security in East Asia will be broadly enhanced.

In the meantime I am confident that Taiwan's relations with the United States will be further strengthened. Taiwan has been our friend and supportive of us throughout the years. Taiwan has supported the war against global terrorism spurred by 9/11. Taiwan has also given humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and Iraq. We need to treasure Taiwan's friendship and loyalty to the United States by lifting some of the outdated travel restrictions on senior Taiwanese officials and actively promoting an international role for Taiwan, including an observer status for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly.

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in congratulating President-elect Ma Ying-jeou and we hope he will have a chance to visit the United States Congress before his inauguration on May 20.

Madam Speaker, this year will mark the 120 year anniversary of the Twin Oaks estate in Washington, D.C. Built in 1888 by Mr. Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society, this 18-acre property was sold to the Republic of China in 1947 after having been rented to the government of Taiwan for the previous 10 years.

From 1937 through 1978, the Twin Oaks estate was the official residence of nine ROC ambassadors, who used it to host all types of functions in the interests of their government. Many agreements were discussed with the United States at this estate. However, during the winter of 1978, President Carter decided to switch diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China.

During this critical period, ROC senior diplomat Mr. H.Y. Yang stayed at Twin Oaks and negotiated with the administration and Congress to hammer out a foundation for the future of U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Minister Yang's efforts gave birth to the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act on April 10, 1979. The Act became the legal basis governing all types of relations between Taiwan and the U.S. It has enabled Taiwan to develop and prosper during the last 29 years. It also enabled the ROC government to retain the ownership of the Twin Oaks estate, which has continued to be a place for social gatherings and functions benefiting many in our nation's capital.

Madam Speaker, the Twin Oaks estate on Woodley Road is not only a historic building in downtown Washington; it is also a symbol of the long standing friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, on March 25, President Bush pardoned 15 people and granted one commutation to crimes that ranged from falsifying records, conspiracy, bank embezzlement, dealing in firearms, distributing marijuana, conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, heroin importation, selling migratory bird parts in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner, distributing more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, and a variety of other crimes.

This brings to about 157 the number of pardons and/or commutations that President Bush has distributed in his administration in his term in office. And although that number is fewer than other presidents, it in fact is reflective of something that I consider to be a serious problem, and that is this, that although the President has been compassionate or for whatever reason chosen to commute or pardon 157 people up to this point in time, he leaves two Border Patrol agents in jail today because I believe of the misbehavior of the U.S. Attorney in that particular district. And this is unconscionable.

This House actually voted last session unanimously to in fact deny funding to the Department of Justice to continue to hold Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean in the Federal prison where they have been incarcerated now for well over a year. And their terms are for 11 and 12 years. This is because they have been sentenced because of the testimony of a known drug smuggler by the name of Osvaldo Aldrete- Davila, who was given immunity from prosecution by U.S. Attorney Sutton.

The SUV that Aldrete was driving was found to contain 743 pounds of marijuana. The jury in the Ramos-Compean trial was never told of Aldrete's criminal background. They were led to believe that Aldrete was a one-time smuggler trying to make money to help a sick relative. In fact, he was a professional drug smuggler, and his history was known to the DEA and to Johnny Sutton, who was the prosecuting attorney, at the time of the trial, but this history was kept from the jury.

It has been revealed in documents since the trial that U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton deliberately delayed the arrest of Aldrete for a subsequent drug smuggling incident that occurred while Aldrete was under the grant of immunity but before the trial date. All of this information, of course, was withheld because it would have revealed Aldrete as a professional smuggler, not an innocent victim of the Border Patrol agents. This is a flagrant abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

These mistakes were compounded by asking for a mandatory 10-year sentence for Ramos and Compean for the use of a firearm in the commission of a ``crime.'' The law was never intended to apply to law officers who use their weapons in the performance of their jobs.

The key question at the trial was whether the drug smuggler Aldrete had a weapon and had pointed it at one of the Border Patrol agents. Mr. Aldrete denied having such a weapon. It was his word against the testimony of the Border Patrol agents, so the credibility of each witness was critical to the jury's evaluation of the incident, yet the jury was kept in the dark about Aldrete's other arrests and his history as a drug smuggler.

The mistakes made by Ramos and Compean in trying to apprehend Mr. Aldrete should have been handled as a violation of agency rules, the failure to write and file a report of an incident involving Aldrete, and punished by a 5-day suspension, not by criminal prosecution. For that reason alone, this conduct rises to the level of reprehensible, the conduct I believe of the U.S. Attorney in this case and of the President of the United States.

To compound the injustice in this case, it is widely known that the U.S. Attorney is a friend of the President, going back to his days as Governor. But Bush's refusal to issue a pardon or a commutation amounts to a coverup I believe of this misconduct in this trial.

Ramos and Compean have appealed their conviction to the U.S. Circuit Court and a decision on that appeal is due shortly. At the very least they deserve a new trial. President Bush has it within his power to end this injustice now by issuing a pardon or a commutation. I sincerely hope that he takes that responsibility seriously and offers this to Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean, who are languishing in prison for literally no good reason.

Madam Speaker, an article came across my desk earlier today which I believe needs and deserves the attention of this House. It is titled, ``2 Michelles, 2 Americas & Shame v. Pride.'' It was written by Michelle Malkin.

She writes: ``Like Michelle Obama, I am a 'woman of color.' Like Michelle Obama, I am a working mother of two young children. Like Michelle Obama, I am member of the 13th generation of Americans born since the founding of our great Nation.

``Unlike Michelle Obama, I can't keep track of the numbers of times I have been proud--really proud--of my country since I was born and privileged to live in it. At a recent speech in Milwaukee, Mrs. Obama remarked, `For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.'

``Mrs. Obama's statement was met with warm applause from those who also are apparently devoid of pride in their country during their adult lifetimes. Or maybe it was a Pavlovian response to the word `change.' What a sad, empty, narcissistic, ungrateful, unthinking lot.

``I am just 7 years younger than Ms. Obama. We have grown up and lived in the same era. And yet, her self-absorbed attitude is completely foreign to me. What planet is she living on? Since when was now the only time the American people have ever been `hungry for change'?

``We were both adults when the Berlin Wall fell. That was an earth- shattering change. We lived through two decades of peaceful, if contentious, election cycles under the rule of law, which have brought about change and upheaval, both good and bad. We were adults through several launches of the space shuttle, in case you were snoozing. And as adults, we've witnessed and benefited from dizzyingly rapid advances in technology, communications, science, and medicine pioneered by American entrepreneurs who yearned to change the world and succeeded.

You want `change'? Go ask the patients whose lives have been improved and extended by American pharmaceutical companies that have flourished under the best economic system in the world.

``If American ingenuity, a robust constitutional republic, and the fall of communism don't do it for you, then how about American heroism and sacrifice? How about every Memorial Day, every Veterans Day, every Independence Day, every medal of honor ceremony? Has she never attended a ``welcome home ceremony'' for the troops? For me, there is a thrill of the Blue Angels roaring over the cloudless skies, and there is the somber awe felt amid the hallowed waters that surround the sunken USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Every naturalization ceremony I've attended where hundreds of new Americans raise their hands to swear an oath of allegiance to this land of liberty has been a moment of pride for me, so has the awesome display of American compassion at home and around the world when millions of Americans rallied to help victims of the 2004 tsunami on Southeast Asia, including members of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group that sped from Hong Kong to assist the survivors. My heart filled with pride. It did again when the citizens of Houston opened their arms to Hurricane Katrina victims and folks across the country rushed to their churches and offices of the Salvation Army and Red Cross to volunteer.

How about American resilience? Does it not make you proud? Only a heart of stone could be unmoved by the strength, the valor and determination displayed by New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.

I believe it was Michael Kinsley who quipped that a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth. In this case, it's what happens when an elite Democrat politician's wife says what a significant portion of her party's base really believe to be truth: America is more a source of shame than pride.

Michelle Obama has achieved enormous professional success, political influence and personal acclaim in America. Ivy League educated, she's been lauded by Essence magazine as one of the 25 Most Inspiring Women, by Vanity Fair as one of the ten World's Best-Dressed Women, and named one of `The Harvard 100' most influential alumni. She has an amazingly blessed life, but you wouldn't know it from her campaign rhetoric or her griping about her and her husband's student loans.

For years we've heard liberals get offended by any challenge to their patriotism. And so they are again aggrieved and rising to explain away Ms. Obama's remarks. Lady Michelle and her defenders protest too much.

Madam Speaker, I am proud of America for many reasons, not the least of which is because it helped shape the character of Michelle Malkin.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Scott Storey, District Attorney for the First Judicial District of Colorado, including Jefferson and Gilpin counties, for his recent distinction as Elected Official of the Year by the West Chamber. A native son of Colorado, Mr. Storey's recognition is just a small display of appreciation for his commitment towards upholding justice and integrity in the legal realm.

Mr. Storey is a veteran prosecutor who has spent the last 20 years in public service.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in congratulating Mr. Storey for his dedicated work and promise for Coloradans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifice of a fallen hero and Sailor from my district, Petty Officer Alexander ``Kip'' LeMarr of Parker, Colorado. Petty Officer LeMarr was tragically killed on January 16 when his helicopter crashed on a mission near the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was only 25 years old.

Petty Officer LeMarr joined the Navy in 2004, becoming a qualified aviation warfare system operator. He was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15. He served admirably overseas in Bahrain before returning to the United States to continue his training and service.-

Hundreds of sailors and members of the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi gathered on base on January 25th to honor Petty Officer LaMarr and his colleagues. Petty Officer Hector Reyes described LeMarr as a good friend, ``Kip was the kind of person that loved to fly,'' Reyes said.

Americans should never forget his service or sacrifice, and the nation will forever owe a great debt of gratitude to Alexander and his family. His life was a tribute to the best America has to offer.

Madam Speaker, my most heartfelt condolences go out to Alexander's family and friends. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifice of Senior Patrol

Agent Luis Aguilar of the Border Patrol from Yuma, Arizona. Agent Aguilar was killed in the line of duty on January 19th while trying to apprehend a suspected drug smuggler in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. He was 32 years old.

The core values of the Border Patrol emphasize vigilance, service, and integrity in the defense of America and its laws. Those individuals who commit themselves to these principles recognize the prominence of the American way of life as well as its fragility; something that must be defended against those elements which seek to undermine democracy and freedom. Agent Aguilar spent much of his life as a guardian of these values and this Nation.

Agent Aguilar began his career with the Border Patrol in 2002 when he enrolled in the 519th session of the Border Patrol Academy. Following graduation, he was stationed at the Yuma Border Patrol Station where he quickly earned the respect and loyalty of his fellow agents and the surrounding community.

This tragic incident highlights not only the dangers border agents encounter, but also emphasizes the extreme heroism and valor exhibited by those whose job it is to keep Americans safe.

Madam Speaker, my most heartfelt condolences go out to Luis' family and friends. He will undoubtedly be missed by all those who knew and loved him.