U.S. Must Not Capitulate to North Korea’s Nuclear Blackmail
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Less than one week after Iran launched a ballistic missile capable of striking U.S. targets and allies, North Korea followed suit and raised the stakes by detonating an illicit nuclear device. This aggressive act incited outrage across the globe, even drawing a strong rebuke from North Korea’s traditional ally China. The question is, how will the United States meet the escalating challenge of a nuclear armed North Korea or Iran? History gives us a framework of what will not work.
In 1994, the North Korean threat to develop nuclear weapons was rewarded with the "Framework Agreement" with President Clinton guaranteeing the delivery of two energy-producing light-water nuclear reactors and 500,000 tons of fuel oil annually, if Pyongyang would halt operations at their nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
At the time, President Clinton insisted it was the best agreement possible and preferable to war. In a column I wrote in 1995, I raised concerns that this appeasement strategy bore insufficient safeguards and, by rewarding North Korea's bad behavior, we were sending a message that the United States would capitulate to nuclear blackmail.
The ineffectiveness of this strategy was again proven when, in 2006, North Korea acknowledged to the world that it had never terminated its nuclear program. That year, it tested the Bush Administration by detonating its first nuclear device. Many experts believe that the 2006 test was technically flawed and fell short of the expectations of North Korean scientists, sending them back to the drawing board.
But this month’s successful nuclear test, reportedly yielding a blast comparable to the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, has made it very clear that, not only is North Korea’s nuclear program active, but it has made enough technical advancements to be truly dangerous. This is an important part of North Korea’s strategy, which has been rapidly unfolding over the last five years. This year, North Korea rejected the Obama Administration’s diplomatic overtures, abandoned the six party talks, ousted U.N. inspectors, resumed activity at Yongbyon nuclear facility, and test launched as many as six missiles.
As former UN Ambassador John Bolton suggested in a Wall Street Journal column, North Korea faces no real consequences from the Obama Administration – only strong rhetoric. Mr. Bolton concluded that this gives North Korea what it wants: “America in a conciliatory mode.” Indeed, Pyongyang is counting on a weak response, culminating in negotiations and concessions being made by the United States. Once the desired negotiations begin, Kim Jong Il can siphon food, oil, and other inducements from America in exchange for their false promises to disarm. That is what was promised in 1994, and we see the results.
Absent nuclear weapons and missiles, North Korea would be irrelevant. Their economy is in shambles, and only their bad behavior continues to pay dividends. That’s why this cycle of appeasement must end. This time, our strategy must be multi-pronged:
First, we must lead international efforts to levy punitive sanctions against North Korea. Presently, trade with the nation is limited because North Korea has little of value to offer partners. Yet, it relies heavily on Russia and China, particularly to meet their energy needs. Russia and China are uniquely positioned to pressure Kim Jong Il, and they should use this leverage to help carry out the will of the international community that North Korea not be a nuclear-armed state.
Second, future negotiations with North Korea to terminate their nuclear weapons program must link any aid we provide to inspection and verification. Assurances by Pyongyang, proven to be duplicitous, are insufficient. We cannot declare our diplomatic efforts a success without verification, while North Korea continues to arm itself unabated.
Lastly, we must defend America and our allies by fully funding a leading edge missile defense program. The President’s recent budget has slashed missile defense funding by over a billion dollars. The programs that have been cancelled or seriously cut back are the very programs that would be an integral part of our missile defense response if North Korea followed through on its threats. Above all, our missile defense strategy must send the unmistakable message that the U.S. is prepared to meet and defeat any escalation of arms.
North Korea and Iran have shown that they’re willing to use provocative tactics to raise international tension and to instigate conflict with nations across the globe. Efforts to extend a hand of friendship have been met with belligerence. Calls for direct negotiations have been rebuked. As the U.S., once again, grapples with these challenges, our policy must be resolute and rooted in the reality that these are hostile, unreasonable nations who wish to do us harm.
Tolling Existing Federal Roads is Unfair to Taxpayers & Drivers
Maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure in Texas has become nearly as daunting a proposition as driving through some of our state’s most congested traffic spots at rush hour. Urban centers and communities across Texas have fast-growing populations, but face the challenge of crumbling and overstressed highways and consistent funding shortfalls. Clearly, something’s got to give, and it can’t be the quality of our roads – or fairness to Texas taxpayers. As we work to meet our transportation needs, we must think broadly and avoid band-aid solutions that will ultimately exacerbate the problem.
Recently, there have been renewed calls for tolls on highways that have already been built and paid for with federal tax dollars. I believe taxing Americans twice for the same asset is fundamentally unfair, and I oppose any effort to place tolls on existing interstate highways.
Double taxation is not the only concern. Overemphasis on tolling has serious implications for community safety and local infrastructure. Studies show that motorists will change their driving patterns to bypass the tolls. This will redirect traffic from our highways to remaining free roads, and, in turn, congest our local streets, compromise neighborhood safety, and overburden small capacity infrastructure.
Furthermore, tolls on existing interstates will divert truck traffic to other roads. A recent study predicted that a 25-cent-per-mile toll on an interstate highway would cause nearly half the trucks to divert to other routes. Many of our communities are not equipped to handle heavy commercial traffic, and the safety of local drivers could be put at risk by the increased presence of trucks on small roads.
Today, I introduced legislation to prevent tolling of existing free federal highways, bridges, or tunnels built with federal funding, so that taxpayers are not taxed to use a road for which they’ve already paid. I’m for more highways and even tolls, when proposed the right way. The legislation does not prohibit tolls on new construction. If local communities and states want to cooperatively construct a toll road, they should be able to do so. If the state or community wants to expand their highways and toll for building new lanes, they can choose that alternative. In these situations, the taxpayers know exactly what they are getting. Many times a vote is required to approve these projects, but in any case, the taxpayers can hold the relevant officials accountable.
There has also been discussion in Texas and elsewhere of states attempting to purchase highways from the federal government and place them under state ownership or lease them to foreign investors for the purpose of tolling them. This is also an ill-conceived proposal that fails to address our underlying transportation challenges.
The debate on tolling illuminates the broader need to reform the federal highway program. Its antiquated funding formula, which has made Texas a donor state, is no longer serving the best interests of each state and its motorists. Our national transportation mission should evolve to maintaining and improving infrastructure, so that states don’t resort to band-aid solutions, such as tolling existing freeways.
In April, I introduced a bill that would permit states to opt out of the federal highway program and instead be rebated federal fuel taxes collected within their borders. Today, Texas receives 92 cents back for every dollar sent to Washington, up from 76 cents from when I came to the Senate. My bill would allow Texas to finally see 100 percent of its gas tax dollars, and ensure all of our funds could be used to improve transportation in Texas.
Washington shouldn’t take Texas tax dollars and send them to other states. Likewise, Texans shouldn’t be charged time and time again to drive on roads they already paid for with their hard earned tax dollars.
Sen. Hutchison Offers Amendment to Give Auto Dealers Extra Time to Close Down Operations
Hutchison Measure will Give Dealers 60 Days to Close Doors
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
To extend some relief to U.S. auto dealers impacted by Chrysler’s bankruptcy filing and falling sales, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison introduced an amendment that will give dealerships slated for closing on June 9 an extra 60 days to close down operations and sell remaining inventory.
Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of her amendment, Sen. Hutchison said:
“Auto dealers are some of the biggest and best employers in our nation. In small towns across Texas, many of them are the largest employers in their entire county. While I understand that an auto dealer is forced to close its doors because the dealer is unable to make the business profitable, I cannot understand why Chrysler would arbitrarily shut down thousands of operating and profitable dealers across our country.
“My amendment simply states that no funds shall be expended from the Treasury to an auto manufacturer that has notified a dealership that it will be terminated without providing at least 60 days for that dealership to wind down its operations and sell its inventory. Sixty days are all we’re asking for. Frankly, I wish we could go much further, because I fundamentally disagree with the decision to arbitrarily and unnecessarily close down these auto dealers.”
Amendment 1189 to H.R.2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act reads:
“No funds shall be expended from the Treasury to an auto manufacturer which has notified a dealership that it will be terminated without providing at least 60 days for that dealership to wind down its operations and sell its inventory.”
The amendment has been endorsed by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Watch Sen. Hutchison’s floor speech here:
Honoring the Memory and Sacrifice of our Fallen Heroes
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The fabric of Texas’ rich history is woven with legendary stories of sacrifice and remarkable acts of valor. From the battle of the Alamo, when Colonel William Barret Travis and his men stood their ground, declaring “no retreat, no surrender” and sacrificed all for the freedom of their nation – to the young men and women who are laying down their lives on foreign battlefields today – generation after generation, our state’s men and women have exhibited the indomitable Texas spirit of service and patriotism.
Stretching back to the American Indian Wars, 70 Texans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic service. And many of them died earning that distinction.
During World War II, a young B-24 pilot from Fort Worth named Horace Carswell was flying a single-craft mission to take out a convoy of Japanese ships in the South China Sea. After scoring direct hits on the target, Major Carswell’s aircraft was badly damaged. Through skillful flying, he kept the staggering bomber in the air long enough to make it to land so his crew could safely parachute onto the Chinese shore. Major Carswell and his copilot were killed in the crash landing, but through his courageous actions, the rest of his crew survived. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and Carswell Air Force Base outside of Fort Worth was named in his honor.
Another Texan who made an indelible mark on our nation’s history is Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, a daring and fearless soldier in Vietnam from Cuero. Sergeant Benavidez and his soldiers were ambushed on a secret mission in Cambodia, and despite suffering a broken jaw, sustaining 37 bullet wounds, and being stabbed with a bayonet, he exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire and carried gravely wounded soldiers in his arms to safety. He was so badly maimed that his commander nominated him for a Distinguished Service Cross award because the Army was afraid he wouldn’t survive long enough for the extensive Medal of Honor process to be completed. But he did survive, and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. MSG Benavidez made service to his country his life’s work. A bust of MSG Benavidez is on display at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where it serves as a tribute to his life and an inspiration to future leaders.
Preserving these legacies is critical, because, as President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Today, a new generation of patriots is serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Like many before them, some are paying for our freedom with their lives. In the early days of the war in Iraq, a 23-year-old Texan named James Kiehl was killed when his convoy was ambushed near al Nasiriya. His remains were brought home to Comfort, Texas, and on the day of his funeral something remarkable happened. Hundreds of men, women, and children from across the community lined the streets to honor their hometown hero and show support for his family as the funeral procession wound its way through the small town. He was one of the first Texans to lay down his life in combat. To date, more than 400 Texans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many of today’s military heroes have not yet made it into the pages of history. But they are already solidifying a legacy of valorous service. Unlike many of the wars that were fought in previous generations, none of the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were drafted into service. Every single one of today’s soldiers stood and volunteered to go. If you ask one of our troops or the family of one of our fallen heroes why they volunteered, their responses are almost always rooted in patriotism and the desire to be a part of something greater than themselves.
Every day, I think of those Texans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I think about the loved ones who miss them. It is fitting for our nation to pause and remember them on Memorial Day. But to truly honor their service, we must always cherish liberty, work to keep America free and strong, espouse the values for which our troops have fought and died, and pass down their memory to future generations.
Today’s Women: Mothers and Leaders
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
This month, American families will celebrate Mother’s Day and set aside one Sunday to honor the women who are the foundation of our society. Mothers are the first teachers of the leaders of tomorrow. They embody strength and tenderness, and impart wisdom and grace in the lives of their children. My own mother gave me the support in all my endeavors that strengthened my resolve to overcome obstacles.
President Theodore Roosevelt said, in honor of his mother, Martha, “The mother is the one supreme asset of national life; she is more important by far than the successful statesman, or business man, or artist, or scientist.”
More and more in today’s society, a woman has the opportunity to contribute to society both as a mother and a leader. As a U.S. Senator, I take my work very seriously. I never forget that the decisions I make each day impact the lives of millions of Texans. But I work 24-7 to do my most important job: being mother to my two children.
I am not alone in balancing such a great set of responsibilities. Twelve of the 17 women in the U.S. Senate are mothers. Seven of us are working moms with children at home, and we each juggle the daily demands of motherhood, while keeping up with the needs of our constituents. We arrange play dates, help with math and spelling homework, attend sporting events, chaperone Girl and Boy Scout campouts, and more.
The experience of balancing a full-time job with a full-time family has given me a unique insight into the needs of working families across Texas and throughout our nation. Moms who work inside the home while volunteering for school, organizations, church and community, or those who work in a profession outside the home, deserve our gratitude. I have been fortunate to use this perspective to shape legislation that will empower mothers to make choices that are best for them and their children. In fact, two of my proudest legislative accomplishments have been borne out of family considerations.
When I was a single woman in the workforce, I started an individual retirement account to save tax-free for the future. I could set aside up to $2,000 in this account. After I married and was in between careers, I learned that a married woman who didn’t have an outside job could only set aside $250. I was shocked by this inequity. A woman who works in the home raising her family may be the most vulnerable if she loses her husband through death or divorce. And a woman who moves in and out of the workforce to have children should not be penalized for responding to her family priorities. After I was elected to the U.S. Senate, one of the first pieces of legislation I introduced was the homemaker IRA, which is the law today. It allows women to set aside the same amount, regardless of employment status.
Women who choose to work outside the home also should not be penalized for this choice. In many cases, a mother works because her income is necessary to help pay the mortgage, buy groceries, or put a child through college. Some just like to work. And the marriage tax, which unfairly targets husbands and wives who are jointly working to meet their family’s needs, pushes married couples into a higher tax bracket than two single wage earners taking in the same combined income.
I began the fight to reverse this inequity in 2001. Under the old policy, an estimated 25 million couples paid a penalty of $1,141 for being married. In 2001, my legislation was enacted. On the first day of the 111th Congress, I introduced the Permanent Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2009 to outlaw this tax policy, once and for all.
Being a mother might be the hardest job in the world, and it is undoubtedly the most important. But it is also the most rewarding. One day is not enough to recognize all that mothers do for their families, but it is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to that special mom in our lives.
Highway Funding Formula Needs Repaving
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In 1956, the first stretch of asphalt in the Interstate Highway System was laid, paving the way for the vast network of highways and byways that have become a critical part of American life and culture. Every day in our nation, Americans stay connected and commerce flows directly from north to south and coast to coast because of this highway system. Few undertakings in our nation’s history have matched the scale of the Interstate System or the significant national interest that it has served.
More than 50 years have passed since President Eisenhower signed the legislation to create the Interstate System, and construction on the final span of national highway was finished nearly 20 years ago. Yet, highway users in all 50 states are still paying into the national highway system through a formula designed around the now-obsolete purpose of completing the Interstate System.
This funding formula is no longer serving the best interests of each state and its motorists. Our transportation mission should evolve to maintaining and improving this valuable infrastructure. We must add highway capacity in areas where population and commercial growth is exceeding what our infrastructure can withstand. Likewise, our funding structure must change to meet these shifting priorities.
The policy of revenue sharing was instituted in 1956 because some states with a lot of land mass but lower populations were unable to generate enough revenue to build the roads comprising a truly national highway system. Even though the highway system is complete, the current formula continues to send some states excess revenues while the roads and residents of “donor states,” like Texas and Arizona, are shortchanged. In short, the gas tax revenues of Florida, Ohio, or any other donor state could well be spent on the bridges of Madison County or bike trails in Vermont, rather than on crumbling or congested highways in Miami or Cincinnati.
Furthermore, of the federal funding that states do receive, there are no fewer than 108 federally mandated programs that must be factored into decisions on how the money will be spent. And once a state decides to begin a transportation project using some of its federal highway funding, it takes an estimated 12 to 15 years of bureaucratic process before a state can even break ground. This level of federal micromanagement fails to acknowledge that our local leaders are best positioned to carry out the present transportation mission: maintenance and improvement.
To ensure interstate equity and to allow states to most efficiently maintain and improve their highways, we have introduced the Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2009. This bill would give states the choice to opt-out of the federal highway program and instead be rebated federal fuel taxes collected within their borders. Our proposal would cut the overwhelming majority of federal strings attached, but would require that rebated taxes be spent on surface transportation projects. This option would allow Texas, for example, to finally see its fair share of gas tax dollars, and ensure all of our funds could be directed toward improving transportation in high growth areas of our states.
Opt-out states would be required to maintain their Interstate Highway System, but could determine which federal programmatic requirements, such as highway enhancements and design standards, would be continued. To ensure that our nation’s roads are safe for all American motorists, safety provisions under the federal highway program, like the minimum drinking age, would continue to fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Transportation Secretary.
The federal highway system is one of our nation’s greatest cultural and economic advantages, and it must be maintained for the prosperity of future generations. However, its preservation must not cost some Americans more than others nor be micromanaged by those who are least equipped to know the intricacies of existing congestion and traffic-flow issues. No state should be forced to send its gasoline taxes to Washington and get it back with mounds of regulations and a cut in the mound returned.
Reforming our national highway system is long overdue, and the time has come to allow each state to determine what is appropriate for its residents and their tax dollars.
Secure Borders Necessary for Safe and Prosperous Texas Communities
Over 1,200 miles of international border snakes along the Rio Grande through Texas, giving our state the distinction of holding more international boundary than all other states on the Mexican border combined. While this position grants Texas unmatched access to the economic benefits of international commerce and has deeply enriched our state’s culture and heritage, our shared border also leaves us particularly vulnerable to the challenges associated with illegal immigration and Mexican drug trafficking organizations.
On a typical day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials arrest 73 criminals at ports of entry, seize 7,621 pounds of narcotics, and apprehend roughly 2,796 individuals who have illegally entered the U.S. Compounding these challenges are the increasingly brazen and sophisticated threats from Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Mexican drug gangs have extended their operations into all areas of Texas and the nation. They control most of the U.S. drug market and have established ties with street gangs in American cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. And as crime and violence surge along the Mexican border, Texas communities are on the front lines of this escalating threat.
More must be done at every level of government to secure our borders and ensure the continued safety and prosperity of communities in Texas and across the nation. This can only be accomplished through a balanced strategy that includes expansive and well-trained border patrol forces, substantial infrastructure, and adequate resources for local law enforcement officials. This has been an important legislative priority for me, and our efforts on this front have improved exponentially over the past 15 years. But we must continue to emphasize border security to keep up with mounting challenges.
In 1993, when I first arrived in the Senate, I was alarmed to learn that there were fewer than 3,600 Border Patrol agents assigned to the entire southern boundary of the U.S. For the next several years, I worked with my colleagues in the Senate to strengthen these forces, and, by 2000, the number of agents defending the southern border reached 8,580. We have worked to match the growing pressures on the border by continuing to expand the presence of border patrol agents. With the most recent addition of 2,200 agents this year, we have raised the total number of agents assigned to the southern border to more than 17,600. This represents an increase of nearly 500 percent since I began to serve in the Senate.
Our agents along the border are most effective when they have the resources and equipment they need to do their jobs. This year, Congress increased funding for CBP over $10.5 billion, including $875 million for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. We have also worked to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigators, and detention officers. Additionally, $1 billion has been dedicated to removing deportable criminal aliens, and we have increased our capacity to detain up to 33,400 individuals daily.
As well as providing for federal law enforcement activities, we must also support the important efforts led by state and local law enforcement agencies in southern border states. I recently secured resources to aid local law enforcement in their struggle to combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the border.
The defense provided by well-equipped border forces must be bolstered by infrastructure, which can provide an additional deterrent to breaking the law by entering our country illegally. I have consistently supported legislation to require and to fund the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the southern border. Although most of the fence is now constructed, I recently supported an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget to ensure that future appropriations bills will fully fund construction of the remaining portions of the fence.
To help address the problem of violence in Mexico and along the border, I am a strong proponent of specialized initiatives, like Project Gunrunner, that target criminal arms smuggling organizations who are directing the illegal flow of weapons from the U.S. into the hands of the cartels in Mexico. I have cosponsored this initiative with Senator Jeff Bingaman from New Mexico.
These improvements in border protection have mitigated the flow of illegal drugs and, thus far, violence spilling over into Texas communities. But we can never declare our borders unassailable or adopt a complacent attitude toward the security of our homeland. We must vigilantly secure our borders, while working with our international partners toward the common good of our citizens.
America has Resources and Ingenuity for Energy Independence
Over the past year, we have seen gas prices spike to record levels followed by the deepest economic downturn in a generation. These events illustrate how our energy priorities and economic challenges are tightly intertwined. A national strategy to achieve American energy independence is long overdue. As both sides of the aisle come together to create a plan to wean our nation off imported energy, we must consider the economic benefits of expanding our domestic resources, and heed the consequences of stifling production.
Since 1982, a moratorium on offshore exploration and development has prohibited production on 85 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), leaving some of our greatest energy reserves untapped. This failure to rely on our own vast resources has placed America in the disadvantaged position of importing over 60 percent of our energy. Too much of it comes from unstable and unfriendly regimes like Venezuela and some in the Middle East. In 2008 alone, we spent close to $475 billion on imported oil. This equation will not solve our long-term energy needs.
Oil and gas development in the OCS holds great potential to reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources. The technology and the infrastructure to safely and efficiently extract oil and natural gas are in place. Experts have estimated that the OCS contains roughly 100 billion barrels of untapped oil. Combined, production occurring off our Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Alaska coasts could replace OPEC imports for approximately 50 years.
Natural gas, in particular, is an extremely valuable domestic asset. It is abundant, cost-effective, and the cleanest-burning fossil-fuel available. The OCS holds undiscovered recoverable reserves of 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. And with the United State consuming natural gas at a rate of roughly 23 trillion cubic feet per year, there is essentially a 20 year supply of domestic natural gas off American shores.
Not only will expanded OCS development move us closer to energy independence, it will strengthen our economy and create stable, well-paying jobs. If the United States produced all available reserves in the OCS, the government would take in up to $1.4 trillion in tax revenues. A December 2008 study conducted by economists and the American Petroleum Institute (API) indicates the potentially broad economic impacts from leveraging these available resources. The study projects that in the year 2030 alone, OCS production would result in more than $8 billion in private sector economic output. It would add nearly 40,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in income for American workers.
The benefits of the OCS are clear; now, we must take decisive steps to develop this valuable source of domestic oil and natural gas.
In March, I introduced an amendment to the 2010 Budget to ensure that we expand domestic offshore energy production on the OCS. When setting the budget policies that will guide our energy portfolio, we cannot overlook our most valuable and accessible resources. My amendment, which was adopted in the Senate by unanimous consent, would ensure the OCS plays a role in our national policy. I look forward to working with the House of Representatives to keep this resource in our portfolio when the final budget is negotiated between the House and Senate.
I also led 33 of my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama, urging him to complete as expeditiously as possible the Administration’s five-year plan for offshore oil and gas development. The President can show strong leadership and help reduce dependence on foreign oil by not reinstating the Presidential Moratorium on U.S. offshore oil production and by delivering a new offshore drilling plan. This approach would benefit all Americans.
The wrong approach would be to tax energy production, which is what the Administration’s budget proposes. Repealing tax provisions that support exploration, production, and refining would move our country in the opposite direction of energy independence, and it would lead to higher prices for all consumers of energy. When households are already struggling in this economy, a tax increase is the last thing we need.
The United States has two things that uniquely position us for energy independence: an abundance of natural resources and the indomitable spirit of American ingenuity. If we use these assets effectively, we will free the U.S. from dependence on foreign energy, thus strengthening our economy and national security. We must begin with the swift development of offshore oil and gas.
Texans Talk Back on Education and Transportation
In a recent column, I shared some of the results of a survey in which I asked Texans to give their opinions on two of the most pressing issues that confront our country: the economy and health care. As part of the poll, Texans also weighed in on two other critical domestic priorities: education and transportation. While good tax policy and a fiscally responsible budget are essential to our short-term economic recovery, world-class education and efficient transportation systems will be the foundations of our long-term prosperity.
EDUCATION
When asked how Congress should strengthen public education, nearly half of respondents want expanded options when determining their children’s formal education. Over 31 percent want to attract more qualified teachers. Twenty-six percent said teachers’ salaries should be raised. Another 21 percent believe technical and vocational training in community colleges should be expanded. And a little more than 20 percent want to provide students with more financial aid and scholarships for college.
All of these steps should be part of our comprehensive approach to meet our modern education challenges. Research indicates that, compared to children in other countries, our students are underperforming in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These studies also show that a powerful predictor of student achievement in STEM is the presence of fully certified teachers who have at least a bachelor’s degree in the subjects they teach. I’ve been a strong advocate for Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow, a project in which colleges and universities encourage undergraduate students to gain degrees in their STEM fields of study with teacher certification obtained through required electives. In 2007, I cosponsored the America Competes Act, which increases the number of advanced placement (A.P.) courses in underprivileged schools and bolsters the supply of teachers for A.P. math, science, and foreign language courses.
Additionally, public schools are the foundation of our educational system, but 43 percent of survey respondents chose alternatives to public school as their top priority. Greater resources, local control, and consistent accountability standards are essential to achieving better education results for America’s children. At the federal level, in 2001, I sponsored legislation to provide the option of single-sex schools, classrooms, and extracurricular activities at the elementary and secondary levels, paving the way for the Irma Rangel Magnet School for girls in Dallas and the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity, a charter school for boys in Houston. Numerous studies have demonstrated that girls enrolled in same-gender programs tend to have more confidence to express themselves in the classroom and pursue more courses in mathematics and science than they do in co-ed classrooms. Similar results were found for boys in middle and high school classrooms in urban locations. Whatever their individual needs may be, investing in the future of our children is vital, and I will continue my efforts to help every child achieve his or her potential.
TRANSPORTATION
When asked what they consider to be the most important transportation priority, 37 percent of respondents want to increase use of alternatives to cars, such as rail, and another 31 percent suggested that we must replace our aging infrastructure.
Amtrak and light rail play an important role by easing traffic congestion and reducing gasoline consumption and carbon emissions. Light rail systems in Dallas and Houston provide reliable transportation for thousands of people each day, and Austin will soon be operational. In the Senate, I have worked to secure federal funding for these vital projects and others like them to make more options available in Texas.
Although mass transit continues to grow in our cities and suburbs, cars remain the primary mode of transportation for most Texans. We must expand our aging road infrastructure to keep pace with our growing population. By building more roads, highways, and bridges, we will create more jobs. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, every $1.25 billion spent on the nation’s transportation infrastructure supports 35,000 jobs. And that spending tends to pay for itself by spurring even more economic activity. The American Public Transportation Association reports that every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation can return up to $30 million in business sales alone. Furthermore, now that we have a national highway road network in place, we should allow individual states to collect and spend their highway funding as they see fit.
While automobile alternatives and infrastructure were Texans’ top priorities, support for tolling was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Only 15 percent of respondents suggested that we should increase the number of toll roads. I am against tolling federal highways that were built using taxpayers’ money. Tolling should only be allowed on federal highways if it involves constructing new lanes, while maintaining the same number of free lanes. For the past two years in the Senate, I have introduced and passed legislation banning the practice of tolling existing federal highways.
I am proud to serve a body of constituents that is spiritedly involved in the policy decisions that shape our country. With your input, we can work together to develop practical answers to these and many other challenges facing our state and nation.
Texans Sound Off on the Economy and Health Care
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Listening is often the most important part of a conversation. That is why in my weekly column at the beginning of this year, as Americans welcomed a new President and a new Congress, I invited Texans to share their opinions with me on the most critical issues facing our state and nation. Thousands of Texans responded with their thoughts and concerns on issues such as the economy, health care, education and transportation. As their responses demonstrate, Texans are as committed as I am to overcome the challenges that currently face us.
People across Texas pointed to the federal government’s response to the recession and rising health care costs as the two most alarming issues confronting our nation. For this reason, I’d like to focus on these two topics in this column, before exploring respondents’ other legislative priorities in the weeks ahead.
When asked how the government should react to our current economic challenges, approximately 25 percent believe the government should prioritize infrastructure spending. Another 25 percent said the government should pay down the national debt. But over 50 percent of survey respondents said tax cuts should be the key component in efforts to revitalize the economy.
Texans have common sense, and they know taxing, borrowing, and spending won’t fix our economy; this approach will only prolong and worsen the recession. The best way to stimulate economic growth is to lower taxes for small businesses and families.
Earlier this year, I introduced legislation that would prevent future tax increases on Texas families by allowing them to permanently deduct state and local sales taxes. As a matter of principle, people shouldn’t have to pay taxes on their taxes. I also introduced legislation to make the marriage penalty relief permanent. Unless Congress takes action, a significant number of married couples will again pay more in taxes starting in 2011. Given the challenges many families are facing to make ends meet, we must make sure we do not backtrack on this important form of tax relief.
Although Texans favor tax cuts, the majority in Congress want to spend their way out of the recession. In March, the Senate considered the enormous Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which spends over 8 percent more than Congress approved for Fiscal Year 2008. I introduced an amendment to the legislation that would have shown the American people that Congress is ready to exert fiscal responsibility. My amendment would have reduced the size of the bill to the overall spending level approved in 2008, with adjustments made for inflation. Unfortunately, the Senate was unwilling to make these modest cuts and do away with billions of dollars of wasteful, duplicative spending. Therefore, I felt it necessary and responsible to oppose the final bill.
The survey results also indicate that Texans are very anxious about rising medical costs and health insurance premiums. Almost 40 percent said limited or no access to health insurance and difficulty understanding insurance coverage plans pose the most significant obstacles to medical care. But nearly 60 percent chose the high cost of insurance and health care services as the primary barrier to care.
To address these problems, Congress must champion small business health plans. Between 2000 and 2006, the median rise in income fell far behind the 80 percent increase in family health care premiums for Texas subscribers to employer-based insurance. Because of these costs, fewer employers are offering medical coverage. The Small Business Health Plans Act makes it easier for small businesses to purchase affordable health insurance through their trade organizations.
I am also a co-sponsor of a new bill that will allow all Americans to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums as long as they purchase qualified private health insurance. This change to the tax code will benefit individuals who purchase coverage from the individual market. It will also allow benefits to be carried from job to job. Both bills will lower costs for families and small businesses, and they will increase the number of Americans with health insurance.
Moving forward, I will continue to work to reduce the tax burden on American families and small businesses and address the rising cost of health care. These issues are far too important to be neglected by Congress. But, as so many Texans remarked in their survey responses, the solution to our growing challenges is not to give more power to the government; it’s to give more power to the American people.
Celebrating and Serving the Women of the U.S. Military, Past and Present
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Across the United States, there is a special sisterhood of women – most of them in their 80s – who share a unique piece of American history. These women have been mothers and grandmothers, teachers, office workers, nurses, photographers, business women, and dancers, and one was even a nun. But before that, they were pilots, flying every kind of aircraft in the U.S. Army Airforce during World War II. The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) postponed career aspirations and family plans in order to actively participate in one of the most consequential moments in the history of our nation. Their service was intrepid, unprecedented, and, for many years, largely unnoticed.
In 1941, as the conflict intensified on fronts around the world, women were at last permitted to join the war effort as pilots by flying necessary ferrying operations, freeing all male pilots for combat deployment. Women pilots from across the country paid their own way to Texas, where they were trained at Houston Municipal Airport and Avenger Field in Sweetwater. Altogether, 1,102 women earned their wings and went on to fly over 60 million miles in non-combat military missions.
In 1943, male pilots refused to fly the B-26 Marauder because they feared it was unsafe. General Hap Arnold called on 25 WASP to be trained to fly the aircraft so their male counterparts would see the B-26 was safe. Despite their tireless service, and the fact that the WASP received training identical to male pilots flying combat missions in European, Asian, and North African theaters, the female pilots were denied full military status. Their service records were sealed and classified. And when the war ended, they paid their own way home, returning to civilian life with little acknowledgement and no official record of their unique contribution to America’s triumph in WWII.
With or without formal recognition, this spirited band of sisters forged their own legacy. Today, nearly 300 are still living, including over 30 in Texas. Deanie Bishop Parrish of Waco recently said, “I think it's important for young people today to realize that WASP flew missions that were dangerous, but in order for our country to be free, that's what it took, and we did it without any thought of recognition or glory.” In recent years, historians have been working to preserve Mrs. Parrish’s story, and others like hers, and rightfully cast these accounts into the rich history of World War II. To that end, I am leading a bipartisan effort of all 17 women in the U.S. Senate to finally bestow the honor that these pilots earned more than 50 years ago. We have introduced a bill to award the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal, our nation’s highest civilian award.
The valor and service of the WASP is only one part of their legacy. Their success in the line of duty paved the way for armed forces to lift the ban on women attending military flight training in the 1970s, and their efforts eventually led to women being full integrated as military pilots. Now, women fly every type of aircraft and mission, from fighter jets in combat to the shuttle in space flight. The WASP legacy certainly helped open the doors to women in the U.S. military, allowing them to serve in nearly every capacity.
Today, our military is welcoming an unprecedented influx of women who are volunteering to serve our country through Active, Reserve, and National Guard duty. Servicewomen are playing critical roles in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2008, another important milestone was achieved when the first woman, General Ann E. Dunwoody, reached the rank of four-star general. The same year, Texan Monica Brown became the second woman since WWII to receive the Silver Star for valor.
This progress must also be evident in how we care for women veterans. After the WASP left service in the 1940s, the women pilots were denied all veterans’ benefits until 1977. Though we’ve come a long way since then, I am working to make sure that women’s service is met with equal gratitude and equal access to the best health care that the VA can offer. In March, I joined Sen. Patty Murray to lead legislative efforts to improve the VA’s ability to meet the needs of women, who comprise the fastest growing segment of veterans in the VA system. The legislation will encourage the VA to expand treatment programs and broaden research to address the unique health needs of female veterans.
This March, as we observe Women’s History Month, it is critical that we remember and celebrate the achievements of American women, such as the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Their brave service has helped make our military the greatest in the world, and their stories represent the rich legacies that have been woven into U.S. history by American heroines.
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America: Molding Future Leaders
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Parents throughout Texas take pride in two of our nation’s most iconic youth leadership organizations. In February, the Boy Scouts celebrated their 99th anniversary. In early March, the Girl Scouts celebrated “National Girl Scout Week” in honor of their own 97th year. Whether we led a local Boy Scout camping trip or purchased Girl Scout cookies from a neighbor, we are confident that the values Scouting instills are ones that will serve our children well throughout their lives.
The Girl Scout Law eloquently sets admirable goals: “I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do; and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.” Such values certainly epitomize many Americans’ aspirations for all their leaders, whether they are doctors, school principals, military officers, park rangers, social workers or judges. In fact, the Girl Scouts report that eighty two percent of high achieving alumnae believe that Scouting influenced their success.
Today, more than 50 million women in the United States are Girl Scout alumnae, including my colleague Barbara Mikulski, Senator from Maryland, who carries a copy of the Girl Scout Law with her almost always. When Barbara arrived in the Senate back in 1987, she was one of only two female senators, and the very first Democratic female senator elected in her own right. Twenty-two years later, there are 17 female senators. Barbara applied the values that she learned as a Girl Scout to become an effective and well-respected member of the Senate, fostering teamwork and camaraderie among her female colleagues. Like many Texans, I, too, am proud to count myself among the ranks of former Scouts, and I was honored to serve as a past honorary Co-Leader of Girl Scout Troop Capitol Hill, with Senator Mikulski.
In 2000, the women of the Senate collaborated on Nine and Counting, a book to encourage young women to overcome obstacles. Most of us had been Girl Scouts, and we unanimously agreed to donate all the proceeds from our book to the Girl Scouts of America to encourage leadership programs for girls.
Pete Sessions, Member of Congress for Texas’ 32nd District, also is an exemplar of Scouting values. An Eagle Scout and a former Scout Master, he received the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for service to his community and support for the Boy Scouts in the Dallas Community.
Last year, Boy Scout participants included 35 of our 84 male Senators and 147 members of the House of Representatives, including 17 members of the Texas House delegation. Each year I receive more than 1,000 letters from Texas Boy Scouts working toward the rank of Eagle Scout. When they ask me for career advice, I congratulate them on the path they have already chosen; fully 10 percent of last year’s Senate consisted of Eagle Scouts.
The leadership skills that Scouting instills have propelled Scouts to the top of virtually all professional fields. Scouting alumni include comedian Lucille Ball, director Steven Spielberg, astronaut Neil Armstrong, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and President Gerald Ford. Texans are lucky that the National Scout Museum is located right here in our home state at the National Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving.
I am particularly touched by Scouts’ commitment to service. For example, Scouts were overwhelmingly represented among the volunteers who helped with recovery efforts in the wake of recent hurricanes, including Katrina and Rita. The Boy Scouts reported 1.4 million service hours involving 15,246 service projects in 2007 alone. Girl Scouts, too, visited nursing homes, collected cans for food drives, and hosted remembrance ceremonies for victims of 9/11.
Over the years, in addition to emphasizing service, both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts have fostered citizenship, fitness, and character by nurturing a love for the outdoors. Nowadays, in addition to hiking, canoeing and knot tying, scouts learn robotics, business and budgeting tips, Internet techniques, and the importance of math, science, and technology.
In recognition of the important role they play in our society, I co-sponsored legislation in the Senate to mint Centennial coins for both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts as they each approach their respective hundredth anniversaries. As they modernize and diversify in their quest to train tomorrow’s stars, let us thank them for their bountiful contributions to our country.
A Tax, Borrow, and Spend Approach Won’t Fix the Economy
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
When Congress was presented with a massive spending bill as the first major piece of legislation under the new Administration, many lawmakers, myself included, balked at the trillion dollar price tag. As massive as the stimulus legislation was, it was merely the preamble to a series of proposed big government tax and spend initiatives. On the docket is the largest budget in the history of our nation, a proposal that will raise taxes and swell the national debt, and an Omnibus Appropriations bill that will, for the first time in our nation’s history, spend more than $1 trillion for annual appropriations. With families and businesses struggling to make ends meet, the last thing Congress should attempt to do is tax, borrow, and spend our way out of one of the most challenging economic circumstances in a generation.
At the end of February, the Administration presented its $3.6 trillion budget blueprint for 2010. Rather than prioritize spending, the plan proposes a $1.75 trillion deficit, the highest since 1945, when America was in the throes of WWII. While the budget plan bears some meritorious spending, funding for worthy projects is overshadowed by twin liabilities: tax hikes and deepening debt.
First, in lieu of spending restraint, the budget will levy a $1.4 trillion tax increase to partially fund an ambitious agenda that is teeming with initiatives that, given our economic state, are low priority. And those who will be hit hardest are small businesses. Under this massive tax hike, economists predict that hiring will slow and the unemployment rate will continue to escalate. Savings and investment will be discouraged. And our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit will be stifled.
Second, the budget will raise our rapidly accumulating national debt to perilous new heights. Today, the United States has a debt of $10.8 trillion. The Administration projects that amount will rise to $14 trillion next year; to $17.1 trillion in less than five years; and to $23.1 trillion dollars in a decade. We are dangerously approaching a situation in which we have so much debt that foreign investors will not buy it without a significant interest rate hike to protect them against increased risk. Furthermore, the debt we incur today will take years to bring down to a manageable size. Is this what the “New Era of Spending Responsibility” (as the budget blueprint is titled) looks like?
In early March, the Senate considered the Omnibus Appropriations bill, a piece of legislation to fund the government from now to October 1, 2009. It spends over 8 percent more than what Congress approved for FY 2008, over twice the rate of inflation. Democratic leaders in Congress pushed for the swift completion of this bill, refusing to allow passage of any amendments.
Most egregiously, the Omnibus bill includes 122 programs that not only are receiving astonishing increases over prior year appropriations levels, but were also funded in the Stimulus bill, passed in February. A more prudent approach would have been to pass the annual Omnibus bill before crafting the $1 trillion Stimulus measure so we could guard against this duplicative spending.
To that end, I introduced an amendment to this Omnibus bill that would have sent it back to the Appropriations Committee to bring the total spending level back down to the FY 2008 level with adjustments for inflation. The amendment would have required duplicative spending in the Stimulus and the Omnibus to be struck.
The Stimulus bill was merely the beginning. We will soon have to consider the $1 trillion budget, including a $634 billion “down payment” on the Administration’s universal health care plan. On the horizon lies the Administration’s housing plan, which will reportedly cost upwards of $250 billion. And in the coming months, the White House will likely ask for another $1 to $2 trillion to shore up the financial sector.
I, along with so many Americans, am in sticker shock over the trillions of dollars at play in these efforts. Congress should pause and consider the consequence of every dollar we tax, borrow, or spend. Will these policies spur growth? Will they create jobs? Will they protect American families and small businesses? If not, the President must step back and reconsider these initiatives before it is too late.
Texas Independence Day Honors Our Tradition of Patriotism
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Nearly 173 years ago, two very different groups of Texas patriots led a double-barreled effort that would eventually secure Texas’ independence from Mexico and change the future of the United States.
On March 2, 1836, a convention of 54 men drafted and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence at a small settlement called Washington-on-the-Brazos. Among the signers were my great-great grandfather, Charles S. Taylor of Nacogdoches, and his friends Sam Houston and Thomas Rusk, who later became the first Senators to represent Texas. On behalf of all Texans, they declared, “We, therefore . . . do hereby resolve and declare . . . the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign and independent republic.”
During this time, 189 Texas soldiers were under siege at the Alamo in San Antonio by an estimated 6,000 Mexican troops who were determined to extinguish this newly created republic. Under the valiant leadership of Colonel William Barret Travis, these Texans, outnumbered 10 to 1 by Mexican forces, fought courageously in the most famous battle of the Texas Revolution.
Though Colonel Travis and his soldiers were willing to lay down their lives in service to Texas and in pursuit of its freedom, they knew that without reinforcements they would not be able to withstand the much larger Mexican army. In a final letter to all Texans shortly before the fall of the Alamo, Colonel Travis wrote:
Fellow citizens and compatriots: I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna – I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man – the enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken – I have answered the demands with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the wall – I shall never surrender or retreat.
Then, I call on you in the name of liberty, of patriotism and of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country – Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis, Lt. Col, Commander
The sacrifice of Colonel Travis and his men made General Sam Houston’s subsequent victory at San Jacinto possible. As cries of “Remember the Alamo!” were delivered during the final battle of the Texas Revolution, General Houston and his soldiers won independence for Texas.
The Texans leading the fight against Mexico weren’t alone in their sacrifice. The signers of the Texas Declaration, like their forefathers who signed the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, risked their own lives and those of their families when they put pen to paper. They were considered traitors to Mexico as they used their voices, professions, and positions of influence to wage a critical battle in Texas’ struggle for independence.
My great-great grandfather’s own loss was significant. While he was doing the work of the Republic, all four of his children (ages seven and younger) who remained back at home in Nacogdoches died during the “runaway scrape,” when the women and children in the Nacogdoches Territory fled toward Louisiana because they feared Indians and Mexican troops were headed their way. Our family story did not end there, however. Charles S. Taylor and his wife, my great-great-grandmother, went on to have nine more children who were blessed to lead lives of independence and opportunity in Texas.
It is important that every generation of Texans pause to remember these patriots: each soldier who gave his life at the Alamo and Goliad; the 54 men who met at Washington-on-the-Brazos, putting their lives in danger by signing that Declaration of Independence and becoming heroes for a cause; and every man, woman, and child who struggled to make Texas the marvelous place it is today. While few of these Texans could have predicted Texas’ future prosperity and achievements, they all knew independence and freedom were worth any sacrifice.
Each year on March 2, I am honored to recognize our history by reading Colonel Travis’ letter on the floor of the United States Senate. The late Senator John G. Tower, who served in the Senate between 1961 and 1985, initiated this practice, and I am proud to carry on the tradition today. It is my hope that this ritual will last for generations to come, as our children and grandchildren carry on our state’s legacy of freedom and patriotism.
Guantanamo Closure is Premature without Plan for Detainees
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
On September 11, 2001, the United States peered into the face of evil when 19 foreign terrorists brought the violence of Islamic extremism onto our soil, claiming the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans. That day changed the course of history, delineating the post-9/11 era from the days that came before. In the eight years since, America and its allies have boldly waged the Global War on Terror in an effort to prevent terrorism from ever reaching America’s shores again and to protect free nations across the world. This conflict has presented our nation with unique operational challenges for which there is no wartime precedent, such as where and how to detain captured terrorists, including the self-confessed mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
Since shortly after 9/11, enemy combatants have been detained at a prisoner facility at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Now, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has become a point of contention. Just two days after President Obama’s Inauguration, he issued an Executive Order to close the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility within a year. I believe this action is premature, and I am extremely concerned about the fast-looming deadline, particularly when no viable alternative for housing these dangerous terrorists and enemy combatants has been outlined.
President Barack Obama’s Executive Order states that the closure, which would require the release or transfer of nearly 300 detainees, should be practicable and consistent with national security interests. This cannot happen without a full discussion and thorough plan for the detainment of these enemy combatants. The policy contemplates five scenarios for handling current detainees: hand them over to their home countries for incarceration; transfer them to a neutral country; transfer them to prisons on U.S. soil; send them to U.S. facilities abroad; or release them outright. Unfortunately, all of these alternatives heighten the threat to the lives of Americans at home and abroad.
Without question, the worst of these options is to send Guantanamo prisoners to domestic prisons in the United States. By taking this action, we would essentially place terrorists in the neighborhoods and communities of American citizens. In 2007, the U.S. Senate expressed its firm opposition to any plans to release Guantanamo detainees into American society or to house them in U.S. facilities, by a vote of 94-3. Vice President Biden (then-Senator of Delaware) was among the 94 Senators opposing transfer of the prisoners to the U.S; President Obama (then-Senator of Illinois) was not present for the vote.
Alternatively, transferring enemy combatants to prisons in foreign states or releasing them to their home countries is also a dangerous proposition. In January, it was reported that former Guantanamo detainee Said Ali al-Shihri, who had been released into the custody of Saudi Arabia, has subsequently resurfaced as a terrorist operative. Today, he is al-Qaeda’s deputy leader in Yemen and is charged with planning and executing acts of violence against the U.S. and its allies. And al-Shihri is not the exception. According to the Pentagon, as many as 61 enemy combatants released from Guantanamo have since reconnected with terrorist networks and renewed their commitment to destroying America and our way of life. Even more frightening, these 61 former prisoners came from the group of 500 that were deemed less dangerous and were thus released. That means that the approximately 270 detainees currently in Guantanamo represent the most violent and nefarious prisoners.
Clearly, a viable alternative to Guantanamo has not yet been identified. Expediting closure of this detention facility without absolutely ensuring American lives won’t be endangered would place misguided foreign policy goals above the protection of our homeland. Moreover, it signals a dangerous return to the pre-9/11 mindset.
On February 11, 2009, I sent a letter to the President, urging him to reconsider his Executive Order and to reject any option that could land terrorists in Texas or anywhere else on American soil. Before setting a deadline to close the detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay, the American people must first be assured that the transfer or release of detainees will not increase the risk of harm to American citizens at home or abroad. As it stands, the administration cannot give that assurance today.
Honoring Our Nation’s Presidents
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Throughout Texas this coming Monday, children will enjoy a day off from school. Although the federal government honors “Washington’s Birthday” each year on the third Monday of February, Texas goes one step further by concurrently observing “Presidents’ Day,” a state holiday that celebrates all of our past Presidents.
Our forty-four presidents have included men who have been a carpenter (James Garfield), a cloth maker (Millard Fillmore), a star athlete (Gerald Ford), a launderer (Herbert Hoover), a mail room clerk (Harry Truman), a shoeshine boy (Lyndon Johnson), an insurance salesman (Warren Harding), a toymaker (Calvin Coolidge), an actor (Ronald Reagan) and a school principal (Chester Arthur). Ten presidents were farmers before reaching the White House; seven were diplomats; and twenty-six were lawyers. Their diverse perspectives strengthened the quality of our nation’s leadership and inspired foreign nations to embrace democracy.
In the nineteenth century, half a dozen presidents were born in log cabins, including one whose bicentennial we celebrate this week. Abraham Lincoln – the eloquent small town lawyer who helped set our nation on the path toward the “more perfect union” that our Founding Fathers envisioned – continues to inspire our leaders today. Former President George W. Bush chose to hang Lincoln’s portrait in the Oval Office and drew inspiration from Lincoln’s fortitude in perilous times. President Barack Obama paid tribute to his home state predecessor by retracing Lincoln’s path to the White House on a train ride from Philadelphia to Washington before his inauguration last month.
The democracy and entrepreneurial spirit at the core of our American identity have propelled our nation from a relatively small federation with fewer than four million citizens to the world’s economic and political superpower. As Americans, we can take great pride in the many individual contributions of ordinary citizens, but it is also fitting that we pay tribute to those national leaders who courageously established our freedoms during the earliest years of our nation.
George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, was the first of twelve generals who went on to serve as president. After refusing a royal title, he became our country’s only leader to be re-elected unanimously. As our Chief Executive, he established customs regarding interaction with Cabinet members, the negotiation of treaties, and the use of the presidential veto on legislation from Congress. He appointed our first federal judges, helped implement the American currency and banking system, and chose the location of our nation’s capital.
Our next two presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, worked together to draft the Declaration of Independence. In the White House, President Adams used his considerable diplomatic skills to avert further strife with European powers. President Jefferson enlarged our nation through the Louisiana Purchase and encouraged Lewis and Clark’s explorations of the West. Mr. Jefferson also was the first president not to powder his hair and to establish casual handshakes instead of deep bows as the preferred mode of greeting in the White House. Coincidentally, these two great men, lifelong friends and political rivals, passed away 500 miles apart on the very same day, July 4th, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
During later eras in American history, Texas contributed four outstanding presidents. General Dwight Eisenhower, who was born in Denison, ended the Korean War and built our current highway system. Lyndon Johnson, from Stonewall, championed civil rights legislation and education reform. George H. W. Bush represented the seventh district of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives before entering the White House, where he led a successful effort to liberate Kuwait from the clutches of a tyrannical dictator. And George W. Bush brought his strong leadership from Texas’ state capital to the White House, where he protected our country after the attacks by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
Today, as our military forces fight abroad in defense of our freedom, we more fully appreciate the heroism of several of the best of our wartime presidents. I especially admire President Ronald Reagan for his steadfastness toward the end of the Cold War. His careful diplomacy with our country’s allies, combined with his firm hand with Communist leaders, helped topple oppressive dictatorships throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Today, many of these nations benefit from constitutions that were inspired by our own. Our Founding Fathers’ vision continues to resonate and provide hope. Let us take this opportunity to honor our presidents for their fortitude in upholding our freedoms for over 200 years.
Children’s Health Insurance Program: Compassionate and Cost-Effective
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
With the U.S. economy in recession and unemployment soaring, many American families are struggling to meet their fundamental needs: a heated home, groceries, adequate clothing, and medical care. According to health officials, when the economy suffers, many people give up routine care, including checkups, immunizations, and treatment for minor conditions. Without medical attention, many illnesses become significantly worse and more expensive to treat. Unfortunately, a large segment of Texas’ population may face rising obstacles to health care, including 21 percent of our children who are uninsured. Now, more than ever, we must prudently leverage our state and federal resources so children have access to care.
State-provided health coverage for children is a two-dimensional issue. First, every compassionate person knows we should take care of children; their health affects their education and their future. Second, it delivers a cost saving for Texas taxpayers to use federal dollars at a 72 percent match to treat children, rather than state and local taxpayers for emergency room treatment with no federal match.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a joint federal/state initiative, was created to provide a backstop for children who are ineligible for Medicaid, but whose families cannot otherwise afford health insurance. If not for this program, many children would go without insurance coverage altogether. Economic studies have shown that uninsured individuals either seek treatment for minor infirmities at emergency rooms, or they avoid treatment until an illness or injury becomes serious and costly. Each scenario burdens the health care system with extra, and in many cases avoidable, costs that are often passed on to taxpayers and families in the form of higher insurance premiums and taxes.
Recently, Congress considered legislation to reauthorize this program. The bill was not perfect, and I supported a number of measures to improve the legislation. Though some of the changes we sought were not adopted, I voted for the final SCHIP bill because it provides critical federal funds for young Texans’ health care needs, which are not currently being met. Furthermore, the federal match could ease some of the state budget limitations that have prohibited Texas from doing more to address this growing problem. The Congressional Research Service projects that, under this legislation, Texas’ SCHIP allotment will rise 72 percent from roughly $550 million to over $945 million. This funding will make a significant difference in the lives of families who are struggling to provide their children with care.
The Center for Public Policy Priorities reports that, unfortunately, more than half of our uninsured children in Texas who could be enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP today are not. Because SCHIP funding is provided to the state in the form of a block grant, if Texas does not utilize these dollars, we will lose them. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projects that Texas has forfeited nearly $1 billion in SCHIP funding to other states over the past 10 years – even as the rate of uninsured children in Texas has swelled to the highest in the nation.
During times of hardship, citizens across our state find ways to help Texans who are less fortunate. Likewise, our policies must show compassion to those in need, while also protecting taxpayer dollars. Our state has taken some steps to raise and strengthen these programs, but budget constraints at the state level have impaired its ability to do more. The SCHIP bill, which the President signed into law on February 4, 2009, may address these shortfalls by making funding available to swiftly enroll eligible children so they are provided the necessary medical services without added taxpayer burden. The federal government and the state of Texas can be partners in this vital effort. Together, we must work to provide all children in Texas the foundation for a strong and prosperous future – beginning with proper health care.
History Shows Big Spending Can Prolong Recession
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In one of history’s more candid reflections, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Treasury Secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, confessed, “We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work.” Just six years after crafting the New Deal, Morgenthau declared that their efforts to create jobs and restore America’s depression-ravaged economy by expanding the federal government to unprecedented levels had been a failure. By Morgenthau’s own assessment, the New Deal saddled our country with “as much unemployment as when we started…and an enormous debt.”
More than 75 years have passed since FDR signed the New Deal into law, and many noted economists are studying the Great Depression and trying to learn from the experience. In 2004, a team of UCLA economists concluded that the policies of the New Deal, which suppressed competition and kept unemployment in the range of nine to 16 percent, actually prolonged the Great Depression by seven years.
Amity Shlaes, an economic scholar and Great Depression historian, has argued that the sheer “arbitrariness” of the New Deal actually exacerbated the crisis. The National Recovery Administration, the operative arm of the New Deal’s competition code, failed to establish clear, actionable policies for businesses to follow. Instead, some corporations got sweetheart deals, while others were unduly penalized. As a result, businesses stopped investing in equipment, hiring came to a halt, and the markets froze. Many economists conclude that the New Deal fostered uncertainty, which was salt in the wound of the American economy.
As in 1933, today our nation is confronted with an economic crisis that grows worse each day. The burst of the housing bubble and the subsequent credit crisis has badly impaired our financial markets. Many individuals and small businesses are struggling to get loans, and the home foreclosure rate is rising. Large corporations, once deemed “too big to fail,” are now teetering on the edge of insolvency. In December, the nationwide unemployment rate reached a 15-year high of 7.2 percent.
Some in Congress are rallying around a “solution” that sounds alarmingly familiar: spend more than we have ever spent before. Literally. And the nearly $900 billion stimulus measure that the House passed and the Senate will consider has many deficiencies.
First, the federal government doesn’t have the money. Today, Washington is running an all-time record annual deficit of $455 billion, and that deficit is projected to reach an astounding $1.2 trillion this year. In addition, the gross federal debt is $10 trillion, or almost $33,000 per U.S. citizen. We are approaching a tipping point whereby creditors will be unwilling to buy government debt.
Second, even if we could afford it, this bill isn’t actually stimulative. With any stimulus package, our goal should be to swiftly pump money into the economy, create jobs, and free up credit. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which analyzes the financial dimensions of legislation, estimates that only 64 percent of the funding in the Senate bill would actually be spent within the next two years. Market trends indicate that even without government interference the economy should begin rebounding on its own within the next two years; at which point, “stimulus” spending would only add to our debt burden rather than help the economy.
Ultimately, this “solution” will result only in the accumulation of greater debt that will fall on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren, while not providing the stimulus we need today. Moreover, it will leave us vulnerable to future economic challenges. A better proposal would emphasize tax relief so that individuals and businesses can have more capital to inject into the economy, thereby encouraging private sector job creation. It would also guard against massive government expansion. In short, we should promote permanent private sector jobs, not a permanent increase in spending and debt.
I am eager to work in a bipartisan fashion toward a speedy and sustainable recovery. But we have to ensure that any stimulus package is balanced, reasonable in size, and targeted specifically to job creation, keeping people in their homes, and overall economic growth. The plan before us lacks these objectives. What we have learned from those before us is that excessive spending may prolong a recession. Moving forward, we must carefully consider the spending decisions before us.
Keeping Americans Connected in the Digital Age
Recently, I outlined my goals for keeping Texas and the United States connected through our national highway system and commercial and passenger air transportation. As the Senior Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, I am also focused on another kind of connectivity: telecommunications. Over the past several decades, America has seen a rapid advancement in communication technologies. While most citizens enjoy its benefits, we have not kept pace with other nations and the advantages of connectivity have not reached all our citizens. We must find ways to leverage new innovations to expand their reach and improve the lives of all Americans.
Perhaps the most pressing priority facing us this year is the Digital Television (DTV) Transition, during which broadcasters nationwide will switch from an analog format to digital broadcasting. Congress mandated the transition to digital broadcasting in 2006 to free up broadcast spectrum for important public safety activities that will increase the nation’s ability to respond to terrorist attacks and national disasters.
For more than a year, the federal government and the broadcasting industry have worked to inform the public about the transition and to help consumers prepare. The transition date had previously been scheduled for February 17. However, in January, a senior official in the Obama administration called for postponement of the transition, citing dwindling funds for the federal Coupon Program, which helps consumers buy converter boxes at a discounted rate.
Initially, I had serious concerns about shifting the digital television transition without a sound plan to inform consumers and resolve the converter box coupon shortage. But Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller has worked with me to address many of my reservations with the initial proposals to move the date. Once legislation is enacted to reschedule the transition, the changes I worked to secure will help consumers whose coupons have expired to apply for new coupons. Other modifications to early delay proposals will allow prepared TV stations to move forward without the added costs of operating multiple broadcast facilities. Moreover, I have received assurances that there will be no further postponement, and that we will bring the transition to a conclusion this year. Significant challenges remain, however, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure a smooth changeover to digital television for all Americans.
Another telecommunications issue that begs the Senate’s thoughtful consideration is access to the high-speed communication service known as broadband. Most in Congress agree that the widespread availability of high-speed Internet will create jobs. Moreover, in heavily rural states, like Texas, broadband deployment will expand educational opportunities through distance learning and improve the delivery of medical services and information through telehealth programs.
Where lawmakers tend to disagree, however, is on how to deploy broadband. Some in Congress would like high-speed Internet access in the U.S. to match that of urban centers like Hong Kong and are ready to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to that end. There are two problems with that approach. First, the U.S. is geographically and demographically diverse – what makes sense for New York City might not work in the Texas Panhandle. Second, it isn’t cost-efficient. Even if the federal government builds a nationwide fiber-optic network, there is no guarantee that all consumers would subscribe to it. Instead, I am hopeful we will adopt incentives for investment by individuals and companies through changes in tax treatment, enhanced bonding authorities for broadband construction and targeted grant programs. This will allow the marketplace to determine what technology is appropriate for a community and how best to deploy it. In the meantime, broadband mapping efforts, which collect data on internet use, will help us better target our efforts.
Finally, just as Congress must support efforts to upgrade and expand telecommunications technology where we need it, we must limit it where it can do harm. In January, Rep. Kevin Brady and I introduced a bill to prevent prison inmates from using smuggled cellular phones, which are often used to orchestrate criminal enterprises and harass or threaten public officials from behind bars. In Texas, death row inmate Richard Tabler used a smuggled cell phone to intimidate a state senator. Current law prevents any kind of interference with wireless services. Our legislation provides a reasonable process for approval and use of jamming technology without compromising public access to 911 and emergency services or infringing on legitimate users’ rights.
This year in the Senate Commerce Committee, I will work to advance sound, practicable policies that will keep Americans connected and allow our nation to keep up in the fast-moving digital age.
Moving People and Commerce: My Transportation Priorities for 2009
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Often we begin a new year with a set of goals to achieve, or with a list of priorities that will receive our special attention in the foreseeable future. Some people pledge to get fit; others resolve to be more fiscally responsible. Likewise, Congress must, at the outset of a new legislative session, set an agenda and work to accomplish it. As the Senior Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, a body that oversees America’s vast transportation network, I hope to focus on several key issues that require action in the Senate this year to keep our nation moving and our commerce flowing.
First, we must reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), whose operating authority expires in March. The entire aviation industry has been hit hard by fuel prices and our weakening economy, and the continued operation of our aviation system is critical to movement of American goods and people. The FAA projects that domestic air travel will nearly double to 1 billion passengers annually by 2015. In order to improve security and capacity and to upgrade key systems like air traffic control (ATC), Congress faces the important challenge of advancing and equipping the aviation industry to keep pace with projected increases in demand.
Modernizing the ATC system, known as the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), must be a national priority. NextGen will broadly expand air traffic capacity by transferring infrastructure from ground-based radars and navigational aids to satellite technology and will rely on aircraft on-board automation. These upgrades will allow the FAA to monitor more flights in a more efficient and safe manner. Such modernization efforts are vital to our air transport system’s ability to meet future travel demands and eliminate gridlock in our skies and at our nation’s airports. This would be particularly beneficial to Texas and its approximately 400 airports. Our state’s general aviation airport system is one of the largest in the country, accounting for 783,700 jobs and $20.6 billion in payroll and an economic impact of a $48.8 billion. NextGen and other aviation improvement efforts are critical to keeping Texas a hub of tourism and commerce well into the future.
Unfortunately, vital projects like NextGen have been hampered by Congress’ failure to approve a multi-year FAA Authorization bill. Instead, over the last two years, Congress has passed a series of eight short-term extensions, creating funding instability and inconsistency in our aviation infrastructure programs. First, we must extend the current programs through the end of fiscal year 2009. Then, we must work toward a multi-year reauthorization bill, which is key to providing our air transport system the continuity of funding and support to take on critical projects.
The second priority must be to reauthorize the Highway Bill to improve surface infrastructure. This will bolster our economy through added construction jobs and more efficient transportation of commercial goods.
The existing Highway Bill expires in September, and its reauthorization will be difficult because we must modernize the formula for the Highway Trust Fund, which disparately apportions money to the states. Every year, many states contribute millions of dollars to other states to build their highway networks. Texas, for example, receives only 92 cents in federal highway funding for every taxpayer dollar paid into the Trust Fund. While this is a huge improvement over the 75 cent return when I first took office, Texas is long overdue for retaining its money. Now that we have a national highway infrastructure in place, we should concentrate on using federal highway dollars to maintain the national system. And most of the gas taxes should be left to individual states and municipalities to collect and spend without having to route the money through Washington bureaucracy. This is the approach I will urge. I will also pursue the continuation of the policy I enacted two years ago that bans tolling of federal highways in Texas that taxpayers have already paid for, unless it builds a new lane and maintains the same number of free lanes. Some states have allowed every lane of a federal highway to be tolled, thereby prohibiting its free use. I believe this breaks faith with people whose dollars paid for the road with the promise of free use for transporting people and goods.
In January, the Senate Commerce Committee intends to hold a nomination hearing for Raymond LaHood, a former Illinois Congressman, who has been slated to serve as the new Secretary of Transportation. As our nation addresses a range of challenges in the coming months, I pledge to work with Mr. LaHood and my colleagues to tackle these and other transportation priorities that are critical to our nation’s well-being in 2009 and beyond.
Celebrating 220 Years of Inaugural Traditions
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
This month we will celebrate the 220th anniversary of our nation’s very first presidential inauguration ceremony. Steeped in tradition, these ceremonies give all Americans, regardless of how they voted, the opportunity to come together every four years to honor our democratic process and the hard-won freedoms established by our Founding Fathers.
The oath sworn by General George Washington in 1789, as prescribed in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, has endured: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will try to the best of my ability, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." George Washington personally added the phrase “so help me God,” as have most of his successors. He also established the tradition of the inaugural address. Throughout our tumultuous history, these cherished words have inspired, encouraged and reassured us.
The other individual components of modern-day ceremonies evolved over time. George Washington travelled 280 miles on horseback from his home in Virginia to New York City, which was then the nation’s capital, to attend his first inauguration. Along the way, Philadelphians crowned him with a laurel, women in New Jersey threw flowers and sang sonatas, and New Yorkers fired a 13-gun salute.
Thomas Jefferson, our nation’s third President, was the first to participate in what has since become known as the customary Inaugural Parade after Washington, D.C. became our nation’s capital in 1801. Subsequent processions have varied widely according to the tastes of each President. For example, Teddy Roosevelt’s in 1905 included cowboys, miners, and the Rough Riders – his Spanish-American War cavalry regiment – on horseback. Modern-day festivities have included cheerleaders, marching bands, and floats.
January 20th will mark the nation’s 56th formal inauguration ceremony since 1789. Presidents have been sworn into office 68 times, most often in public, but occasionally in private, such as immediately after the death or resignation of their predecessors. Originally small, indoor affairs, these ceremonies soon attracted widespread interest, moved outdoors, and expanded to include fireworks and balls by the 1820s.
Occasionally, carefully laid plans and good intentions have gone awry. In 1829, Andrew Jackson, who sought to demonstrate that the White House belongs to the people, invited the public inside the White House after his swearing-in ceremony. Throngs took him up on his offer, spoiled the carpet and the ornate furniture, crowded the President up against a wall, and didn’t depart until a clever White House steward placed large vats of whiskey out on the lawn to attract them outside.
This month we will observe history unfold as our nation’s 44th President, and our first African-American President, takes the oath of office. Like his predecessors, he will follow tradition. He will attend the customary morning worship service, participate in a swearing-in ceremony and deliver an inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Later he will enjoy an inaugural luncheon with members of Congress in Statuary Hall and ride in an Inaugural Parade from the Capitol to his new office and home, the White House.
As many as three million Americans from every corner of our country are expected to attend. We will all celebrate a hallmark of American democracy: the peaceful transition of power from one party and administration to another. For 220 years, the United States – the world’s oldest democracy – has stunned dictators and despots, and given hope to millions, by observing this most sacred of democratic customs.
The world’s eyes will be upon us as we make history again. As America’s soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marines continue to defend our freedom abroad, let us all unite and take this opportunity to thank them, to appreciate the blessings that our Founding Fathers ensured, and to honor the courage, determination and leadership of the forty-three men who have presided over our great country. Let us all wish our incoming President godspeed as he becomes the leader of our nation.
Texans Talk Back – Hearing from Constituents on Key Issues
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
As Americans welcome a new President and a new Congress, I’d like to ask you to share with me your opinions on the most important issues facing our nation and state at this critical juncture.
We often learn the most when we listen. Hearing first-hand what is important to you helps me better represent Texas.
Like you, I am passionate about the issues that most affect our state, and I know how important they are to you and your families. I encourage you to respond online at the survey page on my website or mail in your responses. The mailing address and survey website address are listed at the end of this form.
I appreciate your participation and look forward to reading your responses.
I. Economy
The current financial crisis threatens the economic security of every American family and business. Unemployment has reached a 15-year high, and our economy is in a recession.
My goal is for American workers to earn a living wage and for their companies to be competitive, resulting in long-term success for businesses and their employees.
As we work to find solutions to overcome the recession, what role do you think the federal government should play in stimulating economic growth in this time of uncertainty? Please rank in order of importance (1-3).
____ Increase Government Spending on Infrastructure
____ Cut Taxes
____ Pay Down the National Debt
Additional Comments:
II. Health Care
There is a growing disparity in access to health care because of soaring medical costs and rising insurance premiums. We must find ways to make health care more accessible without sacrificing the quality of care that Americans enjoy.
In your opinion, what are the greatest barriers in our healthcare system? Please rank in order of importance (1-5).
____ High Cost of Insurance and Health Care Services
____ Limited or No Access to Health Insurance
____ Quality of Care Provided (Please explain below)
____ Limitations on Choice of Health Care Practitioners
____ Difficulty Understanding Health Insurance Plan Coverage and Payments
Additional Comments:
III. Education
Education is key to America’s success, and it will be critical to our leadership in the 21st century. Strengthening our schools, colleges, and universities is a goal all levels of government share.
First, we must dramatically reduce the high school dropout rate. Second, we must emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math in our schools. These are the disciplines that spur creativity and new discoveries, which are essential to economic growth.
What do you think Congress should do to strengthen public education? Please rank in order of importance (1-5).
____ Expand Choice for Alternatives to Public Schools (Private, parochial, or magnet options)
____ Help Attract More Qualified Teachers
____ Raise Teachers’ Salaries
____ Expand Technical and Vocational Training in Community Colleges
____ Expand Access to Colleges with Student Aid and Scholarships
Additional Comments:
IV. Transportation
Transportation is a vital part of our daily lives. Yet, every day at rush hour, we are reminded of the strain that Texas’ growing population puts on our infrastructure.
If we fail to meet our transportation needs, businesses and employers may relocate to areas with more suitable infrastructure.
In your opinion, what should the federal government do to enhance the capabilities of our current transportation system? Please rank in order of importance (1-5).
____ Increase Use of Rail as an Alternative to Automobiles
____ Replace Aging Infrastructure
____ Increase Toll Roads
____ Develop More Options for Mass Transit Such as Buses
____ Develop More Options for Use of Lanes Dedicated to Multi-passenger Cars (HOV)
Additional Comments:
V. Legislative Priority
What should Congress’ legislative priority be this year?
Contact Information
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Survey Responses
961 Federal Building
300 East 8th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
www.hutchison.senate.gov/survey.html
America Must Guard Against Complacency in Homeland Security
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
On November 26, the world’s largest democracy, India, fell victim to the senseless horrors of terrorism. Armed terrorists descended on Mumbai, a tourist hotspot and a hub of the Indian economy, with the goal of destroying innocent human life and crippling the nation’s economy. Focusing on “soft targets,” including luxury hotels, a popular café, transit stations, a Jewish cultural center, and even a hospital, the aggressors targeted Westerners and held siege over the city, brutally murdering nearly 200 innocent people, including six Americans. The attacks in India must remind us that terrorism has not been eradicated. And Islamic extremists’ disdain for liberty and democracy continues to motivate them to destroy those who cherish freedom.
America has not been attacked on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. But the domestic security we have enjoyed has not merely been good fortune. According to a Washington D.C. think tank, we have prevented at least 19 planned attacks against the United States since 9/11. However, it is unrealistic to think that our homeland security efforts will thwart every violent plot against America. A bipartisan commission appointed by Congress to examine the greatest threats to our national security reported on December 3 that nuclear or biological weapons will likely be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by 2013. Therefore, if America is to remain safe, we must remain vigilant and guard against slipping into a state of complacency that will lure terrorists to attack us again.
First, we must enhance security along our borders and at our nation’s ports. Indian officials reported that many of the weapons used in the Mumbai attacks were smuggled in by sea months in advance. Texas boasts 28 seaports, and three of them are among the busiest in the country. Our ports must not become a gateway for terrorists. In 2006, I helped pass the SAFE Port Act, which authorizes random inspections of containers, establishes minimum standards and procedures for security containers in transit to the U.S., and implements an improved container targeting system. I also offered legislation to add hundreds more Customs and Border Protection officers to inspect incoming shipments. These efforts have helped keep our coast secure.
Next, Congress must work to support a robust defense budget. Over the past several years the Senate has been able to pass supplemental funding along with regular defense spending bills. This funding has kept our troops equipped on the battlefield and has enabled our military to fight terrorism abroad. As we transition into the next administration, we must make sure that our defense remains strong enough to win the War on Terror. It is also important that Congress support modernization and capitalization projects to outfit our military forces with the resources and equipment to meet the challenges of next generation terrorists. And finally, we must honor those who have served in our military by assuring veterans’ health care and G.I. benefits.
Finally, we must continue to fight terrorism abroad by identifying security threats before they result in attacks on our homeland. Our defense and intelligence agencies must continue to work together and with allied nations, such as India and Pakistan, to track and disrupt terrorists’ plots. In order to do this, U.S. officials must have the means to gather information on our enemies. The modern and relevant tools established under the Patriot Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act of 2008 must be maintained and enforced in the next administration.
On December 1, the world was watching as President-elect Barack Obama unveiled his national security team. In particular, Mr. Obama’s decision to keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates in his cabinet and to name General James Jones National Security Advisor puts our allies and adversaries on notice that vigilance will continue to guide our national security policy. It is critical that the next administration and Congress work together to avoid complacency, and we must remain committed to the defeat of global terrorism.
Energy Price Plunge is a Short-Term Effect of the Credit Crisis
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
President Kennedy once observed: “In a crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity." Today, America’s credit crisis is roiling Wall Street and pushing the economy into a recession. However, one of the few benefits of the economic slowdown is the decrease of energy prices caused by a decline in global demand. The cost of a barrel of oil has fallen almost 70 percent in just four months. While some politicians are ready to take the energy issue off the table, we should use this short-term drop in costs to renew our commitment to a long-term energy solution. If we take the necessary measures to increase domestic energy production today, it will strengthen America’s economy and national security tomorrow.
According to the Heritage Foundation, the plunge in gas prices since July could provide the average household with an extra $1,100 annually. These savings will help U.S. families whose assets are depreciating, as well as small retail businesses which are expecting a difficult Christmas season. However, now is not the time to get complacent. Eventually the economy will rebound, and with it, the price of energy. Hedge funds and large investors are selling off liquid assets, including oil and gas positions, but eventually the global supply and demand imbalance will prevail, and energy prices will increase again.
One thing America must do is expand domestic energy supplies. The U.S. remains the only oil-producing nation on earth that has placed a significant amount of its reserves out of reach. To its credit, Congress recently allowed the longstanding restrictions on offshore drilling in 85 percent of our territorial waters to lapse. However, some Members of Congress are talking about reinstating the federal offshore restrictions. That would be a mistake. According to the Minerals Management Service, there are 14 billion barrels of petroleum in the restricted areas of the outer continental shelf. Those reserves should be explored and drilled for America’s energy needs.
But Congress shouldn’t stop there. We also need to permit energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Back in 1995, when the average price of oil was $16 a barrel, I joined with my Republican colleagues to pass a bill allowing ANWR exploration. Unfortunately, President Clinton vetoed that bill. If he had signed it, today our country would be producing about 1 million more barrels of oil – nearly enough to replace our daily imports from Saudi Arabia.
While we admittedly can’t “drill our way” to energy independence, increasing our domestic production of oil can be a bridge to the next generation of energy technologies. We should increase U.S. investment in the energies that will help fuel the world in the 21st century – including solar, wind, and nuclear power.
By expanding and diversifying America’s energy portfolio, we can increase the pressure already being felt by petroleum-rich and adversarial governments in Russia and Venezuela, and rogue regimes in the Middle East. They have used the enormous jump in oil prices over the past half-decade to finance Islamic terrorists, provide weapons to narco-traffickers, and blackmail neighbors into tolerating aggression.
The recent dip in the price of energy has caused major problems for all of those regimes. In Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been forced to impose price controls and raid his country’s foreign reserves to deal with the global economic slowdown.
In October, Russia conducted its largest naval deployment in the Caribbean in more than 20 years. The purpose was to build a “strategic alliance” with Venezuela’s dictator, Hugo Chavez. For years, Mr. Chavez has promised to use his "strong oil card" to "finish off the U.S. empire.” But Venezuela is struggling to find replacement financing for its state run oil company since the Royal Bank of Scotland cut off its $5 billion credit line, and reports indicate Mr. Chavez’s government may be strapped for cash. At last, the tables may be turning.
By increasing U.S. oil exploration, we can not only smooth the inevitable return of higher gas prices, we can also put much-needed pressure on some of the most nefarious regimes on Earth.
Diabetes is a Growing Health Risk for Children
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Parents often casually remark that today’s children grow up too quickly. In one particularly alarming sense, that sentiment is true. A generation of children whose health has been threatened by sedentary behavior and poor eating habits now face some of the deadly health risks once limited to adults, such as type 2 diabetes. Without serious lifestyle changes, these children could struggle with significant, lifelong health challenges, including heart disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.
Earlier this month, scientists released the staggering findings of a study on the “heart health” among American kids: the arteries of obese children are in the same condition of those of 45-year-old adults. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cholesterol screening for children with a family history of heart disease as early as age two. Trust for America, a leading health organization, reports that 32 percent of American children are overweight or obese. So it is little surprise that one in three children born today will be diagnosed with diabetes. And the most distressing trends in childhood obesity is the rise in cases of type 2 diabetes. This complex form of the disease was formerly known as “adult-onset diabetes” because occurrence in children was so rare. However, over the past 20 years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among children diagnosed with the disease has climbed from two percent to as much as 45 percent.
November has been designated National Diabetes Month in order to raise awareness of this deadly disease, which is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
In Texas, the prevalence of obesity has surged 112 percent since 1990, according to the United Health Foundation. Prevention must be the cornerstone of our state’s efforts to combat diabetes. Many people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a parent or a sibling with the disease. Individuals with a known predisposition must take extra care to stay “heart healthy” through nutritious eating and regular exercise. This is particularly true of children, who can reduce their diabetes risk by adopting healthy habits early in life.
A 2007 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that school-based health, nutrition, and exercise programs are beneficial to all students and can directly impact diabetes risk factors in children. Presently, Texas is one of only 17 states that requires school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to meet higher nutritional standards than the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandates. To build on that, I created an elementary school pilot program in the 2007 Farm Bill that encourages parents and their children to participate in nutrition education. Under this program, schools would be able to employ a nutrition coordinator to assist them in establishing a comprehensive nutrition and fitness program for parents and students alike. This program is one of the first of its kind and will help prevent obesity and promote healthy lifestyles among families.
But there are more than one million diagnosed cases of diabetes in Texas and, alarmingly, another half a million Texans are living with the disease and don’t know it. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, the number of Texans affected by the disease nearly doubled between 1994 and 2002. So, as we advocate prevention, we must also pursue a cure.
In late 2007, I cosponsored a bipartisan measure to support research on new medications, identification of factors that place individuals at risk of developing the disease, and efforts to reduce health complications caused by diabetes. I have also worked to increase federal support for research efforts at the National Institutes of Health and the CDC so we can better understand the causes of diabetes and improve prevention and educational efforts.
Combating diabetes through prevention and treatment is a national challenge that requires a cooperative approach. For more information on diabetes, contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES or visit its Web site at www.diabetes.org.
Texas Military Heroes Span Generations
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
As we celebrated Veterans Day, we remembered that generations of courageous men and women served in our armed forces to ensure we remain a land of opportunity. Since the earliest days of our nation, whenever freedom was threatened, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have risen to its defense. On battlefields in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world they heeded the call to service.
In Texas, there are more than 225,000 active duty, civilian, and guard service members – more than any other state. We are also home to over 1.6 million veterans. Our veterans are part of a long tradition of Texans who bravely fought on the frontlines and are shining examples of the true measure of American character. Our legacy of great military heroes began with the Texas Revolution. The grit and valor of leaders like Sam Houston and William Barret Travis secured our independence from Mexico and enabled Texas’ union with the United States.
Some of the most courageous champions for freedom are from the “Greatest Generation.” Many of our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers rose to meet America’s greatest test and defeated fascism during World War II. On D-Day, Texan Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder led his battalion of Army Rangers up the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc on the beaches of Normandy, where they successfully established a critically important beachhead for Allied Forces. Later, he played a key role in overcoming the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Lt. Col. Rudder went on to serve as President of Texas A&M University. Another famous Texan is Audie Murphy, whose brave service earned him the distinction of the most decorated hero of World War II. The young soldier from Kingston, Texas served 27 months in multiple campaigns and was awarded 32 medals, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, a native of Edinburgh, Texas fought bravely through two tours of duty in Vietnam. In his final battle in Hue City, he nearly single-handedly defeated a heavily-armed contingent of Viet Cong. He paid the ultimate sacrifice in that fight, and he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The U.S. Navy named the USS Gonzalez in memory of his service, making Sergeant Gonzalez the first Mexican-American to receive that honor.
In October, I was privileged to participate in a ceremony at West Point, honoring the memory and service of another hero of the Vietnam War, Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, a daring and fearless soldier from Cuero, Texas. MSG Benavidez was so badly wounded in combat that his commander nominated him for a Distinguished Service Cross award, instead of the nation’s highest award, because the Army was afraid he wouldn’t survive long enough for the extensive Medal of Honor process to be completed. But he did survive, and was subsequently awarded the well-deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.
These heroes, as well as the countless men and women who have served our country alongside them, have fought to preserve our freedom and the American way of life. The same dedication to service and spirit of heroism is alive and well in the “Next Great Generation” – the men and women who comprise our active duty and reserve forces and are veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I saw firsthand this strength and character in one of our nation’s youngest heroes, David Lewis of Houston. David had always wanted to serve his country, and after witnessing the horrible attacks of 9/11 he was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant. David served two tours in Iraq and was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V for his service. When he returned home to Texas, he grew increasingly frustrated by the media’s negative portrayal of the war – and the cause he believed in. So he came to Washington, where he ably served on my staff. Lieutenant Lewis’ service represents the commitment and sense of responsibility we see in so many young Americans today.
Every November, America celebrates Veterans Day. But our recognition of our military men and women – past and present – must not be limited to a single day or month of commemoration. We should all embrace every opportunity to express our genuine gratitude for their service. And let us always remember the Texas heroes who have inspired this generation to keep fighting to protect the freedom we all enjoy.
An Historic Election and Future Priorities
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
With the election of our first African-American President, Barack Obama, the United States has achieved a significant historical milestone and reaffirmed the American ideal that any individual, whatever his or her background, can ascend to the highest office in our land. That fact alone is cause for great national pride, regardless of anyone’s party affiliation.
Barack Obama ran a strong campaign, emphasizing the need for change. I share his hope that there will, indeed, be a change in the rancorous tone and partisanship that has stymied productivity in Washington for too long. The best way we can build bipartisanship is to rally around sound principles that focus on the genuine concerns of American families.
Our nation’s present economic crisis has forced many low- and middle-income Americans to tighten their belts and carefully balance their budgets. Likewise, the government must keep its own spending under control. With the national debt already at $10.5 trillion and climbing, federal spending must be curbed. In the Senate, I will work my colleagues and with President-elect Obama’s Administration to lower spending, setting clear priorities, and working toward a balanced federal budget.
Senator Obama has proposed a progressive tax policy that will sharply raise taxes on small businesses and middle- and upper-income individuals. By capping or penalizing financial success, economic growth and job creation become stifled. Instead, lawmakers and the next Administration should cooperatively advance policies that place opportunity for success within the reach of all Americans, while not discouraging entrepreneurial risk by redistributing the products of success. And we must all heed the lesson America learned the hard way when President Hoover raised taxes during economic hardship in 1932, turning a serious recession into the Great Depression.
One of Senator Obama’s campaign pledges was to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care. As Congress and the next Administration consider health policy solutions, we must guard against abandoning the free market principles that will help keep quality, affordable health care choices available to our citizens.
The next Administration will be tasked with the urgent national priority of pursuing American energy independence. President-elect Obama has set a goal of reducing American imports from the Middle East and Venezuela. We share this goal. It will take a comprehensive approach to halt the $500 billion we currently send abroad for foreign fuel each year. His plan to pursue alternative sources of energy and promote new, clean technologies should be of a part of a broader strategy. However, until technological advancements can keep pace with American energy consumption, we must bridge that gap by increasing our domestic supply of oil and gas. Congress should not adopt policies, such as a windfall profits tax on oil producers, that could stifle production, discourage innovation, and keep our domestic oil and gas in the outer continental shelf off limits. The principle of supply and demand should guide our energy solution as Congress works with the next Administration toward an era of self-sufficiency.
Finally, in order to keep America a place of opportunity and prosperity, we must continue to protect our homeland from the threats of terrorism. In January, Senator Obama will assume the solemn duty of commanding our Armed Forces and overseeing the administration of the Global War on Terror. He has promised a phased reduction of American troops in Iraq. As our forces are drawn down, it is important that our commanders on the ground continue to be consulted in order to avoid micromanagement of the war from Washington. This will help us to build on the success of the surge in Iraq, and assure that terrorists do not destabilize that country and spread their destruction further.
Voters have tasked elected officials with serving the best interests of all Americans. Lawmakers may disagree on certain issues, but we share the same goal and responsibility of making this nation a better, safer, and more prosperous place. Though the political climate has changed and a new set of challenges lie before us, I remain committed to the people of Texas and will stand by the principles that have helped me earn their trust.
Comprehensive Approach to Keep our Kids Safe from Online Threats
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, learn, and conduct business in the 21st century. Although these advancements have significantly benefited our society, they are also accompanied by a host of dangers that pose the greatest threat to our nation’s children. The Internet can be a hunting ground for sexual predators seeking minors to exploit. It has also become a marketplace for pornography – 20 percent of which, disturbingly, involves children. Furthermore, when children and teens go online, odds are they will be exposed to sexual material. A London School of Economics study found that nine in 10 children under age 16 have unintentionally accessed sexually-oriented websites, often in the process of doing homework or by entering a seemingly innocent term into an Internet search engine.
On September 15, Oprah Winfrey used her daytime talk show to spotlight the issue and generate public support for Senate legislation that I cosponsored to address child exploitation. The Protect Our Children Act was swiftly passed in both chambers of the Congress and President Bush signed it into law on October 14.
Passage of the Protect Our Children Act will help ensure that sex offenders are brought to justice. The bill establishes a task force at the U.S. Department of Justice that will coordinate the efforts of state and local officials to address online enticement of children, child exploitation and pornography. It also directs the Attorney General to establish a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System to support the investigation and prosecution of child exploitation crimes. Finally, the bill makes significant changes to federal criminal law by allowing expanded prosecution of crimes involving child exploitation, selling or buying children, material involving sexual exploitation of minors or containing child pornography, and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
However, that bill alone is not a complete solution. Two other critical pieces of legislation that I cosponsored will help us tackle every aspect of the issue. Both were also signed into law in October.
The Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators (KIDS) Act mandates that convicted sex offenders register their email addresses, instant messaging screen names, or other identifiers used to communicate over the Internet. It also requires the Attorney General to maintain a system that will enable commercial social networking sites to identify users who are listed in the National Sex Offender Registry. These measures will deter deviant individuals from using social networking websites frequented by children and builds on the successful efforts of the National Sex Offender Registry.
The second bill combats online exploitation by raising awareness of online risks and promoting safe use of the Internet. The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act creates an Online Safety and Technology Working Group that will assess current parental control technology, blocking and filtering software, and age-appropriate labels for content. The bill also requires schools receiving funding from the federal Universal Service program to offer age-appropriate online behavior education in the classroom. The goal is to help school-aged children safely navigate the Internet. Lastly, the legislation calls on the Federal Trade Commission to carry out a nationwide program to raise public awareness.
In the 21st century, it is neither practicable nor constructive to keep our children out of the expanses of cyberspace. Therefore, it is critically important for legislators, law enforcement officials, educators, and parents to continue to work together to keep the Internet a safe space where our children can benefit from its valuable communication capabilities and limitless information resources. Parents must have an open dialogue with their children about safe Internet usage and encourage kids to report dangers they encounter online. It is equally important that parents share information with local officials, law enforcement agencies, and advocacy groups. Together, we can protect our children and stay ahead of savvy predators and changing technology.
Voting – An American Right and An Individual Responsibility
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In just a few short days, the historic 2008 Presidential campaign will reach its conclusion as Americans cast their ballots to help elect the next Commander-in-Chief. This is one of the most consequential elections in a generation. Our nation is at a critical turning point on many issues that will directly impact every American citizen. Yet, voting is a right that too many in our nation take for granted.
One of the most important instruments of our democracy is the right to vote. In the early years of our republic, voting was restricted to a small, select group of people – predominantly, males who owned property – but over a period of many generations that right was extended across the barriers of race, sex, and class. Following a brutal Civil War, African-American and other non-white males were granted the right to vote in 1870, with the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Fifty years later, after the tireless and courageous efforts of suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, voting rights were also extended to all women. In 1964, the 24th Amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections, thereby extending the vote to all Americans, regardless of property ownership. And in 1971, all citizens 18 or older were granted suffrage.
So many Americans in our nation’s history did not have the opportunity to vote, and so many others fiercely struggled to ensure that no American adult today would be denied that right. I would urge every Texan to consider the critical challenges we face in the 21st century and to look at voting as, not only a right, but also a responsibility.
When the next President of the United States takes office in January of 2009, he will immediately face the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression. The American people will look to the White House for leadership to bring stability to our credit markets and ensure economic stability for every family and business. The next President must lead the effort to overhaul our banking regulatory system so our country is never put in this precarious position again. Therefore, citizens must educate themselves on each candidate’s tax proposals and economic plans and cast their vote for the candidate who will keep their taxes low and help them balance their budgets.
Over the past several years, Americans saw an unprecedented spike in energy prices that has made it burdensome for many families to keep gasoline in their vehicles and heat their homes. This year, we will spend about $700 billion to import energy from nations across the globe, some of which are hostile to our interests. Even as energy prices fluctuate, the next Administration must make American energy independence an urgent national priority. Though the Presidential candidates are united in this goal, they have distinctly different ideas on how to achieve it. Prices at the gas pump and home heating costs affect every American family, and voters should learn how each candidate intends to raise the domestic supply of oil, invest in new, clean technologies, and lead our nation into an era of energy self-sufficiency.
One of the most solemn responsibilities of the President is to protect our homeland and keep every American safe from harm. Our next Commander-in-Chief will lead our Armed Forces and make critical decisions directing operations in the Global War on Terror, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Citizens must carefully consider which candidate will best safeguard America from foreign and domestic terrorism and military threats.
President Dwight Eisenhower said, “Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people.” In the days leading up to this historic election, I encourage every eligible voter to consider their priorities and values, to learn about the candidates, and to stay involved in the political process by casting their vote on November 4.
Texas Leads the Way in Developing 21st Century Military Technology
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In his first inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan said, “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon adversaries in today's world do not have.” Though spoken at the height of the Cold War, these words resonate today as our country wages a Global War on Terror against enemies who despise the liberties we hold dear.
In his two terms as Commander in Chief, President Reagan significantly expanded U.S. military resources to ensure that our enemies did not gain a strategic advantage. Today, we are again investing in our defense infrastructure and technology to provide our Armed Forces with the tools they need to win the War on Terror.
Texas, which is home to 18 major military installations and more than 225,000 active and reserve service members, is leading the charge to design and build the technologies that will help our troops fight the forces of Islamic extremism. Many of the advanced weapons, military platforms, and communication networks that keep our troops safe, more informed, and better coordinated in combat situations are developed in our state. For example, in Iraq, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have caused the majority of U.S. deaths. To protect our troops, manufacturers in Sealy, Texas are producing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, designed to withstand IED attacks. There are now more than 7,700 MRAPs operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. Between May 2007 and May 2008, the number of casualties in Iraq caused by IEDs decreased by nearly 90 percent, due to the surge and enhanced by the implementation of MRAP vehicles.
At Fort Bliss in El Paso, the Army is developing the Future Combat System (FCS), a modernization program that will revolutionize the capabilities of our soldiers and their equipment in combat. The system will dramatically reduce troop casualties in combat by equipping our forces with new technologies. The FCS project is the largest development program in military history, and Texas is at the forefront of this exciting project.
In Amarillo, Texas servicemen and engineers conduct the final assembly stages of the V-22 Osprey. The Osprey is an aircraft that performs a wide variety of functions, including amphibious assault, combat support, and long-range special operations. It takes off and lands like a helicopter, but its propellers can be rotated to convert the aircraft into a turboprop airplane, capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight. It is currently in operation in Iraq, providing valuable combat and logistical support to our troops in the field.
In Fort Worth, engineers and aviators are building a dominant 5th generation fighter fleet. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor will replace many of the planes in our arsenal and transform American aerial combat. These aircraft will be able to counter emerging surface-to-air threats, and will be equipped with state of the art stealth technology. Like the V-22 Osprey, the F-35 and F-22 will expand our air superiority in Iraq, Afghanistan, and future theaters of conflict.
As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I have worked hard to ensure that our military is prepared to defeat 21st Century adversaries. I will remain dedicated to ensuring that our Armed Forces have the resources they need to protect American lives and guard our nation’s freedom.
Important Unfinished Business Remains for Congress
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Unfortunately, in the U.S. Congress, the business of the day is too often left unfinished. Throughout 2008, progress in the Senate was hindered by partisanship and counterproductive procedural moves to stall legislation. As a result, during the brief working session this fall, the Senate had a lengthy to-do list. While we were able to successfully complete business on a few important measures, much remains for us to address in the next Congress.
Throughout this Congress I pushed for passage of a broad tax relief bill that extends energy tax credits, patches the faulty alternative minimum tax (AMT), and renews expiring tax provisions for businesses and individuals. We finally passed this measure in the closing hours before recess. It includes a two-year extension of the state and local sales tax deduction, which will save the average Texan $520 in tax deductions when filing his or her 2008 income taxes. The bill also reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools program, which is particularly important to many East Texas communities. This program ensures schools have additional funding by supporting counties with a higher proportion of federally owned land, which limits tax revenue. Finally, to aid with recovery efforts in the 29 Texas counties hit by Hurricane Ike, the bill provides $600 million in targeted tax benefits to help communities rebuild their low income housing infrastructure.
Another key accomplishment was replenishing the federal Highway Trust Fund, which is the largest single source of funding for roads nationwide. Nearly $8 billion in gas tax revenue had been transferred out of the trust fund to support various emergencies over previous years, leaving a shortfall for current projects and ongoing maintenance. To ensure our roads are safe, Congress replenished the trust fund. However, this stop gap measure does not address the long-term solvency of the fund and the underlying reality that incoming gas tax revenues aren’t keeping up with trust fund obligations. Congress must resist raiding this fund in the future and instead ensure safeguards are included in next year’s Highway Reauthorization bill.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill must also be a top priority next year. As Ranking Member on the Aviation Subcommittee, I fought efforts to weigh down good legislation with unrelated tax provisions. Ultimately, we were successful in passing a clean FAA extension through March without new taxes. The next Congress must adequately address the mounting challenges facing the commercial airline industry by passing a new FAA bill that will improve safety and passenger protections, while implementing air traffic modernization in manner that is fair to the entire aviation sector.
Finally, this fall, our financial crisis reached a flashpoint that threatened the sustainability of our credit markets and the economic security of every American family and business. We were originally presented with a deeply flawed proposal that extended broad authority for the Treasury Secretary to buy troubled financial instruments with no oversight, few taxpayer protections, and no potential upside for taxpayers if there is a profit made on the resale of bad loans. After two weeks of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, Congress passed a rescue package to stabilize our imperiled economy. Though far from perfect, the final legislation contained significant taxpayer protections and oversight. Many opposed the rescue, but I heard from many small business owners and families that they were unable to get credit for payroll and inventory purchases. Credit dried up. Action had to be taken and even with that it will take months to completely recover.
As Texans, we have learned to take responsibility for our actions and being asked to pay for the mistakes of others is something many, including myself, find deeply troubling. Government officials encouraged lenient lending practices in the mortgage industry and some borrowers made imprudent decisions. Many lawmakers resisted calls to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before it was too late. Congress must now make the massive overhaul of our banking regulatory system a top priority so our country is never put in this precarious spot again.
When the 111th Congress convenes in January, it should be the shared challenge of lawmakers – new and old – to craft, negotiate, and pass laws in a productive way. We must break the cycle of short-term “fixes” that don’t solve long-term problems.
America Must Renew Its Commitment to Leadership in Space
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
As our nation celebrates the 50th Anniversary of NASA, we face enormous challenges to our international leadership in space exploration, including a potential 5 year gap in American manned spaceflight. America must renew its commitment to NASA and technology innovation so that we do not relinquish our leadership role in space.
In the 21st Century, America’s supremacy in space is no longer a foregone conclusion. The rapid expansion of the Chinese Space Program is clear evidence that China is taking meaningful steps toward global technology leadership. The nation launched its first lunar orbiter in 2006, and China has continued to achieve new milestones since then. In September 2008, the first Chinese astronaut walked in space, completing the country’s most ambitious mission to date. China has also announced plans to put a man on the moon.
Half a century ago, our nation was similarly poised to fall behind in space. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite and rocketed past the U.S. in the space race. But America's ingenuity was dramatically harnessed by President Eisenhower, who helped spearhead major investments in science and engineering. NASA officially launched operations on October 1, 1958. Less than three years later, President Kennedy solidified America’s space ambition when he formally set the goal of putting a man on the moon within a decade. That goal was achieved when members of the Apollo 11 crew stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.
Over these past 50 years, NASA’s technology has positively impacted life on earth and expanded the knowledge of our planet and the universe. The space program has advanced innovations that have greatly improved our daily lives — from personal computers to heart monitors, from ultrasound scanners to laser surgery. NASA’s space exploration has inspired generations of young people to aspire to new heights. It has spurred Americans to build on those dreams and embark on academic and professional careers that enhance our nation’s leadership and make us more competitive on the world stage.
Now, NASA faces one of its greatest challenges since the inception of the space mission. With the space shuttle scheduled for retirement in 2010, and a replacement not expected until 2015, our nation faces a five year gap in continuous space flight during which we’ll have no way to launch American astronauts into space on an American spacecraft. Instead, we’ll have to rely on Russia to get our own scientists and astronauts to the International Space Station, which has been designated a National Laboratory. And there is no guarantee that a cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership with Russia will always exist. Dependence on Russia could jeopardize our access to the Space Station during the crucial early years of its operational life.
Our national security depends on our ability to explore space without relying on nations who may not always have our best interests at heart. Thankfully, Congress recently took action to help prevent such a scenario.
In September, the Senate passed the NASA Reauthorization bill, which will help America maintain control of its space destiny. The bill ensures that NASA will receive adequate funding for the development of a commercial crew vehicle. It will help reduce the space gap by accelerating delivery of next generation space vehicles, Ares and Orion and, if necessary, keep the space shuttle flying beyond 2010. Additionally, after expending so many valuable resources to build the Space Station, this bill calls for a comprehensive plan to utilize the station after its expected completion in 2015 and through 2020 so we can continue to reap the benefits of this significant investment.
This year marks 50 years of American space exploration, with NASA boldly at the helm. Our own Johnson Space Center near Houston is where much of the research and technology is developed, where astronauts train, and where the command center resides. It has been a huge economic boost for Texas to have NASA scientists and engineers live in our state. We must renew our commitment to NASA and work to overcome the political and technological challenges of the 21st Century.
Bus Safety Improvements Can Save Lives
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Each year, millions of Americans climb aboard buses, expecting safe trips across their communities or states. The vast majority of these bus passengers arrive safe and sound at their destination. But this is not always the case because, whether due to mechanical malfunction or driver error, bus accidents do occur and many of them result in preventable tragedy.
In the past three years, there has been a rash of deadly bus crashes.
In 2005, with Hurricane Rita threatening the Texas Gulf Coast, thousands fled from the storm’s path. A busload of nursing home residents evacuated out of Houston, hoping they were safer with every mile placed between them and the hurricane. The trip ended in tragedy when their poorly-maintained bus became engulfed in flames, claiming the lives of 23 elderly citizens.
On March 29, 2006, a chartered bus carrying Beaumont’s West Brook High School girls soccer team was involved in an accident while traveling to a playoff game. The bus overturned and two players were ejected from the bus and killed. Several others were severely injured.
On August 8, 2008, 17 Vietnamese Catholics, en route from Houston to a religious festival in Missouri, were killed when their charter bus skidded into a guard rail and toppled onto its side.
Similar deadly crashes have been reported across the country. Many of these accidents are still under investigation, and the factors that caused each crash may vary dramatically. However, one thing is very clear: when a bus rolls over, the passengers on board will likely be injured or even killed.
To help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by motorcoach accidents, and to save more families the grief and sadness of losing a loved one, I have joined with Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio to author a sweeping bus safety bill.
Presently, motorcoach interiors are outfitted with seats designed to protect passengers from front- or rear-end impact. Specifically, if a bus is rear-ended by a tractor trailer while traveling, passengers will lurch into the seat in front of them, which should absorb the force and prevent them from being thrown from their seats.
But, in the case of a side impact or a rollover, passengers are much more vulnerable. When buses are hit from the side, their elongated structures are prone to twist, causing the windows to pop out and increasing the risk of passenger ejection from the vehicle. If a bus rolls over, the frame is likely to crumple because there is little structural support for the roof aside from the windows.
The National Transportation Safety Board has long called for substantial safety upgrades within the motorcoach industry, but its recommendations have languished for years without federal attention or action. Congress has been aware of safety gaps on buses for years, but the problem has been ignored.
Our legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to upgrade federal safety standards applicable to motorcoaches. The bill would require the installation of safety belts on every bus seat. It would mandate improved glazing on windows and other measures to prevent passenger-ejection. Enhanced seating designs could further reduce the risk of passengers being thrown from their seats and colliding with other passengers, debris, or interior surfaces.
To reduce the occurrence of rollover crashes, our legislation would require buses to be equipped with electronic stability controls. The bill would also raise roof strength and crush resistance standards, so that when rollovers do happen, the passengers inside are better protected.
Overall, the bill would strengthen the operational requirements of drivers and companies, provide stronger oversight and compliance with federal safety rules, and encourage better training of bus operators to protect passengers from death and injury due to ejection, rollover, roof crush, and fires.
At a Senate subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill last week, we began the process of addressing this critical transportation safety issue and raising its awareness among Senators, government officials, safety experts, and the American public. Texans who have lost family members in bus crashes, some as recently as in the past few months, traveled to Washington to share their stories and honor their loved ones. We owe it to them to pass this bill.
We cannot look back and say, “How many passengers could have been saved?” But we can and must look forward. As millions of Americans continue to ride buses, we must take all possible measures to protect every single passenger.
Bailouts Hurt Taxpayers and Set a Dangerous Precedent
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
While many Texans spent the weekend hunkered down in shelters as Hurricane Ike swept over the Gulf Coast, U.S. financial leaders huddled in New York to contemplate another storm: the intensifying financial crisis.
On September 14, Wall Street was rocked by news that Merrill Lynch, a Wall Street fixture since 1915, was sold to the Bank of America to prevent the New York firm’s collapse. The next day, one of Wall Street’s oldest and most renowned institutions, Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy. In business since 1850, Lehman weathered the Great Depression, but it could not withstand the burst of the housing bubble and the subsequent credit crisis. Listing $613 billion in debts, Lehman’s bankruptcy is the largest in U.S. history.
During the turbulent days leading up to Lehman’s announcement, the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve faced the choice of throwing yet another government lifeline to financial institutions drowning in the credit crisis. Government officials spearheaded private sector efforts to mitigate fallout, but stopped short of bailing out Lehman.
Days later, the American taxpaying public was stunned to learn that imperiled American International Group (AIG), a broad-reaching insurance firm operating in more than 100 countries, would be granted an $85 billion emergency bridge loan by the federal government.
The American taxpayer is already burdened by a $250 billion rescue of ailing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. On September 7, the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, led federal efforts to seize control of these government sponsored entities (GSEs) that together own or back half of the nation’s mortgages.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s CEOs, who led their institutions into the risky subprime market, have been ousted. The firms are now under federal conservatorship. Some economists estimate that a $250 billion bailout could increase each American household’s part of the national debt by $2,300. Increasing the national debt by this amount is a bitter pill for American families to take because of the poor corporate management and reckless spending these enterprises practiced.
In July, Congress gave Secretary Paulson the authority to rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of a housing bill intended to alleviate market pressure. Millions of Americans are understandably anxious that the equity they’ve paid into their homes may not provide the financial security that homeownership once guaranteed. Many homeowners, burdened by soaring food and energy costs, are at risk of losing their homes altogether. The reason I could not support the legislation is because the bill asked those taxpayers already burdened by the housing crunch to foot the bill for corporate irresponsibility. There were not enough safeguards against million dollar executive compensation packages, and there were insufficient deterrents for overuse of the U.S. Treasury.
The housing bill did contain some long overdue GSE reforms, like authorizing an independent regulator to ensure Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other GSEs are running their enterprises in an ethical and financially responsible manner. Unfortunately, these long overdue reforms did not go far enough and came too late to prevent the damage leveled on the U.S. housing and credit markets by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac chief executives, who together raked in nearly $30 million in personal earnings last year.
But the crisis does not lie at the feet of financial executives alone. Many in the federal government have pressured Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ease lending standards for those with inadequate credit in order to promote homeownership.
It is clear that the situation is worsening and will continue to affect the broader economy. We must focus our efforts on rebuilding our arcane and ineffective regulatory system. A balance of improved regulation and greater market discipline will help solve the financial crisis, rather than patch it, one bailout at a time.
With every bailout, each American taxpayer becomes more invested in these markets. And we all have the right to ask the question, why is one firm rescued, when another must face the consequences of its actions? In a capitalist system, some risks will yield big rewards and some will lead to failure. When possible, it is better to let free market economics pick the winners and losers, not the federal government. Corporate bailouts set a dangerous precedent and stand to negatively impact market dynamics over the long-term. The expectation of a bailout is an incentive for other private financial institutions to ignore risk in the future.
High-powered meetings around boardroom tables on Wall Street may seem distant and immaterial to Americans struggling to put food on their kitchen tables. But the decisions financial leaders make governing financial markets affect American families in a very tangible way.
A Full Legislative Agenda for the Remainder of the Congressional Session
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Over the month of August, I was privileged to travel throughout Texas to hear directly from citizens about the issues that affect them and their families. Texans shared with me their concerns about rising gas prices, and the need to keep taxes low so they have more money to pay their bills.
First and foremost, we have a duty to protect Americans and to provide for those who fight to keep our homeland safe. The Senate is considering an expansive defense bill that strengthens our military by allocating resources for an additional 12,000 active duty troops for the Army and Marine Corps. This force expansion places us closer to our planned increase of 92,000 troops. The bill also gives members of the armed forces a well-deserved raise, effective January 1, 2009.
Second, Congress owes the American people a real solution to the energy crisis, which is burdening American families and small businesses with genuine hardships. I have helped lead the fight for legislation that would draw upon American resources and free-market ingenuity to produce more fuel, while also tapering our consumption. The Senate Republicans have proposed a bill that would repeal the Congressional moratorium on deep-water exploration and allow us to safely tap our own resources and increase American supply. In addition to drilling on American soil and off our own coasts now, we should exploit renewable fuel sources, and expand our portfolio of clean alternatives, like wind, solar, and nuclear energy.
Third, passage of extensions for key tax provisions that are set to expire later this year is a priority. One of the most important components of this legislation would extend the state and local sales tax deduction. In 2004, I was able to get this deduction through the Senate and I will continue to try to make this deduction permanent. The tax extender bill would also prolong the renewable energy production tax credit, which gives tax incentives for energy generated by wind facilities. Texas is the foremost wind energy producer in the United States and the extension of this credit will help us maintain our national leadership in this technology. The bill includes a provision to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program through 2011. Because some counties in East Texas have a high proportion of federally-owned land, these communities generate less state and local tax revenue to fund their schools. The Secure Rural Schools program is essential to ensures stable payments to keep these schools operating.
Finally, Congress must replenish the Highway Trust Fund, which is the largest single source of funding for roads in Texas and across the nation. The U.S. Department of Transportation warns that the Trust Fund will be dangerously low by October, in part because of lower fuel tax receipts and needed expenditures on highway projects during the recent peak construction season. However, the insolvency is also due to Trust Fund revenues being transferred to the General Fund during times of emergency. Congress must pass a fix that discourages budgeting gimmicks that raid the Highway Trust Fund. Replenishing the fund to its projected balance means approximately $640 million will go into Texas highways that otherwise would be halted.
During the limited time remaining in this legislative session, we have a full agenda before us. I am committed to making every minute of these final days count, and I will continue to work diligently on behalf of all Texans in the U.S. Senate.
Weathering Gustav and Future Disasters
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
When reports indicated that Hurricane Gustav was gaining strength and headed straight for the Gulf Coast, federal, state and local officials sprung to action to alert the public to the threat. Just three years ago the preparation was markedly different. We will never forget the devastation Hurricanes Rita and Katrina wrought, and from top to bottom, we have worked to respond more effectively to natural disasters.
Hours after Gustav hit, I joined with President Bush, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Paulison, and other Texas officials to monitor the hurricane from the Emergency Operations Center in Austin. As we were briefed on the storm, it was very clear to me that everyone in the room was committed to working together towards an effective response and to help all of the impacted communities recover quickly.
Up and down the Gulf Coast, two million residents loaded onto planes, trains, and buses and were evacuated to shelters before Gustav made landfall west of New Orleans on September 1. With several Southeast Texas communities in the storm’s projected path, more than 280,000 Texans living along the coast were evacuated to safer parts of the state. Texans also opened their doors to more than 50,000 displaced Louisiana residents fleeing the storm.
On September 2, I joined Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert to tour the Dallas Convention Center, which was quickly converted to a shelter for evacuated Texans and residents from neighboring states. I was impressed and encouraged by the spirit and determination of the staff and volunteers there.
Though the worst of Gustav is behind us, other storms loom on the horizon. Our recovery efforts must be accompanied by a constant state of readiness.
According to FEMA, Texas leads the nation in the number of declared natural disasters, from hurricanes and floods to tornadoes and wildfires. Before Hurricane Gustav landed on the Gulf Coast, Texas was hit by Hurricanes Eduoard and Dolly. In the aftermath of those storms, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted nearly $123 million to Texas and local Texas communities to improve preparedness. In addition, FEMA awarded over $65 million to the entire state for disaster preparation efforts.
There are measures that each family can take to prepare for a disaster. DHS has designated September National Preparedness Month and as part of its campaign, the agency is encouraging citizens to follow four simple steps: get a kit, make a plan, be informed, and get involved.
First, every family should assemble a kit with basic necessities, including food, water, first-aid supplies, basic tools, and other essential items. Citizens should have kits ready in their homes and workplaces. Also, stock your car with jumper cables and flares, if evacuation is required.
Second, each family is encouraged to have an emergency plan. Because family members may not be together when a disaster strikes, plan in advance to have a meeting place or an out-of-town contact that each family member can call.
Third, citizens should be aware of the different types of natural disasters that could strike their community. Preparing for a hurricane and preparing for a wildfire require different measures. Residents should also be familiar with evacuation plans for the city or county in which they live.
Last, residents should get involved at the community level. There’s no question that in the aftermath of a disaster, communities come together and work cooperatively to recover. This should begin with preparation. The organization Citizen Corps has made community preparation its mission. More information on hometown involvement can be found here, http://www.citizencorps.gov/. For more details on how to prepare your family and community, visit http://www.ready.gov.
We are only halfway into the 2008 hurricane season and Texans have already weathered three serious storms. But if we anticipate future challenges and adopt a spirit of preparedness, our communities will be safer and recover more quickly from challenges they may face.
Texas Ports – A Gateway to the World
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Texas boasts 28 seaports, dispersed along our Gulf Coast from Houston and Galveston down to Brownsville, including three of the busiest ports in the United States. Our state’s economy depends on the viability of our port system, which serves as a gateway to markets around the world. To bolster our prosperity, we must ensure that Texas’ ports remain secure, competitive, and operationally sound.
Each year, over 500 million tons of cargo move through Texas seaports. This flow of commerce keeps over a million Texans employed and accounts for more than $180 billion in revenue. The wheat, corn, rice, and peas from Texas farms and ranches pass through these portals as they are shipped to dinner tables across the globe. Ports also facilitate the import and export of many other products vital to Texas’ economy, including petroleum and chemical supplies, electronics and machinery, dairy products, and fertilizers, among others.
The Port of Houston, a 25 mile complex comprised of the Port Authority of Houston and more than 150 private industrial companies, leads the nation in foreign waterborne tonnage and is ranked second in the U.S. for total tonnage of cargo. In 2006, more than 222 million tons of cargo was shipped through the Port of Houston, nearly 80 million tons moved through the Port of Beaumont, and the Port at Corpus Christi handled 77.5 million tons. These and Texas’ other 25 ports make an enormous contribution to the U.S. economy.
Because these ports are so important to our nation’s economy, we must constantly work to preserve their safety and viability. One terrorist incident at a U.S. port could impact a number of coastal port communities, and the domino effect would have a catastrophic effect on our nation’s economy. The tragic events of 9/11 dealt a serious blow to our internal sense of security, and also revealed vulnerabilities that we are still working to address.
We have made a number of improvements to the safety of our airports, mass transit systems, and major ports of entry. In 2006, I helped pass the SAFE Port Act, which authorized random inspection of containers, established minimum standards and procedures for security containers in transit to the U.S., and implemented an improved container targeting system. I also offered an amendment, which was passed and became law, to add hundreds more Customs and Border Protection officers to inspect incoming shipments.
In addition, I actively support the Port Security Grant Program, which helps our nation’s ports assess security risks and make preparations for emergencies or attacks. Since 2002, Texas has received over $200 million in competitive Port Security Grants, primarily to secure petrochemical facilities at ports.
The viability of our ports also depends on the maintenance and expansion of infrastructure. In the U.S. Senate, I have worked to direct funding to important projects that will keep commerce moving in and around the Texas seaports. For example, I secured funding for the operation and maintenance of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which is a critical connector between our state’s coastal ports. I also joined with local leaders to provide resources to extend the La Quinta Ship channel, a segment of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC), to a container terminal site where operations are scheduled to begin in 2009. The funds will also be used to better separate barges and ships within the CCSC, making the channel safer and more efficient. In addition, I have worked to secure funding for the Houston Ship Channel, the Sabine Neches Waterway, the Matagorda Ship Channel and other Texas waterways critical to commerce.
To maintain the vibrant commerce that keeps our ports in business is to support, foster, and expand free trade. The Port of Houston, for example, handles cargo in and out of northern and southern Europe, the Mediterranean, Mexico and Latin America, and western Africa. Other lucrative trade relationships, like the one we share with Colombia, should be strengthened through free trade agreements, which would open up more commerce. The U.S. must continue to pursue formal trade relationships with international partners.
Our state’s ports are essential to our long-term economic growth and we must constantly work to expand their safety and viability. As the senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has oversight of most port security issues, I will work to ensure that our nation’s ports have the resources to meet the economic and homeland security challenges of the 21st century.
Texas’ Gulf Coast Treasures
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
I recently embarked on a 600 mile bus tour along the magnificent Gulf Coast of Texas, stopping to meet with many hundreds of constituents, over 75 elected officials – both Republican and Democratic – and scores of local leaders in 16 communities. This region is blessed with great treasures, including abundant energy sources, a pristine environment, and sites commemorating our state’s rich heritage. Over the course of my journey, I was privileged to see many of these places and meet the Texans who help make this part of our state so unique and prosperous.
In Wadsworth, I witnessed firsthand how South Texas is confronting the energy crisis by leading the American nuclear renaissance. At the South Texas Project (STP) Electric Generating Station, I met with plant executives and local officials and toured the facility, which is an industry leader in safety, reliability, and efficiency. The plant’s two reactors produce 2,700 megawatts of electricity annually, which can power more than one million homes and businesses in South Central Texas. STP has been awarded the nuclear industry’s highest honor, the “Best of the Best” trophy. This facility is in the process of doubling its capacity with two new reactors, which will be the first built in the U.S. in three decades.
Another clean, renewable fuel source that can be harnessed is wind energy. I support the Lone Star Wind Alliance – a consortium of state agencies, universities, and energy companies – and its plans to build a wind turbine testing lab in the coastal city of Ingleside. Additionally, the port of Corpus Christi is in negotiations with private industry for the construction of 20 wind turbines to be operational by early 2009. Producers are looking to the winds generated in the Gulf of Mexico, as well. Texas has leased 11,355 acres off the coast of Galveston for a 50-turbine offshore wind farm that could be operating within the next few years. Together, the projects will bring new jobs to the region, boost our economy, and advance Texas’ leadership in pursuing a total energy solution.
As renewable forms of energy, such as nuclear and wind power, are increasingly folded into our energy portfolio, domestic oil production must, and will, remain a critical component in the short term. Texas leads the nation in oil refineries – 16 of the 26 refineries in our state are situated on or near the Gulf Coast. On the bus tour, I was privileged to help break ground at Valero’s $2.4 billion refinery expansion at Port Arthur. This project is expected to boost the facility’s overall capacity to 415,000 barrels per day and will make it one of the nation’s largest refineries. I was proud to champion tax benefits in Congress to help spur this new growth in refining capacity and ease prices at the pump.
Simultaneously, the Gulf Coast is an energy powerhouse and a tourism hotspot. This region provides indisputable evidence that these industries can coexist – and flourish.
In 2006, Gulf Coast tourism yielded more than $15 billion in spending and generated over $1 billion in state and local tax receipts. Almost 50 million Americans annually flock to the region to see some of the cleanest and most scenic beaches in the nation and other regional highlights. On my visit, I had the pleasure of visiting the pristine beaches of Rockport, Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Port Lavaca. Tourists are also drawn to Texas’ rich natural resources and unique heritage which are preserved in an array of historical sites, nature preserves, and museums. I was privileged to visit with citizens and local officials at several of these special places.
At the San Jacinto Battleground and monument, I was honored to stand on the very ground where Texans fought and won our state’s freedom. In Rockport, I helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Texas Maritime Museum, which preserves and exhibits Texas’ rich marine history dating back to the Karankawa Indians. At the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, I saw the important work being done to share the wonders of Gulf aquatic life with visitors and to promote ecological education in Texas. Finally, on High Island, I toured the Houston Audubon Society Birding site, which is part of an internationally known system of natural sanctuaries.
As I made my way through these 16 unique Texas communities, I was reminded how blessed we are as Texans to live in this wonderful state that provides so much economic opportunity and natural beauty. I will continue to work in the U.S. Senate for these 16, and the other 238 counties of Texas, to ensure they have the opportunity to grow and prosper.
Texas Poised to Lead American Nuclear Renaissance
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Soaring energy costs are taxing our economy and leaving us dangerously dependent on foreign energy sources. The U.S. Department of Energy projects that our need for electricity will increase 25 percent by 2030. While global demand increases, worldwide energy supply remains fairly stagnant, unnecessarily restrained by government regulations and prohibitions. In order to reduce the cost of fuel and power and ensure we can meet energy demands into the future, we must increase domestic supply and expand our portfolio of energy options. Now is the time to make nuclear power a greater part of America’s energy solution.
Nuclear power is a clean, efficient, domestic source of energy, but it is currently underutilized. From 1950 through the 1970s, there was a surge in U.S. nuclear power, and over 100 reactors were commissioned in 31 states. However, by the end of the 1970s, construction on nuclear reactors slowed. Federal research and development funding for nuclear technology declined as investors pursued sources of electricity with lower capital and development costs. America began to turn away from nuclear power.
Meanwhile, other nations, like France, began to develop nuclear technology and made it a centerpiece of their energy portfolios. Though the entire country of France is over 50,000 square miles smaller than Texas, it now has 59 of the world’s 439 nuclear units. A whopping 80 percent of its power is nuclear-generated. Japan – roughly half the size of France – has 55 nuclear power plants. Though the U.S. has 104 reactors, a new one has not been constructed since 1977. Nuclear production accounts for a mere 20 percent of the electricity we use.
Fortunately, America is on the verge of a nuclear renaissance – and Texas is poised to play a central role. Our state is on track to build the nation’s first nuclear reactors in 30 years with the expansion of the South Texas Project (STP) nuclear station in Bay City. These new reactors will double the existing STP production levels, helping to ensure that Texas’ increasing energy demands will be met. Additionally, construction and operation of the units will generate thousands of new jobs in Texas.
Passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 signaled a shift in this direction, with provisions to spur investment in nuclear power infrastructure. Many in Congress believe a goal of 45 new nuclear power plants in the U.S. by 2030 is reasonable. Policymakers from both sides of the aisle, industry leaders, environmentalists, members of the business community, and the ranks of academia are increasingly rallying around nuclear energy as an important part of the solution.
The Nuclear Energy Institute reports that our nation’s 104 nuclear plants operate 24/7 and produce power approximately 90 percent of the time. This surpasses the output efficiency levels of all other power sources. Furthermore, nuclear power is low in cost compared to other fuel sources that are used for electricity. In our present energy crunch, natural gas, which is sensitive to market fluctuations, is significantly more expensive than when it was considered a good substitute for nuclear power. One uranium fuel pellet – smaller than a peanut – yields as much electricity as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
Nuclear power has a proven safety record. U.S. reactors have collectively logged more than 3,000 reactor-years of operating experience, while quietly powering cities and towns across the nation. The U.S. Navy has more than 5,500 reactor-years under its belt. Our fleet of over 80 nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers has operated accident-free in international waters and has docked in ports across the world for more than 50 years.
It is also one of our cleanest forms of energy. Nuclear power, which emits little or no greenhouse gases, presents a reliable, environmentally-favorable alternative to other sources of fuel.
In July, I sent a letter to Energy Secretary Sam Bodman, urging the Energy Department to swiftly approve the application for Texas’ two new reactors. There are presently 23 applications for construction on new U.S. nuclear power plants. Four of them, including the STP reactors, could be slated for Texas – more than any other state. It is my hope that the approval and completion of the STP reactors will pave the way for nuclear power plant construction across our nation.
Nuclear power must play a significant role as America strides toward an energy-efficient and independent future.
Education is Key to a Prosperous Future
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In the coming weeks, nearly five million public school students in Texas will head back to school and embark on another year of growth and opportunity. Unfortunately, many others will choose to discontinue their education before earning a diploma. Every year, 1 in 3 Texas students leave before graduating from high school, limiting their ability to prosper in tomorrow’s workforce. According to the nonprofit group, Texas Kids Count, high school dropouts forfeit a combined total of $900 million in wages every year. Additionally, this dropout epidemic has created $730 billion in costs and lost revenue to Texas during the past two decades.
This problem is especially acute among young Hispanics, who are dropping out of high school at a nearly 50 percent rate. The director of the U.S. Census Bureau and former official demographer of Texas, Steve Murdock, estimates that Hispanics could be a majority of Texas’s population within the next generation. Dr. Max Castillo, President of the University of Houston-Downtown said in a recent address, “The average level of education of the Texas workforce and the income of its residents are projected to decline over the next two decades unless the state can increase the number of Hispanics and African-Americans going to college and getting degrees.”
Our goal is clear: we must dramatically reduce the high school dropout rate, so our state’s workers will be better educated and our state’s economy will be stronger and more secure for future generations.
Strengthening our schools, colleges, and universities has traditionally been a state and local concern, but the federal government can play a productive role, as well. In the U.S. Senate, I have been a champion for Texas’s 38 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), which enroll more than half of all Hispanic college students in America, and whose performance is vital to our state’s economic future.
I have organized and served as co-chair of the U.S. Senate’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Coalition, and by working with like-minded colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I helped to increase HSI funding by more than 800 percent since Fiscal Year (FY) 1995.
Most recently, the Senate passed a measure that creates a competitive grant program for HSIs. These grants can be used for scholarships, fellowships, and financial assistance to students. The funding will also go toward the renovation of classrooms, laboratories, and instructional facilities, and to support faculty training and development and the purchase of new educational materials.
I believe that strengthening our HSIs will help close the high school graduation gap for Hispanics and give them greater opportunities to continue their education at the college and graduate level. The same applies to Historically Black Colleges. Increasing the educational opportunities and programs offered at these institutions will add to our well trained workforce.
As Congress works to enable more Americans to advance their education, we must also encourage students to pursue degrees in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These are the areas of academic expertise that spur creativity and new discoveries, which are essential for economic growth.
Last year, Congress passed the America Competes Act. The legislation addresses several important goals. First, the bill bolsters education by strengthening the skills of teachers in STEM and making advanced classes in these disciplines available to more students. It funds the Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow, a project in which colleges and universities encourage undergraduate students to earn degrees in their STEM fields of study with teacher certification obtained through required electives. In addition, the bill increases the number of Advanced Placement (A.P.) courses in underprivileged schools and trains more teachers to teach A.P. math, science, and foreign language courses.
Second, the America Competes Act expands research by doubling funding levels for the National Science Foundation, and it also boosts funding levels for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The challenge of educating a 21st century workforce can be daunting, but we should consider it an opportunity to strengthen Texas as a global leader of innovation and an example of prosperity. I remain committed to opening the doors of higher education to all Americans, and keeping our country competitive in the global marketplace.
With Less than 200 Days Remaining, Digital TV Transition Requires Preparation
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In fewer than 200 days, the Digital Television (DTV) transition will affect every television-watching household in the country. The DTV transition will dramatically enhance the clarity of television broadcasts and allow for new and diverse television programming. Most importantly, it will free up the frequencies on which data is transmitted to the public, otherwise known as the broadcast spectrum, for important safety activities that will increase the nation’s ability to respond to terrorist attacks and national disasters.
Broadcasters will switch from an analog format to digital broadcasting at midnight on February 17, 2009 and the change will be imperceptible to households with cable or digital television service, or those who have already equipped older model TVs with converter boxes. But those who are not prepared will wake up the next day with neither basic television programming nor access to public emergency broadcasts, such as AMBER Alerts, severe weather warnings, and other important safety messages. In Texas, 20 percent of households – much higher than the national average of 13 percent – still receive broadcasting in analog and must take steps to prepare for the transition.
When the DTV transition occurs, customers who rely on rooftop antennas or “rabbit ears” to receive television broadcasts will have to subscribe to a “pay” television service, purchase a TV with a digital tuner, or acquire a converter box for each analog television in their home.
To help defray the cost of converter boxes, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will issue up to two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the cost of a converter box. Consumers may apply for their coupons until March 31, 2009 by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) or by visiting www.dtv2009.gov. The coupons must be used within 90 days of being issued.
Unfortunately, those who are at the greatest risk of being caught off guard, such as the elderly and non-English speaking populations, face significant obstacles to obtaining sufficient information about the transition. While the government, advocacy groups, and the broadcasting industry have worked to provide educational materials in Spanish and in media that will reach residents without Internet access, many households may slip through the cracks.
Border communities are also confronted with a unique challenge. Nearly 30 percent of Texans living along the border rely on antenna reception and must equip their televisions with converter boxes. Even after the transition takes place, these residents will still be able to receive analog broadcasts from Mexican television stations. Due to the expense of transition and the continued availability of analog programming from Mexico, many households may choose not to participate in the transition. Government data reflecting the number of converter box coupons that have been requested, and redeemed, is extremely low along the border. This is a strong indication of how many residents may not be properly prepared.
Last year, I introduced the Digital Television Border Fix Act to make sure that Texans living along the border will not lose access to public safety messages. This bill, which passed the Senate on August 1, allows broadcasters along the border to seek permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue both analog and digital broadcasts during a transition period. The legislation applies only to stations within 50 miles of the common border with Mexico.
Residents across Texas and all over the United States who are aware of the transition must be careful that they don’t become the victim of DTV scams that are cropping up around the country. In particular, households should be wary of “discount” converter boxes, “free” coupons, and retailers that try to sell an “installation package” for a converter box. Consumers should be mindful of these scams, deal only with reputable retailers, and contact their local government or the FCC if they need information. The FCC’s website dedicated to the DTV transition is http://www.dtv.gov/. There is also a Spanish-language version at http://www.dtv.gov/spanish/index.html.
I hope that Texans will embrace the spirit of community and look for opportunities to aid friends and family with preparations for the DTV transition. You could help a housebound senior who is unable to get to the store to redeem his or her converter box coupon, assist your neighbor in setting up a converter box, or prevent others from being taken advantage of by warning them of possible scams.
By working together, we can ensure a smooth transition for households across Texas.
Skyrocketing Fuel Prices Mean Turbulence for Airlines and Passengers
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The average Texas family now spends around $100 to fill up its truck or SUV, so imagine the financial burden confronting our nation’s air carriers, as they struggle to fuel their fleets amid soaring energy costs – a 737 aircraft burns more than 885 gallons of jet fuel per hour at cruising altitude. If fuel costs continue to climb – and without enactment of a balanced energy policy that includes domestic production, they will – the capacity usage of our domestic air carriers will diminish further, and affordable air travel will become a luxury of the past.
Our nation’s major airlines report that fuel now accounts for a whopping 40 percent of their operating costs. Houston-based Continental Airlines was spending $84.99 per second on fuel in February 2007. Now, their fuel costs have skyrocketed to $168.76 per second. As energy prices hover around $130 a barrel, our nation’s airlines are forecast to collectively spend $61.2 billion on jet fuel this year – $20 billion more than in 2007 – causing carriers to incur $10 billion in losses.
Since December 2007, eight airlines have gone out of business and two others filed for bankruptcy. It is very difficult for airlines to break even – let alone turn a profit – in this economic climate. The Air Transport Association reported that in the first quarter of 2008, average net loss reached a staggering $10.89 per passenger. As a result, airlines have taken cost-saving measures, including limiting the number of flights on various routes and replacing large-capacity aircraft with smaller planes, thereby cutting the number of seats in order to conserve fuel. The decrease in supply of seats will drive up passenger airfare.
Smaller cities in Texas, relying on regional jet service are being hit particularly hard. Because of the cost of jet fuel, the smaller aircraft, some carrying as few as 50 passengers, are not generating enough revenue to justify the flights. Wichita Falls, for example, is set to lose more than half its daily flights when American Eagle downsizes its schedule from seven flights a day to three. American Eagle has announced similar service reductions for Longview, Tyler, and Waco. Continental will cut service to Abilene, San Angelo, and Texarkana in October.
Airline experts report that, by fall, passengers will feel the capacity cuts in larger airports as well, with Bush International in Houston expected to lose almost 12 percent of its seats, and an 8 percent cut slated for Dallas-Fort Worth.
In addition to higher airfare, diminished capacity will result in sweeping job losses. On July 17, Continental reported it will eliminate 3,000 jobs in the fall, and American recently announced a 6,800 person reduction by November.
The airlines are taking additional steps to mitigate the effects of the fuel price crisis. They are swapping older aircraft with newer, more energy efficient models that burn less jet fuel. Airlines are also retrofitting existing aircraft to be more fuel efficient. To reduce fuel consumption in flight, airlines are removing heavy ovens when they are not needed, and are turning to light-weight meal and beverage carts to help lighten planes.
The impending crisis in the airline industry is one more reason we need a balanced plan that will help bring down fuel prices by increasing domestic production. Congress must meet the airlines’ fuel savings efforts with a forward-looking energy policy to address the underlying issue of demand for oil outpacing supply.
Congress should first reverse the outdated and punitive moratorium on off-shore drilling and open up the Outer Continental Shelf for exploration. The President recently lifted the executive ban, but Congress has yet to do so. Several recent national polls indicate that over 70 percent of Americans support increased domestic production.
Furthermore, we must bolster American oil production with clean renewable sources, including nuclear, solar, and wind power. Lastly, we must work to conserve the energy we do have, and continue to encourage technology and innovation through tax incentives.
For each dollar increase of the price of a barrel of oil, every family with a motor vehicle is hit hard and each airlines’ costs go up by approximately $45 million. It is clear that Congress must come together and take action now. The consequences of inaction are sky high.
Measured Steps to Ease Housing Crisis
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The housing crisis is eroding the confidence of our nation’s homeowners, financial institutions, and investors at an accelerating rate. Americans are growing anxious that the equity they’ve paid into their homes may not provide the financial security that home ownership once guaranteed. Worst of all, nearly 1.9 million borrowers across the nation – more than 50,000 of them in Texas – who have filed for foreclosure on their homes this year live with diminished hope that their own symbol of the American dream will be realized.
The Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) each have similar roles in the home mortgage market. They buy mortgages from primary lenders – like banks – which make additional funds available to those banks to lend to other potential homeowners.
Fannie and Freddie were created by Congress specifically to make home ownership affordable and attainable for low- and middle-income Americans. Since 2000, Freddie Mac has provided $821.6 million in low-cost mortgages to Texas families. And as of May 2008, Fannie Mae has purchased over a million home mortgages in our state. Across the nation, Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee $5.2 trillion in home mortgages – almost half of all outstanding mortgages in the U.S. Because current regulation requires each firm to have a financial cushion of cash or securities, plummeting investor confidence is the basis for the current climate of crisis.
Economists of all philosophies agree that the collapse of Fannie or Freddie would have a devastating impact on the U.S. housing market and further damage an already-fragile U.S. economy.
Concerns about their viability have reinvigorated Congressional efforts to pass a sweeping housing bill addressing the core issues of the financial crisis.
Central to the legislation are long-overdue reforms, which establish a new, independent entity to regulate Fannie, Freddie, and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks that were set up after the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s. The new entity will have the authority to set capital standards and establish prudent management practices. These provisions are designed to ensure the safe and sound operation of Fannie and Freddie and better prepare them to weather unforeseen market challenges that may arise in the future.
The new rules will try to ensure that lenders do not entice people who are unable to make the payments to take on too much debt by requiring a minimum down payment. The legislation also raises the limit on the size of a mortgage, allowing families in high-cost areas of the country to access homeownership with fixed rate mortgages rather than exotic subprime loans. To spur home ownership, the bill includes a refundable first time homebuyer tax credit. Additionally, the package extends tax relief by allowing owners who do not itemize deductions on their tax returns to claim an additional standard deduction for the amount they pay in local property taxes, up to $1,000.
Since March 2008, my office has responded to letters, emails, and phone calls from more than 5,000 Texans who are anxious about rampant foreclosures, falling home prices, and the trickle-down effects of ailing credit markets. I want all Texans to know that Congress is taking measured steps to ease the burden facing many homeowners, to continue to make loans available, and to soften the toll of the housing crisis on our economy.
Equipping Our Troops for the Battlefield – and the Future
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In 1944 the Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill of Rights, which rewarded World War II veterans with higher education benefits paid for by the federal government. As a result some 7.8 million returning veterans were afforded the chance to complete their education and prepare for the future – at four-year colleges, vocational schools or agricultural training programs.
The resulting efforts and enterprise of these veterans allowed the United States economy to flourish and laid the foundation for the technological, industrial and agricultural boom that would last for decades.
The men and women of today’s military match the service, valor, and sacrifice of that Greatest Generation. Up until very recently, however, some of the benefits our active duty troops and veterans depend on for their education have not kept pace with rising education costs, or the needs of military families. They deserve benefits that will place a prosperous future within their grasp – whether in career military service or in the civilian job market. A substantial enhancement of our veterans’ financial assistance has been long overdue.
In June, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, an emergency funding bill that included a sweeping measure to provide expanded education benefits to educate and equip our troops and veterans and their loved ones for future opportunities.
I am pleased that the legislation addressed an inequity that I have actively worked in the Senate to correct – the transferability of education benefits to veterans’ family members. For more than a decade, troops and veterans have implored Congress to extend these benefits to military families. In 2005, the Army launched a pilot program allowing GI Bill funds to be transferred to the spouse of a service member with a critical skill. Although a good start, the provision was restrictive and limited transferability to a narrow group of beneficiaries.
The new GI Bill will allow a broader group of military personnel to transfer up to half of their unused benefits to their spouse or child after six years of service and the full amount after ten years. In January, I introduced the Education Assistance Transferability Act of 2008, a separate bill that goes even further by allowing any service member – active duty, Guard or Reserve – who has paid into the GI Bill program the ability to transfer education benefits to his or her spouse or child once the service member has served six years and commits to additional service.
The revised GI Bill that passed broadens education benefits for all active duty military personnel, as well as eligible activated National Guard and Reserve members, who have paid into it and have served at least three years since September 11, 2001. Veterans may receive educational benefits along with a cost of living stipend.
The law doubles the value of education assistance, and restores today’s veterans’ benefits to the levels of aid that enabled World War II veterans to thrive.
The bill signed by the President also included a provision I authored to forgive VA debts that are owed by the courageous service men and women who have lost their lives in combat. Previously, the VA Secretary was required by law to notify the fallen hero’s family of the outstanding debt, most commonly educational payments, and attempt to collect it. It was unconscionable to compound the grief of military families with this insensitive requirement.
Finally, this bill will fund operations in two theaters of conflict well into 2009. It will provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan the resources and equipment they need to complete their mission and to help safeguard our nation from the violent threat of global terrorism.
In a time of war, when our nation's servicemen and women are bravely carrying out the Global War on Terror, it is critical that lawmakers come together and stand behind our troops. With passage of this legislation, Congress has provided our outstanding military service men and women, and their families who sacrifice so much, what they need and deserve – both on the battlefield, and for their futures.
Supporting Healthy Lifestyles for Texas’ Youth
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Summer in Texas is now in full bloom. Unfortunately, many children will spend their free time not on swings at playgrounds but in front of televisions at home, consuming hours of programming full of advertisements for unhealthy foods. Others will spend time on the Internet instead of playing outside with their friends. This lack of physical activity among our youth is contributing to an American healthcare crisis: childhood obesity. We must work together to reduce the harmful influence that inactivity can have on our kids, and promote healthy living that is vital to their long-term well-being.
Texas ranks sixth nationally in the percentage of obese youth (ages 10 – 17), and many of these children are at risk of significant health problems, including Type 2 Diabetes. Since 1990, the number of children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in our country has jumped 15-fold. This is extremely troubling because diabetic children face lifelong medical problems.
Fortunately, a number of broadcasters and corporations are taking steps to foster healthy and active lifestyles. They are demonstrating that they are willing to be part of the solution.
The Walt Disney Company is phasing out the use of its characters in promotions that market unhealthy products, and it is developing shows that demonstrate the benefits of exercising and eating well. Nickelodeon, one of the national networks for youth, has an initiative called “Let’s Just Play,” which inspires young viewers to be more active. On the network’s annual “Worldwide Day of Play,” it suspends programming for a block of time so kids can go outside and run around. I hope that Texas parents will help me support the continuation and expansion of these efforts.
Broadcasters in our state are also creating initiatives that nurture wholesome living. Many of these endeavors are community-based and address physical, nutritional, and mental health.
This is a good start, but there is much more that can be done to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity. We can help shape the content of the shows our children listen to and watch by encouraging media companies, broadcasters, and marketers to air responsible programs and advertisements.
Finally, a foundation for healthy habits must be reinforced at home. In the 2008 Farm Bill, I created an elementary school pilot program that invites parents to become involved in nutritional education along with their children. This initiative is modeled after the very successful Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Program which helped significantly reduce the number of overweight fifth graders in El Paso.
By using the major influences in a child’s life -- from parents, to teachers, to their favorite television characters -- we can help reverse childhood obesity. We can all be part of a national movement to cultivate positive lifestyles and good health that young Americans can carry into adulthood.
Replenishing the Highway Trust Fund for Texas Roads
By U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The federal Highway Trust Fund, which is the largest single source of funding for Texas’ 79,000 miles of roads, is on the brink of insolvency. Unless Congress takes action, there will be a 34 percent cut in U.S. highway and bridge investment, which will cause our transportation infrastructure to deteriorate and our economy to suffer. I am working in bipartisan cooperation with other members of the Texas Congressional delegation to prevent this from happening.
In recent years, funding has been borrowed from the Highway Trust Fund for emergencies, like the devastating Minneapolis-St. Paul bridge collapse in 2007. These funds must be replenished in order to maintain the solvency of the trust fund.
If the federal Highway Trust Fund goes in the red, our state will be one of the biggest losers. Texas could expect nearly 30 percent less in highway maintenance and improvement funds for fiscal year 2009. Nearly 30,000 Texans would lose their construction jobs, the second greatest loss of any state. The decline in road capacity would also have a detrimental effect on our economy. The Texas Transportation Institute reports that congestion in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area already costs the local economy $2.7 billion in lost productivity and wasted fuel every year. Houston is not far behind with an annual loss of $2.3 billion.
In the Senate, I introduced a measure that will replenish the Highway Trust Fund and keep highway projects funded through 2009. The legislation must still be approved in the House of Representatives and signed by the President to go into effect.
However, we need a long-term fix.
When Congress does consider a permanent solution to maintain the solvency of the federal Highway Trust Fund, I will work to make sure Texas receives its fair share of transportation dollars. We’ve already made great strides in this area. When I came to the Senate in 1993, our state received only 76 cents in transportation funding for every one dollar we paid in gas taxes. But in the years since, I have worked with my colleagues to increase our average annual funding by almost $800 million – or 92 cents on the dollar -making Texas second only to California in federal transportation support. The money Texans pay should be used on Texas roads, and I will continue my efforts to secure a 100 percent return on our gas tax dollars.
In Texas, some of our new major projects may rely on toll funding in one form or another. I believe that tolls can be useful as one part of the solution when done with local input and consent. A perfect example is the George Bush Tollway in North Texas. But tolls should never be placed on highways that have already been paid for by Texas taxpayers. That would be a violation of the public trust. Although we need to solve our transportation problems, we must do it in a way that is fair and honorable to the people of Texas.
Businesses and communities depend on efficient, properly managed infrastructure, which allows people to live and work wherever they choose. We must work hard to find responsible solutions to our transportation needs to keep our residents safe and our economy thriving.
More Energy is the Simple Solution to the Energy Crisis
By Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
President Reagan said, "There are no easy answers, but there are simple ones." This principle applies to America's energy woes. Since January 2007, the price of a gallon of gasoline has soared from $2.33 per gallon to a record $4.04. Over the next two decades, global demand for oil is expected to rise by 50 percent. Further price escalation is inevitable. When confronted by these facts, the energy solution is simple. We need more energy! We should be increasing our production of oil, natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear power – and those resources should come from America, instead of foreign dictatorships.
One of the best kept secrets in politics today is that America is one of the richest energy nations in the world and is capable of achieving energy independence.
Our most valuable untapped resource is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), which is estimated to contain 10.4 billion barrels of oil. This remote frozen tundra could be drilled with minimal impact on surrounding life. ANWR is the size of South Carolina and the area drilled would be roughly the size of Dallas/Love Field Airport. In 1995, the Republican Congress passed legislation to open ANWR for energy production. But President Clinton vetoed our bill. If he had signed it, America would now be producing one million barrels a day, almost enough oil to replace all of our daily imports from Saudi Arabia.
Beyond ANWR, federal law prevents oil and gas production in the deep waters off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. These areas, along with a section of the Gulf of Mexico, could contain as much as 115 billion barrels of oil - greater than Venezuela's current reserves - and 565 trillion cubic feet of natural gas - greater than the combined reserves of Iraq, China, Yemen, Oman, Nigeria, and Venezuela. Federal laws also prevent us from exploiting one trillion barrels of shale oil in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah - an amazing amount that is three times what Saudi Arabia has in reserve.
In May, I joined 18 other Senate Republicans to introduce the American Energy Production Act of 2008. Our bill will remove unnecessary government barriers to domestic energy production and allow us to tap our vast resources with environmental safeguards. This should be bolstered with an energy portfolio that includes renewable and alternative sources like solar, wind, and nuclear power.
My Democratic colleagues have a starkly different approach to the energy crisis –it is one that creates no new energy. Their answer is to tax energy production. In 1980, Congress passed a "windfall profits tax," and the consequences were devastating. In the six years following that levy, domestic oil production dropped by 1.26 billion barrels and imports of foreign oil rose 13 percent. The disastrous tax was repealed in 1986. Rather than learn from that mistake, some in Congress would impose the same ineffective tax on the oil industry.
Their proposal also seeks to blame “price gouging” for soaring energy prices. The Federal Trade Commission has been vigilant in its investigation of pricing practices in the oil industry. It has consistently found no evidence of market or price manipulation, and instead points to global supply and demand as a leading factor in the price of gasoline. In fact, as of January, the average tax on each gallon of gasoline was 47 cents, while the oil and gas industry has testified that it earns only four cents per dollar of gasoline sales.
The Democrats’ plan would also repeal incentives for expanded refinery investment. By increasing taxes and reducing the incentives to refine oil into usable gasoline, we will end up with a smaller supply of domestic energy, which in turn fuels price increases, perpetuates our present crisis and keeps us at the mercy of OPEC. Energy companies would be hit with new taxes on foreign earnings, potentially exposing producers to double taxation and hindering their ability to compete for oil and natural gas reserves on the global market.
This year, we will spend about $500 billion to import oil. All of those dollars should stay here in America, instead of being sent to foreign regimes that may be hostile to our interests. We need energy for Americans by Americans, and we need it now. Instead of searching for scapegoats, we should be searching for additional energy resources to be part of a bold, comprehensive plan for America's energy security in the 21st century.
Keeping our Technology-Savvy Kids Safe Online
By Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The long summer days ahead will bring more than bike
rides and trips to the neighborhood swimming pool for today’s
technology-savvy kids. Many children and teenagers will fill idle time
surfing the Internet and logging on to social networking sites to stay
connected to their friends.
Unfortunately, for some, the Internet is not merely
an information source, a communication tool, or even a means of
entertainment. For sexual predators, it is a vast, unregulated space in
which they can lure and victimize innocent children. So, when our kids
get on the Internet, it’s hard to know just what – or whom – they will
encounter.
Along with many parents across Texas, I was disturbed
to learn of a Cedar Creek school bus driver who solicited and sent
sexually explicit materials to a minor online. The “minor” in this case
was actually an undercover investigator posing as a 13 year-old girl.
But in many other instances, the victim is just what the aggressor is
seeking – a vulnerable child or teen.
I believe that there are two important ways we can keep young Americans safe when they venture into cyberspace.
First, we must place every possible barrier between
deviant individuals and the websites our children visit. In May, the
Senate passed a measure I cosponsored to build on the successful
efforts of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by
expanding its reach to the Internet. The Keeping the Internet Devoid of
Sexual Predators (KIDS) Act would mandate convicted sex offenders to
register email addresses, instant messaging screen names, or other
identifiers used to communicate over the Internet. The measure would
also require the U.S. Attorney General to maintain a system that
enables commercial social networking sites to identify users who are
listed in the National Sex Offender Registry.
So, when that Cedar Creek bus driver, who is required
by law to register as a sex offender, completes his four-year prison
sentence, social networking sites like Friendster, Xanga, MySpace, and
others, that cater to children and teens, will have the capability to
deny him access to the site – and to our children. I hope this
legislation will prevent websites frequented by our kids from becoming
fertile ground for known pedophiles and other sexual deviants. But even
with these safeguards, we can never completely eliminate the danger.
The fact is, many kids will at some point find
themselves in a risky situation online. A study on teen Internet
behavior by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
found that, among youth between ages 13 and 17, 71 percent have been
contacted online by a stranger. Forty-five percent of teens have been
asked to share personal information, and an alarming 30 percent have
considered meeting someone in person whom they know only from the
Internet. Thus, it is vitally important that our kids’ ability to
recognize risks online keep pace with their growing aptitude for
technology.
The second way to keep our children safe online is to
educate them so they do not become the vulnerable victims that Internet
perpetrators target.
The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act
creates an Online Safety and Technology Working Group, comprised of
business community leaders, public interest groups, and appropriate
Federal agencies, to evaluate activities promoting online safety. The
working group would assess current parental control technology,
blocking and filtering software, and age-appropriate labels for
content. The bill would also require schools receiving funding from the
federal Universal Service program to offer age-appropriate online
behavior education in the classroom. The goal is to help school-aged
children safely navigate the Internet and teach them how to respond to
cyber-bullying and online solicitation. Lastly, the legislation calls
on the Federal Trade Commission to carry out a nationwide program to
raise public awareness. That measure also passed the Senate in May.
Finally, and most importantly, it is crucial that
mothers and fathers be just as aware of online dangers as their
children. Parents should acquaint themselves with the websites their
children visit, and know with whom their children communicate online.
To learn ways to keep children safe, visit the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children website, which has helpful resources for
parents: www.missingkids.com.
Through tougher laws, educated children, and increased parental involvement we can make Texas a safe place for our kids.
Removing VA Debt from our Fallen Heroes
By Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
President
Abraham Lincoln best described our enduring commitment to soldiers
when, on behalf of a grateful nation, he promised “to care for him who
shall have borne the battle.”
Caring for the health and
well-being of those who fought to defend freedom continues to be one of
the federal government’s most solemn responsibilities. The Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) was created in 1930 to coordinate federal
efforts to provide veterans the very best in health care, to make a
quality education available to service members, and to help our heroes
return to civilian life.
As Ranking Member of the committee
that provides funding for veterans programs, I am proud that we have
increased the current VA budget to a record-level $87.6 billion, up 28
percent from $68.2 billion in FY2006. This is mostly focused on
improving our health care system and addressing the needs of today’s
soldier returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
There are also policy changes that must be made to address the needs of our veterans who are returning from the War on Terror.
One
is the forgiveness of VA debts that are owed by the courageous service
men and women who lost their lives in combat. Currently, the VA
Secretary is required by law to notify the family of the deceased of
the outstanding debt and attempt to collect it. In January, I
introduced legislation to remove this debt collection. After all, the
families who have lost loved ones in combat have surely paid enough and
are owed our deepest gratitude for their sacrifice.
But to
date, of the thousands of families whose child, parent or spouse was
killed fighting for our freedom in Iraq or Afghanistan, there are 22
whose grief has been compounded by this insensitive requirement.
Together, the federal debts owed by the 22 fallen service members
totaled a mere $56,366. In most of these cases, the debt came in the
form of education benefit payments being used for college, when they
were called to active duty.
Three instances of this debt
collection occurred in Texas. One fallen hero was a brave soldier from
Raymondville, who was a star athlete and an exemplary student in high
school. Even though he had already been accepted to a prestigious
university, this young man deferred college to serve his country in the
U.S. Army. While serving on his third tour of duty in Iraq, his life
was cut short by a sniper’s bullet. Though I have no doubt his family
received an outpouring of love, support, and gratitude, they also
received a $389 bill for education assistance the fallen solider had
incurred prior to his death.
A second case in Texas involved an
Army Sergeant from Missouri City. After contributing several years of
service in the U.S. Marine Corps, this young man again felt the call of
duty and enlisted in the Army. He balanced his service with efforts to
further his education, and attended two different colleges with the
help of VA education benefits. He interrupted his education when he was
deployed to help fight the War on Terror. After serving one tour in
Afghanistan, he was on a second tour in Iraq when he was killed by a
bomb. Because he took a leave from school to fulfill his military
service, he had $2,282 in outstanding VA education assistance payments.
This financial burden fell on the shoulders of the wife and four
children he left behind.
Another Texas hero was a Marine
reservist and graduate of Texas A&M University. He, too, financed
his education with VA assistance and aspired to become a cardiovascular
surgeon. While fighting bravely in Iraq, he was killed in a violent
blast. A letter attempting to collect $845 in education assistance
payments arrived shortly before his wife, raising their two small
children, was notified of his death.
There are families who
have been similarly encumbered in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Illinois,
Iowa, Connecticut, Nebraska, Colorado, Michigan, Washington,
California, New York, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina. In nearly
all instances, the families paid these debts. The widow from Missouri
City, Texas bravely stated, “It was the right thing to do.” Now,
Congress must do the right thing by lifting this unfair burden from the
families who have already paid so much, and ensuring no family is asked
to pay a VA debt in the future.
On May 22, the Senate passed my
VA Debt Elimination Act, which, if passed by the House and signed by
the President, will stop this unconscionable practice by changing the
provision in law that requires the VA to seek the collection of
eligible debts from grieving military families. It is retroactive to
September 11, 2001, so not a single fallen hero in the War on Terror or
any future conflict suffers this inequity. To his credit, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James Peake, personally requested the law be
changed. I had the bill ready within one week of his request.
We
must constantly seek to improve the way our government honors those
service members who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the
families they left behind who have made silent sacrifices to safeguard
liberty at home and throughout the world.
Renewing the War on Cancer
By Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
In
2008, it is projected that 1.43 million Americans will be diagnosed
with cancer. Nearly 96,000 Texans will receive this sobering news. And
35,000 Texas patients will lose their battle against cancer this year.
Since
the War on Cancer was declared in 1971, we have amassed a wealth of
knowledge on the disease. Some of the greatest strides have been made
in prevention and early detection, with a heavy emphasis on screening,
including mammographies and colonoscopies. Behavior modifications, like
smoking cessation, better eating habits, regular exercise, and
sunscreen use, have helped prevent cancer.
But increases in
information and prevention measures haven’t always translated into
meaningful progress for those with cancer. In the 37 years since the
War on Cancer was declared, the cancer mortality rate has decreased
only 6 percent. By comparison, since 1970, age-adjusted mortality rates
have sharply declined for heart disease (by 56 percent) and stroke (by
66 percent). Today, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the
U.S., surpassed only by heart disease. Within the next decade, the
National Cancer Institute (NCI) forecasts that cancer will become the
leading killer of Americans. And it will impact millions of us. One in
two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their
lifetimes.
To reduce those numbers, we must identify and remove
barriers that obstruct our progress in cancer research and treatment.
First, we must improve access to early detection measures and cancer
care. Lack of health insurance and other impediments to healthcare
providers can prevent many Americans from undergoing routine screening
for some of the deadliest forms of cancer. With early screening, the
chances of catching the disease at a treatable stage are greater, and
improve the rate of survival. We must focus on decreasing the number of
uninsured and providing screening to underserved populations.
Patients
diagnosed with cancer often need someone to help them navigate the
health care system, assess treatment options, and coordinate their
care. The Patient Navigator Program, which I authored and was signed
into law in 2005, provides these beneficial services and should be
expanded.
We need to raise awareness about clinical trials so
that more cancer patients know they are available. Clinical trials
expand treatment options and also serve as a critical resource for the
discovery of new prevention, diagnostic, and treatment methods for
researchers. Yet, less than five percent of the 10.1 million adults
with cancer in the U.S. participate in clinical trials. Disincentives
to enrolling in clinical trials in the health insurance market must be
eliminated.
We also must also reevaluate how much we are
willing to invest to eradicate this disease. As seven-time Tour de
France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong told me at a recent
Senate hearing, “cancer is ruthless and relentless, and to win, we also
must be ruthless and relentless.” He has become a leader in the effort
to win this fight.
I have worked in the Senate to more than
double our commitment to the National Institutes of Health from $13.6
billion in 1998 to $29.89 billion in 2008, with $4.9 billion allocated
to the NCI. But this is only a drop in the bucket when compared to the
economic impact of the disease. In 2007, the overall cost of cancer to
our nation was $219.2 billion. Some estimate that these costs could
soar to $1 trillion annually by 2021. We must prioritize spending, and
also explore non-government fundraising options. For example, the
Breast Cancer Research Stamp, which I worked hard to move forward in
the Senate, has generated $56 million for breast cancer research, all
through volunteer contributions.
Finally, our 21st Century
strategy should renew our focus on the collaborative goal of finding
cures. The culture of isolated career research, often dedicated to
small treatment modifications, must shift toward cooperative strides to
achieve breakthroughs. We must encourage all stakeholders in the War on
Cancer to work in concert toward cures.
Senator Edward Kennedy
and I are heading a bipartisan effort to reinvigorate this fight. We
will introduce legislation to begin removing barriers to research and
treatment. Joining us in this effort are the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and many others from
across the cancer community. Most importantly, we must support those on
the front lines of the War on Cancer – the men, women, and children
bravely waging their own personal battles against this ruthless and
relentless disease.
| Remembering Our Brave Service Members This Memorial Day & Protecting Their Rights
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The month of May is dedicated to honoring our military service members. It is Military Appreciation Month, during which we mark Armed Forces Day, as well as Memorial Day, which falls this year on May 25.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance – a day when we honor the heroes who gave their lives to defend our land of liberty. Some of these heroes were members of the earliest generation of Americans – those who endured the snows of Valley Forge – and died to win our independence.
Some of those heroes were members of the greatest generation of Americans who stormed the beaches of Normandy and the South Pacific, sacrificing their own lives to liberate millions from the darkness of tyranny. And some of those heroes grew up as part of the current generation of Americans – who answered the call to military service in a new century – who died to defend our homeland from terror – and to bring freedom to a part of the world that has known too little of it.
Every generation of Americans has produced heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. And every year, we come together to honor that sacrifice – and to express our profound gratitude for it. For their families, Memorial Day is the formal expression of a deeply personal experience. It is a time to remember the touch of a hand, the warmth of a smile, and the grief of a telegram that changed life forever.
As we all know, our military service members put their lives on the line to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans. In return, we have a duty to provide them with every resource we can to support them. Yet the country they defend has repeatedly denied our troops one of our most cherished rights – the right to vote.
This year, Congress should show its appreciation for our men and women in uniform by protecting their right to vote. In recent elections, American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have encountered substantial roadblocks in the voting process, especially those who are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. To address this national disgrace, I am pushing a bipartisan bill in the Senate, the Military Voting Protection Act.
During the 2006 election cycle, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, less than half of the military voters who requested absentee ballots were successful in casting them. According to a 2006 Department of Defense report, only 59 percent of surveyed service members even knew where to obtain voting information on their installation, and only 40 percent had actually received assistance from their units’ designated Voting Assistance Officers. A recent Congressional Research Service survey of seven states with high military populations showed that the problems continued in the 2008 election, with more than a quarter of the ballots requested by uniformed and overseas voters going either uncollected or uncounted.
Our troops report many procedural hurdles when trying to participate in federal, state, and local elections. Most states have inadequate processes and unreasonable timelines in place for transmitting blank absentee ballots to our troops, and the methods available to these service members for returning completed ballots to their local election officials are both slow and antiquated. Moreover, there are a myriad of absentee voting rules and regulations that can be extremely confusing and vary widely with each state.
The process is clearly broken, and there is no excuse for not stepping up to challenge the status quo and streamline the process. We ask so much of our troops, and in return we have given them a voting system that is perplexing, frustrating, slow, and often dysfunctional. They deserve better.
The bill I introduced can help address one of largest of these procedural hurdles. The Military Voting Protection Act would give our troops a louder and clearer voice at the polls by ensuring their completed absentee ballots are delivered back home in time to be counted and do not get lost on the way. The bill would reduce delays in the absentee voting process by requiring the Department of Defense to take a more active role in the process; it would require the DoD to be responsible for collecting completed ballots from overseas troops and then express-shipping them back to the United States in time to be counted, allowing troops to track their ballots while they are in transit and confirm their delivery after they arrive at local election offices.
America was built on the values of democracy, fairness and freedom. It should outrage every American, as it does me, that our troops overseas are being denied one of our most scared civil rights. Meaningful reform will not come overnight, but now is the time to take up the cause of military voters to prevent their further disenfranchisement. So, this Memorial Day, as we remember those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, let’s also hope that Congress will act to ensure that today’s U.S. service members serving abroad, while they fight to defend our democracy, can also participate in its democratic process.
Saluting Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Each May, during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we have an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to our nation’s history. Today, we’re proud that more than 800,000 Asian-Americans call Texas home.
The first Asians in Texas were Chinese laborers hired around 1870 by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad Company to work on the state’s portion of the transcontinental railroad. Although most of these workers soon left the railroad company to work as sharecroppers and farm laborers in Robertson County, thousands more Chinese workers came to Texas to work on the railroad. Chinese railroad camps developed along the tracks, where the workers ate traditional meals including dried oysters, dried cuttlefish, dried bamboo, salted cabbage, rice and tea. Today, artifacts collected from these camps are housed in Val Verde County at the Seminole Canyon State Park at the mouth of the Pecos River.
After work on the railroad was complete, a large number of Chinese settled in San Antonio, San Angelo and El Paso. Many opened laundries, barbershops, boarding houses, restaurants, and grocery stores. In 1916, Chinese merchants in Mexico came to the aid of U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing and his forces who had been sent by President Wilson on an expedition to capture Pancho Villa in Mexico. The merchants provided the troops with food and other necessary goods in spite of death threats from Pancho Villa. When Pershing withdrew from Mexico a year later, he appealed to Congress for permission to bring these Chinese individuals to Texas. About four hundred of these men were sent to help construct Fort Travis in San Antonio, which would later be incorporated into Fort Sam Houston. Incidentally, Fort Sam Houston later became the home for Filipinos who had served as scouts for the U.S. military during World War II and contributed to the growth of a significant Filipino community in San Antonio.
In 1903, the first significant number of Japanese moved to Texas to attempt rice farming. The Houston Chamber of Commerce and Southern Pacific Railroad invited Japanese farmers to visit Texas and consult local farmers on rice production. The seed rice that the immigrant farmers brought as a gift from the emperor of Japan generated higher yields per acre than the native rice seed. The two most successful Japanese rice farms were founded by Seito Saibara, in Webster, near Houston, and by Kichimatsu Kishi in Terry, near Beaumont. Their success attracted other Japanese farmers to settle in Texas and start other rice farms, and is a key contributor to the development of the rice industry in the Gulf Coast region. Japanese farmers also settled in the Rio Grande Valley, where they grew sugarcane, cotton and vegetables. Some also settled in El Paso, where they established the El Paso Nippon Gakuen language school for the children of Japanese immigrants. During World War II, internment camps for Japanese Americans were established in Kenedy, Seagoville, and Crystal City. A number also enlisted as members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Brigade, which was deployed to Europe.
It was not until the 1960s and 70s that other Asian immigrants began settling in Texas in significant numbers. The first large groups of Koreans arrived in Texas in the late 1960s about the same time that Indians and Pakistanis also began migrating to the state, attracted by educational opportunities and jobs in science and medicine. In the late 1970s, a large wave of Indochinese immigrants sought refuge in Texas after escaping communist regimes in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Among these immigrants were many intellectuals and professionals. A large number of Vietnamese immigrants settled in Houston where the warmer climate of the Texas Gulf Coast was familiar and work was available in commercial fishing and shrimping industries. Some who had been trained physicians in Vietnam completed retraining and certification requirements before settling in underserved areas of Texas to provide much-needed medical care.
Over the years, Asian Texans have had a tremendous influence on our state’s infrastructure, agriculture, commerce and culture. We owe a lot to these pioneers for their many contributions, including the construction of railroads that enabled interstate commerce, the introduction of higher-yield strains of rice and other agricultural crops, and the expansion of medical service in rural Texas. The entrepreneurial spirit that has driven many Asian Texans to develop new technologies and create small businesses is also essential to our state’s continued economic development. More importantly, however, we are united by our shared values of hard work, family, education, liberty and justice for all.
Celebrating Texas Teachers Every Day Of The Year
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Every year, the month of May marks a series of new beginnings for Texas young people. Proudly reciting their ABCs, kindergarteners ascend to grade school. Eighth-graders leave the small pond for high school, while high school seniors officially become adults. College undergraduates enter the working world, and others go on to complete distinguished higher education degrees. While much of the focus is rightly on the young people who have earned these exciting rights of passage, we would be remiss to celebrate these academic benchmarks without first paying tribute to the men and women who made them possible – Texas teachers.
Teacher Appreciation Week falls each year during the first week of May; which also includes Teacher Appreciation Day. This week is dedicated to thanking our children’s teachers for their dedication, patience, and the many positive ways they contribute to our children’s lives throughout the school year.
Setting one week aside to pay our thanks to Texas teachers is a worthy effort. But for every Texan who has benefitted from a quality education or those whose children are doing so now, we should be showing our appreciation for Texas educators every day of the year.
Teaching is a full-time job that goes far beyond the boundaries of the classroom or the fine print of its job description. This invaluable field requires a special group of bright, selfless, and inspiring individuals. Teachers are more than just daily lecturers—next to our parents, they are our role models, our disciplinarians and many times, our problem-solvers.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting the recipient of the prestigious 2009 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year award, Christine Gleason. Facilitated by the Texas Education Agency, each year the Texas Teacher of the Year Program recognizes teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. It is the highest honor that the State of Texas can award a teacher. Dora Newell, who teaches at Thigpen-Zavala Elementary School in the McAllen Independent School District, was chosen as the 2009 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Gleason, a resident of Fabens—just west of El Paso—is an English teacher at Fabens High School. She teaches English IV, AP English IV, and Dual Credit English. She earned degrees in English and creative writing, as well as a Master’s in English and American literature from the University of Texas at El Paso. Originally intending to become a novelist, Gleason soon discovered that a career in teaching was “life-changing” and “unreservedly rewarding.”
Gleason says it bring her joy when former students return to Fabens High to let her know about their achievements and successes. At graduation ceremonies, students call out, “I love you Mama G!” Gleason says “there is no place on earth that I would rather be. That is my greatest reward.”
Gleason represented Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program in Washington, D.C. Candidates were honored in a White House ceremony on April 28, 2009. I wish her and Dora Newell all the best as they continue to make a positive difference in the lives of their students.
As I travel throughout Texas, I am always humbled and inspired to meet teachers from every corner and region of the state. These men and women are directly responsible for helping our young people learn, develop and become the next generation of leaders.
I’m committed to enacting reforms in Congress that give more freedom, flexibility, and decision-making to teachers, administrators, and parents on the local level without sacrificing transparency and accountability. In recent years, the federal government has expanded its role in public education with mandates and regulations that can interfere with local control of our public education system. It is important that we return decision-making to the local teachers and administrators who know best what works—and what doesn’t—in their individual schools and districts. For this reason, I have long supported the Academic Partnerships Lead us to Success (A-PLUS) Act, a bill that gives states the flexibility to tailor achievement goals and accountability measures to meet the needs of their students. The bill, which I plan to re-introduce later this month, would also cut through much of the red tape that burdens teachers each year – freeing them to focus more on teaching and less on filling out paperwork.
I commend all educators who are passionate about their profession and are relentless in their quest to see their students succeed. In my experience, my teachers played a critical role in shaping who I am today. I will be forever grateful for my high school English teachers, who inspired in me a love for reading and writing that I carry with me today. I hope each of us can demonstrate our appreciation to the teachers in our lives and encourage them to continue to challenge and inspire the next generation of Texans.
The Hero Of Cinco De Mayo
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
This year marks the 180th anniversary of the birth of one of Cinco de Mayo’s most revered heroes—Texas-born General Ignacio Seguín Zaragoza, who led his Mexican army to defeat French forces sent by Napoleon III in the critical Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
Zaragoza was born on March 24, 1829, in a stone house in La Bahía del Espíritu Santo near present-day Goliad, Texas. Today, the General Zaragoza State Historic Site, managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife, includes a replica three-bedroom stone house and commemorates his birthplace two miles south of Goliad.
In 1844, Zaragoza’s father, an infantryman, was transferred to Monterrey, where Zaragoza entered seminary. However, it was not long before he changed course and set out to become a businessman. After delving into the mercantile business for several years, Zaragoza’s true calling finally became clear – military service. He joined Nuevo León’s militia as a sergeant and was promoted to captain soon after.
Zaragoza eventually joined the liberal faction of the army led by Benito Juarez, who sought to remove Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna from power and establish a democratic government and constitution. This effort, called the Plan of Ayutla, paved the way for the War of the Reform, which took place in the late 1850s. Zaragoza fought against Santa Anna’s armies in the battles of Saltillo and Monterrey. He became so engrossed in his mission, he was not present for his own wedding ceremony. Rather than postpone it, Zaragoza sent his brother Miguel to stand in his place in his marriage to Rafaela Padilla in Monterrey.
Zaragoza led troops in Comonfort’s rebellion in 1867. He fought in the battle of Guadalajara and finally in the battle of Calpulalpan, which marked the end of the War of the Reform. Zaragoza’s dedication and military skill were quickly recognized and he was promoted to the rank of general.
After the war, Mexico’s newly-elected President Benito Juarez named Zaragoza as Minister of War and Navy, and shortly after, made a decision that would give Zaragoza the military challenge of his lifetime. In July 1861, President Juarez attempted to save the national economy by placing a two-year moratorium on Mexico’s debts to Europe. Mexico’s lenders were not receptive. By year’s end, a fleet of Spanish ships had made its way to Mexico and forced the surrender of Veracruz. The Spanish were soon joined by French and English forces.
Zaragoza left his post as Minister of War to make a return to the battlefield and lead the Army of the East. Though the English and Spanish soon retreated, the French army was considered the most powerful in the world, and it set its sights on Mexico City under the charge of Gen. Charles Latrille Laurencez. Before he could reach Mexico City, however, Laurencez had to conquer Puebla, which was about 100 miles east of Mexico City and heavily fortified.
Unbeknownst to Laurencez, Zaragoza and his men were entrenched in Puebla and anticipating the attack. On May 5, 1862, Gen. Laurencez threw caution to the wind and stormed the Mexican lines at Puebla, believing the population was friendly to the French and would assist them in defeating Zaragoza. Despite being outnumbered and poorly equipped, Zaragoza and his men pushed back against the French in a day-long battle and succeeded in forcing them to flee to the coast. Zaragoza’s victory not only delayed the French invasion of Mexico City, but it served to unify the Mexican people and renew their fight for independence.
Sadly, only months after his historic victory, Zaragoza died at age 33 from typhoid fever. He was honored in a state funeral and only days later President Juárez issued a decree making Cinco de Mayo a national holiday.
While celebrations are held across Texas, Zaragoza’s hometown of Goliad is recognized by the Texas Legislature as the only official venue for Cinco de Mayo. Each year, Goliad hosts one of the nation’s most elaborate Cinco de Mayo celebrations, complete with the coronation of Little Miss Cinco de Mayo, a street dance, food booths serving nopales and taquitos, Mexican arts and crafts, and commemorative speeches from dignitaries and historians.
On Cinco de Mayo, we join our neighbors in Mexico and Mexican-Americans across Texas in saluting the legacy of General Zaragoza and his quest for freedom and independence.
The Lifeblood Of Our All-Volunteer Army
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The United States Army is the finest in the world. Throughout our country’s history, these brave men and women have demonstrated unparalleled patriotism, valor, and resolve. I join my fellow Texans in saluting the often unsung efforts of the American Soldier.
The Army’s achievements would not be possible without the efforts of its Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Corps. These Soldiers—ranging in rank from Corporal to Command Sergeant Major and responsible for the “nuts and bolts” of daily training and operations in the Army at home and overseas—are truly the backbone of the Army. Oftentimes, commissioned officers are the public face of the Army, but NCOs work behind the scenes to get things done. Whether it’s the drill sergeant training new Soldiers, the squad leader caring for young Soldiers and their families, or the platoon sergeant leading a patrol in Iraq or Afghanistan, NCOs are out front, making things happen Army-wide every day.
The U.S. Army is celebrating 2009 as the “Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer.” Since 1775, the NCO Corps has distinguished itself as the world's most accomplished group of military professionals. Historical and current accounts of NCO actions are exemplified by acts of courage coupled with a dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to complete the mission. NCOs have been celebrated for decorated service throughout our nation’s military history – ranging from Valley Forge to Gettysburg, to charges on Omaha Beach and battles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, to the current operations in the mountains of Afghanistan and streets of Iraq. The recent actions of Texas’ own Staff Sergeant Matthew Kinney, from Nacogdoches, represent the tremendous level of leadership, dedication and courage epitomized by the Army’s NCOs.
Staff Sergeant Kinney had already served twice in Iraq when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. Kinney, a flight medic, responded to an urgent MEDEVAC request for four casualties in the rugged Korengal Valley of Afghanistan on October 16th. Once on the ground, Staff Sergeant Kinney discovered six American casualties in a small mud hut, as well as several other Soldiers taking cover from fire.
Demonstrating strong and decisive leadership in a very difficult situation, Kinney ordered all non-wounded Soldiers to secure the outside area as he triaged the casualties and stabilized the critically wounded. As hoist operations began, the aircraft and the shelter came under heavy machine gun fire. While completing a hoist, Kinney was able to locate the direction of the fire and redirect Apache gunships to take out the enemy threat, ultimately saving the crew in their MEDEVAC aircraft as well as the Soldiers still on the ground. As Kinney continued the evacuation, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he diligently cared for his fellow Soldiers, without regard for his own physical well-being. Then, while en route to the Forward Surgical Team’s location, Kinney single-handedly treated the wounds of five critical patients.
His heroic actions that day earned him a Silver Star, our nation’s third highest military award for valor. He has also been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for a separate engagement in Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant Kinney epitomizes the critical role played by our Army’s NCOs, and he and other NCOs like him provide the gold standard for others to follow. Today’s NCOs are more innovative and capable than ever; they lead by example, all while taking care of their fellow Soldiers, adapting to ever-changing environments, and taking on growing responsibilities. This year of recognition for our Army NCOs serves as an opportunity for Texans and all Americans to become better acquainted with the significant functions that NCOs carry out within our Army. They are truly a national treasure, deserving of our utmost gratitude and respect.
Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Kinney and these fine American patriots. I applaud the efforts of the Army’s NCOs as they train and fight every day to preserve our way of life and care for the American Soldier. I also offer my sincere thanks to our Army NCO veterans who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom and who continue to represent the best of both Texas and the United States. I am humbled by your dedicated service. Well done!
A Bigger and Better Addition to the National Park System
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
This week we celebrate National Park Week. Recreational activities in the great outdoors are part of our proud Texas heritage and the Lone Star State is home to 13 sites within the National Park System.
Created in 1916, the National Park Service manages some of America’s most beautiful landscapes ranging from historic battlefields, national parks and monuments to parkways, trails, rivers, and seashores. Thousands volunteer at these remarkable wonders allowing tourists of every generation to explore the history and breathtaking views of these unique American treasures.
Big Bend, Big Thicket, Padre Island Seashore, and the San Antonio Missions are among the popular destinations of Texas’ own historical national sites. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that I sponsored in the Senate to extend the boundaries of the Palo Alto Battlefield to incorporate Resaca de la Palma. Lying in the heart of the City of Brownsville, Resaca de la Palma is sacred ground that represents an important part of the colorful fabric of U.S. and Mexico’s shared history.
I also recently introduced legislation in Congress that would initiate the Waco Mammoth Site as a new entity of the National Park System. Recently, a six-year study was completed by the National Park Service, in which the findings revealed that the Waco Mammoth Site is suitable for being considered as a national landmark. Several of my colleagues from the Texas Congressional delegation have also joined in this effort.
The Waco Mammoth Site is remarkable on a scale more grand than most. The magnetism and allure of this great attraction is both engaging and educational. The site entails the largest concentration of primitive wooly mammoths that perished at the fate of a single cause. The remains of these great beasts, approximately 68,000 years-old, have long sparked the interest of many archaeologists and paleontologists all around the world.
The attraction surpasses all standards measured by NPS based on its ground breaking significance, suitability, and feasibility. The partnership between the City of Waco and Baylor University has flourished as the two entities work to make the site a national monument and a place where families and tourists can come to explore.
If the legislation is indeed passed, thousands of Texans will have the opportunity to observe the remains of these stunning massive creatures on a daily basis. The Waco Mammoth Site is more than deserving of joining the likes of The Statue of Liberty, Yosemite National Park, and even the Black Canyon in the National Park System.
This site is a source of pride for Waco, Baylor, and the state of Texas. This month, I met with Mayor Virginia DuPuy and Rep. Chet Edwards in Waco to tour the Mammoth Site museum exhibit and discuss our shared commitment and efforts to make the site’s status a national monument.
The bones of the monstrous extinct species are more than just a thing of the past. The remains tell a story about the enormous animals that once roamed the land and give us a more intimate view of the history of this great nation.
It is time that the Waco Mammoth Site is incorporated into the National Park System and obtains the recognition that it is undoubtedly due.
Tax, Borrow And Spend: Not The Answer
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
As we endure tough economic times, families across Texas are making hard choices and tightening their belts to be able to cover their expenses and provide for their children. Many Texans are looking for work. Small business owners are downsizing. And men and women close to retirement age are trying to figure out ways to replenish their life savings, which suffered a devastating blow from the economic downturn.
This is a time when middle-class Americans are looking to leaders in Washington for principled leadership, sound advice, and reassurance that there will be brighter days ahead. Unfortunately, Democrat leaders in Washington are leaving much to be desired.
Shortly after rushing a $1.1 trillion economic ‘stimulus’ plan through Congress, President Obama and Democrats hurried another massive spending bill—the $410 billion omnibus—past the American people. Both of these enormous spending bills were loaded down in wasteful spending and pet projects that will have no immediate, direct impact on the economy. In both cases, there was little to no bipartisan input and the bills were rushed through Congress, failing to give its members and the American people the time needed to carefully read through the hundreds of pages of taxpayer-funded measures.
The buck did not stop there. The President then announced his $3.6 trillion budget proposal, which would put more debt on the books than the previous 43 Presidents did— combined. It would double the public’s debt in five years and triple it in 10. Furthermore, in the last year of the President’s plan, taxpayers would be spending more on interest than on national defense. Ultimately, our children and our grandchildren will be asked to pay the bill – one they will inevitably not be able to afford. Simply stated, this budget spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much.
This week, Congressional leaders had the opportunity to produce a much leaner, more responsible budget. They could have used red ink the right way – to slash through reckless spending proposals and ensure taxpayer dollars were not being wasted. As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I attempted to improve the budget through amendments to protect our children and grandchildren from inheriting massive amounts of debt, but unfortunately Democrats on the committee refused these common-sense measures.
Democrat leaders should have produced a budget that speaks to the economic challenges of today as well as the security of future generations. One that models the budgeting practices of families in Texas across the country who are cutting back on expenses and prioritizing their needs. One that supports—not burdens—small businesses, which are the top job creator in the country. And one that considers future generations and doesn’t carelessly pass onto them billions in IOUs.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment in this budget are the tax increases. This includes a proposal that moves us closer to a new national energy tax for every American who puts gas in a car, heats or cools a home, uses electricity to cook a meal, turns on the lights, or powers a computer. This broad tax could exceed trillions of dollars and could cost every Texas family up to $3,100 a year.
It includes raising taxes on small businesses. Small businesses generate two-thirds of our nation’s new jobs. Raising taxes on the most successful small businesses will result in more layoffs, and deter new investments across Texas. This is the wrong solution to jumpstarting our economy and growing jobs here at home.
The budget will also raise taxes on America’s energy producers. Here in Texas, we know that 90 percent of our nation’s wells are manned by small and independent businesses. These wells are critical to reducing our dependence on oil from unstable foreign nations. Doing away with tax incentives for independent energy producers will severely hinder domestic energy production and job creation. No one wants to see gas prices return to last summer’s highs, but if we tie the hands of our domestic producers, it will only be a matter of time before energy prices rise again.
The President and Democrat leaders cannot continue to tax, borrow and spend in hopes of reviving the economy. It’s time for these leaders to take a cue from families and business in Texas and across the country who are making the tough but responsible decisions to weather this economic storm and land on their feet.
A Bluebonnet By Any Other Name?
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Davy Crockett once famously said that Texas is “the garden spot of the world.” If there’s one icon that helps Texas live up to Mr. Crockett’s compliment, it’s our state flower, the bluebonnet. Every spring, the bluebonnet covers miles of Texas countryside in a sea of blue.
As it is always said, in Texas we do things bigger and better. Our state flower is no exception. Having just one state flower, as other states do, was not good enough for the State of Texas. In fact, Texas has five different species of the bluebonnet as our official state flower.
In 1901, the Texas Legislature took on what might have been an easy task in a less diverse state—selecting the state flower. Debate was heated, with different groups and legislators lobbying intensely for their favorite species. One legislator, Phil Clement of Mills, Texas, made an emotional argument for the cotton boll, because cotton was one of Texas’ lead crops. Clement called the cotton boll the "white rose of commerce."
Another legislator from Uvalde, State Representative John Nance Garner, fought for the prickly pear cactus, lauding its durability and the beauty of its blooms. He ultimately did not win the debate, but because of his enthusiasm for the prickly pear, he was dubbed “Cactus Jack”—a nickname that stuck with him for the rest of his life. Cactus Jack went on to serve as Vice President to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The most compelling argument was made by John M. Green, of Cuero, Texas, with the help of an organization called the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Texas. When Green rose to the podium to suggest the bluebonnet, someone on the floor called out, “What the devil is a bluebonnet?” One explanation was given comparing the bluebonnet to the sunbonnets worn by Texas women in the pioneer days to protect their faces from the sun. Another called the bluebonnet by its Spanish nickname “el conejo” or “the rabbit” because of its resemblance to the tail of a cottontail rabbit.
Finally, representatives from the Colonial Dames organization stepped up to make their case for the bluebonnet with the help of a visual aide. They presented a painting of bluebonnets by Miss Mode Walker of Austin, which brought on a “deafening” round of applause. The bluebonnet had stolen the show. A resolution making the bluebonnet, specifically the Lupinus subcarnosus, the official state flower of Texas was signed by Governor Joseph D. Sayers on March 7, 1901.
The debate did not end there, however. Not everyone was content with the selection of the Texas Legislature. Different groups argued that the Lupinus subcarnosus was not the most attractive of the bluebonnet family. They claimed another species, the Lupinus texensis, was bolder, more beautiful and should be named the official flower. For the next 70 years, this debate would ensue. In 1971, a solution was finally reached. Governor Preston Smith signed a resolution on March 8, 1971, designating both species of the bluebonnet as the official state flower, along with "any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore recorded.” As it turns out, three other species have been discovered.
The 70-year debate did prove one thing: Texans were passionate about bluebonnets. Over the years, this bright blue flower, which usually peaks in late March and early April, has been a source of inspiration for artists, poets, and photographers. Even the Texas Highway Department was moved to incorporate the bluebonnet in a landscaping and beautification project in the 1930s. As a result of their efforts, Texans and those traveling throughout our state can see fields of bluebonnets alongside most of Texas’ major highways every spring.
Towns across Texas have developed wildflower tours and festivals to showcase their bluebonnets as the best and most colorful in the state. Every April, thousands of visitors flock to the historic cotton town of Chappell Hill for the official “Texas Bluebonnet Festival,” complete with bluebonnet contests and crafts.
I hope this spring we can all pause to enjoy the beauty of our state’s flower—in any of its five forms. Indeed, the bluebonnet runs wild throughout Texas and deep in our state’s history.
Healing The Invisible Wounds Of War
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
As the home to 15 major military installations, including the largest active duty military installation in the United States at Fort Hood, one in ten military service members calls Texas home. Every year, thousands of Texans train, deploy, and serve their nation in the Armed Forces. In Texas, our pride in our men and women in uniform runs deep. We value their contribution and we know how critical the sacrifices they make are to our greater good and our national security. It’s no wonder we say “Texas defends America.”
With more than 1.7 million veterans also calling Texas home, Texas knows better than any other state what military service is all about. There are scores of organizations and individuals across our state who lend their support to military families, returning troops, and veterans. Our medical professionals at VA hospitals and clinics treat our wounded warriors and help them return to service or transition to civilian life.
But even in a state like Texas where we wholeheartedly support our troops and care for their families, there is always more that can be done to ensure our military personnel and veterans are receiving the best care and benefits possible.
One area that requires greater attention and more resources is mental health. Sadly, there is a rising trend in the “invisible wounds” of war that impact an increasing number of Texans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as their family members.
Recent studies indicate as many as one in five U.S. veterans is expected to suffer from one or a combination of these “invisible wounds” of war, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury. A study by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center reports that service members spend more time in the hospital for mental health disorders than for any other condition.
Left untreated, these mental health conditions often result in other problems including feelings of despair, helplessness, and isolation, as well as substance abuse, spouse/child abuse, and even suicide. In 2008, the Army reported the highest number of suicides since it began recording data in 1980. In January 2009 alone, reports indicate 24 soldiers committed suicide.
Here in Texas, a recent string of suicides within one Recruiting Battalion prompted me to take action. Since 2001, the Army’s Houston Recruiting Battalion has lost four Army recruiters to suicide; all were combat veterans. After learning of these tragedies, I expressed my serious concern to Army Secretary Pete Geren and called for an in-depth investigation. Shortly thereafter, Secretary Geren directed Brigadier General Frank Turner to lead a far-reaching Army probe into the suicides. Last month, I visited a recruiting station in Houston to meet with recruiters from this battalion and hear from them directly about their recruiting experiences and daily challenges. BG Turner joined me and updated me on actions taken by the Army as a result of his investigation.
The Army has taken several steps to improve the environment within the Houston Recruiting Battalion and implement suicide prevention measures to address problems uncovered by BG Turner’s investigation. Sadly, the rising trend of suicides is not limited to this unit; it has become a serious problem Army-wide. Having asked the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee to host a hearing to examine this recent trend, I was pleased when the Committee recently announced it will hold a hearing March 18 on the issue of recruiter suicides, as well as the broader mental health issues facing our military. I will be participating in this hearing to tell the story of these fallen recruiters, as well as to help shed light on the alarming rate of soldier suicides, find solutions, and provide additional support to our troops and their families.
On my part, I will also continue to look for ways to dedicate additional federal resources and attention to research and treatment of the complex mental health conditions affecting our service members. I was pleased to support the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warrior Act, which was signed into law last year. This new law takes several steps to improve the health care and benefits for recovering veterans, troops, and their families. Of note are provisions that expand the treatment and research for traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic eye injuries, along with a guarantee that combat veterans who request mental health evaluations receive them within 30 days of their request.
While the military and Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant strides in identifying the “invisible wounds of war,” we can always do better. We need to reach out to our wounded warriors and ensure they have the proper care to make a full recovery.
This month is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and organizations and individuals across the country will work together to raise awareness and understanding of brain injuries. I hope that as Texans continue to embrace and support our wounded warriors, veterans, and their families, we also strive to learn more about the “invisible wounds” of war and help our loved ones who may be suffering from these conditions to get help as early as possible. Through early detection, treatment, and the love and support of family and friends, we can save the lives of brave men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much for our safety and well-being.
Profiles In Irish-Texan Heritage
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
As it did for many settlers of all backgrounds, Texas offered a land of opportunity, freedom, and independence to the first Irish settlers. In Texas, Irish immigrants finally found land they could cultivate as their own after fleeing the political and religious prosecution they had suffered in their homeland under the English for more than 300 years.
One of the first Irishmen to leave an indelible mark on Texas history was Hugo Oconor (O’Conor), a native of Dublin. As a young man, Oconor fled Ireland to Spain to join his cousins in service in the Spanish Army. He was later transferred to serve in Cuba and Mexico, and in 1767, he was sent to Texas to investigate reports of corruption within the ranks of the colonial administration. Soon after uncovering the root of the corruption, Oconor was appointed acting governor of Texas. During his tenure as ad-interim governor, Oconor was dubbed the “Red Captain” by local Indians because of his classically Irish, fiery-red hair. Upon assuming the position of governor, the province was in disarray because of the constant clashing between local Indian tribes and raids on San Antonio by the Apaches. The Red Captain is remembered for his success in reinforcing San Antonio against the Apaches and bringing order to the region.
James Hewetson, a native of Thomastown, Ireland, came to the U.S. as a young man and set his sights on making his fortune in Mexico. His plans were temporarily diverted when he met Stephen. F. Austin in St. Louis. Hewetson struck up a friendship with Austin and accompanied him on his first visit to Texas in 1821. In Bexar, Hewetson parted ways with Austin’s party and made his way to Mexico, where he started several enterprises and gained influence in the Mexican government. He was eventually drawn back to Texas, however, and he and James Power established the Power and Hewetson Colony (Refugio Colony) in 1826 along the Texas coast between the Lavaca and Guadalupe rivers, which was later extended from the Guadalupe to the Nueces River. The Refugio Colony was largely inhabited by Mexicans and Irish Catholic families from the southeast coast of Ireland. James Power would later be influential in seating Sam Houston at the Convention of 1836.
In 1828, two Irishmen, John McMullen and James McGloin, established the town of San Patricio de Hibernia on the north side of the Nueces River, in tribute to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. McMullen and McGloin contracted with the Mexican government to obtain 80 leagues of land for the settlement. They recruited 200 Irish Catholic families to settle in San Patricio, which legally became the Municipality of San Patricio in the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas in 1834. During the beginning of the Texas Revolution, San Patricio was ensnared with fighting. Residents from San Patricio did their part to aid the Revolution – sending representatives to every convention, except the first. In December of 1835, men from San Patricio helped Captain Ira Westover and his troops from Goliad capture Fort Lipantitlan. The colonies of San Patricio and Refugio endured some of the harshest conditions experienced by early Texas settlers.
In addition to these four Irish empresarios, Hewetson, Power, McMullen and McGloin, many Irish settlers played significant roles in the Texas Revolution. History tells us 11 of the Texans who died defending the Alamo were Irish natives, and nearly 100 Irish natives fought in the Battle of San Jacinto.
After the war, those Irishmen who did not remain in the army became artisans and merchants, while some pursued politics. The 1850 census in Texas listed 1,403 Irish, and by 1860, there were 3,480 Irish living in Texas.
Today, Irish heritage is celebrated throughout Texas and especially on St. Patrick’s Day. In Shamrock, Texas, revelers participate in an annual beard contest, along with sheep-dog shows and a Miss Irish Rose Pageant. In San Antonio, which at one point in Texas history was known as the Irish Flat because of the large number of Irish who settled there, they dye the San Antonio River green on St. Patrick’s Day. Organizations in Abilene host a St. Patrick’s Day dance and a Painting of the Shamrock ceremony. And in Dallas, the North Texas Irish Festival has become so popular, it draws crowds of more than 20,000 each year—the largest Celtic festival in the southwestern United States.
Our state’s first Irish settlers embodied independence and endurance. Texans are proud to continue that legacy and celebrate the rich contributions of the Irish people.
Texas Independence Day: From Tyrant Grip Now Free
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Every year on March 2, Texans celebrate a holiday that is entirely and uniquely Texan—Texas Independence Day. The day marks the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
Unlike the deliberations that occur today in the U.S. Congress, the Texas Declaration of Independence was approved swiftly. The committee to draft the declaration was appointed on March 1, and the declaration was presented to the Convention and adopted the next day. Some accounts say that Sam Houston asked for the declaration to be signed on March 2 because it was his birthday. Before March 17, delegates had also written the Constitution of the Republic of Texas and established the ad-interim government of the Republic. Some say one of the real reasons for the Convention’s swift action was not just a desire for efficiency, but a lack of adequate lodging.
Prior to hosting the Convention, the town of Washington served as a supply point because of its location next to the Brazos River and proximity to major roads. But it was only home to about 100 residents. To generate growth, local businessmen attracted the Convention of 1836 to Washington by offering a large assembly hall free of charge to the delegates. The hall accommodated the delegates for the Convention, but the town only had one inn at the time, so many delegates could not find lodging.
Even more pressing than the lack of lodging was the hot pursuit by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his army, who marched toward Washington after the Alamo fell on March 6.
History largely credits George Campbell Childress, a lawyer and native of Tennessee, with authoring the Texas Declaration of Independence. Childress moved to Texas permanently in 1835, settling at Robertson’s colony, which had been organized by his uncle, Sterling C. Robertson. Childress and Robertson were elected to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836. Childress called the Convention to order on March 1 and on the same day was appointed by Convention President Richard Ellis to serve with four other delegates on a committee to draft a declaration of independence.
Childress was named the chairman and it is generally accepted that he wrote most of the declaration without help from the other committee members. Because the first draft of the declaration was submitted the very next day, some reports suggest that Childress came to Washington with a draft already prepared.
The structure of the Texas declaration was similar to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It listed Texas’ grievances against Mexico. It stated that the political connection between Texas and the Mexican nation was officially over, and that Texas was a free and independent republic. It also laid out the functions of the new government. The original declaration, the Unanimous Declaration of Independence by the Delegates of the People of Texas, was signed by 59 delegates and five copies were sent to the towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. Because there was not a printing press in Washington, the printer at San Felipe was ordered to print 1,000 copies in handbill form. The original copy was sent to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. It would not make its return to Texas until after June 1896.
Following the signing of the declaration, the delegates proceeded to write the constitution and elect leaders of the ad-interim government. As President, they chose David Gouverneur Burnet, who quickly moved the capital of the new state from Washington to Harrisburg to escape Santa Anna’s men. Burnet carried the declaration on horseback in his saddlebags to the new capital.
Weeks later on April 21, 1836, Texans achieved their independence when nearly 900 soldiers of the Texas Army took down the larger Mexican army in a surprise attack at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Today, we pay tribute to Texas’ founding fathers and the thousands who took a stand to defend the land and liberties we cherish today. I am proud of our rich history of independence and success. And as our state song says, “God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, Thro'out the ages long.”
A Texas-Sized Mardi Gras Celebration
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
History tells us that Mardi Gras’ roots may have began in ancient Rome as a mid-February festival known as “Lupercalia.” The celebration was in honor of the god Lupercus, the god of fertility, agriculture and pastoral shepherds, and had Mardi Gras-like observances, including days of feasting. The celebration eventually spread across Europe, and it was the French who brought Mardi Gras to New Orleans in the late 1600s, which was firmly rooted in the city’s culture by the mid 1820s.
Mardi Gras, a French expression that literally means “Fat Tuesday,” arose from the custom of parading a fat ox through the streets on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Now it is a days-long celebration of indulgence prior to Ash Wednesday, most famously celebrated in New Orleans.
Many countries and cities have their own special traditions prior to Lent. For almost 150 years, we have been celebrating our own Texas-sized Mardi Gras celebration, the largest celebration of its kind in Texas. This year, Mardi Gras! Galveston commemorates its 98th event since its inception in 1867.
The first Mardi Gras! Galveston was a prestigious and colorful affair in that it included a masked ball and a theatrical reenactment of Shakespeare’s King Henry IV. One bystander described an 1867 parade by saying it “suddenly sprang out from the bowels of the earth with torch lights, cars and horses.” However, it was not until 1871 that the event was celebrated in a massive fashion. A year later, newspaper reports declared that the following year’s grand Mardi Gras "promised to eclipse anything ever attempted on Texas soil."
Over the years, the parade carriages grew in splendor, and were soon replaced by automobiles. The glittering balls became more ostentatious. Soon Mardi Gras! Galveston became a grand attraction, with each year becoming more extravagant than the last.
To the dismay of many, the longtime tradition came to a close in 1941 during World War II. For more than 40 years, Galvestonians celebrated Mardi Gras unofficially on their own, with individuals or organizations hosting private parties. In 1985, the citywide merriment was revived by Galveston residents George and Cynthia Mitchell, and the tradition is still going strong 24 years after the revival.
An annual event hosted by the City of Galveston, this year’s celebration included 12 days of entertainment, beginning February 13th and continuing all the way up to Fat Tuesday – February 24th. During this period, Galveston Island came alive with more than 50 galas and events and 11 extravagant parades.
Each year, revelers can be seen donning elaborate masks and costumes. Live entertainment, featuring everything from Cajun and salsa to jazz and rock and roll, can be heard late into the night, and the festivities are not complete without mention of Galveston’s renowned Gulf Coast cuisine. There is even a Mardi Gras Museum located in the Historic Strand District of Galveston Island.
In 2008, a bystander described one parade as “lighting up the night with massive floats, costumed revelers throwing beads and trinkets, led by marching bands and masked men on horses.” More than 250,000 people attend Mardi Gras! Galveston each year, which provides a significant boost to the island's economy. This year’s festivities, however, may prove to be more important than ever before.
Galveston is still struggling to recover from the onslaught of devastation brought by Hurricane Ike in September, evident by the fact that some shops in the Historic Downtown Strand District were not open for business for this year’s Mardi Gras! Galveston. Galvestonians need our support, no matter how much or how little each of us are able to contribute. This year’s celebration provided a unique opportunity for Texans to help out their fellow statesmen, a responsibility inherent to our kind, and come together for a Texas-sized event.
Texas Uncorked
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
You’ve heard it described as medium heavy, sweet and low in sulfates. Its presence pre-dates the arrival of the first Anglo-American settlers to Texas. And today, its industry pumps millions in revenue into the Texas economy each year.
While crude oil may first come to mind, this liquid is Texas wine. More than three centuries ago—long before the first wine grapes arrived in Napa Valley— Franciscan priests brought grapevines from Mexico and planted the first North American vineyard at Ysleta, perhaps the oldest town in Texas, along the Rio Grande near present-day El Paso. These grapes provided the priests and missionaries with sacramental wine for the Eucharist.
Over the next 200 years, the El Paso Valley would be recognized by travelers for its grape-growing capabilities and wine production. The concept of viticulture did not really gain traction in the rest of the state until settlers from European countries like Spain, Italy, and Czechoslovakia brought their interest in wine and the European vinefera vines to Texas. These European vines did not take well to the Texas climate, local pests, and fungus, however, and many of these initial efforts did not survive.
After these setbacks, German immigrants who settled in the 1840s in South and Central Texas—founding Hill Country cities such as Fredericksburg and New Braunfels—learned to adapt their process and incorporate local Mustang grapes, a high-climbing vine native to Texas and well adapted to heat. By adding more sugar during fermentation, they produced commercial wine and are largely recognized as the most successful wine-makers in Texas history.
Meanwhile, back along the Texas-Mexico border, an Italian immigrant, Frank Qualia, found success with the Lenoir grape, a Spanish black grape, in Del Rio, Texas. He started the Val Verde Winery, and today, as the only Texas winery to survive the Prohibition, it remains the oldest continuously running winery in Texas and still uses the Lenoir grape.
One of Texas’ most famous grape breeders was horticulturist Thomas Volney Munson, more simply known as T.V. Munson. A native of Illinois, Munson moved to Denison, Texas in 1876. While he devoted much of his life to the study of native American grapes, his work on rootstock development would earn him international acclaim. In Denison, Munson researched and developed rootstock that was resistant to phylloxera—tiny, yellow insects that feed on roots of grapevines and had severely damaged many native American grapevines. In the late 19th century, a phylloxera epidemic devastated the French wine industry—destroying almost two-thirds of France’s vineyards. Little did they know the solution to their problem would come from an American horticulturist in Denison, Texas. Munson’s phylloxera-resistant rootstock saved the industry in France and in gratitude to his contribution, the French government named him Chevalier du Merite Agricole of the French Legion of Honor, and the city of Cognac, France became a sister city to Denison. Today, Grayson County College’s West Campus houses much of Munson’s research and work.
After the Prohibition, the Texas wine industry was slow to get back on its feet. But as the grape culture began to boom in the U.S. in the 1970s, so did the number of vineyards that began popping up across Texas—beginning with the establishment of the Llano Estacado and Pheasant Ridge wineries near Lubbock. Today, Texas is home to nearly 3,700 acres of family-owned vineyard land, including eight American Viticulture Areas—wine grape-growing regions that have been identified by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Texas is America’s fifth-leading grape and wine producer and the industry contributes more than $1.35 billion to the state’s economy.
In its February issue, Bon Appetit magazine lists Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, Texas as one of seven of its favorite wineries off the beaten path. As our state’s wineries and vintners continue to gain national and international attention, fortunately, we don’t have to travel far to enjoy the unique Texas wine culture. Wine trails through vineyards across the state occur throughout the year. In late February, the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association holds its Annual Conference & Trade Show which brings together members of the industry from every region of Texas.
The Texas wine industry is yet another hallmark in Texas’s long history of ingenuity and achievement. Let’s toast to the men and women who have built up this industry and wish them many more years of success.
Serving Rural Texans With Distinction
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Over the past several decades, Texas’ reputation for quality medical facilities has been growing. Nationally acclaimed hospitals and care centers like the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Baylor University Medical Center, and the Texas Children’s Hospital – to name just a few – have delivered Texas into the forefront of medical research and care.
While these facilities provide excellent care to millions of patients each year, there is another kind of doctor that has for generations been an icon of Texas medicine: the country doctor. Throughout our great state country doctors serve some of Texas’ most hard to reach citizens – often traveling hundreds of miles to make house calls.
These doctors treat underserved communities with far sprawling populations long distances from larger clinics and hospitals. But despite these difficult conditions, Texas’ country doctors continue to provide their invaluable services, developing lasting relationships with each of their patients – often having been the doctor at their birth. While these country doctors seem almost antiquated in contrast to the enormous medical centers across the state, their service remains an integral part of our commitment to give every Texan access to quality health care.
Last December, one of Texas’ many dedicated country doctors even earned national distinction, being named “Staff Care’s Country Doctor of the Year.” For more than half a century, Dr. David Watson has been the primary doctor for the residents of Yoakum, Texas.
A graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Watson says he never wanted to be anything more than a family doctor. Over his years of service to Yoakum, he’s become much more. He’s served as physician, surgeon and obstetrician. On Friday nights, he walks the sidelines of the high school football games to treat any injured players and in his spare time volunteers with abused children at the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch.
Dr. Watson’s recognition as Country Doctor of the Year comes as little surprise to the families that have for so long depended on him. And while much has changed in medicine since he first opened doors offering $5 house calls, Dr. Watson’s dedication to the community has not. His service to the people of Yoakum has made him a staple of the community and an example to doctors throughout our state and across the country.
As Texas continues to grow and foster an even greater medical community, we should take the time to recognize the men and women who have pioneered Texas medicine and brought care to families living even in the remotest of Texas towns. Doctors like David Watson remind us of an older time in Texas, before the advent of large hospitals and medical research centers. But today’s country doctors remain a primary source of care for rural Texans.
I congratulate Dr. Watson on this much-deserved recognition, and I thank the many doctors like him who attend to rural communities throughout Texas. As we work to improve Texas’ medical community, we must remember our country doctors and the important work they do.
Remembering Barbara Jordan
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
This month, Americans in Texas and across the country pay tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. To this day his powerful message on the importance of equality, opportunity and the unique value of every human life continues to inspire generations of Americans. Undoubtedly, Rev. King would have liked to be here to witness firsthand the Inauguration of our nation’s first African American president.
As we celebrate this historic occasion, we should also pause to remember one of Texas’ most accomplished civil rights activists, Barbara Charline Jordan. The first African American woman from a Southern state to serve in the U.S. Congress, Jordan’s unprecedented election was just one of the many shining “firsts” she achieved for both her race and her gender.
Jordan was born in Houston on February 21, 1936, and grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Much of her childhood was spent in Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she listened devotedly to the sermons of her father, Baptist Rev. Benjamin Jordan. She carried his booming voice and resonating pulse from the pulpit with her, excelling as a young debater at Phillis Wheatley High School—determined even then to be a lawyer. Her grandfather’s words guided her throughout her life: “just trot to your own horse and don’t get in the same rut as everyone else.”
Without question, Jordan was focused and determined to succeed. A member of the Wheatley honor society, she graduated in the top five percent of her class. She attended Texas Southern University, where she fine-tuned her debate skills, defeating top debaters from Ivy League institutions like Yale and Brown. Jordan went on to graduate from Boston University School of Law, the only woman in her class of 128 students.
After a brief teaching stint at Tuskegee Institute, Jordan returned home to Houston, and practiced law. It wasn’t long before Jordan found herself “bitten by the political bug,” and in 1960, she began stuffing envelopes for the Harris County Democrats during the Kennedy presidential campaign. She was quickly recognized for her exceptional oratory skills, and party leaders recruited her to begin speaking for area candidates. Jordan’s charisma on the stump was remarkable, and she soon became a candidate herself. Jordan made two unsuccessful runs at the state legislature before winning a seat in the Texas Senate in 1966—the first African American woman to do so. She earned the respect of her white male colleagues and a reputation for common-sense leadership.
In 1972, she made history again by becoming elected as the first African American female from the Deep South to serve in the U.S. Congress.
During her public service, she became a champion of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. She even succeeded in broadening the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to include Mexican-Americans in Texas and other southwestern states.
Jordan captured the nation’s attention in 1974, when she participated in the impeachment proceedings against President Nixon and delivered what many consider to be the most memorable and powerful remarks of the historic hearings. The national spotlight followed her and in 1976, she became the first African American woman to speak before the Democratic National Convention, delivering an energizing speech centered on the ideals of equality and accountability.
In 1979, Jordan retired from government and accepted a position teaching ethics and public affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. After a life of achievement, Barbara Jordan passed away in Austin on January 17, 1996.
Barbara Jordan’s historic accomplishments and contributions to our nation earned her countless honors, including the elite Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. In tribute to her passionate work to end discrimination, I was proud to have a hand in adding her name to the title of the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act of 2006, which was signed into law in 2008.
This month, the path paved by Barbara Jordan, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights activists, will lead to the White House. As Barack Obama becomes our nation’s first African American president, I hope we can each pause to remember and pay tribute to Barbara Jordan and the others like her who have made this historic day possible - building, as Ms. Jordan once said, “an America as good as its promise.”
Tackling Washington Challenges the Texas Way
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
As the New Year begins, I want to start by thanking Texans for sending me back to Washington for another six years. Together we can make the great state of Texas an even more prosperous and peaceful place to raise our families, work, and plan for the future.
I couldn’t be prouder to represent a state where folks value hard work, family, faith and freedom; it’s what makes Texas a land of opportunity. From business to education; energy to medicine—Texas leads the way with its spirit of independence and legacy of accomplishment.
That’s why I find that many of the best ideas and solutions I take to Washington come from Texas. As I roll up my sleeves to start work in the 111th Congress, I do so with confidence, knowing that so many Texans stand ready to help me make a difference in Washington.
At the top of my list this year is the state of our nation’s economy. While Texas has fared better than most, we are not immune to the recession. Last year brought layoffs and salary cuts, and thousands lost their homes. But with a combination of pro-growth policies on the federal level and ingenuity on the local level, we can turn the economic tide back in our favor.
I will oppose any effort to increase taxes on working families and small businesses—the backbone of our economy. Instead, I will push for significant tax relief that will keep more of the hard-earned money in your pocket. Our first step should be to permanently extend tax relief that will soon expire; otherwise Americans will be hit with the largest tax increase in history. Things like small business investment incentives and individual tax relief will help grow jobs, expand opportunity here at home, and make us more competitive. In other words, these efforts will bring a little Texas common sense to Washington.
Another Texas hallmark that has been missing in Washington is government transparency. I have and will continue to make open government a top priority. I have worked to shed light on the federal government for all Americans to see their tax dollars at work. My goal is to create a federal sunset commission, based on the successful Texas model, to comb through and weed out ineffective or wasteful government programs. With the new Administration intent on passing a more-than $700 billion stimulus package, we need this commission now more than ever.
Equally important is the need to finally pass a comprehensive energy plan. Last year, with gasoline above $4, energy independence was the popular pledge. But as quickly as gas prices dropped, the topic also disappeared from the political spotlight. Today we are no closer to reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. I will push for new domestic production and refining capacity. Texas already leads the nation in energy production, but we can do more. We must cut through the red tape and allow Texas producers to tap into our rich natural resources while fully developing clean energy alternatives like wind, solar and biomass.
Also on my agenda are enhanced benefits for our troops and veterans. These fine citizens have made tremendous sacrifices for our protection; we owe them the best benefits and care possible. We need additional resources to research post-traumatic stress disorder and other “invisible wounds” from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a solemn obligation to help our wounded warriors make a successful transition back to civilian life or return to military service, if they so choose.
I will not give up on achieving broad immigration reform that until now has been blocked by partisanship. Continued inaction is a serious risk to our national security. I am committed to fixing our flawed system while enforcing the rule of law and securing our borders. I will continue to work with Texas law enforcement, Border Patrol, and community leaders to learn firsthand the challenges that face our border.
This year will also bring opportunities to make real differences in health care and education—especially for low-income Texas children who need more affordable preventive health care and college tuition.
In Texas, when a problem arises, we don’t wait for someone else to fix it, we tackle it. I hope all Texans will join me in tackling this year’s challenges by sending me your ideas, your concerns and your priorities. Together we can take Texas to new levels and help the rest of the nation get back on the right track.
Growing Rubies in Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Across America, “Season’s Greetings” from Texas often means the arrival of the incomparable Ruby Red grapefruit grown in the Rio Grande Valley. This time of year gift boxes of these beauties appear on doorsteps and mounds of them begin filling grocery store displays and farmers markets.
They are labeled with trademarked names like Ruby-Sweet or Rio Star. There are other names as well, but most people simply call them Texas Ruby Reds. No other brand can duplicate the fresh, sweet flavor and juiciness of this seedless grapefruit with deep red color inside.
Citrus agriculture and South Texas were meant for one another. The Valley’s subtropical climate with hot days and warm nights, along with well-drained loamy soil, makes it perfect for growing grapefruit and oranges.
But the future of the industry didn’t seem so bright at first. In 1904, a respected Florida botanist predicted that citrus growing would never prosper in South Texas because of freezes. That was before the arrival of such citrus pioneers as John H. Shary, who became known as “The Father of the Texas Citrus Industry.”
Shary is credited with planting the first large-scale citrus orchard in the Valley in 1915. His irrigation systems turned brush land into viable citrus orchards. He studied citrus packing and marketing, built the first citrus packing plant in the area, and organized the Texas Citrus Fruit Growers Exchange.
The vision of Shary found its destiny with the sharp eye of A. E. Henninger of McAllen. He spotted something new in 1929 – a limb of red grapefruit growing on a pink grapefruit tree. Before then, grapefruit in Texas and elsewhere were either white or pink inside. Five years later, his “Ruby Red” received the first U.S. patent awarded to a grapefruit.
Ruby Reds would revolutionize the citrus industry and put Texas squarely in the middle of it. They became a national success. Today, Texas grows about 200 tons of red grapefruit annually, 15 percent of America’s crop. Most of this comes from three counties in the Lower Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of Texas – Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties.
As the popularity of Ruby Reds skyrocketed, Texas growers and horticulturists continued to perfect the Ruby Red and introduced improved and redder varieties. They also turned to cutting-edge research to help develop hardier trees, thwart pests and tree diseases, and modernize operations. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center. It operates in Weslaco, alongside the Texas AgriLIFE Research facility and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Kika de la Garza Research Center.
Prime time for harvesting Texas grapefruit extends from October to May. The Texas Citrus Festival comes at the end of January in Mission. February is National Grapefruit Month.
Grapefruit represent about 70 percent of Texas’s citrus crop, most of the rest coming from oranges. Grapefruit juice is an important part of the picture. The economic impact of the citrus industry on the Texas economy totals as high as $150 million to $200 million a year.
The Florida botanist was not completely wrong. South Texas occasionally gets a freeze, plus hurricanes, including Hurricane Dolly earlier this year, but none could end this Texas success story.
Rich color, exceptional flavor, and important health benefits are the hallmarks of Texas red grapefruit. That is why it was officially declared the State Fruit of Texas in 1993. But long before that, everyone who had eaten a Ruby Red already made it the “people’s choice” – a taste of Texas to enjoy time and time again.
Giving Thanks in Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
At Thanks-Giving Square in downtown Dallas, in houses of worship, and in community kitchens and family tables across the state, Texans heartily observe our national holiday and express gratitude for the gifts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Many say thanks every day of the year, but Thanksgiving Day is when Americans join together to express gratitude throughout the nation. These annual get-togethers bring family and friends together, and renew our focus on the great American tradition of giving thanks for our blessings.
This year, about 46 million turkeys will be served during Thanksgiving in America. Across Texas, tables will be filled with rich foods produced in our state, easily found in stores by looking for the “Go Texan” label. Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers, processors and workers provide much of the harvest that Texans depend on throughout the year.
In addition to Thanksgiving dinner, people fill the holiday with all kinds of relaxation. We like football games, hunting, parades, and “Turkey Trot” fun runs, to name a few.
But in the midst of giving thanks, Texans also take time to focus on those who need our thoughts, prayers and support – especially those away from their homes because of military service or public service jobs that keep them on duty during the holidays. We are thankful for our soldiers and veterans, health care workers, law enforcement officers and first responders. The safety and security they provide put them high on our thank-you lists.
Texas also is blessed by the volunteers who work in food banks, serve at community dinners for the less fortunate, and supply boundless energy and generous support to charitable organizations all year long.
This year will be remembered for the destructive storms that hit parts of Texas. We must continue to supply public and private aid to Texans whose homes and communities were damaged or devastated by Hurricanes Ike and Dolly, and other natural disasters. Many Texans suffered greatly. Their pain continues, and we need to be as vigilant today in helping them get back on their feet as we were in the days following the storms.
It is not unusual to see hearts open their widest when times are toughest. We have to find the best ways to uplift those seeking the American dream or hoping to hold on to it – those needing jobs and those impacted by the state of the economy.
Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas includes the interfaith Chapel of Thanksgiving, which opened during America’s bicentennial year, 1976. It serves as “the Home of American Thanksgiving” and “The Center of World Thanksgiving.”
The Thanks-Giving Foundation, which spearheads programs to “promote the value and spirit of thanksgiving,” describes the tradition well. “Of all the profound gestures of the human heart, thanksgiving is the most communal and the most basic. Its presence creates a universal bond that transcends differences throughout the world.”
By expressing gratitude, we acknowledge that our lives depend on the work, contributions and kindness of others. While self-reliance is a cherished virtue in America, it is equally important that we recognize our interdependence and reach out to help each other, at home and abroad.
In “America the Beautiful,” we sing about “amber waves of grain” and the “fruited plain.” As we count our blessings, let’s seek ways to share them with others. That puts words into action. It’s the Texas spirit at work, the heart of what makes us Texans.
Sen. Cornyn Encourages Texans To Support Our Men And Women In Uniform With Holiday Greetings
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today encouraged all Texans to participate in “Holiday Mail for Heroes,” an effort led by the American Red Cross to deliver holiday cards to our service members and their families. Sen. Cornyn’s Web site features a link on the homepage for Texans interested in participating: www.cornyn.senate.gov.
“As the holiday season approaches and we gather with our families, I hope each of us takes the time to consider the great sacrifices our servicemen and women have made to ensure our safety and well-being. Many of these heroes are far from home this holiday season, serving on the front lines or training at military bases. Many of our wounded warriors will be spending the holidays recovering in hospitals and medical facilities across the country. One important way we can show them our support is by sending a holiday message to wish them well,” Sen. Cornyn said.
“I encourage all Texans to participate in ‘Holiday Mail for Heroes’ and send a greeting to our troops. It is a small effort we can make that can brighten the day of a serviceman or woman who is serving selflessly on our behalf. Please visit my Web site, www.cornyn.senate.gov, for helpful information on how to ensure your holiday greeting makes its way to one of America’s heroes today.”
Background:
The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are teaming up to send holiday cards to service men and women in the United States and around the world. From Tuesday, November 11 until Wednesday, December 10, the public is invited to send holiday cards with their message of thanks and cheer to a special post office box. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals, and other locations during the holidays.
In 2007, nearly 600,000 cards were delivered through the ‘Holiday Mail for Heroes’ effort.
Our State’s First “First Family”
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
When Texas became a state in 1845, its population was about 150,000, and its seat of government had shifted several times. Austin finally was chosen as the state capital, despite lingering fears that Mexican troops and Indians still posed a threat there.
The rough-hewn capital city numbered only 200 people, and years would pass before the present day Governor’s Mansion and State Capitol building were constructed. Nevertheless, a big job in a small town awaited the state’s first Governor, James Pinckney Henderson.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of his birth. His story is incomplete without describing the accomplishments of the gifted first “First Lady,” Frances Cox Henderson. Together and individually, they played an important role in the birth and development of Texas statehood.
Their worlds had been far apart when they first met in Europe. Frances Cox was a 19-year-old Philadelphian studying in Paris. According to the Handbook of Texas, she had “learned to speak at least 18 languages, was proficient in mathematics, became an accomplished musician, and wrote and translated short stories.”
The future Texas Governor, a North Carolina native who had earned a law degree, was 10 years older. He came to Paris as Texas’ envoy to France and England. Before turning 30, he had served the Republic of Texas as Attorney General and Secretary of State.
They married in London in 1839, and then headed to Texas. After practicing law in San Augustine, he was named a delegate to the Convention of 1845, where annexation and a state constitution were adopted. The following year he became Governor.
At this junction, the story of the First Family took an interesting turn. Frances, then 25, chose to stay in thriving San Augustine. The Hendersons had lived there five years, and this well-established East Texas town was a good place to raise their children. It had schools and universities, churches, a newspaper, hotels, other businesses, and fine homes.
She may have had other reasons. The term of Governor was two years, and Governor Henderson had served only three months when he left to lead Texas troops during the Mexican War. He was gone more than half of his term and declined to run a second time.
Equipped with education and experience abroad, she used her capabilities to the utmost. She studied law and maintained her husband’s law practice when he was away on state business. Some have called her the first female lawyer in Texas. Frances supported women’s suffrage nearly 80 years before the right to vote became a reality for Texas women.
She played an important part in establishing Episcopal churches in East Texas, contributing to San Augustine’s reputation as “the birthplace of Protestant religion in Texas.” Community children benefited from the speech and music education she gave them.
After his term as Governor, followed by a decade practicing law, James Pinckney Henderson was elected to fill an open U.S. Senate seat. He served less than a year before dying in office. Frances lived another 39 years. The young widow moved to France during the Civil War, eventually spending her final years with her daughter in New Jersey. She died there in 1897.
The Hendersons’ education, experiences abroad and contributions to the new state made them, as some would say today, a “power couple.” In their case, power was not just what they had learned and acquired, but how they used it for the advancement of Texas and the model of dedicated public service they established for future generations. Important now as it was then, their example served Texas well.
Wild Mammals: An Iconic Group in Texas’ Diverse Animal Kingdom
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
From the rolling green of the Texas Hill Country to the High Plains in the panhandle and the rich forests in East Texas, our state is a varied panorama of unique terrain. As a result, it should come as no surprise that Texas is the second most biologically diverse state in the nation, with hundreds of species of animals and plants who call our state home.
A look at just one segment of nature—wild mammals—reveals the remarkable variety within Texas’ animal kingdom. Texas has more than 180 species of native mammals. Included are deer, coyotes, river otters, bobcats, jackrabbits, and whales in our Gulf waters. Some come to mind more easily than others, such as the state small mammal, the armadillo, and the state flying mammal, the Mexican free-tailed bat.
History helps us recapture some of the first wild mammal sightings in Texas. Notes from the 1854 expedition of U.S. Army Captain R.B. Marcy were published in the book “Through Unexplored Texas.” In one episode, the calls of wolves came frighteningly close to their campsite: “An hour had not elapsed, before we had a beautiful concert of whines, yells and barks from a pack of at least one hundred wolves, who … kept up their hungry serenade until day dawned.”
Another mammal spotted by the Marcy expedition, the prairie dog, became known as “an icon of the grassland.” The Army explorers entered “an extensive prairie dog town” estimated at 100 square miles, with “a population not to be exceeded by any city in the world.” It has been estimated the prairie dog population in Texas peaked as high as 800 million a century ago.
However, over the years, the range of Texas prairie dog towns has shrunk to less than one percent of the area they once occupied, largely because of government-sponsored extermination. Several other mammals were hunted to the point of extinction, while a number declined as they suffered a loss of habitat through expansion of towns, cities and cropland.
The jaguar, red wolf and grizzly bear are some of the mammals no longer found in the back country of Texas. Others that disappeared are making a comeback, including desert bighorn sheep, black bear and bison.
A number of mammals, once domestic, became wild. The feral hog is a prime example. These mammals, notorious for being a nuisance to farmers and landowners, multiply rapidly and rampage through the Texas countryside.
Continuing research and education contributes to greater understanding and respect for wild mammals. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with universities, private landowners, wildlife and conservation groups, generate important knowledge. Texas families and individuals can see native mammals firsthand at our 51 state wildlife management areas and 17 national wildlife refuges.
For the majority of Texans who today live in or near cities and towns, the connection with mammals may have faded. But not all is lost, especially if we remember the wisdom of the first Texans. “For the Indians of the Plains, every plant and animal had not only its place but its right to exist in the all-enveloping harmony” of nature, Texan J. Frank Dobie once wrote.
Texas will never revert to its original, natural condition, but knowledge of the past, coupled with renewed concern and care for native mammals and all living creatures, can help accomplish what Texans do best: build a better future.
The Helium Capital
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
When scientists in France and England discovered helium 140 years ago, their eyes were on the sun, not on Texas. Yet decades later, the Lone Star State became the epicenter of the “lifting gas,” and Amarillo gained the title “Helium Capital of the World.” Still today, the federal helium facility northwest of Amarillo accounts for a third of the world’s supply of helium.
The European astronomers first identified helium when they were studying a solar eclipse and spotted a previously undetected yellow atmospheric band around the sun. Another 27 years would pass before scientists discovered helium in minerals on Earth.
As researchers learned that natural gas deposits are the leading source of helium, they went to big fields of natural gas in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. In Texas, the hunt led to the Petrolia oilfield near Wichita Falls. The federal government built the nation’s first helium extraction plant there in 1915. A full-scale plant was built in the Fort Worth area in 1921.
In these years surrounding World War I, extraction of helium primarily supported the needs and interests of the U.S. Army and Navy. During the 1920s, large airships, including the U.S. Navy’s “Shenandoah,” routinely docked near the Fort Worth helium plant.
In 1925, the Helium Act created the Federal Helium Program and assigned responsibility for all U.S. helium production to the federal government. The government built the first of several helium facilities in the Amarillo area in 1929.
American industries continually discovered new uses for helium. The most obvious include blimps first launched by Goodyear 80 years ago. But helium’s versatility goes beyond blimps and party balloons. It is used in arc welding, in the manufacture of fiber optics, computer chips and consumer electronics, and for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in medicine.
Texas has a high profile in the consumption of helium. NASA utilizes it in many ways, including pressurization of space shuttle fuel tanks. NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility at Palestine in East Texas also depends on helium. This facility has launched more than 1,700 scientific balloons since 1963, providing research in such areas as atmospheric sciences, astronomy and physics.
Sulphur Springs in North Texas is home to Aerostar International’s Aerospace Balloon Engineering and Manufacturing Facility, which produces gigantic, high-altitude scientific balloons for NASA and the U.S. military.
Just as it put the federal government in the helium business in 1925, Congress started removing it 70 years later. The Helium Privatization Act of 1996 limited the future role of the federal government in helium by requiring it to discontinue the production and refining of helium, and to sell the helium stockpile by 2015.
The worldwide demand for helium continues to grow, and some experts are cautioning about a possible shortage of helium. Future needs will depend more and more on supplies produced by private industry here and abroad.
Forty years ago, Amarillo erected its Helium Centennial Time Columns Monument to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of helium. Each of the columns contains a time capsule – with artifacts and information sealed in a helium atmosphere – telling the story of the industry. One was opened in 1993 and the other three will be opened on future anniversaries, the last on the 1,000th anniversary.
As future generations open these time capsules, they will realize what we know today – that the contributions of Amarillo and Texas to the development of the helium industry have earned a preeminent and enduring place in history.
Prickly Pear Cactus: A Fitting Symbol Of Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Ask for tuna in some parts of Texas and you may not get fish. That’s because the fruit of the prickly pear cactus also is known as tuna. This cactus, with its thorny, rounded pads and reddish purple fruit, has and continues to weave its way through Texas’ history, culture and landscape.
Texas ranks first in cacti. Arizona boasts the towering saguaro cacti, but Texas has more than 100 species and claims more than any other state. At the top of the list, by a resolution of the Texas Legislature, is the prickly pear cactus – the State Plant of Texas.
This fixture along Texas byways and countryside is uncommonly versatile, described as “a vegetable, fruit, and flower all in one.” The 1995 legislative resolution refers to the prickly pear cactus as an “adaptable plant” that can “thrive in a harsh climate that few plants can bear.”
The campaign to highlight the prickly pear cactus dates back more than 100 years ago. A young state legislator, John Nance Garner from Uvalde, urged his colleagues to name its blossom as the State Flower. That honor, of course, went to the bluebonnet. But Garner did not leave this effort empty handed, and his political career moved forward. “Cactus Jack,” as he was called after that, would become the U.S. Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The prickly pear cactus flourished long before the first explorers and settlers of European ancestry arrived here. Early Indians in Texas relied on it for nourishment and for other purposes – some of them quite inventive. Water was sometimes carried in large bags made of prickly pear pads encased in a netted frame. Floor coverings and sleeping mats made of prickly pear pads have been found in exploration of caves inhabited by the early Texans.
Texas pioneers and settlers, not dependent on cactus for sustenance, viewed the prickly pear cactus as a nuisance to farm and ranch lands, and also livestock. But even they could not deny its benefits – realizing that the cactus helped their livestock survive during droughts. Furthermore, there is growing awareness of its role in providing food and habitats for quail, deer, javelina and other wildlife.
The prickly pear and other cacti also are an important part of Texas horticulture. Botanical gardens and clubs cultivate and display cacti and succulent plants. They are a popular choice in cactus gardens and are increasingly common in xeriscapes where the prickly pear’s heat tolerance, low water consumption and beautiful blossoms make it a welcome plant.
The cactus has been popular in Texas kitchens for generations. In addition to the tuna, which makes prickly pear jelly and beverages, the flat pad of the cactus – the nopalito – can be used as a substitute for green beans, okra, squash and bell pepper. They are found in such recipes as nopalitos con huevos (scrambled eggs and cactus), nopales rellenos (stuffed cactus paddles), french-fried cactus, grilled cactus pads and cactus salad.
Sanderson, the county seat of Terrell County in the Big Bend region, holds the title of “Cactus Capital of Texas.” The Texas Cactus Council in Benavides, southwest of Corpus Christi, is devoted to “all aspects of the development and production of prickly pear and other cacti.” These include using it for dyes and cosmetics, and promoting its health benefits.
This common sight on our Texas landscape is recognized in a number of ways. The legislature’s resolution described the prickly pear cactus as “rugged, versatile, and uniquely beautiful.” The same could be said about the entire state. That is why the prickly pear is such a fitting symbol of Texas.
A History-Making Showstopper From TexasBy U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The Hollywood career of singer-entertainer Etta Moten consisted of only two on-screen roles, but that was enough for the native Texan to make a dramatic breakthrough for African-American actors and establish her place in film history.
“Before Halle Berry and Dorothy Dandridge and even Lena Horne, there was Etta Moten, a black actress defying all the odds as an African-American woman and performer,” an Ebony Magazine article stated.
Etta was born in Weimar, about halfway between San Antonio and Houston, where her father was an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) minister. Her vocal talent attracted attention in church choirs and led to a scholarship to the preparatory school of Paul Quinn College, then located in Waco.
After graduation and touring with national choral groups, she went to New York and landed a leading role in the Broadway musical “Zombie.” Its success led to a national tour that took Etta to Los Angeles and provided a steppingstone for work there.
Etta’s first on-screen role – portraying a World War I widow in “Gold Diggers of 1933” – seemed to be modest. Her name was not listed in the film’s credits, but it was far from trivial.
She “became an instant heroine among African-Americans, in part because, unlike virtually every other black actress up to that time, she had portrayed an ordinary homemaker rather than a domestic servant and had performed a musical number that wasn’t a spiritual,” according to Current Biography Yearbook.
Later that year, she continued to bring down barriers, playing the role of an enchanting Brazilian singer in “Flying Down to Rio.” The following year, Etta became the first African-American to perform at the White House where she sang one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s favorite songs, “Remember My Forgotten Man.”
A shortage of gratifying film parts led Etta back to concert performances and Broadway. Her signature Broadway role came in the 1942 revival of “Porgy and Bess.” Etta made a strong statement when she insisted that a racial epithet be removed from the production. Her performance as Bess, according to one writer, “placed the work in the pantheon of musical theater.”
Success came with a price. The show’s lengthy run on Broadway and two years on tour in the U.S. and Canada damaged her voice and led to throat surgery. This may have been a career-ending disappointment for others. However, as Etta’s singing career began to wane in the 1950s, she delved into civic, cultural and educational activities.
“I’ve always said that the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth, and I’m not ready for either one,” Etta said later in life. She lived to the age of 102.
Etta Moten was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and received the Living Legend Award from the National Black Arts Festival. She was named one of Texas’ 100 most influential women of the 20th century by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in 1999.
The road that took her from Weimar to Broadway and Hollywood – and to the White House – is more than a story of incredible talent and a successful career. It is a lasting example of determination in the face of intimidating odds. Her accomplishments offer proof that obstacles can lead to breakthroughs and setbacks can produce success.
Etta thrilled audiences with many exhilarating performances. She also made an enduring imprint with her contributions to the greater good of the world around her. The sum of her work made Etta Moten a lifelong showstopper, representing the best of Texas.
“Webster on Cattle”By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
He went by the name Shanghai, his cattle were called “sea lions” and, by some accounts, his Texas ranch lands in the 1800s were almost as large as his home state of Rhode Island.
Abel Head Pierce was one of the almost larger-than-life personalities from the early years of Texas. Yet, the colorful tales of his life sometimes obscure the initiative and ingenuity that drove his career and helped cement the entrepreneurial reputation of Texas.
The voyage that brought the New England teenager to Texas began when he stowed away on a ship in 1854. Some would say his journey began even earlier when he yearned for the opportunity and success he could not find at home. After five months at sea, he landed at Indianola on the Texas Gulf Coast with 75 cents in his pocket.
Shanghai found work on a ranch as a rail splitter, cowhand and bronc-buster. Soon, he began building his own herd. But Shanghai suffered a setback after taking leave from ranching to serve in the Civil War. He returned home to Texas after the war only to find money owed to him was paid in worthless Confederate dollars.
He started over, partnering with his brother, Jonathan. The Pierce herd began growing as Shanghai claimed unbranded mavericks on the open range, drove them to market and sold them for a profit. They also sold cow hides and tallow. The brothers parlayed their earnings into more cattle and more profits, and began buying land in Wharton County and adjacent Matagorda County on the Gulf Coast.
This marked the start of an empire estimated at a half-million acres and hundreds of thousands of cattle. Because of their unique origin on the Texas coast, Shanghai’s cattle became known as “sea lions” or “Shanghai Pierce coasters.” His cattle proved they could handle wet conditions. Shanghai often proclaimed, “They’re my sea lions. They come right out of the Gulf of Mexico.”
Some admired Shanghai as a flamboyant, determined and hard-nosed ranching titan. Critics labeled him as overbearing, underhanded and ruthless. Overall, though, most conceded that he was “King of the Cattlemen” during his heyday.
One observer, quoted by biographer Chris Emmett, called Shanghai “the most widely known cattleman between the Rio Grande and the British possessions. He stood six-feet-four in his stockings, was gaunt and rawboned, and the possessor of a voice, which in ordinary conversation could be distinctly heard across the street.”
Shanghai seemed to revel in all of the descriptions and even gave himself the title of “Webster on cattle,” in self-recognition of his knowledge of the industry. As with many stories about him, the origin of his nickname, Shanghai, has several versions. But one is more common than others and it has nothing to do with cattle. When this towering, lanky man wore spurs with jangling rowels, some said he looked like a strutting, long-legged Shanghai rooster.
A few years ago, Shanghai Pierce was inducted into the State Fair’s Texas Heritage Hall of Honor for his influence on agriculture and ranching. He was one of the biggest shippers of beef from Texas to Kansas on the Chisholm Trail, during a period described as “the greatest migration of livestock in world history.” He also identified the Brahman cattle from India as being resistant to ticks and his family helped pioneer the breed’s development in America.
While it would be difficult for anyone to duplicate Shanghai’s fascinating career, his legacy set the stage for Texas to reign as the land of opportunity for entrepreneurs. In our state, which cultivates and beckons talent, broad horizons await those who seek them. That is a tribute to Shanghai Pierce and all the pioneers who built the foundation of Texas and inspired future generations to pursue a brighter future.
An Epic StormBy U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The end of a violent storm calms some of our fears, but stirs up a new set of concerns and challenges. Everywhere I have traveled in the areas struck by Hurricane Ike, I have seen destruction almost beyond belief. There’s no question this storm delivered a devastating blow to Southeast and East Texas. Unfortunately, Ike came on the heels of earlier storms this season, like Hurricane Dolly, which also hurt Texas families and small businesses. Now we see in front of us a job of recovering and rebuilding that will test the best we have to offer.
Positive things already are happening, thanks to the roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-down-to-work attitude Texans are known for. Thousands, including people from other states, immediately began tackling the jobs of caring for evacuees and survivors, search and rescue efforts, restoring power, and removing wreckage and debris.
One of my highest priorities is to push the federal government and cut through red tape to get the aid Texas needs as fast as possible. Communities in Texas are struggling right now and the federal government needs to be doing everything in its power to help them.
Equally important is making sure that the victims are treated on par with the way victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other disasters were treated when it comes to federal funding for recovery and rebuilding. We also must ensure the flow of assistance continues steadily and consistently as long as additional needs are uncovered.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had several opportunities to visit communities damaged by Ike. I will go back time and time again until the recovery is complete.
I joined U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in surveying the regions that suffered a direct hit. In the following days, President Bush and I got a gut-wrenching look at stricken areas and gathered information from emergency workers on the ground. During my most recent trip, I worked elbow-to-elbow with volunteers and witnessed firsthand the incredible needs and pressures they are facing.
Information from these trips armed me to go back to Washington, D.C. to make the case for the federal assistance Texas needs and deserves. An important step forward came with Senate approval to secure new tax relief provisions for Texas counties devastated by Ike in the tax extenders package. The original package treated Texas unequally compared to flood recovery efforts in the Midwest, so I worked to ensure that Ike victims are entitled to the same benefits as other disaster victims. This bill will extend tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits to help Texans rebuild their communities, homes and businesses.
In addition, working with my colleagues in the Texas Congressional delegation, we were successful in securing supplemental disaster funding for Texas, including vital Community Development Block Grant funding to help rebuild housing stock and repair damaged public infrastructure. Victims of both Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Dolly will be eligible for this critical assistance.
Clearly, the lessons of Katrina and Rita were taken to heart before, during and after Ike. I commend Governor Rick Perry and his team, as well as mayors, county judges, other local officials and their staffs, first responders and charitable organizations for the preparations that kept millions of Texans safe from harm. Because of their tireless efforts, we are certainly on the right path to making Texas whole again.
There is more work, however, to be done to fully recover from all storms this season – particularly Ike and Dolly – but I know Texas is up to the task. History will undoubtedly remember their fury and destruction. But more importantly, it will record Texas’ great can-do spirit and the unprecedented outpouring of compassion and assistance that followed. Once the rebuilding and recovery is complete, it’s my hope that the memories that endure are those of volunteerism and Texans helping their neighbors in need.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
When the early Spanish explorers first laid eyes on the present-day Texas coast, their arrival was anything but triumphant. They were exhausted, hungry, lost and fearful of unknown perils. Then a big wave threw them ashore on the Gulf Coast.
“Close to shore a wave took us and hurled the barge a horse's length out of water. With the violent shock nearly all the people who lay in the boat like dead came to themselves, and, seeing we were close to land, began to crawl out on all fours,” Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca wrote in his account of the journey.
The landing in 1528 made Cabeza de Vaca one of the first Europeans on Texas soil. His experiences, which would encompass many years and thousands of miles, contributed to the beginning of an enduring Hispanic culture that shaped the future of Texas and enriched the lives of all who live here.
The Spanish pioneers who eventually followed brought their language and religion. They introduced new agricultural practices and crops, and brought horses and cattle. Their traditions in architecture, art, music, and their contributions in law and medicine are essential parts of the foundation of Texas.
To celebrate these rich contributions, Texans take pride in observing National Hispanic Heritage Month each year. This year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15, marks the celebration’s 40th anniversary. It started with a weeklong observance in 1968 and expanded to a month in 1988. Hispanic Heritage Month honors the culture and legacy of Americans who have family roots in Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
According to the Census Bureau, the Hispanic population of the United States is estimated at more than 45 million. The population of Texas includes 8.6 million people of Hispanic origin, second only to California. Their achievements are boundless: in business, government, the Armed Forces, law, education, medicine, science, sports, entertainment – every occupation and endeavor.
So much of what we love about Texas originates with our Hispanic heritage. Many of Texas’ foods, music, art, celebrations and traditions are rooted in Hispanic traditions. Museums and cultural centers offer beneficial opportunities to learn more about our Hispanic traditions. One of the newest, Museo Alameda in San Antonio, is said to be the nation’s largest Latino Museum and the first formal Smithsonian affiliate. Among the many historic sites are the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, El Paso Mission Trail, Goliad State Park and Historic Site and Nacogdoches’ Stone Fort Museum.
We can trace much of our nation’s Hispanic roots back 480 years to the arrival of Cabeza de Vaca and the 80 men who landed with him in the vicinity of Galveston Island. Before long, harsh conditions reduced their number to “four rugged castaways.” They lived in Texas for the next six years among Karankawa, Mariame and Avavares Indians before setting out to find other Spaniards, a meandering journey that led them to Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
When Cabeza de Vaca arrived there, historians note, he had been transformed to a protector of the peoples who lived there first. More often, though, the fusion of cultures in the new world was difficult. But strong and resilient people emerged, and the culture and heritage they shaped are a vital part of the past – and the future – of America.
“Little Angel” with a Big Legacy
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Long before the first of the familiar six flags flew over Texas, this land was home to native peoples who developed productive, advanced cultures prior to the dawn of recorded history. And, their heritage forms an important foundation of modern Texas.
One of these societies, which settled in present-day East Texas, included a native woman who stood at the juncture between early civilizations and new ones, where east met west in the southern part of North America. Spanish explorers, who encountered her around the beginning of the 1700s, called her Angelina, which meant “little Angel.”
Angelina is one of the few native women specifically remembered from the Indian culture that began in Texas centuries before the arrival of European explorers. A slim biography of Angelina, often enhanced with legends, emerges from records of Spanish and French expeditions.
Both nations sought friendly relations with the Caddos in order to secure a foothold and hinder each other in this strategic location in the “new” world. Their admiration for her is one thing they agreed on. They recognized her value as a translator and guide. The Spanish called her “a learned Indian woman” and “the sagacious Indian interpreter.”
Records of a French explorer describe her as someone who spoke Spanish and “let us have some guides for hire.” Another, believed to have recuperated under her care, wrote that she “served me all the best she had, and she had as much love for me as if I had been her child.”
These descriptions of Angelina put a human face on a great society, the Caddo Nation, which occupied East Texas north to the Red River and parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Angelina’s people, the Hasinais, were a southern Caddo tribe settled in the valleys of rivers now known as the Neches and the Angelina around Lufkin. The Caddo word for friends produced the name Texas.
Compared to the far-ranging Plains Indians, Caddo tribes often stayed close to home to tend their crops. They lived in beehive-shaped huts built of poles covered with thatch. At the time of the European expeditions into East Texas, the Caddo tribes depended on farming, but also hunted, fished and gathered wild nuts, fruits and native plants. Corn was their main crop, along with beans, squash, pumpkins and sunflowers.
The Caddos, writes anthropologist W.W. Newcomb, Jr., “achieved a level of cultural development unsurpassed by other Texas Indians, possessing comparatively advanced technique and tools for exploiting the resources of nature.” Another writer describes “the prestige the Caddo Nation enjoyed among other Texas tribes.”
The Caddo culture ultimately could not withstand encroachment by settlers and the new diseases that came with them. By one estimate, the Caddo population dropped as much as 95 percent after the arrival of the Europeans.
This happened so rapidly that most of Hasinai Caddos were gone from East Texas before Angelina County was named for “the Little Angel.” Descendants of the Hasinais from Texas today live on Caddo lands in southwestern Oklahoma.
The legacy of the Caddo civilization in East Texas, though, lives on. Archeological research at the Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site west of the city of Nacogdoches, another Indian name, provides significant knowledge of a major Caddo community.
Exploring the history of Texas teaches us the value of the contributions of successive peoples and generations. Each has built on the knowledge and mistakes of others. We also have schools, libraries, museums, archives, archeologists and historians to uncover, preserve and interpret our history. Everything we learn about our past is an investment in our future.
The Cowboy StrikeBy U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
When the “beef bonanza” came to the Texas Panhandle in the 1880s, it sparked a classic confrontation – cattle punchers versus cattle barons – that ranks as one of the great tales of the golden age of the American cowboy. More than just a good story, though, it continues to provide valuable lessons about the pursuit of happiness and the American dream.
Traditionally, cowboys and ranchers shared a friendly relationship. Frequently paid with cattle, and allowed to build their own maverick herds, cowboys lived with the hope, and prospect, of becoming ranchers themselves.
But when the demand for beef soared, a new “breed” of owners from England and Scotland came in and dominated the Panhandle lands. They formed corporations, claimed the maverick cattle as their own and insisted that the cowboys work for wages only. When barbed wire was introduced, they fenced in the open range.
Naturally, the cowboys resisted. At stake was their chance to claim a part of the American dream. Denied the right to own cattle, they demanded higher pay. The owners said no. So, just before spring roundup 125 years ago, the cowboys shocked the cattle country. They went on strike.
It was called the first cowboy strike in America. By some estimates, the number of striking cowboys grew to more than 300 across five large ranches. The owners fought back, firing cowboys and hiring replacements. Their strike in 1883, 10 years before Labor Day became a legal holiday in Texas, accentuated a deep-seated belief that hard work deserves honest pay and fair treatment. After two-and-a-half months, the resistance of the cowboys weakened and the strike ended.
During the strike, the town of Tascosa became a popular place for out-of-work cowboys. Money saved to weather the walkout all too often evaporated amid the temptations in this “Cowboy Capital of the Panhandle,” northwest of Amarillo.
In the daytime, Tascosa was a trade and supply center. At night, its rip-roaring “suburb” of Hogtown provided entertainment for a cast of characters that even Hollywood could not invent.
The mysterious and intriguing Frenchy McCormick and her husband, Mickey, reigned over the gambling parlors of Hogtown. Frenchy dealt the cards and Mickey tended the bar.
Keeping the law in Hogtown were Sheriff Pat Garrett and District Attorney Temple Lea Houston, son of Sam Houston. Keeping them busy were a cast of notorious characters, including famed bad man Billy the Kid.
The cowboys around Tascosa were rugged individualists with a deep streak of independence. They worked from sunrise to sundown – from “can see to can’t see” – roping, bulldogging, branding and herding cattle. But their way of life on the open range would fade, as would Tascosa. The death knell for the town came when the main east-west railroad bypassed it.
But the American dream did not die with it. Tascosa took on a new purpose when the ghost town was donated to help start Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in 1939. Since it was founded nearly 70 years ago, the Boys Ranch has cared for more than 8,000 at-risk children. Cal Farley became known as “America’s Greatest Foster Father.”
On the site of old Tascosa, the chance to fulfill the American dream has come full circle.
Team Texas at the Olympics
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
With words like “elegance and power,” “dazzling” and “magnificent versatility,” sportswriters lavished their praise on Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin of Texas. But when she won the gold medal in all-around women’s gymnastics, the headline “Golden Grace” seemed to say it best.
Nastia was one of nearly 100 athletes on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team at Beijing who live in Texas or have Texas ties. With the help of “Team Texas,” America led the world in total medals with 110. In a state where football is king, these Olympians demonstrated that Texas also is a training ground for world-class athletes in a wide range of sports.
The Lopez siblings from Sugar Land made the U.S. taekwondo team a family affair. They became the first set of three siblings in a century to compete in the same Olympic sport. Mark won a silver despite a broken bone in his hand. Steven and Diana each earned a bronze. Their brother, Jean, coached the U.S. team.
Katy native Glenn Eller, on active duty in the U.S. Army, brought recognition to our armed forces when he set two world records in trapshooting en route to the gold medal.
Swimmers with ties to the University of Texas and Longhorn Aquatics joined Michael Phelps on the history-making U.S. team. Eight Texas swimmers won gold, with Aaron Peirsol and Garrett Weber-Gale each achieving two gold medals.
Track stars Sanya Richards from UT and Jeremy Wariner from Baylor each won a gold, running in their respective 4x400m relay teams. Former UT star Cat Osterman pitched for the silver medalist U.S. softball team and Texas A&M alum Stacy Sykora played on the silver medalist volleyball team. Houston native Jonathan Horton won a silver in men’s gymnastics.
Texas athletes have built a proud tradition of success in the Summer Olympics. None is more memorable than Babe Didrikson of Beaumont who won gold medals in the javelin and hurdles at the 1932 Games. An all-around athlete who later starred in professional golf, she was voted the world’s greatest woman athlete of the half-century in 1950.
Track superstar Carl Lewis competed for the University of Houston and went on to win nine gold medals in four consecutive Olympic games from 1984 to 1996. Sprinter Michael Johnson of Dallas won five gold medals in three Olympics.
Bobby Morrow from San Benito became a triple gold medalist in track at the 1956 games in Melbourne and was proclaimed “fastest human.” A&M’s Randy Matson hurled the shot put to Olympic gold medals twice during the 1960s.
Athletes came to the Olympics with resumes full of national and international titles and championships. We are inspired both by the effort of all Olympians and by the triumph of dreams, sacrifice, teamwork and a dogged quest to be the best.
Swimmer Eric Shanteau, who trains in Austin, arrived in Beijing with something else: testicular cancer and the decision of a lifetime. Stunned by the news but blessed with an early diagnosis, he decided to postpone surgery until after he competed. Teammate Dara Torres called him “the real hero on this team.”
On the “Wide World of Sports,” beloved American sportscaster Jim McKay talked about “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Our American athletes in Beijing were humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Mixing with athletes from around the globe, they experienced the Olympic spirit of healthy competition, friendship and goodwill.
The Olympic ideals are as important today as they ever were. Athletes come home forever changed by the Olympic experience. So are all of us who had the pleasure of watching them.
A Legendary Texan at the Helm
At the peak of his wartime career, Admiral Chester Nimitz served as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet and as Fleet Admiral during World War II. The record of this famous Texan will be recognized again on Sept. 2, the anniversary of the formal end of the Pacific war in 1945. He was aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay that day and signed the Japanese surrender papers on behalf of the U.S. government.
Two and a half million naval personnel were under his command in World War II, many of them from his home state. The history of the Pacific war is filled with accounts of brave Texans in all branches of the military. A dozen won the Medal of Honor.
Dallas native Samuel D. Dealey, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, commanded the submarine USS Harder and sank five Japanese destroyers in four days. His fearlessness, which eventually accounted for 16 sunken enemy vessels, earned him the Medal of Honor.
Cleto L. Rodriguez from San Marcos and San Antonio, a rifleman in the U.S. Army, became the first Mexican-American GI to win the Medal of Honor in the South Pacific. Army pilots Horace S. Carswell, Jr. of Fort Worth and Col. Neel E. Kearby from Wichita Falls also earned the Medal of Honor for their bravery in the Pacific.
Heroism on Iwo Jima resulted in a Medal of Honor for Texans Jack Lummus and William G. Harrell, U.S. Marines. Harlon Block of Weslaco was one of the Marines immortalized in the iconic photograph when he helped raise the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima.
Another inspiring story is found in the wartime bravery of Doris “Dorie” Miller of Waco. When he joined the Navy, African-Americans filled non-combat positions. He was gathering laundry when his ship was bombed in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. After moving his wounded captain to safety, he began firing an antiaircraft gun at enemy planes. Admiral Nimitz presented the Navy Cross to Dorie Miller.
Valor sometimes comes in groups. Members of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery of Texas’ 36th Division became known as the “Lost Battalion” when they endured nearly four years as POWs in Southeast Asia, along with survivors of the USS Houston.
The determination and courage of women in WWII expanded opportunities for future generations to serve in the armed forces. Texan Oveta Culp Hobby served as the first director of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Women in the nurse corps tirelessly treated soldiers wounded at the front lines. Women pilots trained near Sweetwater flew planes stateside, freeing more pilots for overseas duty.
It is fitting that the National Museum of the Pacific War is located in Fredericksburg, hometown of Admiral Nimitz. His life and career are tributes to the Texas spirit of patriotism, dedication to duty and perseverance in the face of daunting odds.
After the enemy attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz was chosen to reassemble America’s Pacific Fleet. Over the next four years, he directed the counterattack that culminated on V-J Day.
The Texas spirit exemplified by Admiral Nimitz springs from cities, small towns, farms and ranches. Texas men and women serving in the military today superbly carry on this proud tradition.
The September anniversary of one of America’s greatest victories, the war in the Pacific, is another opportunity to honor all who have served in the armed forces. Their service and sacrifice provide all the rest of us with the gift of freedom.
Their Votes Must Count
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The Great State of Texas has always enjoyed a tremendous partnership with our military. Our state is home to 15 major military installations, and one out of every ten men and women in a U.S. military uniform calls Texas home. Likewise, Texans are extremely proud of our state’s 1.7 million veterans. As I travel throughout Texas, I’m always struck by the remarkable sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
Not long ago, during a memorial service for a South Texas soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq, I was reminded yet again of why our military service members are so critically important to this nation and our American way of life. Below are a few lines from a poem that was shared that day for the fallen soldier’s family. While just words, they gave me an enormous sense of pride in that soldier and all Americans who put on the uniform.
It is the soldier, not the president, who has given us democracy.
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest…
Likewise, it is our troops, not our elected officials, who safeguard the most fundamental of American rights – the right to vote. I am greatly troubled, however, by the knowledge that our troops are yet again in danger of becoming disenfranchised. There are disturbing indications that the United States is failing our military personnel overseas when it comes to protecting and ensuring their voting rights.
Statistics compiled by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) paint an alarming picture. According to the EAC, only 992,000 of the six million eligible military and overseas voters were able to request an absentee ballot for the November 2006 election, and only 330,000 of those ballots were filled out and actually reached local election officials. That means that only 5.5 percent of eligible military and overseas voters were able to fill out a ballot and mail it in.
Congress enacted laws, such as the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002, to ensure that our troops and their family members have a voice in choosing their elected leaders at the federal level.
But according to the statistics we have from the 2006 elections and other indicators, our military voters – especially those overseas – still face major roadblocks to participating in elections. The current system for overseas military voters is just too cumbersome and too convoluted to effectively serve those who serve the cause of freedom. There is much more work to be done to improve our system to ensure every military vote gets counted. For the finest military in the world, I am confident that this task is an achievable one and, more importantly, one worth undertaking.
To that end, as a member of the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, I have asked the U.S. Attorney General to take action and investigate whether the federal agency charged with assisting and enabling our military voters, called the Federal Voting Assistance Program, is doing all it can to help our military voters. Each day, our men and women in uniform make extraordinary efforts in the defense of our freedom, both at home and on far-away fields of battle, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. I will not be satisfied until the efforts of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, to protect and promote these basic civil rights of our military personnel overseas, match the daily efforts of our troops.
To give our troops a louder and clearer voice at the polls, I have introduced the Military Voting Protection Act, which aims to reduce delays and red tape in the absentee voting system currently in place for our overseas troops by requiring the Department of Defense to take a more active role in the process. Under my bill, the department would have to collect the completed absentee ballots of our overseas troops and then express-ship them back to the U.S. in time to be counted, tracking the ballots while they are in transit and confirming their delivery when they arrive at local election offices.
Our American men and women in uniform, a great many of them Texans, make tremendous sacrifices in the defense of freedom and the American way of life. They deserve the government's very best efforts to give them the opportunity to participate in our democratic process.
Our call to action is loud and clear: We must make sure that their votes will count this November – and in every future election. The right to vote is too important to deny it to the very same individuals who risk their lives defending it.
“Friday Night Lights”
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The road from Texas six-man football to fame in the National Football League is one rarely traveled. Players on six-man teams, more than 120 across the state, might call it the “impossible dream.” So, when that distant opportunity becomes reality, people never forget the athlete who made the exceptional journey.
The achievements of Jack Pardee, who played for the six-man Christoval Cougars more than five decades ago, probably surpassed most expectations in his hometown south of San Angelo. He went on to become an All-American for Texas A&M, All-Pro for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins, and two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
After NFL head coaching jobs in Chicago and Washington, he came back to Texas in the 1980s when he coached the Houston Gamblers, the University of Houston Cougars and the Houston Oilers. His many achievements came full circle when he was selected for the Texas Six-Man Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Jack Pardee’s success draws attention to the rich heritage of six-man football in Texas, where the intensity of the players and the enthusiasm of their fans belie the size of the high school and the community. The ladder of high school football starts with the six-man teams, which come from high schools with less than 100 students.
Despite their size, these teams are ingrained in the lore of Texas high school football. Many of their names grab our attention: Jayton Jaybirds, Trent Gorillas, Kress Kangaroos, Rankin Red Devils and Buckholts Badgers. Six-man football holds a warm place in the hearts of fans in larger places too. It is one of the stars in the galaxy of Texas high school football, which includes more than 1,100 teams.
Stadium lights brighten the skies above Texas towns large and small every Friday night. Some games are played on Saturdays or other days, but Fridays are prime time for high school football. Long before there was a book and a hit television series by the same name, the “Friday Night Lights” symbolized a sport that turned into a passion in Texas.
Game day becomes a social event where fans of all ages gather to support the pride of their community. Televisions are turned off and stores close early as fans head to the community’s main event to root for their team. Bands, drill teams and cheerleaders add to the pageantry.
The six-man game differs from all other high schools. It is played on a shorter field, 80 yards instead of 100. Quarters are 10 minutes, instead of 12. The game can end early if one team leads by 45 points at the end of the first half or during the second half. First downs come after a gain of 15 yards, not 10. Touchdowns still count for six points, but field goals are worth four, instead of three.
These and other differences generate non-stop action and high scoring games. In last year’s Division I six-man state championship game, the Richland Springs Coyotes defeated the Rule Bobcats, 98-54. The Motley County Matadors took the Division II state title with a 44-38 win over the Woodson Cowboys.
The legacy of six-man football extends beyond the state championships and the record books. The teams reflect the unique character of each town. The school is the heart of the community. In its classrooms, dedicated teachers nurture students’ dreams and cultivate their potential.
Texas has more six-man teams than any other state. Six-man football represents qualities and a way of life in places that typify the Texas spirit. The niche these teams hold in their hometowns and throughout Texas high school football is one we can all admire and enjoy.
NASA: A National Asset in Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Those famous words from Astronaut Neil Armstrong when Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969 captivated the world and stirred enormous pride in Texas, home of Mission Control. Only 17 years old at the time, I, like many Americans, watched in amazement as our nation accomplished the unimaginable.
This year America celebrates the 50th anniversary of NASA and our commitment to explore space. In 1958, a year after the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik satellite, President Eisenhower signed legislation creating NASA. The “space race” had begun.
The Manned Spacecraft Center, now known as the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC), opened in Houston in 1963. It became home base for NASA’s astronaut corps, training space explorers for the U.S. and its partner nations in the space program.
To this day, the JSC continues to serve as NASA’s Mission Control Center, while also directing all space shuttle missions, including the international space station – described as “the largest, most powerful, complex human facility to ever operate in space.”
So far, NASA’s anniversary celebration has featured scientific conferences, instructional programs for educators, exhibits and air shows. One event – a baseball game in July honoring the anniversary – highlighted the special bond between Houston and America’s space program. On hand for the anniversary game in Houston were the seven astronauts scheduled to conduct a NASA flight to the space station this fall.
NASA’s influence over Texas has been undeniable. Houston’s baseball team, once the Colt .45s, changed their name when NASA came to town. Since then, the Houston Astros have been a staple of the National League, also competing in the 2005 World Series. The team’s old stadium, the Astrodome, was the world’s first domed sports stadium, built in 1965, and was nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
At the same time, the Johnson Space Center employs 15,000 civil servants and contractors, and its economic impact in Texas is enormous. By maintaining America’s leadership in the world technology market, all of NASA’s facilities play a critical role in boosting the Texas economy, and the larger American economy as a whole.
NASA inspires and attracts America’s best and brightest students to study engineering, mathematics, computer programming and the sciences. It serves as an intellectual catalyst for development of new generations of technology, much like previous NASA innovations that led to the development of Global Positioning Systems and CAT scan equipment.
In Houston, working at NASA is more than a job; it is a way of life dedicated to expanding our body of knowledge and way of life through human space exploration.
But the quest for exploration that has always driven America has not come without costs. We will always remember the seven astronauts who lost their lives in 2003 when the space shuttle Columbia exploded over Texas. We also remember those who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, and the astronauts and test pilots who lost their lives earlier in the space program.
In June, it was my pleasure to co-sponsor and help pass a bill to mint new $50 gold and $1 silver coins in honor of NASA’s 50 years of achievement. The first $4 million from sales of the commemorative coins are designated for the NASA Family Assistance Fund to help families of NASA personnel who die as a result of injuries suffered in the line of duty.
The sacrifice and dedication of all of America’s pioneers of space challenges us to dream, to achieve more, and to reach farther than ever thought possible. They stand as examples to the men and women of today who dedicate their lives to space exploration.
NASA’s resilience and vision should encourage Americans that our country has remained steadfastly committed to exploration of space – an enormous expanse of unvisited territory, our final frontier. It has been a privilege to represent an organization as important as NASA and the Johnson Space Center in the U.S. Senate.
Celebrating Texas’ Traditions In Our Nation’s Capital
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The image of Texas around the world often centers on a cowboy herding longhorns or a roughneck working on an oil rig. Texans cherish their western, and oil and gas heritage, but we also know that no single portrait can capture the diversity of our land, our people and our traditions.
In Texans One and All, John L. Davis writes, “The land is huge and varied – with more than 12,000 years of immigrant history – and remains one of the remarkable crossroads of the world. Here are individuals, families, and settlements representing every major cultural, geographic, ethnic, and political group in the world...and nearly all smaller groups as well.”
The multicultural vitality of Texas enjoyed the limelight this summer in our nation’s capital during the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This 10-day event presented “Texas: A Celebration of Music, Food and Wine.” Also featured were NASA and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
Texas musicians, artists, food lovers and winemakers gathered on the National Mall, “America’s front yard,” to demonstrate their talents and specialties to more than one million visitors from around the world.
A big serving of Texas hospitality was offered and enjoyed. There was music at the Opry House, the Texas Roadhouse and the “Waltz Across Texas Dance Party.” The incredible range of Texas food was found at the Lone Star Kitchen, Taqueria Texas, the Rib Joint and the Texas Noodle House. A virtual tour of a Texas vineyard and samples from nine Texas wineries highlighted the development of our wine industry.
I was pleased to join Governor Rick Perry, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and numerous other visiting or transplanted Texans for festivities, including “Celebration of the Lone Star State,” to kick off this year’s Folklife Festival.
The celebration marked the 40th anniversary of the first time the Smithsonian Folklife Festival showcased Texas. That same year, San Antonio presented HemisFair 1968, an international fair that included more than 30 participating nations from Central and South America, Europe and Asia, and brought global recognition to the many facets of Texas culture. A signature landmark built for HemisFair, the Tower of the Americas, continues to soar above San Antonio.
A significant legacy of HemisFair 1968 was a new museum, the Institute of Texan Cultures, created to highlight the many cultural groups that settled here. Through exhibits, research and education, it explores the ethnic and cultural history of Texas and hosts the annual Texas Folklife Festival, patterned after the Smithsonian event.
Other museums across the state also contribute to the world’s knowledge of Texas’ varied cultures and the rugged individuals who shaped the destiny of the Lone Star State. Throughout the year, communities across the state host fairs and festivals that celebrate their unique part of Texas’ heritage.
Texans embrace the variety in our geography and culture, respect the mixture of ideas and opinions within our borders, and find common ground. Texas has inspired the hopes and dreams of people for generations. Here they discover boundless opportunities and a rock-solid commitment to education, free enterprise and hard work. They realize that no matter where they started, the blessings of a fulfilling life in Texas await those who exert their freedom to achieve it.
The Badge of HonorBy U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
The Texas Rangers are legendary for their dedication, skill and heroism. Unforgettable names like John Coffee “Jack” Hayes, William “Big Foot” Wallace and Manuel T. “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas are embedded in our history.
The hard-charging William J. “Captain Bill” McDonald, said to have inspired the phrase “One Riot, One Ranger,” also gained fame for this motto: “No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on a-comin.”
Generations of Texas peace officers have embraced those words and have gained well-deserved reputations for determination, professionalism and excellence. They wear the badge of policemen and women, sheriffs, deputies, constables, corrections and detention officers, game wardens and other offices.
Peace officers cover rural and urban Texas. They work our streets and highways, as well as airports, schools, waterways, parks and jails – wherever they are needed. In addition to fighting crime, they serve on the front line during disasters and emergencies and help safeguard us from terrorists. Many are tireless community volunteers.
The Texas Law Enforcement Code of Ethics emphasizes the high standards of the profession. “As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder, and to respect the constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality, and justice.”
The work of peace officers presents daily risk and danger, sometimes leading to tragic consequences. With that brings more examples of the dedication and heroism of our peace officers. We can never thank them enough, but we can show our support and respect.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of National Night Out. Texans across the state will gather in citywide and neighborhood events to generate support for anticrime programs, to strengthen citizen partnerships with law enforcement agencies and to put criminals on notice that we are fighting back to keep our communities safe.
You may want to check with local organizers about the date for National Night Out in your area. Because of summer temperatures, some Texas communities are changing the date of this year's National Night Out to Oct. 7.
I was privileged to be in Corpus Christi last year on National Night Out. There is no more effective tool against crime than a community that is united against it.
No one said it better than President Ronald Reagan, a strong supporter of National Night Out. “Such citizen action reaffirms those values of community, respect for the law, and individual responsibility that are so much a part of our national heritage…Strong, safe communities don't just happen. They are built by people who care and volunteer their time and energy to make the community a good place to live.”
Congress, too, has an obligation to do all it can to provide support and protection to our peace officers. I am pushing the Daniel Faulkner Court and Law Enforcement Protection Act, which is aimed at strengthening penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officials and federal judges. It also would curb frivolous lawsuits filed against police officers and streamline the appellate process for those murderers who receive the death penalty for murdering a judge or police officer.
As we remember the rich heritage of Texas law enforcement on National Night Out, let’s reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and the people sworn to uphold it. It’s a good time for all who respect the badge to honor those who wear it.
Water from on High
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Water is the lifeblood of Texas. Starting with our state's early inhabitants, the availability of water determined where Texans would live.
The insatiable demand also led to creative attempts to produce more water. Experiments in rain-making began in drought-plagued areas of Texas more than 100 years ago. In a memorable experiment in 1891, college professor John T. Ellis fired cannons at explosives that had been launched with balloons over South Texas.
"After several delays because of unsettled weather, a two-day bombardment of the sky apparently paid off with a downpour. But cynics said that Ellis had simply stalled until rain appeared inevitable, and doubts remained about the practicality of the technique," according to the Handbook of Texas.
As populations increased, Texans wanted dependable water reserves. Where towns sprung up, so did water towers. The municipal water tower is often the first sight as you approach most Texas towns. Along with their primary function, water towers provided city leaders an opportunity to welcome visitors and to advertise their community and its points of pride.
In Poteet, host of the Strawberry Festival each April, the tower is painted to resemble the town's most famous product. The water tower in Luling, home of the annual Watermelon Thump festival, depicts its leading crop. Crockett promotes "Paradise in the Pines."
While all water towers rise above the landscape, some stand out for their design or message. Kemah on Galveston Bay built a water tower shaped and painted to resemble a lighthouse – in addition to operating as a lighthouse as well. Alice bills its tower as the "world's tallest, cement water tower."
Kermit, near the New Mexico border, painted its tower to resemble the beloved frog star of children's television. A tower in Plainview bears the name of another town, Rustwater, the fictional place featured in Steve Martin's 1992 film, Leap of Faith. San Benito's tower recognizes the town's famous son and Grammy-winning singer, Freddy Fender.
The most common tower design, however, is the "Tin Man" shape, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz character. Other designs are used: Pedespheres sometimes are described as a "golf ball-on-a-tee." Standpipes are tall columns. Some water tanks are supported by tripod structures. Many cities are building water spheres, which are large tanks supported by a number of pillars.
Some towers are central to local history. "In 1918 the six-year-old Fentress water tower collapsed onto the town's only bank; cashier J. W. Lipscomb saved his life by dashing into the vault. This high water mark in Fentress history was viewed by some as divine judgment," the Handbook of Texas reports.
In Columbus, the original tower – built of 400,000 bricks with walls 32 inches thick – defied attempts long ago to demolish it with dynamite. It now serves as a history museum.
Texas water towers promote the names of high school sports teams, including the Fighting Wildcats, Gladiators, Cubs, Pirates, Yellowjackets, Trojans and Badgers. In Progreso, home of the Mighty Red Ants, the top of the tower is painted to resemble an ant hill.
Whatever their size or shape, water towers are designed to ensure stable water pressure. Homeowners and businesses depend on them, as do firefighters. Many are used as a backup when emergencies threaten water availability.
By continuing to invest in lakes and reservoirs, water treatment systems, conservation and reuse programs, desalination plants, weather modification and new technologies, and by safeguarding the quality of our water, we can meet the future needs of Texas towns, agriculture and businesses. This is an important part of being good stewards of the State we call home.
A Core Right, Reaffirmed
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
As we celebrate Independence Day this year, we can also celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s recognition that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Our country’s founders understood the importance of this right, and secured it in the Bill of Rights immediately after the right to free speech and religion.
The founders had suffered under tyrannical government. They drafted the Second Amendment to ensure that citizens were never disarmed. I am proud that Texas has so many tireless advocates of the Second Amendment, a bulwark of our personal liberty.
On June 26, in a historic decision, the Supreme Court found that the District of Columbia’s complete ban on handgun possession and the requirement that all guns in the home be disassembled or locked made it impossible for citizens to defend their homes and families. In a 5-4 decision, the majority found the D.C. law unconstitutional.
Richard Heller, who challenged D.C.’s laws, was a security guard at a federal judicial building. He was allowed to carry a gun to protect federal court employees, but was prohibited from taking his gun home to protect his own family and property. Now Mr. Heller can keep a firearm at his residence for self defense, and no longer has to fear being unarmed in his home.
This decision is a landmark. Texans have always known the Second Amendment’s guarantee that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” protects the right of American citizens to own guns. But this is the first time the high court has strongly affirmed this fundamental right.
I joined a “friend of the Court brief,” along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Vice President Dick Cheney, 53 other members of the U.S. Senate, and 250 members of the U.S. House of Representatives—all supporting Heller. We argued that Congress has long interpreted the Second Amendment as protecting an individual right to own a gun. As elected officials, many of us felt that it was important to stand up for the constitutional rights of our constituents.
Like most Texans, I deeply cherish my Second Amendment rights. I am a proud gun owner, avid hunter and sport-shooter. I currently serve as Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, a bipartisan group of Congressmen who enjoy the outdoors, and hunt and fish on a regular basis. There are more than 14.5 million hunters in America and over 10,000 target shooting tournaments are staged annually.
While some politicians believe that guns are the enemy, our founding fathers recognized that gun ownership is essential to personal liberty. To remain truly free, Americans must be able to defend themselves and not rely on the government for protection.
The Second Amendment additionally ensures that the government does not overstep its bounds by disarming Americans. Patrick Henry, one of our founding fathers, proclaimed that “the great object is that every man be armed” and that “everyone who is able may have a gun.”
With our frontier heritage, guns have always been a central part of Texas history and tradition. As we gather with friends and family this July 4th weekend, let’s remember the freedoms and blessings secured by America’s founders. The right to responsible gun ownership should never be taken for granted, lest we cede a core part of who we are as Americans and what keeps us safe and free.
Silver Spike in Texas
Transportation has always shaped the destiny of Texas. Systems for moving people and products are more complicated and even more vital today, as highways, airports, rail lines, waterways and pipelines generate our economic growth.
When Texas was a new state, most transportation was by road. But the best indicator of economic growth then was a relatively new invention – the railroad. Fortunes were made, and towns lived or died, depending on where a railroad decided to site a station.
Railroads also brought excitement. The competition to build a coast-to-coast rail line captivated the nation after the Civil War. The first transcontinental link accommodated the northern states. When the final spike was driven in 1869 at Promontory Summit in Utah, it was a signature moment in U.S. history.
Soon thereafter, all eyes turned to Texas, where an epic race was underway to complete the first southern transcontinental link.
Pushing from the west was Collis Huntington, who expanded his Southern Pacific line through southwestern territories and across the Sierra Blanca Pass in mountains southeast of El Paso.
His rival from the east was Jay Gould’s Texas and Pacific Railway (T&P). In just 21 months, T&P laid 520 miles of track westward out of Fort Worth “winding through twelve counties inhabited principally by Indians, prairie dogs, and coyotes.”
Speed of construction was essential, since the government awarded sections of land for each mile of track laid. The faster they worked, the more property was accumulated by these railroad barons.
By November 1881, the competing railroads were within 10 miles of each other, but neither side was ready to concede the final stretch. “It looked like T&P might get there first, so Huntington sent a wagonload of whiskey to the T&P work gang, camped twenty-five miles east of Van Horn. The drunk lasted a week and a half and gave Southern Pacific the victory,” according to Texas Trains.
After Huntington and Gould made a deal, the Handbook of Texas reports “on December 15 Gould drove a silver spike to join the two roads seven miles southeast of Sierra Blanca Mountain. Transcontinental service began the next day.”
A decade later, public resentment over railroad business practices led Texas Gov. James Hogg to start regulation via the new Texas Railroad Commission. The commissioners later supervised buses and trucks, and after oil was discovered, energy pipelines and well production were added.
Some of us can still remember when the Railroad Commission limited monthly oil production in order to prevent an energy glut. Now the problem is precisely the opposite – too little Texas oil and gas is being produced.
Our state is big and most transportation requires energy. Record gas prices are coupled with vastly more expensive fertilizer, food, electricity and other necessities. The result is serious hardship all over the state.
As we transition to alternative sources, producing more traditional energy at home should be our immediate goal. Yet politicians in Washington continue to oppose this obvious answer. This leaves us with higher fuel prices, and it entrusts our economic security to foreign producers, including some hostile to the U.S.
America knows where to find energy. We should start immediately to develop these resources: exploring offshore, extracting oil from western state shale, and opening more development in Alaska.
There are other action items even while we pursue alternative and renewable energy sources – expanding our refinery capacity, expanding nuclear and developing clean coal. All these common-sense solutions have been blocked by political considerations.
America’s can-do spirit has always pushed advances in transportation – from railroads, to automobiles and airplanes. As we look for the next transportation innovation, we know it will require energy. If Washington will get out of the way, ideas for producing that energy can move ahead.
Today’s Education for Tomorrow’s Military Leaders
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Throughout our history, America has been ably defended by citizens willing to protect our freedom. That is doubly true now, when our military consists entirely of volunteers.
This summer, some 325 young Texans are entering a military service academy, starting their training and taking on the responsibility of leading those defending our country.
Americans know our security has always depended on the sacrifice and commitment of free people willing to serve, and the officers from all walks of life who lead them. America’s founders recognized this as well.
President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation in 1802 creating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.—our oldest service academy. The youngest is the U.S. Air Force Academy, this year observing the 50th anniversary of its first graduating class. Three other academies educate officers for the Navy and Marines, the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines. All have earned outstanding reputations.
On Memorial Day, I had the privilege of hosting the first statewide sendoff for new academy appointees from Texas. These young men and women have been selected to receive an unmatched education, in academics and in leadership. Their service is particularly important as our nation remains steadfast against the real and serious threat of terrorism. They will be among our nation’s future leaders.
John Mendez of Amarillo, heading to the Air Force Academy this summer, learned about military service from his father: “Having people in the military around me inspired me to do the same.”
Sarah Pritchard of Tyler first developed her interest in a high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC). When she visited the U.S. Naval Academy, she was impressed by the integrity, loyalty, courage, confidence and competence among midshipmen—and their patriotism: “It is something bigger than any one person and it takes a lot of people and a lot of commitment to really make a difference.” She starts at Annapolis in July.
Selection for service academy admission is rigorous and competitive. An applicant must be nominated by a member of Congress, and the process is already under way for the entering class of 2009.
The successful appointees are an impressive group of individuals. Mayor Mike Gonzalez of Kyle, Texas, where the sendoff was held, described them: “At first glance these future military leaders appear like any high school senior. But a short conversation with these young men and women reveals that they are truly something special. They have a disciplined sense of duty to our country that is unbreakable and inspiring.”
Guest speaker at our Memorial Day event was retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, whose early military training came in a college ROTC program. Gen. Sanchez, former commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq, made a big impression with these words:
“The personal transition that begins today will take you from being an average American to a member of the profession of arms. The sacrifices will be many, and the rewards are few. The warrior profession is one of sacrifice, duty, sadness and joy. The demands have been consistent over the ages—great personal sacrifices, respect, competency, discipline, loyalty, commitment to duty, integrity, adherence to high moral and ethical standards, honor and courage.”
Some of these students will help lead our military in future decades, and others will serve and move on to careers in civilian life. The caliber of Texans entering America’s service academies gives me great confidence that our ability to defend our freedom is being passed to good hands.
Underground Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
From the High Plains to the Big Bend, the Hill
Country to the Piney Woods and places in between, Texas’s natural
beauty has always been part of its broad appeal. But Texas also has a
less familiar attraction: some 3,000 caves that make up a vast expanse
of underground wonder.
Texas has more caves than any other state. For
generations they have provided utility, historic fascination and
scientific insight into life below and above the surface. Underground
Texas yields information for scientists and students in biology,
geology, paleontology, anthropology, archaeology and speleology—the
study of caves.
“Because things may be preserved in a cave that would
be destroyed almost anywhere else, caves add greatly to our knowledge
of the past,” a geologist writes in Geo-Texas. More than 1,200 animal
species have been found in Texas caves.
Several caves are National Natural Landmarks, but
many are on private land. I co-sponsored the Endangered Species
Recovery Act of 2007 to provide tax incentives to private landowners
who voluntarily protect habitat of endangered or threatened species.
This approach respects property rights of Texas landowners.
Texas has both “wild caves” and “show caves.” Wild
caves exist in their natural state, with no lighting or public paths.
Honey Creek Cave is the longest cave in Texas, stretching more than 20
miles underneath Comal and Kendall counties.
Exploration of a wild cave may involve crawling
through water, mud, insects and other distractions, or descending into
total darkness on a rope. It has been compared to mountain climbing,
“only backwards.”
The state’s seven show caves provide easier access,
and welcome thousands of visitors every year. Most are in the Texas
Hill Country, with several between Austin and San Antonio. The
westernmost show cave is the Caverns of Sonora, about 170 miles
northwest of San Antonio.
Show caves often feature translucent, icicle-shaped
stalactites, stalagmites, crystalline walls and mirror-like pools. The
remarkable formations in caves result from the continual dripping of
mineral-rich water over millions of years, and the flow of underground
streams.
Caves figured prominently in Texas history. Analysis
of arrow points and other artifacts indicate some Native Americans
lived in Texas caves, beginning thousands of years ago.
Comanche Indians once used Longhorn Cavern, near
Burnet, for shelter. The cavern went on to become a gunpowder factory
for the Confederacy and later a nightclub during the Roaring Twenties.
In an ironic conversion, Longhorn Cavern once even housed church
services. The State of Texas bought Longhorn Cavern and opened it to
the public as part of a state park in 1932.
In one tale, Texas Rangers followed Comanches into
Longhorn Cavern in search of a kidnapped young woman. The Geologic
Story of Longhorn Cavern recounts the story: “There by the dancing
firelight they saw Miss King against the wall with her hands bound
behind her … the Rangers rushed in, freed the girl, and were climbing
out of the cavern when the Indians, seeing there were only three of
them, attacked … Keeping between Miss King and the Indians, the Rangers
were able to fight their way to freedom.”
Even without embellishment, Texas caves can offer a
great adventure for young people—particularly in the summer, when they
also provide an escape from summer heat. When temperatures above ground
soar into the 90s or higher, most caves have constant temperatures
around 70.
There is no substitute for visiting caves in person
and learning more about life under the ground of Texas. They’re a
little-noticed part of what makes our state great.
Protecting Children in the Modern World
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
Technological advances have brought great benefits
across Texas, but this progress comes with risks. Technology can also
be exploited by unscrupulous or criminal operators, and make our
society less safe.
This is particularly true in the Internet age. In the
vast spaces of rural Texas or in the heart of our big cities, anyone
who logs onto the Internet is at risk of encountering a sexual
predator, a cyber bully, an identity thief or other bad actors.
Online danger is always just one mouse click away. It
can come from anywhere across the world or close to home. Children are
particularly vulnerable. Their first line of defense is their family,
but government has a role as well.
Crime fighters at all levels must have more tools and
funding to protect children and apprehend cyber criminals. I have made
this a priority in the U.S. Senate. We’ve made some progress recently,
but still have a long path ahead of us.
Last month, the U.S. Senate approved two measures to
strengthen the anti-predator effort. One would allow parents and online
social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, to check whether
a particular email address is registered to a sex offender. Another
would expand education for children regarding online behavior, help
develop new Internet technologies to shield children from undesirable
content, and initiate a national public awareness campaign.
Related legislation I strongly supported is the Adam
Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. This bill, enacted in 2006,
memorializes a six-year old boy who was kidnapped from a Florida mall
and murdered in 1981. Adam’s parents have dedicated their lives to
protecting children and helping victims of crime. His father, John,
hosts the America’s Most Wanted television program.
The Adam Walsh Act created a national registration
system for sex offenders and offenders against children. It also
increased punishment for violent crimes against children.
Unfortunately, Congress has not yet provided significant funding for
this effort.
While resources are delayed in Washington, law
enforcement agencies are deprived of vital tools. Today the Walsh
family and child advocacy organizations continue to plead with the
Congressional leadership to fully fund this legislation.
Texas has been at the forefront in modern efforts to
protect children. The PROTECT Act of 2003, which created a national
Amber alert system, was inspired by the 1996 kidnap and murder of Amber
Hagerman, 9, from her home in Arlington. After her death, Dallas-Fort
Worth broadcast media created a prototype message that can be
disseminated when authorities suspect a child has been abducted. The
system is now in use nationwide. The Amber alert is an example that
technology not only presents new threats, but can be used for
innovative safeguards.
I believe there is only one way to deal with those
who prey on children. These criminals must be caught quickly, punished
severely and watched going forward. As Texas Attorney General, I
created a specialized unit to coordinate and direct efforts to fight
Internet crimes such as fraud, child pornography and privacy incursions.
Local, state and federal government must be vigilant
as technology makes some crimes easier. In protecting children,
however, there is no substitute for loving, caring and alert family
members.
School has ended for the year. It’s a good time for
parents, guardians, brothers and sisters and grandparents to raise the
alert level, and update their knowledge about Internet safety. The
Internet, which can be a useful educational tool, has improved our
lives in many ways and left us more exposed in others. Through
vigilance, awareness, skepticism and prevention, we can help protect
ourselves and our loved ones from high-tech crime.
Right Solution to Lower Gas Prices
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
I like to describe Washington as 68 square miles of
logic-free environment surrounded by reality. But the antics of
Congress this month make that appear an understatement.
Gas prices are now hovering near $4 per gallon. High
fuel costs are causing disruption in our society, prompting layoffs in
some industries. Yet Congress is doing virtually nothing to address the
problem. In fact, it’s talking about ways to make the problem worse.
In my view, the solution is straightforward. We need
more energy. Government should get out of the way, let the free market
work and allow more domestic energy production. This would reduce gas
prices even in the near-term, expand job opportunities in Texas—a world
energy leader—and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
But earlier this month, the Senate actually
considered a massive climate tax bill that headed in the exact opposite
direction. This massive $6.7 trillion Rube Goldberg scheme proposed by
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., would undermine our economy and likely
lead to $10 per gallon gasoline. It could well eliminate some 330,000
Texas jobs, sending them to places with limited regulation like China
and India.
How can this be explained? After blocking American
energy production and oil independence, Congress pursues bigger
government, added taxes and higher energy costs—with no guarantee of
actually improving the world’s climate.
It is vital that we be the best possible stewards of
the environment. Fortunately, improved technology has enabled us to
take advantage of America’s own abundant natural resources in an
environmentally sensitive way. Yet the U.S. remains the only country in
the world that refuses to develop many of its natural resources.
America is aggressively moving from fossil fuels to
more diverse energy sources, including wind, nuclear, solar and clean
coal. We need all of this supply. The government and private industry
are both investing to promote and expedite this transition, and using
steps such as increasing vehicle fuel-efficiency standards.
In the short term, however, oil, gas and coal will
remain our dominant sources of energy. The free market could provide
significant additional supplies—but Congress continues to prevent that.
Some of my colleagues are pushing a novel plan to
address the energy crisis. They want to tax, sue and investigate our
way out of it. But boosting taxes on American companies and pursuing
phony price gouging inquiries are proven losing strategies—and might
even make the situation worse. These approaches would not produce a
single drop of additional oil and would actually increase our
dependence on countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
As demand for energy increases, prices go up.
Congress cannot repeal the law of supply and demand. But it can repeal
the unnecessary government restrictions that prevent exploring
additional American energy supplies.
I will continue advocating for removal of government
barriers to increasing the supply of energy, from traditional to
alternative sources. There is no instant solution to the problem we’ve
helped create. But we should not wait any longer to take the first
steps to provide Texans relief at the gas pump.
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