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May 29, 2006
4:01 PM

Enjoy your Memorial Day

As you spend time with your loved ones today, don't forget to pray for our troops off fighting in difficult missions far away and honor those who have fallen defending our country and its freedom.

May 27, 2006
6:23 AM

What's Wrong With Bush's Militarize-the-Border Theatrics

A special blog from Congressman Reyes. Cross-posted over at Huffingtonpost.com.

The political theater of President Bush's militarize-the-border immigration policy ran into some hard questions and honest oversight this week in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). It wasn't pretty.

What I saw in the HASC hearing was what can be expected from a hastily thrown together production -- a cast that wasn't sure of its lines and a set that looks good from the cheap seats but is revealed as cardboard and plywood if you get the chance to sneak backstage.

The President's recent act of sending troops to the border is no more than a play to provide political cover for an immigration plan that splinters his Republican Party. Unfortunately for Americans, the theatrics are about to spill into the real world, and soon. The vanguard is expected to arrive on the border during the first week of June.

I spent 26 and a half years in the Border Patrol, first as an agent and later as a chief along the border. I am also an Army veteran, and I spend a lot of time in Congress practicing oversight of the military. I can see a lot of angles I don't think others can or choose to see. Sending troops to the border would diminish our military readiness at a time when our troops, and especially our National Guard, are stretched thin in critical missions around the world. Bush's plan would alienate allies in Mexico and encourage the sort of anti-Americanism that has swept much of Latin America and that we must avoid just to our south. In addition, stationing the Guard in a domestic setting would force troops trained for "shoot to kill" missions abroad into an unfamiliar law enforcement role in which they'd be unsure of friend or foe.

Not to mention that Bush has come late to making border enforcement a priority. In his Oval Office address, President Bush spoke of his support for and expansion of the Border Patrol. He seems to have forgotten that his fiscal year 2006 budget proposal provided for the hiring of only 210 Border Patrol agents, even though Congress had just recently passed an intelligence reform bill authorizing 2,000 new Border Patrol agents a year.

Bush's scramble to shore up border enforcement and sagging approval ratings at the same time has led to serious policy problems. Here are my top twelve concerns:

1. Although Bush's plan would have an impact on military operations, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale stated in the HASC hearing that the Department of Defense was not consulted until just one week before the announcement.

2. The White House keeps saying that only 6,000 National Guard members will be deployed to the border, but what they aren't telling the American people is that it is 6,000 soldiers at any given time that will be deployed. With most of the troops rotating in for two week training periods, nearly every Guard member could likely spend their training time on the Southwest border under the White House plan.

3. The Border Patrol will need to hire 8,800 agents in two and a half years in order to relieve the National Guard deployment in timely fashion, and the Administration has yet to provide a plan that will make that happen. Does Bush's proposal represent yet another open-ended deployment for our National Guard?

4. With just days remaining before the first deployment, rules of engagement for National Guard troops serving on the border have yet to be developed. Will our Guard troops have adequate guidelines for their new and unfamiliar deployment? When faced with challenging situations, will they know what their superiors and Commander in Chief expect of them?

5. Even though the border plan represents an entirely new and challenging law enforcement mission for our Guard troops, no training plan is available yet.

6. My Armed Services Committee has seen no details about how housing, transportation, and other logistical operations would be carried out.

7. The National Guard intends to match the skill set of each unit (known as their MOS) with the assignment in the border region that matches those skills. For example, engineering battalions will repair roads, but not every specialty transfers so easily from military to civilian law enforcement tasks. In consequence, many of our troops will be doing work that doesn't support their training mission. Or, even more troublesome, those Guard troops whose skill sets don't apply won't be deployed, and the burden will fall harder on a smaller pool of soldiers.

8. The President intends to fund the $1.9 billion cost of this program but cutting emergency spending for equipment such as radios and helicopters needed by our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

9. Assistant Secretary of Defense McHale advised the HASC that civilian contractors will be used to support the mission, but major elements of the program such as the number of contractors to be hired and the jobs that they will be assigned have not been finalized, with just days until the deployment begins. This sounds more like Halliburton on the Border than Troops on the Border.

10. The United States Northern Command, known as NORTHCOM, was established in 2002 by the President to do two jobs -- coordinate Defense Department homeland defense efforts and provide military support to civilian agencies. It is clear that NORTHCOM should be the lead agency, but for reasons that have not been fully explained, the plan is to set up four separate task forces (one in each of the border states) to recreate the functions of NORTHCOM.

11. Why are we able to spend $1.9 billion to send National Guard to the border region under this initiative, but we have been unable to even come close to providing the combination of personnel, equipment, and technology that the Border Patrol needs and was authorized under the 9/11 bill?

12. Where are these troops being deployed, and what accommodations are being made in those communities, both for the soldiers and to prepare the residents for military presence in their towns?

May 26, 2006
11:01 AM

Rayburn Building emergency -- We're hunkering down

As you have probably seen covered on CNN, the Rayburn Building next to the U.S. Capitol is on lockdown and we're being told to "shelter in place" as the Capitol Police investigate reports of gunfire in the underground parking garage. This means we're not allowed to leave the office. Everyone is fine, but we are getting hungry and considering breaking into our emergency food stash. All we can do is wait and continue our work while the police do their job.

Check out the Rayburn Building pic.

Update: The Capitol Police just searched and cleared our office, with weapons drawn. We had been told via email to expect their arrival and only admit the team of officers if they spoke the secret code.

We've never been hungrier for some good Mexican food. Please, SEND TAMALES!

Update II: With lunch hour flying by, we have now broken into our emergency food supplies. 2433 Rayburn is awash in canned pineapple, beef jerkey, and pistachios. :-)

May 25, 2006
4:20 PM

How much are you spending on energy?

Click below to see a larger version of the chart.

May 25, 2006
1:45 PM

H.R. 5037, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, passes House again, heads for President's pen

Congressman Reyes speaks on H.R 5037, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, which he coauthored, as it passes the House of Representatives. - 5/24/2006
Click here to view

From CQ Today:

With Memorial Day looming, Congress on Wednesday cleared an amended version of legislation that would restrict political demonstrations at military funerals.

But the measure could face constitutional challenges down the road.

The Senate passed the amended version of the bill (HR 5037) by voice vote Wednesday. The House then cleared the measure with a voice vote later in the evening, sending it to President Bush for his signature. The House passed the original version of the bill May 9 in a 408-3 vote.

Sponsored by Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, the bill was prompted by demonstrations at military funerals around the country by members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan.

Rev. Fred Phelps, who heads the church, claims that God is punishing America for its tolerance of homosexuals. At military funerals, Phelps and his supporters have reportedly displayed signs such as "Thank God for IEDs" - a reference to the improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs, responsible for a large proportion of U.S. casualties in the Iraq War.

The bill would prohibit protests at the nation's veterans' cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery unless approved by the cemetery officials. It would set penalties of up to one year in jail and fines of up to $100,000 for those who violate its restrictions.

May 23, 2006
6:57 AM

Congressman Reyes calls for hearings into VA privacy theft

Many of you have been following yesterday's announcement that sensitive identifying information - names, Social Security Numbers, and dates of birth - for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses was stolen from the home of a Veterans Administration (VA) employee.

Yesterday, Congressman Reyes sent the following letter to Congressmen Steve Buyer and Mike Bilirakis, the Chairmen of the Veterans Committee and the Veterans Subcommittee on Oversight respectively, calling for hearings into the theft and its surrounding circumstances. Read the pdf here.

Dear Chairmen:

I am deeply concerned about the recent announcement by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary R. James Nicholson that sensitive information belonging to as many as 26.5 million veterans and spouses has been stolen from a VA employee’s home.

While I understand that a formal investigation is being conducted to identify and apprehend those responsible for the theft, this recent incident raises important issues that need to be addressed promptly and thoroughly by our Committee.

As a U.S. Army veteran, the possible mishandling of personal information of millions of veterans is of great concern to me. Although the intentions of the perpetrators have yet to be determined, the Committee should take into consideration the possible effects this breach of personal information may have on our veterans and the VA, as well as ensuring this does not occur in the future.

As a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I urge you to schedule a hearing without delay so that all Members may have the opportunity to engage the Secretary on this important issue.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Silvestre Reyes

Member of Congress

May 22, 2006
4:42 PM

More info on the Veterans Administration (VA) data theft

The VA just released this FAQ document for those concerned about the data theft. Read about it HERE.

May 22, 2006
4:39 PM

Congressman Reyes introduces the Border Health Security Act of 2006

Congressman Reyes ran for Congress in 1996 in large part because he didn't feel there was adequate leadership in Washington on border issues. As all El Pasoans know, the border presents policy challenges not faced by most other parts of the country. Whether you're talking about the economy, trade and commerce, the environment, health, or any number of other issues, El Pasoans realize the solutions that work for Idaho, Illinois, and New Jersey are often not applicable in border communities.

As part of his continuing leadership on border policy, Congressman Reyes last week introduced H.R. 5412, the Border Health Security Act of 2006. The bill also boasts the sponsorship of Jim Kolbe in the House and Senators Bingaman, Boxer, and Hutchinson in the Senate.

Check out the details below.

Main provisions of the "Border Health Security Act of 2006":

* Improving Border Health Services: Provides authorization for funding to states, local governments, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit health organizations, and community health centers along the U.S.-Mexico border to improve infrastructure, access, and the delivery of health care services.

* Providing Border Bioterrorism Preparedness Grants: Provides for $25 million in funding to states and local governments or public health departments to improve the infrastructure, preparedness, and education of health professionals along the U.S.-Mexico border with respect to bioterrorism. This includes the establishment of a health alert network to identify and communicate information quickly to health providers about emerging health care threats and coordination of the system between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

* Reauthorizing the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission: Provides for the reauthorization of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission at $10 million annually.

* Coordination and Study: The legislation also affirms that recommendations and advice on how to improve border health from the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission shall be communicated to the Congress. And finally, the legislation provides for a study of binational health insurance options and barriers to improve coverage for people residing along the border.

May 22, 2006
11:34 AM

Breaking News: Millions of records containing personal information of veterans stolen

Congressman Reyes' staff was briefed this morning that a computer containing the Veterans Administration (VA) records -- including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers -- of all U.S. military veterans was stolen. It's a developing story. From Reuters:

Personal data on about 26.5 million U.S. military veterans was stolen from the residence of a Department of Veterans Affairs data analyst who improperly took the material home, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said Monday.

The data included names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth for the veterans, Nicholson said, but "there is no indication at this time" that the data had been used for identify theft.

Nicholson said the theft of the data took place this month, but declined to identify the employee or the location of the burglary.

"The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. We have a full-scale investigation going on in this," Nicholson told reporters by telephone.

He said the FBI, local law enforcement authorities and his department's inspector general's office were looking into the matter.

"They believe that this was a random burglary and not targeted at this data," Nicholson added, saying there had been a series of burglaries in the community where the employee lived.

Go below the fold to read the VA's statement, and check back here for more information.

May 18, 2006
8:59 AM

Speaker Hastert to America: Middle class pays no taxes

There's a reason House Republicans pass their most controversial bills in the dead of night. You were probably sleeping late yesterday when Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert said the following as he debated passage of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2007:

"Well, folks, if you earn $40,000 a year and have a family of two, you don't pay any taxes. So you probably, if you don't pay any taxes, you are not going to get a big tax cut."

That's right America. The Speaker of the House of Representatives doesn't think hard-working families pulling in $40,000 a year actually pay taxes. It's exactly this kind of disconnect that lets Republicans justify the kinds of budgets that cripple hard-working, middle class Americans. It begs the question: How can Congressional Republicans write good budgets for the country if they don't understand the budget for your family?

What arrogance! How telling!

Watch Speaker Hastert tell America you don't pay taxes by clicking here.

Speaker Hastert: You don't pay taxes!

May 17, 2006
6:52 PM

Reckless Republican budget on the floor tonight

The coffee pot is still on at Congressman Reyes' Capitol Hill offices as Congress considers the fiscal year 2007 budget resolution tonight. We'll be up late; Congressman Reyes is looking at taking his last vote near midnight tonight.

This budget, proposed by House Republicans, is a reckless and mean-spirited document. It cuts $6 billion from the Veterans Administration, freezes Pell Grants, underfunds educational programs, cuts homeland security funding, and does nothing at all to reduce the deficit. The Congressman has pointed out in the past that our budgets reflect our values. We have to ask ourselves, do these cuts reflect our values? Is it in our values to:

Not serve those men and women in uniform who served us?
Reduce the opportunity of Americans to go to college?
Leave children behind in the classroom?
Leave the homeland unprotected in a dangerous world?
Pass on staggering debt to our children?

We can do better. Congressman Reyes will be voting for Budget Committee Ranking Member John Spratt's Democratic substitute that includes the following:

Establishes a 10 year budget through fiscal year 2016. Balances the budget by 2012. Contains smaller deficits than the House Republican budget for 2007 and over five years. Accumulates less debt over five years than House Republican budget. Rejects cuts to important domestic priorities, such as education, health, veterans, and the environment. Provides more funding than the Republican budget for homeland security functions, including port security. Contains no reconciliation instructions. Provides middle-class tax relief. Provides for budget enforcement rules to restore fiscal discipline.

This is the third time this year the House Republican Leadership tried to pass this contentious resolution. After announcing in two separate instances earlier in the year that they would bring the budget resolution up for a vote, House Republican leadership failed to do so because they lacked the support needed for passage -- even among their fellow Republicans. However, the majority has again used aggressive tactics to bully reluctant members and pass legislation that does not reflect the priorities of the majority of Americans.

A budget resolution is passed annually, and outlines spending limits for subsequent bills that cut or raise taxes and spending. This resolution, H.Con.Res 376, sets federal spending for fiscal year 2007 at $2.8 trillion, with a deficit of $348 billion.

Tune into C-Span to watch the proceedings.

May 16, 2006
5:02 PM

Congressman Reyes reacts to the Bush immigration "plan"

If you caught President Bush's speech on immigration last night, you saw that he announced his intention to send 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Congressman Reyes, a 26 ½ year veteran of the Border Patrol and a member of the Armed Services Committee, has long opposed the use of troops along the border, and had this to say:

If nothing else, the President’s speech was good political theater. I am more than a little concerned that this was a quickly orchestrated plan thrown together solely to provide political cover. It had better not be a repetition of the Administration’s post-conflict Iraq plan. Both situations are much too dangerous and serious to be planned with such little foresight.

President Bush spoke of his support for and expansion of the Border Patrol. He seems to have forgotten that his fiscal year 2006 budget proposal provided for the hiring of only 210 Border Patrol agents, even though Congress had just recently passed an intelligence reform bill authorizing 2,000 new Border Patrol agents a year. Luckily Congress and the 9-11 Commission recognized the need for more agents a bit more than the President, and the final 2006 budget provided 1,500 agents.

Ever since coming to Congress in 1997, I have opposed placing troops on the border, and I continue to do so. The President’s proposal to send 6,000 National Guard troops to the border is neither bold nor innovative, and will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. It is irresponsible, ill-advised, ill-timed, and will alienate our very tenuous relations with Latin America.

If President Bush wanted to make a bold statement in his speech, he would have directed the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to assign 1,000 law enforcement officers to enforce employer sanctions. This announcement would do more to remove the "pull factor" that draws many to our country than sending 6,000 troops to border. I have worked with National Guard troops in a support role on the border, and fail to see how 6,000 troops will operate solely in a support function.

May 16, 2006
4:52 PM

Media watch: Congressman Reyes on the airwaves talking about immigration

A quick rundown of the Congressman's media stops. Some of this is tentative. He'll be addressing immigration, border enforcement, and his views of the President's plan to send troops to the border.

NPR's "Morning Edition" tomorrow morning -- LINK

"The Mitch Albom Show" -- LINK

"It's Your Call" with Gene Savard on KTSM-FM 99.9 tomorrow morning

"Bill Press Radio Show" tomorrow morning -- LINK

"The Ed Schultz Show" tomorrow afternoon -- LINK

May 15, 2006
4:44 PM

Debate over troops on the border heats up

With the President set to address the nation from the Oval Office this evening on the topic of using National Guard troops to patrol the border, Congressman Reyes has been on the television, print, and electronic media letting the country know that President Bush's plan represents bad policy.

From CNN's top story this hour:

Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, a former Border Patrol officer, warned the White House that Bush's proposal to put National Guard troops on the border would aggravate "a contentious political issue" in Mexico and other Latin American countries and could result Mexican voters electing an anti-American president.

"If that happens, illegal immigration will be the least of our problems," wrote Reyes, a Democrat. "Mexico is not our enemy, and there is much at stake for both our countries with respect to security, commerce, and culture."

Mexican President Vicente Fox telephoned Bush on Sunday to tell him he is worried about any U.S. move to "militarize" the roughly 2,000-mile border, one of the longest unfortified frontiers in the world, spokespersons for both leaders said.

After the President's address this evening, the Congressman will on the airwaves lending his expertise to the debate over Bush's proposal. Keep your eyes peeled. As Republicans in Washington grow more divided over how to control our borders, you can look to Congressman Reyes -- a former Border Patrol Sector Chief, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus International Relations Task Force -- for common sense, effective solutions to our border woes.

May 15, 2006
4:37 PM

Reyes letters to Bush on putting troops on the border

Congressman Reyes sent two letters to President Bush detailing his objections to the President's plan to control immigration by putting troops on the border. One letter addresses the ways in which National Guard deployment along the border would detract from the military readiness. The other addresses the potentially dangerous fashion in which a militarization of border could skew Mexican and Latin American politics against the US.

Read the first letter, co-signed with Congressman Solomon Ortiz of Texas, here.

Read the second letter here.

May 15, 2006
4:35 PM

Letters to Bush...

May 12, 2006
2:01 PM

Congressman Reyes to appear on Lou Dobb's CNN show this afternoon

Congressman Reyes will be on Lou Dobbs Tonight this evening to discuss recent talk of putting American troops on the US-Mexico border. The show airs today from 4-5 p.m. MDT on CNN.

Watch the show and check back here for more detail later.

May 11, 2006
1:56 PM

Texas CHIP enrollment

Congressman Reyes led the delegation of Texas Democrats in the House this week in sending a letter to Governor Perry voicing concern over plummeting CHIP enrollments in our state. Read an excerpt below and the whole letter "below the fold."

As members of the Texas congressional delegation, we are alarmed by the rapid decrease in enrollment in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in our state. With more than 30,000 participants leaving CHIP since December, the number of enrolled children is the lowest since 2001.

Over twenty-one percent of Texas children lack health insurance, making Texas the state with the highest number of uninsured children in the nation. As a result of the recent troubling changes in the administration of CHIP in Texas - including a new fee structure, additional eligibility verification requirements, and possible issues with a government contractor - more than half of previously participating families have been forced out of the program.

May 11, 2006
12:18 PM

Congressman Reyes speaks in opposition to an amendment authorizing military troops on the US-Mexico Border.

Video of the Congressman opposing the placement of American troops on the US-Mexico border. This misguided proposal has been passed by the House in previous years, only to die in the Senate.

Click here to view

May 10, 2006
4:18 PM

The Congressman's Medicare conference

Yesterday, with anxiety over the Medicare prescription drug plan growing, Congressman Reyes put together the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Information Conference.

Although the Congressman was forced to rush back to Washington to manage the debate for his bill, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, the conference was a great success.

Over 220 seniors attended.
Over 150 enrolled in a Medicare approved prescription drug plan.
Over 60 people enrolled in the Social Security "Extra Help" program.

According to the folks from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the conference was one of the most successful and productive events in which they've ever participated.

The conference is part of a mad scramble across America to get seniors to sign up for the Medicare drug benefit before the fast-approaching May 15 enrollment deadline. The benefit, or Medicare Part D, is an opportunity lost. Congress and President Bush could have passed a simple, effective program to help seniors pay for their drugs. Instead, here's what happened:

They let pharmaceutical companies who stand to benefit from the law write the legislation.
They refused to allow the government to use the leverage of large purchases to bargain for lower prices for seniors, which amounts to a give-away to the pharmaceutical companies.
They imposed a punitive tax on seniors who don't sign up for the plan by the May 15 deadline.
They created a confusing situation in which seniors are forced to choose from a dizzying array of hard-to-understand plans.

Congressman Reyes supports extending the deadline so that seniors have more time to make difficult choices and no senior is faced with a mean spirited late tax. No time is the right time to put the squeeze on seniors.

Although Medicare Part D represents yet another Republican failure in competence, Congressman Reyes believes we must do everything we can to get seniors signed up for a plan if it indeed helps them with their drug costs -- even we need to fly in CMS experts to help seniors navigate the confusing field.

May 9, 2006
8:45 AM

Math moves you

On April 26, Congressman Reyes joined Olympic gold medalist speed skater Apolo Ohno for an event promoting the Hippest Homework Happening, a project of the MathMovesU program. Senator Edward Kennedy and Representative Jo Ann Davis also participated. The Congressman wants all kids to remember that math is fun and that, as Apolo pointed out, math is an important part of many cool jobs and careers. Apolo said:

Math is very relevant to my career and in my life. From counting laps around the rink and calculating speed to determining the shortest distance between me and the finish line, math is vital to what I do every day -- I think some kids will find that surprising.

Promoting math education is a big part of Congressman Reyes' proposal to increase America's economic and national security by augmenting our capacity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We must start educating our children very early in the fields that will define our competitiveness, prosperity, and security in the years to come.

So, head on over to www.mathmovesu.com and have some fun with math along with some of your favorite celebrities like Mia Hamm, Lisa Leslie, Dave Mirra, and Ohno! And check out the photos. To the Congressman's left is Rep. Davis and Senator Kennedy. Up on stage, in the second photo down, is Apolo himself.

May 9, 2006
4:13 PM

Water water everywhere...

Congressman Reyes congratulates UTEP students and faculty member Mariana Chew, Hector Gonzalez, and Dr. Randy Keller respectively for being 2006 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) P3 -- People, Prosperity, and the Planet -- awardees. They were recognized for their research project, "Development of a Bi-National Groundwater Management Model To Provide for a Sustainable Water Supply Within the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Region." The project was on display today on the National Mall, and the Congressman headed down for a look and to chat about the implications of the group's research for our city's future water supply.

Coincidentally, Ed Archuleta, who heads up the El Paso Water Utility and who has worked extensively with the Congressman on planning and ensuring our future water supply, had stopped by the office earlier to talk about the Consortium for Hi-Technology Investigations in Water & Wastewater (CHIWAWA). The purpose of CHIWAWA, a program the Congressman has long been involved in and supportive of, is to create sustainable rural and urban water supplies and protect the environment by focusing on collaborative research, education and training, and innovative solutions. It's also one of the best acronym to come out of El Paso -- ever!

Other updates from Mr. Archuleta: Construction of the inland desalinization plant is moving along very well, as is construction of other laboratory and training facilities. Eventually, we're looking at having a center for hydrological study and innovation located in El Paso -- a facility that will attract people from around the world.

Check out the photo with the Congressman and Mariana Chew at her exhibit on the Mall. Unfortunately her colleagues were not able to make it to DC.

May 9, 2006
4:08 PM

Standing up to extremism, protecting our fallen heroes

In just a couple of minutes, Congressman Reyes is headed down to the House floor to vote for H.R. 5037, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act. The Congressman is the primary Democratic sponsor of the bill, which will protect the grieving families of fallen soldiers from harrassment by extremist protesters. This afternoon he managed the floor debate for the Democratic side. You can view the proceedings by clicking on the photo below. H.R. 5037 is narrowly-tailored legislation that will protect the sanctity of the funerals while making appropriate provision for First Amendment rights.

Click here to view

The religious fanatics of the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas have made a habit of protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, often waving signs with messages like, "Thank God for IEDs" and "Thank God for dead soldiers." The church had even announced plans to protest at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center where severely injured troops come to recover and rehabilitate. The group misuses the Bible to justify its actions and claims America has brought these tragedies upon itself.

May 8, 2006
7:42 PM

Innovate El Paso

There was an excellent article by Vic Kolenc in the El Paso Times over the weekend about the competitiveness challenges El Paso faces. If our city is to prosper, we must recognize the links between education and innovation, and workforce development and economic expansion -- a point emphasized by Mr. Kolenc's piece. You should read the whole thing, but check out the long excerpt below in the meantime.

As U.S. Representative, Congressman Reyes has helped lead El Paso toward a more diverse and prosperous economic future. He's a tireless advocate for UTEP and its world-class programs and a friend of the small business community. His work with local and military leadership has helped to ensure not only the future survival of Fort Bliss but also a major expansion that will transform the post into one of the largest military installations in the world. Fort Bliss will see the influx of as many as 20,000 new troops as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the Army's modularity transformation initiative, and re-basing of soldiers from overseas, and El Paso and Fort Bliss have also been designated the home of the Evaulation Brigade Combat Team which will work with military and industry partners to develop the Army's Future Combat System (FCS). These exciting new developments will help spur innovation and opportunity for El Paso.

On March 20, the Congressman had Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in town for the Innovation Roundtable, which brought together leaders from education, business, government, the military, and more to discuss the creation of an economic ecosystem driven by innovation that will lift El Paso. Cindy Ramos-Davidson and Larry Peterson, mentioned in the article below, were among the participants. Read about it here.

El Paso Times:

Tom Fullerton, an economist at the University of Texas at El Paso, said, "It's not surprising that El Paso is still among the 12 most impoverished economies in the United States. The type of obstacles to better economic performance faced locally are not the type of issues that can be addressed quickly. The good news is some progress has been made."
One obstacle has been El Paso's low education levels, Fullerton said. Improvements have been made, but El Paso still "lags behind the United States" in graduation rates for high school, technical school, community college and four-year college, he said.
"To be able to take advantage of high-salary occupations" in the growing information and service sectors, it will "be necessary for educational attainment to advance substantially beyond where it is today," Fullerton said.
What's helping
Richard Dayoub, president of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, said, "Improving educational attainment and work-force training are critical components to economic development strategies everywhere." Several organizations, including the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence -- partly aimed at increasing high-school and college graduation rates -- and the chamber's work force division, are helping to make advances in those areas, he said.
"We (El Paso organizations) are doing all the right things to improve the quality of not only education, but the quality of companies coming (into El Paso). Boeing's Future Combat Systems (office), ADP (Automatic Data Processing's El Paso Solution Center) and others bode well for the future," Dayoub said.
Holguin has a college degree, but he's bounced around several low-paying jobs in El Paso, in part because he doesn't want to be a teacher, which is a good fit for his degree, he said.
"The job I'm looking for (in media production) probably is not here. ... I'm looking at starting my own company, a (video production) company," Holguin said.
What attracts innovators
Larry Peterson, 44, chairman of the El Paso Lyceum, an economic advisory council established last year by Mayor John Cook and the El Paso City Council, said creating an environment in which new, innovative companies can be formed here is a key to improving the city's wealth. El Paso's focus has been mostly on relocating companies from other areas, he said.
"Most of the wealth comes from companies headquartered in a particular city whose market is global or national," Peterson said. Austin's wealth, for example, has flourished in recent years because it had many innovative companies, including Dell Computer, start up and establish headquarters there, he said.
The Austin area's $32,494 per capita income in 2004 ranked 95th among U.S. metro areas. It ranked 120th in 1994 and 184th in 1980.
"We have to create an (economic) ecosystem and a little bit of infrastructure to support that ecosystem," said Peterson, who started and sold two information technology companies in El Paso. He's now a partner in Houston-based Technology Tree, a technology investment and commercialization firm.
Miguel A. Gamino Jr., 29, a UTEP graduate who three years ago started Varay Systems, an El Paso technology services company with about 30 employees, said getting community support for startups, such as Varay, is as important to El Paso's economic future as recruiting new companies here.
Fullerton said El Paso also needs to further improve its physical infrastructure because studies show a "correlation between physical infrastructure and per capita income performance. Public infrastructure (improvements) raise private-sector productivity."
Cindy Ramos-Davidson, CEO of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said another way for El Paso to improve its income levels is for city businesses to "find ways to increase salaries to qualified people. Employees also have to be more conscious of how to enhance the value of their talent to complement the company" and help it increase business.
"We're trying to play catch-up in a short time. ... We have to catch up, or other communities will run us over," Ramos-Davidson said.
Varay Systems' Gamino said El Paso has plenty of initiatives in the works to improve the economy and the city's income levels, including Fort Bliss expansion, industrial recruitment and a proposed Downtown redevelopment plan.
"We've done enough planning," Gamino said. "Now it's time to put the rubber on the road and make something happen."

May 5, 2006
2:04 PM

Congressman Reyes on CNN-Lou Dobbs to talk about H.R. 98, immigration

Congressman Reyes was on Lou Dobbs' CNN show last night along with Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier talking about H.R. 98, the Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act. The bill, which would modernize the social security card by making it tamper-resistant and increase penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, is part of the Congressman's comprehensive vision for immigration reform. Congressman Reyes and Chairman Dreier are the bill's sponsors.

In a debate that too often inspires unedited emotion instead of considered policy ideas, Congressman Reyes' commonsense, compassionate approach to immigration and border security has won him plaudits and support from people across the ideological spectrum. The Congressman sees immigration reform as a three-legged stool. To succeed, it's neccessary to step up border enforcement resources, create a guest worker program, and establish a pathway to earned citizenship. If one leg is removed, the entire stool will come crashing down.

Here's an excerpt from the transcript. Enjoy the whole text "below the fold."

DOBBS: Twenty-six years in the Border Patrol, 10,000 over the next five years called forth in the legislation of 2005, 10,000 would be added under your proposal. We have just about 7,000 miles of border in this country. How many do you believe we need and -- how many border patrolmen, and why in the world don't we have them?

REYES: Well, we've got right now on duty about 11,300 or so. In the next five years we want to add another 10,000. The 10,000 that we're adding with HR-98 actually would be work site compliance law enforcement officers, so in total, it would be about 30,000.

Since I've been in Congress -- and I've been in Congress now, this is my 10th year -- I've been advocating that we add 1,500 to 2,000 Border Patrol agents a year until we get to 20,000 and then reevaluate and see what kind of a job they've been able to do at that point.

So I hope we continue to hire the Border Patrol agents that we've said we're going to in the next five years, and I hope we pass this legislation, because it will give us the one-two punch that we need.

DOBBS: Right. Supply and demand.

REYES: Absolutely.

May 5, 2006
12:43 PM

Texas should invest in our competitivess

We read in the Austin-American Statesman yesterday that the Texas Senate is considering investing in Texas' competitive future by recommending that all high school students in the state take four years of math and science.

...if state lawmakers approve a proposal that's part of the school finance package now being considered, high schools would expect students to graduate with four years of math and science classes under the "recommended" high school curriculum. The curriculum currently includes three years of math and science.

The proposal is part of the Senate version of House Bill 1, which its Finance Committee will continue debating today.

"I'm 100 percent in favor of that," San Marcos High School Principal Chad Kelly said of the proposed change. "I believe our students need to be challenged with upper-level science and math to prepare them for college or other life opportunities after high school."

Congressman Reyes recognizes the linkages between a strong understanding of math and science, innovation, economic competitiveness, and prosperity and national security. Simply, we cannot hope to further develop our economy if we don't equip the next generation to fill 21st Century jobs and be the paradigm-shifting, innovative thinkers we need to come up with the "next big thing" that will carry our country forward. In this vein, the Congressman is the sponsor of H.R. 4734, the 21st Century National Defense Education Act, legislation that will prepare for our future prosperity and security through the strengthening of education.

As the Texas Legislature continues to struggle toward a new education plan, Congressman Reyes encourages legislators to provide for a strong curriculum in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

May 3, 2006
5:00 PM

Taking on diabetes

Congressman Reyes hails today's announcement by President Clinton and national beverage distributors that non-diet sodas and other sugary drinks will be yanked from vending machines in schools across America. It's a victory in our continuing fight against childhood obesity. The Washington Post:

"This is a truly bold step forward in the struggle to help 35 million young people lead healthier lives," said Clinton, whose foundation has targeted obesity in children for the past year. "This one policy can add years and years and years to the lives of a very large number of young people."

Most elementary schools are already soda-free. But under the new deal, beverage companies agreed to sell only water, unsweetened juice and low-fat and non-fat milk to elementary and middle schools. Diet sodas and sports drinks will remain in high schools.

The agreement, to be phased in over the next three years, was brokered by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a collaboration between the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation and the American Heart Association.

In El Paso and along the U.S.-Mexico border, hundreds of thousands of people suffer from poor health associated with obesity. Often, bad diet and sedentary lifestyles are the cause.

El Paso alone has an estimated 80,000 residents afflicted with Type 2 diabetes, a disease commonly known as adult onset diabetes. It accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed diabetes cases and is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, and race or ethnicity. While Type 2 diabetes was once seen exclusively in adults, it is now increasingly being diagnosed in children, an alarming trend that has people like the Congressman looking at what we can do about improving nutrition and exercise.

The El Paso Diabetes Association has estimated that 17 percent of El Paso’s elementary children and 22 percent of our middle school children are overweight. Coupled with the fact that Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanics to suffer from diabetes, the majority of El Pasoans need to be increasingly careful to safeguard ourselves and our children against this disease.

This Fall, Congressman Reyes recognized World Diabetes Day by meeting with students at Mesita Elementary School to educate them about exercise and healthy eating. Members of the UTEP football team also participated in the event.

May 3, 2006
4:34 PM

David Letterman on gas prices (-:

TOP TEN SIGNS GAS IS EXPENSIVE

10. It's so expensive, Batman is patrolling the streets on a Schwinn.

9. It's so expensive, mobsters are dousing snitches with olive oil.

8. It's so expensive, Domino's only delivers within walking distance.

7. It's so expensive, moviegoers flock to "RV" just to see someone driving.

6. It's so expensive, Tom Cruise agreed to be a guest for 5 gallons of unleaded.

5. It's so expensive, you're actually willing to carpool with Regis.

4. It's so expensive, Starbucks is selling Gasaccino.

3. It's so expensive, it's negatively influencing our foreign policy, hurting millions of hardworking Americans and threatening to throw our economy into absolute chaos.

2. It's so expensive, Anna Nicole Smith married the night manager of a Texaco.

1. It's so expensive, Britney Spears' baby is driving a Prius.

May 3, 2006
11:13 AM

Voting Rights Act reauthorization

Yesterday, bills were introduced in both the House and Senate to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) had the following to say:

The Voting Rights Act is the most effective civil rights statute ever enacted, and while its successes has generated increased political power for Latinos at the local, state, and federal levels, there is still much work to be done. Critical provisions of the Act, including the language assistance provisions contained within Section 203, are set to expire next year. "The right to vote is only meaningful when the language of the ballot and other election materials is fully comprehensible to the voter," John Trasvina, MALDEF Interim President and General Counsel, noted.

"The Latino community has benefited greatly because of the Voting Rights Act, but discrimination in election processes persists," Mr. Trasvina stated. "The bipartisan, bicameral introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act signals that both political parties recognize that discrimination in voting processes continues and that this crucial civil rights legislation is still very necessary."

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was first passed in 1965 and last renewed in 1982. Key provisions are set to expire in 2007, including Justice Department pre-approval of changes to voting procedures in addition to the language assistance provision. The reauthorization bill will renew these provisions for 25 years.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), an organization comprised of 21 members of Congress of Hispanic descent of which Congressman Reyes is a member, contributed to the drafting of the legislation. The CHC endorsed this bipartisan VRA reauthorization bill because the renewal of this landmark civil rights law will ensure that all Latinos can participate in the political process and be protected from voting discrimination well into the 21st century. From Arizona and California, to Colorado, Texas and New York, and on to Illinois, Hispanic and other minority voters have a greater voice today because of the VRA. Thanks in part to the inclusion of Latinos in the 1975 reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act - 9.3 million are now registered to vote, compared to just 2.5 million in 1975. And in 2004, a record 7.5 million Latinos cast a ballot for president, compared to about 2 million in 1976. In addition, Latinos have made great progress in elections nationwide. In 1974, the year before Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act was enacted there were only 1,200 Latino elected officials in the United States. Today there are over 6,000 local, state, and federal elected officials, including the 21 Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

May 2, 2006
4:33 PM

Republican gimmicks on energy policy

With 74% of Americans disapproving of the President's handling of the gas price crisis, and 29%, 25% and 24% of Americans assigning #1 blame to the Republican Congress, the President's Secretary of Energy and the President respectively for high gas prices, the theatrics of Republican catch-up politics in Washington reached a new level this week.

With Republicans nervous about the impact of their lack of a coherent energy policy in the lead-up to the 2006 elections, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has proposed cutting millions of $100 checks to buy off Americans' energy anxiety. And after bussiness interests scolded him for proposing a multi-billion dollar tax on bussiness to finance the idea, the Senator revealed he has no idea of how to pay for it.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, under pressure from business leaders, has retreated from a plan that would have used a tax increase on oil companies and other businesses to fund a $100 gasoline rebate for millions of motorists.

Frist, the Tennessee Republican, had proposed an accounting change that would have required oil companies to pay more taxes on their inventory of crude as a way to pay the one-time rebate which GOP leaders rolled out last week as they scrambled to find ways to ease public anger over soaring gasoline prices.

In a statement, Frist said he will still push the rebate, but abandoned the accounting change and said the Senate Finance Committee planned a hearing on the issue in the near future.

Frist gave no indication how the rebate, estimated to cost about $10 billion, will be paid for, although he said he still planned to "find a way to bring our proposals to the Senate floor for a vote."

Congressman Reyes and Congressional Democrats do not support the Republican gimmick-based energy policy. We have a bill to empower the FTC to crack down on price gouging, which the Republicans have refused to pass, and a long-term plan to ensure America's energy security (link).

Today's high gas prices have their genesis in the policy failures of President Bush and Congressional Republicans, who have failed over the past several years to develop a coherent, forward-thinking energy policy for America. You can trust Democrats to invest in the future of our country and to institute the new ideas we need for a new and challenging century.

May 2, 2006
2:33 PM

Congressman Reyes speaks on the Juarez murders

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Watch Congressman Reyes speaking on H.Con.Res. 90, a resolution conveying the sympathy of Congress to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and encouraging increased United States involvement in bringing an end to these crimes. The text of the statement is below the fold.

May 2, 2006
1:16 PM

Congressman Reyes to speak on Juarez violence

The Congressman is headed down to the House floor to speak on H.Con.Res. 90, Conveying the sympathy of Congress to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and encouraging increased United States involvement in bringing an end to these crimes. In July 2005 the Congressman's amendment allowing US AID to aid and assist Mexican authorities in the investigations of the murdered women passed the House.

You can watch on C-SPAN, which is on your basic cable package, or at www.c-span.org. It's a very important issue. Check back for more later.

May 1, 2006
4:18 PM

3 years ago today -- "Mission Accomplished"

A statement from the Congressman...

In March 2003, President Bush sent U.S. forces into Iraq with his assurances it would make America safer at home. Six weeks later, on May 1, 2003, the President landed on an aircraft carrier adorned with an enormous banner reading "Mission Accomplished," where he declared that major combat operations in Iraq were over. Since then, thousands of U.S. troops have been killed and wounded, billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent, and now Iraq is on the brink of civil war.

I voted against that war. It's a vote I'm proud of and one whose prudence has been borne out by the events of the past three years. My opposition to the war notwithstanding, after the invasion, I rolled up my sleeves to work in the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees to support and protect our courageous troops, provide oversight of the military and intelligence community, and support our strategic objectives in the region.

The President's policy for Iraq and the manner in which he has conducted it has left us with no great options in Iraq and no clear plan for success.

As always, please pray for our troops.

May 1, 2006
2:29 PM

Props!

The Congressman received some props from Texas blogs over the weekend. We're happy to receive the recognition and further integrate our site into this exciting, growing medium for political communication.

We were featured over at the Burnt Orange Report and at Kuff's World, hosted by the Houston Chronicle. You can also check out some posts over at The Hill's Congress Blog.

Please come back often and send us your suggestions.

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