H5528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE August 1, 2012 

You often hear a person say they 

don’t always agree with somebody but 

they respect them. With STEVE LATOURETTE, that’s true. Despite being in different political parties, I deeply respect and appreciate STEVE’s forthright 

opinions. 

His focus on having the resources to 

rebuild and renew America is as refreshing as it is important. He’s willing 

to call for increases in fees and taxes 

for infrastructure at the same time he 

pushes for responsible budget cutting 

and right-sizing government in a way 

that’s going to pinch almost everyone. 

His approach is courageous and consistent and, ultimately, we will follow 

that balanced path. 

He has a sense of justice and regular 

order, as when he took to the floor as 

a lonely voice arguing for due process 

on behalf of a disgraced former Member. He does what he believes in. 

Another overused phrase in this body 

is ‘‘wake-up call.’’ But STEVE’s decision 

and announcement should be a wake-up 

call, a wake-up call to the majority 

party to think about what this portends for their ability to govern and 

what will happen when the political 

winds shift just a little, which they 

surely will. It’s a wake-up call for the 

people on my side of the aisle that as 

we fight against what we think are 

shortsighted and destructive policies, 

we need to do so in a way that is fair. 

We all should look for opportunities to 

make a little progress on second- and 

third-tier issues that will help do some 

good while we build the capacity of 

this institution in bipartisan problem 

solving. 

Most of all, this should be a wake-up 

call to the American public. Too many 

of us have allowed our political decisions to be outsourced as the political 

process increasingly is taken over by 

smaller and smaller groups of extreme 

opinion in primaries of both parties. 

The Tea Party activists have gotten 

headlines this weekend in the Texas 

Senate primary, but the dynamic is 

known by both parties and potentially 

distorts the choices of candidates and 

of issues in the fall. 

Some Members of Congress gain a little notoriety by virtue of vision or policy. Usually we get it by being outrageous and stark. Perhaps we are 

known at home and for groups that 

have interests that we work with, but 

the vast majority of us wouldn’t register above ‘‘margin of error’’ on the 

larger stage of American national politics. 

STEVE, despite two decades of solid, 

distinguished service, his wit, good 

humor, and effectiveness—is like a 

number of us who may be characterized 

as an ‘‘obscure Member of Congress.’’ 

Yet I would argue STEVE LATOURETTE

should be on the radar screen of every 

American. His is a powerful message of 

an institution that needs serious readjustment. 

STEVE, his family, especially the 

younger children, will do just fine. I 

think he’ll have a better job, spend 

more time with family and friends, and 

I think he’ll live longer. But make no 

mistake, everybody should pay attention to his story, his career, and why 

he’s leaving. 

After a lifetime of solid, productive 

public service, if this leads to people’s 

reconsidering how we do business and 

how the American public assesses 

whom they reward or punish, then our 

loss due to his retirement may be the 

most important contribution in his distinguished career. 

f 

OLYMPIAN RACHEL BOOTSMA 

MAKES MINNESOTA PROUD 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Minnesota (Mr. PAULSEN) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to 

recognize Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native and U.S. Olympian, Rachel 

Bootsma. The 18-year-old swimmer 

competed on Sunday in the semifinals 

of the women’s 100-meter backstroke. 

She has made her home community 

very proud with her incredible hard 

work and grace on such a grand stage. 

It is no small feat to have made it to 

her very first Olympics, and in the 

coming weeks, Rachel will take another important step when she leaves 

Minnesota for her freshman year of college and also at that opportunity be 

able to swim for Olympic Coach Teri 

McKeever. 

b 1010 

So I have a feeling, Mr. Speaker, this 

is not the last that we will see of this 

tenacious swimmer. I’d like to congratulate Rachel and all of the American athletes for carrying our banner 

in London. 

Go, Team USA. 

f 

DREAM ACT BECOMING A REALITY 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Illinois (Mr. GUTIERREZ) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I believe there is no greater cause for celebration in America than when we expand rights to more of our people. We 

are never truer to our American values 

than when we look at a group of people 

and demand that they be treated with 

dignity and respect. We are never more 

patriotic than when we protect and expand the rights of honest, hardworking 

people, when we live up to our original 

promise of liberty and equality and 

give meaning to those American words: 

‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’’ 

Right now, we have reasons to celebrate because, shortly, the Department 

of Homeland Security and the White 

House are scheduled to announce 

guidelines on the application process 

for DREAM Act-eligible immigrants to 

defer deportation and get work permits 

so they can take a vital step toward 

living freely and fully in the only nation that has ever truly been their 

home. 

Today, I want to congratulate the 

DREAM Act-eligible youth who have 

fought so hard for this right, the 1 million of them that will be taking a step 

forward. And I want to remind DREAM 

Act-eligible youth that because of the 

intelligent action by President Obama 

on August 15, they will be able to apply 

for work permits and protection from 

deportation. 

On August 15, Mr. Speaker, they will 

take a step out of the shadows and into 

the light. I encourage them to take 

this step, and I want them to know 

that help and resources are available. 

But first, a warning: any progress on 

immigration is soon followed by some 

unscrupulous attempts to make money 

off the backs of deserving immigrants. 

So I say to my friends today: Be careful. 

There is no reason that applying for 

relief through President Obama’s use of 

prosecutorial discretion should be expensive or cumbersome. If someone 

says the only way for a DREAMer to 

apply is to write a big check, my advice to the DREAMer is they should 

run in the other direction; they are 

being lied to. But DREAMers should 

run toward help because help is on the 

way. 

In Chicago yesterday, the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee 

Rights and I announced a workshop 

that will be held on August 15—the 

very first day the 1 million young people can apply for work permits and 

come out of the shadows and get deferred action from deportation. 

The event will be held at Navy Pier 

in Chicago. Mayor Emanuel, myself, 

and Senator DURBIN—who has played 

such a leadership role on the DREAM 

Act for years—will be there. We will 

have all the resources anyone needs to 

apply that day. It will be free. We will 

answer questions and we will provide 

the resources necessary to thousands of 

young people that we expect will attend. 

And we are not alone in Chicago. All 

across the country, plans are being 

made by immigrant advocates and organizations and elected officials for 

how to help DREAM Act-eligible youth 

to apply for their work permits and a 

stay of deportation. Tomorrow, I will 

be joined by my colleagues to talk 

about resources available coast to 

coast. 

As one important step, I encourage 

people to visit this Web site: 

dreamrelief.org. That’s dreamrelief.org 

to find out more about who is eligible, 

how to apply, and where people can receive assistance, dreamrelief.org. 

On August 15, across America, thousands of honest, hardworking, lawabiding DREAM Act-eligible youth immigrants should be celebrating by lining up and taking that historic step toward equality. It’s a day of long-overdue fairness for our young people, and 

I don’t want one eligible young person 

to miss this opportunity. 

I want our young DREAMers to demonstrate to America on August 15 what 


smartinez on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE
August 1, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5529 

they’ve demonstrated to their communities and their families and their 

friends their entire lives: they’ve 

worked hard and earned this right by 

excelling in school, by helping their 

neighborhoods, and by serving our Nation. 

I know who you are—you are the 

next generation of leaders of our great 

Nation. On August 15, show all of 

America who you are. We need your example because it’s vital to remember 

that every time we’ve expanded civil 

rights in America—every time—someone tried to stand in the way. From 

women’s suffrage, to voting rights for 

African Americans, to Americans with 

disabilities, to marriage equality, 

someone will raise their voice against 

expanding the rights enjoyed by some 

Americans to all Americans. There is 

always someone who says these rights, 

these liberties, this equality, it’s for 

me, it’s not for you. 

So I ask my DREAM Act-eligible 

friends—1 million strong—on August 

15, show America who you are and remind America that freedom and equality is for all of us. 

f 

HONORING DEPUTY WILLIAM 

MAST, JR. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 

North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) for 5 minutes. 

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, my heart is 

heavy for the family and friends of 

Watauga County Sheriff’s Deputy William Mast, Jr., who gave his life in the 

line of duty on July 26. 

In his 23 short years, Deputy Mast 

made an imprint on the communities 

he served and called home. He was a 

graduate of Watauga High School and a 

member of Bibleway Baptist Church. 

He cherished the North Carolina way of 

life—hunting, fishing, off-roading, and 

riding horses in our beautiful country. 

The thoughts and prayers of thousands remain with his beloved wife, 

Paige, their unborn child, William, his 

parents, Angela Wall and William 

Mast, Sr., his extended family, and the 

entire Watauga County Sheriff’s Office. 

May each be comforted and find 

peace in the midst of this tragedy. And 

may we be faithful to remember that 

the safety we experience in our communities is maintained, in part, because people like Deputy Mast volunteer to place themselves in harm’s way 

for our protection. For that caliber of 

service and sacrifice, we are grateful. 

f 

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

West Virginia (Mr. RAHALL) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to urge legislative action on a 

widespread public health crisis. 

I want to thank, first of all, my colleagues, especially my good neighbor 

and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from 

Kentucky, Mr. HAL ROGERS, Congresswoman MARY BONO MACK, and Congressmen STEVE LYNCH and BILL

KEATING—whom you’ll hear from in a 

moment—all tremendous leaders in our 

fight to stop this epidemic. 

The CDC has confirmed what local 

leaders and professionals across the 

board have been struggling with daily: 

prescription drug abuse is a national 

epidemic—a term the CDC does not use 

lightly. 

It is no longer a silent epidemic. It 

can be seen at any hour of any day on 

street corners and in school yards. 

Every day, there are new stories reporting overdoses, deaths, accidents, 

and tragedies of families torn apart by 

the vicious cycle of prescription drug 

abuse. And the cycle is certainly vicious. 

Unlike cocaine or heroin, prescription drugs are legal and frequently prescribed by caring physicians who are 

led by the principle oath of ‘‘first do no 

harm.’’ Yet, alarming statistics show 

that children and adults are blind to 

the harmful consequences of these 

drugs even as they become addicted, 

paying upwards of $150 per pill to buy 

them on the black market. 

Distressingly, my home State of 

West Virginia has our Nation’s highest 

rate of drug-related deaths. In fact, between 2001 and 2008, more than 9 out of 

10 of those deaths involved prescription 

drugs. Incredibly, drug overdoses now 

kill more West Virginians each year 

than do car accidents. 

But the alarming use and deaths by 

prescription drugs is not just in West 

Virginia. As other distinguished Members will tell you, prescription drug 

abuse hits everyone, whether you’re 9 

or 90, whether you’re rich or poor, living in big cities or small towns, whether you’re Democrat, Independent, Republican, or whatever, anywhere in our 

great United States. 

We know there is no one single answer, no single action, and no silver 

bullet in the fight against prescription 

drug abuse. I’ve met many times with 

law enforcement, community organizations, educators, physicians, and many 

other constituents, and I know that 

fighting back against prescription drug 

abuse will take the work of an entire 

village. 

We must strengthen drug diversion, 

educate children and adults on prevention, work with the medical community on addiction and pain treatment, 

and treat and rehabilitate those affected by vicious addiction before they 

succumb to the death spiral. 

b 1020 

I and my distinguished colleagues 

have put forth and supported legislation that aims to combat prescription 

drug abuse. We know that something 

more must be done from a Federal 

level, and that’s why I’ve introduced 

H.R. 1925, the Prescription Drug Abuse 

Prevention and Treatment Act. This 

bill would implement multiple measures essential to combating prescription drug abuse, education and training, monitoring, evaluation and enforcement, and it provides a good 

guideline to coordinate Federal, State, 

and local efforts to fight this epidemic. 

The bill establishes mandatory physician and consumer education and authorizes Federal funding to help our 

States create and maintain prescription drug monitoring programs that all 

States can access. It would also set up 

a uniform system for tracking painkiller-related deaths, helping States 

and law enforcement professionals 

manage and report data. 

The West Virginia State Police, our 

State’s attorney general, and even physicians have all consistently stressed 

the need for access to a prescription 

drug monitoring system that is shared 

between State lines and updated in real 

time. 

I know my colleagues have authored 

and supported similar bills, like H.R. 

2119, the Ryan Creedon Act, which also 

seeks to implement targeted physician 

education on prescription drug abuse 

and addiction, and H.R. 1065, the Pill 

Mill Crackdown Act, which would help 

further eradicate pill mills throughout 

our Nation. These bills address critical 

issues that ought to be part of this 

Congress’ effort to craft legislation to 

assist our States and communities in 

combating prescription drug abuse. 

The toll of destruction and devastation heaped upon America’s families 

and our economy by this epidemic demands that U.S. Congress must act, 

and act swiftly. So I urge my colleagues to move forward and bring legislation to the floor that will enable 

our communities to fight back against 

prescription drug abuse. 

Let us act with dispatch and compassion and with an acute understanding 

of the enormity of the challenge before 

us. The future of our families and children and the entire health and wellbeing of local communities and our Nation depend on us. 

f 

THE MEDICINE CABINET EPIDEMIC 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Kentucky (Mr. ROGERS) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. 

Speaker, I want to begin by thanking 

my colleague and friend from across 

the Big Sandy that divides Kentucky 

and West Virginia and my good friend 

across the aisle, NICK RAHALL, for organizing these Special Orders by the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug 

Abuse. Congress, the DEA, the medical 

community, State partners, and particularly the Federal Drug Administration must do more to fight the medicine cabinet epidemic. 

The Office of National Drug Control 

Policy in the White House has identified prescription drugs as our Nation’s 

fastest growing drug problem, easily 

eclipsing cocaine and heroin abuse. As 

has been said, the national Centers for 


smartinez on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE