Date: 2013-10-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in strong support of H.J. Res. 91 the Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2014. The Federal Government functions as a cohesive unit. not as dismembered parts. The Federal Departments. sub agencies. independent agencies. commissions. and offices interact with each other much like a military unit serving in the field. They have relationships that are not apparent until they are revealed most often when a critical need for the Federal Government function is not present when another agency or most important when someone needs that service. I along with fellow members of the United States House of Representatives stand together to honor and recognize the sacrifice of Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins. First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno. Sergeant Joseph M. Peters. Private First Class Cody J. Patterson. and Lance Corporal Jeremiah who lost their lives in defense of this nation and pray for their families that they find solace. grace and mercy. We made a promise to them and to their families to support them when deployed. and take care of their families at home so they can serve without fear or concern for the wellbeing of their loved ones. We also promised all of our men and women in the armed services that should the unthinkable happen and their lives are lost in the service of this nation we will step in and be there for their families. This promise is one that the House and the President take very seriously. but the business of politics is intervening in our discharge of the most basic function of Congress to fund the entire Federal Government. Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins. First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno. Sergeant Joseph M. Peters. Private First Class Cody J. Patterson. and Lance Corporal Jeremiah did not forget their duty nor ignore the obligations to keep the oath they took to protect this nation from all enemies both foreign and domestic. The majority has to put the nations interest ahead of their political interestthe ideological. social or cultural values that you embrace cannot supersede the needs of our nation. Congress insistence on funding some parts of the Federal government. while intentionally not funding others is causing confusion and doubt about what can and cannot be funded. This is understandable since the Federal funding process has never occurred in this way. Members of the House of Representatives know how serious Congress takes Federal employees coloring outside of the lines when it comes to Congressional legislative intent when they carry out their work. We do not ask Federal employees to be creative with the purse strings of the government. but the miniCR process is creating confusion and uncertainty on how Federal employees working with a miniCR. reduced staff and under Sequestration determine how to proceed within the law. Appropriations bills can be hundreds of pages long depending on the size of the agency. When the House of Representatives insisted on closing the entire Federal government. then decides to engage in this absurd process of minicontinuing resolution. they knew we were moving Federal employees into uncharted waters. There will be other surprises regarding what agency is needed to provide a service to a group or another part of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker. the House majority has this Nation stumbling around a dark room looking for a way out. but we know how to escape this drama. The flashlight that can lead us out of this darkness is the passage of the Senates clean CR. I pay tribute to these American heroes: Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins. 25. of Carlisle. Pennsylvania. assigned to the 3rd Battalion. 75th Ranger Regiment. Fort Benning. Georgia. In 2010. he enlisted into the Army following his high school graduation. He has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart. Sergeant Hawkins has been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Army Achievement Medal. Army Good Conduct Medal. National Defense Service Medal. the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Army Service Ribbon. Overseas Service Ribbon. the NATO Medal. and the Presidential Unit Citation. Sergeant Hawkins was described by fellow service persons as "a brave and incredibly talented Ranger." It is reported that he was killed while going to the aid of a fallen fellow soldier. The Ranger Creed: I will never leave a fallen comrade. is part of the values held by soldiersthey put others before themselves and in doing so assure success of their missions. First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno. 25. of San Diego. California. assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center. Joint Base LewisMcChord. Washington. First Lieutenant Moreno volunteered to be a member of a cultural support team that joined efforts with a special operations task force serving in Afghanistan. She grew up in Logan Heights with her mother. two sisters and a brother who is also in the Army. Sergeant Joseph M. Peters. 24. of Springfield. Missouri. assigned to the 5th Military Police Battalion. Vicenza. Italy. It is reported that the Armys Criminal Investigation Command (CID) said that Sergeant Joseph M. Peters was assigned to one of their Special Operations units. Sergeant Peters investigated felony level crimes involving the Army. Peters was the first special agent for CID to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Private First Class Cody J. Patterson. 24. of Philomath. Oregon. assigned to the 3rd Battalion. 75th Ranger Regiment. at Fort Benning. Georgia. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. He was described as: � . . courageous and dedicated and lost his life while fighting tenaciously against our nations enemies alongside his fellow Rangers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Patterson family. Lance Corporal Jeremiah. 19. of Milwaukee. Wisconsin. assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2. 2nd Marine Logistics Group. II Marine Expeditionary Force. Camp Lejeune. North Carolina. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the families and fellow soldiers of those who died. Mr. Speaker I ask that my Colleagues work together to end this impasse so that we can have a whole and completely functioning Federal government.