I. Statement on Report from Homeland Security Sec. Napolitano

Report released by DHS targeting veterans as potential extremists is offensive:
The recent report released by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano labeling and targeting veterans as having the potential for extremism is outrageous and baseless. To allow any final report to be released insinuating veterans returning from war are at risk to engage in so-called “right-wing” extremist activities is beyond the pale. The report ludicrously labels those disagreeing with the current administration’s tax and spend policies, returning war veterans, and single issue voters (e.g. pro-life voters, anti-illegal immigration voters, 2nd Amendment voters) as extremists with the potential for radical acts. Analogizing returning war veterans with the heinous acts of Timothy McVeigh is fundamentally unserious and offensive. The report also deflects any criticism of current economic policies as “exploiting [the] economic downturn”…a gross misrepresentation of the facts. Americans who differ from any number of initiatives put forth by the current administration should not be unfairly excoriated by their government with malicious and unprovoked attacks. Rather than flailing wildly at innocent targets of convenience, I urge the Secretary to focus her efforts on protecting America from its enemies by securing the border and using other authorized tools at her disposal to keep us safe. 

II. Statement on Release of Interrogation Memos

Over objection of several current/former CIA Directors, President releases memos:
I strongly object to the President’s decision to release memos detailing the good-faith efforts of our intelligence community and justice department officials in the weeks and months after the events of September 11, 2001, to prevent another attack, which many believed – and we later found out – was imminent. Apart from the obvious political motivations of hammering the last administration and a seemingly insatiable appetite to distract from our real problems (namely, the economy, housing, credit crisis, energy, and the Global War on Terror), releasing these memos serves no constructive purpose. I am more concerned about the information that has now been given to those plotting against our country. With access to this information, they will now know exactly the limits of interrogation techniques we may use against them and will likely not give up valuable information that could save lives. However, since these memos have been released, I believe we must find out if congressional leaders were told that, in fact, these methods (waterboarding) were being used and, if so, whether or not the methods were effective in extracting valuable information from the two terrorists (Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) it was used on.

Some have called for a so-called “truth commission” to re-hash the last eight years; judging from those outspoken in their support of such a commission, I can only surmise that its advocates desire nothing more than a kangaroo court befitting of a banana republic. Should such a commission move forward, we would undoubtedly witness the politicization of legal advice. I do believe the authors of the memos from the Office of Legal Council acted in good faith to offer a legal rationale for using enhanced interrogation techniques. A commission would have a chilling effect on future counsel to explore the legal boundaries of the Constitution should such perilous events again find us unprepared. In the “Recommended Reading” section, I have included two informative articles. 

III. This week’s votes on the floor, hearings, and markups

Each week I get the opportunity to represent you in Congress by: 1) voting on legislation that comes to the House floor; and 2) participating in committee hearings and markups for the Committee on Financial Services. 

Key House Floor Votes

FY 2010 budget goes to House-Senate Conference:
On Wednesday, April 22nd, I supported the “Motion to Instruct the Conferees” with respect to the budget conference. Despite the support of every House Republican and 23 Democrats, the motion failed. Had it passed, the motion would have stripped out any “reconciliation” language from the original budget (which allows for a national energy tax or government-run health care). It would have also created three “points of order” against any legislation that: (1) eliminates the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor; (2) increases revenue above the levels established by the budget resolution; or (3) creates a national energy tax. 

Committee on Financial Services

Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending:
On Thursday, April 29th, the full Committee held a hearing entitled “H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009.” Testifying before the Committee were representatives from: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; National Community Reinvestment Coalition; Center for Responsible Lending; National Consumer Law Center; NAACP; American Bankers Association; The Financial Services Roundtable; Mortgage Bankers Association; Independent Community Bankers Association; Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; National Association of Mortgage Brokers; National Association of Realtors; Appraisal Institute; and National Multi Hosing Council. The purpose of the hearing was to hear from industry professionals about their thoughts on a bill pending in the Committee.

IV. In the 24th District

The Veterans History Project
I want veterans and friends and family members of veterans to be aware of the Veterans History Project. The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Please take a moment to review the basics of the project and feel free to contact my District Office for further details. 

1. What is the Veterans History Project?
The Veterans History Project (VHP) collects and preserves the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for use by researchers and to serve as an inspiration for generations to come. The Project collects remembrances of veterans who served in World War I, World War II, the Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War (1990-1995), or Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present). U.S. citizen civilians who actively supported war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, defense contractors, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories. VHP relies on volunteers throughout the nation to collect veterans’ stories on behalf of the Library of Congress. These stories are made available to researchers and the general public, both at the Library in Washington, D.C., and via the VHP website.

2. How did the Veterans History Project start?
The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.

3. How is the Veterans History Project connected to the Ken Burns’ PBS documentary The War?
In April 2007, the Library of Congress and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) announced a joint community engagement initiative designed to gather the first-hand recollections of the diverse men and women who served our nation during wartime.  The public outreach campaign will be ongoing beyond the broadcast of Ken Burns’ new film, THE WAR, which is scheduled to air on PBS beginning on September 23, 2007. THE WAR reiterates the Library of Congress’ message to the American people: help us build the historic record by interviewing a veteran in your family or community.

Please note: while THE WAR depicts the impact of World War II on the entire country, and profiles both civilians and service men and women, the Veterans History Project focuses on the experiences of veterans of the United States military (during many different conflicts) and civilians who worked in support of the war effort, such as USO workers and Rosie the Riveters.

4. How is the Veterans History Project different from the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances?
The Veterans History Project is a collection development project of the Library of Congress whereas the National WWII Memorial Registry of Remembrances is “an individual listing of Americans who contributed to the war effort.” Their names and service information are maintained by the American Battle Monument Commission as a part of the National World War II Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the National WWII Memorial Registry of Remembrances, go to: www.wwiimemorial.com.

5. How can I participate in a Veterans History Project?
If you are a constituent of District 24, contact John Hayes in my District Office at (972)-556-0162. If you are eligible, Mr. Hayes will help schedule a meeting in the district for your Veterans History Project.  

6. Where can I find more information? 
Contact my District Office at (972)-556-0162 and also visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/about.html. 
 
7. Additional Resources:
The Veterans History Project (Library of Congress) http://www.loc.gov/vets/
The American Folklife Center (Library of Congress) http://www.loc.gov/folklife/

V. Recommended Reading

In light of the declassification of memos this week by President Obama detailing the legal reasoning of “enhanced interrogation techniques” authorized by lawyers in the Office of Legal Counsel (months after 9/11), I thought I’d bring you a thoughtful article by a former career CIA officer, Gary Berntsen, who worked in the Directorate of Operations from 1982-2005. The article, entitled “The Interrogation Memorandums,” meticulously explains the consequences of releasing such sensitive information on our nation’s efforts to combat global terrorism. You can access the article here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/04/22/the_interrogation_memorandums_96115.html

I would also direct your attention to Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby’s piece entitled “A tortured debate over the ‘torture memos’.” As a self-described opponent of “torture” (assuming his own definition), he provides a sobering account of his thought process having read the memos. He concludes by writing “even those of us who were against the Bush interrogation policy should be able to acknowledge the good faith of those who disagreed and the exigency in which they found themselves. To say nothing of the lives their decisions may have saved.” You can access the article here: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/04/22/a_tortured_debate_over_the_torture_memos/

VI. Great Quotes in History

“The Constitution is not a panacea for every blot upon the public welfare. Nor should this Court, ordained as a judicial body, be thought of as a general haven for reform movements.”
-John Marshall Harlan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1877-1911)

“Our Constitution was not written in the sands to be washed away by each wave of new judges blown in by each successive political wind.”
-Hugo Black, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1937-1971)

“The Court is most vulnerable and comes nearest to illegitimacy when it deals with judge-made constitutional law having little or no cognizable roots in the language or design of the Constitution.”
-Byron White, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1962-1993)

I am honored to represent the 24th District of Texas, and appreciate your interest in my e-newsletter.  Please contact my District or DC office with any further questions you may have or visit my website at www.marchant.house.gov.