[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1368-E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TEXAS RANGER DREW CARTER--TEXAS LAWMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2006

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it was a scene out of an old western movie: The 
villainous outlaw, realizing his defeat, surrenders in the hot sun to 
the valiant lawman. For Texas Ranger Drew Carter however, there was no 
mistaking that this scenario was not some Hollywood fantasy, but a 
dangerous reality. On July 13, 1999, Ranger Carter was waiting, with a 
knot in the pit of this stomach, at the center of a bridge connecting 
El Paso, TX to Mexico. He was waiting for true evil to show his face.
  This tale begins 2 years earlier when a series of brutal murders 
occurred in homes along the railroad tracks in Texas. Texans were 
paralyzed with fear by a serial killer dubbed the ``Railroad Killer.'' 
He baffled law enforcement because it seemed as if he randomly chose 
his victims and the times of the attacks, making it impossible to know 
who and when he would strike next. He used any weapon available: a 
pickax, a sledgehammer, a tire iron, a shotgun. The only common factor 
was that each victim lived by railroad tracks.
  Slowly, through cooperation of local, State, and federal agencies, 
Angel Resendez Ramirez, an illegal Mexican immigrant would be wanted 
for the brutal slayings. He was elusive, slipping back and forth across 
the U.S./Mexican border more than a dozen times, and evading several 
FBI arrest traps. It would finally take the unyielding efforts of Texas 
Ranger Drew Cater to end Ramirez's violent reign.
  The Texas Rangers are the most well-known and respected law 
enforcement officers in the WorId, more famous than Scotland Yard 
itself. Established in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin, the Rangers were the 
protectors of new settlers in the untamed Spanish Province, of what is 
now Texas. They have done battle with horse thieves, bank robbers, 
``Indians,'' outlaws, and were even instrumental in the U.S.' success 
in the Mexican-American War. Over the next 150 years, the 
responsibilities of Texas Rangers grew to include investigations, 
fugitive apprehension, and assisting other law enforcement across the 
State. They are elite; there are only 118 commissioned Rangers,

[[Page E1369]]

and Drew Carter had the aspiration of becoming one. He had dreamed of 
being nothing but a Texas Ranger since he was a small child. He was 
proud to wear that gleaming silver badge, white Stetson hat, and cowboy 
boots. Little did Ranger Carter know that he would make history.
  As law enforcement combed Texas for Ramirez in 1999, Ranger Carter 
conceived an idea for Ramirez's apprehension. He knew that Ramirez was 
close to his sister and thought maybe she would be willing to convince 
him to surrender. Carter's instinct proved to be correct: Ramirez's 
sister was more than willing to convince Ramirez to surrender. She was 
worried he would be killed by law enforcement, or worse, that he would 
kill again. Over several weeks, Carter worked out a deal with Ramirez's 
sister. If Ramirez would surrender, Carter would make sure that he was 
protected in jail, could be visited by family and friends, and would 
receive a psychological evaluation.
  Ranger Carter's terms were agreed to by Ramirez's sister, as well as 
by the district attorney of Harris County, TX, one location where 
Ramirez was wanted. The agreement was struck that Ramirez would 
peacefully surrender to Ranger Carter, and only Ranger Carter, on the 
middle of the bridge connecting Mexico and Texas. So on July 13, 1999, 
the demonic killer who had brutally terrorized the good citizens of 
Texas for nearly 2 years quietly shook the hand of Ranger Drew Carter 
and surrendered.
  On June 27, 2006 Angel Resendez Ramirez was put to death for his 
crimes, effectively ending his reign of terror forever. Had Ranger 
Carter not acted with the intelligence and diplomacy of a Texas Ranger, 
this justice may have never been carried out. He is a humble man, 
stating that he did not apprehend Ramirez on his own. Mr. Speaker, 
Ranger Carter was aided by other Texas lawmen and federal agents; but 
it was because of his particular heroism and determination, a dangerous 
killer faced the justice he deserved. Today, I am honored to pay him 
this tribute.
  That's just the way it is.

                          ____________________