[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6273-H6274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF BARNEY BROOKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Pfluger) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of U.S. Air 
Force veteran and San Angelo native Barney Brooks who passed away on 
November 7, 2021, at the age of 92.
  Mr. Brooks was a born pilot and often joked that he knew he was meant 
to fly even before the stork dropped him off.
  In the Air Force, Barney served as a lieutenant colonel and combat 
pilot completing over 100 missions in the Korean war and 50 in the 
Vietnam war. Over his 23-year career, he served in Korea, Vietnam, and 
the Cold War, and he was stationed at multiple bases around the United 
States and throughout the world.
  Our country owes a debt of gratitude to Barney who was brave enough 
to don the uniform and put his life on the line many times, as well as 
his family, including his beloved wife, Nancy, and five children who 
supported him and empowered him to charge forward in the fight for 
freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Barney for his noble service.


                        Recognizing Philip Parks

  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
legacy of Philip Parks of Odessa, Texas, who passed away on October 29, 
2021, at the age of 76.

[[Page H6274]]

  Mr. Parks was a devoted Christian, husband, father, and grandfather 
who was dedicated to the service of his family, his community, his 
church, and many other things, including his country.
  Philip served our country valiantly in the U.S. Air Force during the 
Vietnam war as a linguist in Taiwan. He was a schoolteacher for over 30 
years, a principal for many schools throughout the area, and an 
extremely active member of the First Baptist Church and other 
organizations, including the Rotary Club and VFW--even serving as a 
volunteer firefighter.
  We will never know the number of lives he impacted over the course of 
his own life. I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Parks right here in 
Washington, D.C., on his last flight when he traveled here with the 
Permian Basin Honor Flight. What an honor it was to see the service, 
the dedication, and the leadership.
  I am sending my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Lois, who 
shared 52 years of marriage, and his children, grandchildren, and 
great-grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Parks for his service.


                            Southern Border

  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask a simple question: When 
will this administration recognize the crisis at our southern border?
  Late last night Customs and Border Protection released their record-
shattering border crisis numbers. Once again, in the month of October, 
more than 164,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended.
  This is the worst October in DHS history, and these are only the 
numbers of those who were apprehended, not to mention the got-aways. 
Drug trafficking and human trafficking is surging. It is confirmed that 
MS-13 gang members are crossing into the United States and hundreds of 
thousands--in fact, over 2.1 million--have entered this country 
illegally with more advancing towards our southern border right now.
  Meanwhile, the administration is considering nearly half a million 
dollars in payments to illegal immigrants who broke the law while they 
are not paying contractors to build the wall and they are leaving 
already paid for materials in the field to rot. All this is made worse 
by the fact that the President is forcing our brave Border Patrol 
officers who are woefully understaffed and lacking the resources they 
need to choose between their livelihoods and a vaccine mandate. We have 
seen reporting by the Border Patrol that nearly half of its agents 
could be fired in less than a week due to the administration's November 
22 COVID-19 vaccine deadline.
  It has never been more clear. The President has abandoned Texas and 
every other border State, and he is cutting his own Border Patrol 
agents off at the knees. It is long past time to admit that there is a 
crisis at our southern border and that the men and women of the United 
States Border Patrol are overwhelmed and they need their Commander in 
Chief to support them.
  This crisis is not slowing down.
  Mr. President, we urge you to secure the border, to not abandon 
Texas, and to come to our rescue.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair.

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