[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 28570-28571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   THEODORE L. NEWTON, JR. AND GEORGE F. AZRAK BORDER PATROL STATION

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2728) to designate the station of the United States Border 
Patrol located at 25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, as the 
``Theodore L. Newton, Jr. And George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2728

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The station of the United States Border Patrol located at 
     25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. 
     Azrak Border Patrol Station''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the station referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Border Patrol 
     Station''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Arkansas 
(Mr. Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2728.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This bill honors two Border Patrol inspectors who died in the line of 
duty by naming a Border Patrol station in their honor. On June 17, 
1967, United States Border Patrol inspectors Theodore L. Newton, Jr., 
and George F. Azrak were killed in the line of duty while working the 
late-night shift in Southern California.
  Their tragic deaths were considered a turning point for the Border 
Patrol agency. After the deaths of these 2 Border Patrol inspectors, 
the security and procedures for intercepting border crossings changed 
dramatically. The Border Patrol now requires that a minimum of 3 to 5 
agents work each checkpoint along with a backup unit. In addition to 
the increased manpower, or person power, the Border Patrol has also 
increased the amount of training and support that all Border Patrol 
agents now receive.
  I support the Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border 
Patrol Station naming bill and urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this effort to honor these 2 law enforcement officials who 
died in the line of duty while serving their country in a vital role.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2728, introduced by Representative Darrell Issa of California, 
designates the station of the United States Border Patrol located at 
25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, as the Theodore L. 
Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station.
  Forty years ago, Theodore Newton and George Azrak were tragically 
killed in the line of duty. The deaths of these 2 agents shook the 
foundations of the agency.

[[Page 28571]]

  The two young Border Patrol agents were working the graveyard shift 
at a remote checkpoint when they were kidnapped from their post by drug 
smugglers. They were found murdered and handcuffed to a stove in an 
abandoned mountain shack.
  These two agents, just like agents on the front line today, put 
themselves in harm's way to uphold the tradition of honor, integrity, 
and service in securing our Nation's borders. Over 100 employees of the 
Border Patrol have died in the line of duty since it was formed in 
1924.
  The Newton-Azrak Award, the Border Patrol's highest award, pays 
tribute to those who show courage and heroism in the face of grave 
danger.
  This bill recognizes the ultimate sacrifice these men made, giving 
their lives in the service of their country.
  I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2728, a bill 
to designate the border station of the United States Border Patrol 
located at 25762 Madison Avenue in Murrieta, California, as the 
``Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station''.
  On June 17, 1967, United States Border Patrol Inspectors Theodore L. 
Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak were killed in the line of duty while 
working the late-night shift at a checkpoint along the U.S.-Mexico 
border. While examining a vehicle intercepted for suspected drug 
smuggling, the two inspectors were kidnapped and later killed.
  As a result of the tragic deaths of these two men, the U.S. Border 
Patrol now requires that a minimum of three to five agents work each 
checkpoint, depending on a variety of factors, along with a back-up 
unit. In addition to this requirement for increased manpower, the 
Border Patrol has also enhanced the training and support that all 
Border Patrol agents receive.
  In honor of these two inspectors, the Border Patrol annually bestows 
upon its bravest agents the Newton-Azrak Award. Eligibility for the 
award is based on the demonstration of unusual courage in the line of 
duty or a heroic or humane act during times of extreme stress or in an 
emergency. In addition, the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, 
Texas, has a permanent memorial display in honor of Inspectors Newton 
and Azrak.
  Designating the United States Border Patrol Station in southern 
California as the ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak Border 
Patrol Station'' is a fitting tribute to honor the bravery and service 
of these men. Their valor has served as an inspiration for a generation 
of Border Patrol agents that have followed them in service to their 
country.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2728.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, ``We cannot dedicate . . . we cannot 
consecrate . . . we cannot hallow . . . this ground. The brave men, 
living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our 
poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long 
remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 
It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the 
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly 
advanced.''
  The words of Abraham Lincoln hold as much meaning today as they did 
when he spoke to them in Gettysburg in 1863. Today we remember two men 
who gave their lives for our protection. Border Patrol agents Theodore 
L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak, are 2 of the 104 Customs and 
Border Patrol agents who have been killed in the line of duty.
  Madam Speaker, today we will have the opportunity to honor the lives 
of two brave public servants when we vote to designate the United 
States Border Patrol Station in Murrieta, CA, as the ``Theodore L. 
Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station.''
  Border Patrol agents Newton and Azrak selflessly gave their lives in 
the line of duty. During their patrol on the morning of June 17, 1967, 
Agents Newton and Azrak stopped an old military ambulance at a 
checkpoint, and inside the vehicle, they found 800 pounds of marijuana. 
There were two men in the ambulance and two in a car following behind, 
all were convicted felons and all were well armed. The four armed men 
overpowered the two agents and forced them to drive to a remote cabin 
where they handcuffed and murdered Agents Newton and Azrak. Over 400 
law enforcement agents and volunteers searched the remote terrain for 2 
days before the agents were finally found.
  The murders of Agents Newton and Azrak prompted the Border Patrol to 
adopt new safety measures--including increasing manpower, adopting more 
up-to-date technology and implementing a new policy requiring at least 
three agents and a backup unit to work at each checkpoint--to ensure 
that this terrible incident would not be repeated.
  United States Customs and Border Patrol agents have a long history of 
working thanklessly to make our country safer. Every day they protect 
our borders against terrorism and, when needed, step in to assist in 
the face of national disasters. Just last week, San Diego area CBP 
personnel were deployed to assist in wildfire emergency response.
  However, it has not been tradition to name Border Patrol stations 
after people; they are instead named for location. Undoubtedly, the 
Newton-Azrak Station will continue to be referred to by its Murrieta 
location, but its official title will be the ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr., 
and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station,'' in honor of the heroes who 
gave their lives for the safety of others.
  As we honor and remember the fallen agents, I would like to thank all 
of our Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection personnel 
for their service and commitment to the safety and security of all 
Americans.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time 
having no further speakers.
  Ms. NORTON. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2728.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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