The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 156, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 19, 2015 Page: 4 of 10
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4 The Baytown Sun
Viewpoints
Wednesday
August 19, 2015
Push the pause
button on refugee
resettlement
L ' J
BRIAN
BABIN
I recently introduced H.R. 3314, the Resettlement Ac-
countability National Security Act, which would press the
pause button on a program that grants permanent legal
residency to nearly 70,000 new immigrants a year under
a program coordinated through the United Nations, known
as the Refugee Resettlement Program.
H.R. 3314 would temporarily suspends the program until
the Government Accountability Office completes a thor-
ough examination of its costs on local governments, states
and American taxpayers.
The Refugee Resettlement Program has been running on
autopilot for far too long with little regard “
to economic, social and national security
implications. We need to step back and
examine all aspects of this program. Such
as, why is the U.N., whose policies often
run counter to the best interests of the U.S.,
even in the equation?
Nearly half-a-million refugees have en-
tered the U.S. under the Refugee Resettle-
ment Program while President Obama has
been in office - with the state of Texas and
its taxpayers being asked to take in more
than any other state during that time.
With America’s growing budgetary and national securi-
ty challenges, it is extremely troubling that this program
would continue at an unchecked pace without a clear pic-
ture of its costs to federal, state and local taxpayers - as
well as the national security risks it poses.
According to the Congressional Research Service, those
granted legal permanent residency are allowed the follow-
ing taxpayer flmded services: seven years of Supplemental
Security Income, seven years of Medicaid coverage, five
years of Temporary Assistance for Needy:, Families sub-
■ sidies, and no limit on Food Stamp eligibility. This adds
billions of dollars in federal spending to our national debt,
which is particularly troubling at a time when these ser-
vices are expanding at an unsustainable pace.
When I asked officials what the costs of these programs
were, I was told that they have no idea. I believe most
Americans would agree that it is plain common sense to
seek a full accounting of the Refugee Resettlement Pro-
gram - and that is exactly what H.R. 3314 does.
It also gives us an opportunity to fully investigate the na-
tional security risks associated with resettlement. The FBI
is increasingly worried about this program and its potential
to generate home-grown terrorism.
Clearly, there are serious problems with this program es-
pecially in regard to how these individuals are selected and
resettled in communities across the United States.
Under the current system, affected communities essen-
tially have no voice in the process. This is extremely trou-
bling considering the fact that these communities will be
forced to bear the costs. Local residents should have every
right to say no to resettlements within their communities -
a protection they unfortunately do not have.
A full examination of this program is long overdue. As
one supporter of H.R. 3314 wrote, “I’ve been following
this issue for eight years and this is the first time I have
seen anyone in Congress (other than recent concerns about
Syrian refugees) take a single step to begin to scrutinize the
entire program.”
The Resettlement Accountability National Security Act
brings much-needed accountability and transparency to
this broken program. Our bill exposes the impact it is hav-
ing on our nation, our economy and communities across
the nation.
Dr. Brian Babin is the U.S. Congressional representative
for the 36th District, which includes the Baytown area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Wednesday, August 19, the 231st day of 2015.
On this date:
In 1812, theUSS Constitution defeated the British frig-
ate HMS Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of
1812, earning the nickname “Old Ironsides.”
In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces land-
ed at Benedict, Maryland, with the objective of capturing
Washington D.C.
In 1942, during World War II, about 6,000 Canadian
and British soldiers launched a disastrous raid against the
Germans at Dieppe, France* suffering more than 50-per-
cent casualties.
In 1964, The Beatles opened their first full-fledged U.S.
tour as they performed at San Francisco’s Cow Palace.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford won the Republican
presidential nomination at the convention in Kansas City.
Thought for Today: “Cheer up! The worst is yet to
come!”
— Philander Chase Johnson, U.S. author (1866-1939)
What’s trending@baytownsun.com
Larry the lively lizard: Be safe
1 am Larry and 1 zip around from
one green shrub to a flowering
bougainvillea always avoiding the
thorns. I am an unusually fast lizard
and almost impossible to catch. I
will even leave my tail in your hand
to escape.
Now that it’s that time again for
school to start, I have a few safety
rules to share with you.
SAFETY RULE #1 Look both
ways before crossing the street,
stand at least 6 feet away from the
curb at the bus stop. When entering
and exiting the bus watch out for
drivers who are breaking the law. If
caught they will get a ticket and you
will stay alive.
SAFETY RULE #2 Buckle Up!
On every road trip, even to school
and back, seatbelts keep you safe.
So always click your seatbelt when
riding in the car or truck.
JOAN
MARTIN
SAFETY RULE
#3 Stranger Dan-
ger. Even if a person
is friendly and nice
looking, don’t listen
or talk to strangers.
Leave immediately
and go find an adult
you know.
SAFETY RULE
#4 Watch out for wa-
.............ter. Cold water tastes
good. So does lemonade. Splashing
and wading are fun, but don’t duck
swimming rules. Pools and lakes
can be dangerous. Turn around!
Don’t drown!
SAFETY RULE #5 Play out of
the street. Throw balls and Frisbees,
but stay in your yard or on the play-
ground. Wear a helmet to ride your
bike, scooters and skateboards but
not in the street. Don’t chase a ball
or kite into the street.
SAFETY RULE #6 Guns are not
toys. If you find a gun turn it over to
your parents. Never have a play-like
game with a gun.
" SAFETY RULE HI Cars heat up
to high temperatures in the sun. Al-
ways check for your baby brother or
sister if you get home and get out ol
SAFETY RULE #8 What’s in
that cabinet? Medicines and poison-
ous cleaners are stored in cabinets
but smart kids leave them alone.
This is Larry the Lively Lizard
saying, “Have a safe and happy
school year.”
Jo An Martin is a retired teacher
with five published novels. Contact
her by email at Josbook@mind-
spring.com or at her website www.
josbooks.com.
asa
For whom the quiz tolls
With school bells soon to ring, we
think back on favorite classroom
memories, including pop quizzes.
Come on now; these brain-teas-
ers can be fun - especially when
the grade doesn’t count. So, just
for fun, find pencil and paper, turn
off all electronic devices, and put on
your thinking cap.
1. Who was the first settler in
Crosby prior to the Republic of Tex-
as?
2. What was the original name of
Baytown Junior High?
3. What place is misspelled fre-
quently on maps showing the Hous-
ton Ship Channel?
4. Who was Hettie Perry?
5. Two Republic of Texas presi-
dents’ sons from the Baytown ^jea
were killed in the Civil War. Their
names?
6. Who was Nicholas Schilling?
7. When was the Morgan’s Point
ferry taken out of commission?
8. Who originally owned the land
where the big oak tree stands on
Texas Avenue?
9. Who directed the city’s Office
of Emergency Management for
many years?
10. What was the first hurricane to
wreak mass destruction on this area
in the 19th century?
In case you haven’t already
sneaked a peek, the answers are:
1. Humphrey Jackson, whose
father was a member of the Irish
Parliament, settled in Crosby when
WANDA
ORTON
Texas was still
part of Mexico. He
served as alcalde
of the San Jacinto
District, a position
that carried judi-
cial, executive and
legislative powers
in Mexican Texas.
The district extend-
ed along Buffalo
Bayou and the San Jacinto River to
Cedar Bayou and Galveston Bay.
Jackson’s descendants relocated to
Chambers County and have been
key leaders in business and govern-
ment ever since.
2. Although the name never stuck,
Baytown Junior High originally
was named after former Texas Gov.
James Hogg.
3. Many map-makers must think
Hog Island was named after Gov.
Hogg because they keep spelling it
with two g’s. Actually it was called
Hog (one g, please) Island in honor
of Ashbel Smith’s hogs that oinked
over the island.
4. From 1917 to 1920, Hettie Per-
ry ran a boarding house on Hog Is-
land, charging a dollar a day for bed
and board. (She must have chased
off the hogs.)
5. Local Civil War casualties in-
cluded William Burnet, killed in
Mobile, Alabama, and Charles Ed-
ward Jones, at Shiloh. The son of
Republic of Texas president An-
son Jones, Charles lived on a farm
at Goose Creek with his widowed
mother and siblings. David G.
Burnet’s son, William, grew up in
Lynchburg. His, father was the first
president of Republic of Texas, and
Jones was the last.
6. Born in Bavaria, Nicholas
Schilling was a medical doctor who
came to Cedar Bayou in 1874.
7. The opening of the Baytown-La
Porte Tunnel in 1953 marked the
end of service for the ferry that
sailed between Morgan’s Point and
Hog Island.
8. Price Pruett owned the land
where the oak tree stands on Texas
Avenue. His son, future mayor and
Houston Port Commissioner R.H.
“Red” Pruett, remembered climbing
the tree when he was a kid.
9. Fletcher Hickerson led the
Baytown Office of Emergency Man-
agement. His initial title was Civil
Defense director.
10. Racer’s Hurricane in 1838 was
not kind to the upper Texas coast;
Baytown pioneer William Scott’s
home was never the same.
(OK, wasn’t that fun? Though
grades don’t count, we’re giving
you an A for answering all questions
correctly. If you didn’t know some
or any of the answers, you get an A
anyway.)
Wanda Orton is a retired manag-
ing editor of The Sun. She can be
reached at viewpoints@baytownsun.
corn. Attention: Wanda Orton.
Here are the top-10 most-read articles from www.bay-
townsun.com for the week of Aug. 11-17, as measured
by page views.
No. 1: “Tragedy sparks call for change,” (Sunday,
Aug. 9)
No. 2: “6-month investigation leads to arrests,” (Sun-
day)
No. 3: “Man jailed after SWAT standoff,” (Thursday)
No. 4: “Beloved Baytown artist loses battle with can-
cer,” (Sunday)
No. 5: “Stricter law shutting down smoke shops,”
(Tuesday)
No. 6: “BPD charges man in standoff with felony,”
(Friday)
No. 7: “BPD arrests fleeing shooter,” (Tuesday)
No. 8: “Wednesday SWAT situation ends peacefully,”
(Wednesday online only)
No. 9: “Chambers County nixes ICE prison plan,”
(Wednesday)
No. 10: “Police Beat, Friday, Aug. 14.”
The three most-read articles for the year so far are:
“Mont Belvieu community rallies around family after
father killed,” (Jan. 29); “Baytown police seek clues
in Sunday double shooting,” (Aug. 2); and “Tragedy
sparks call for change,” (Aug. 9)
— Mark Fleming
t
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Bloom, David. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 156, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 19, 2015, newspaper, August 19, 2015; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1065628/m1/4/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.