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AND HELP THEM TRANSITION BACK
INTO CIVILIAN LIFE AS
SEAMLESSLY AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL VOTE YES ON THIS BILL
AND I NOW RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM ILLINOIS
IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, AND I
WOULD YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEVADA, THE AUTHOR OF THIS
BILL, MR. HECK, FOR SUCH TIME
AS HE MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEVADA IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT H.R. 6361, THE
VULNERABLE VETERANS HOUSING
REFORM ACT OF 2012.
AS STATED THIS BILL WOULD
REMOVE AN UNNECESSARY BARRIER
THAT PREVENTS OUR I GUESS ABLED
WARTIME VETERANS FROM --
DISABLED WARTIME VETERANS FOR
RECEIVE -- FROM RECEIVING THE
ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.
IT DOES THIS BY PREVENTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT FROM CONSIDERING
OUR VETERANS' AID AND
ATTENDANCE BENEFITS AS INCOME.
THE BENEFIT IS AN ENHANCED
PENSION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
TO OUR NATION'S WARTIME
VETERANS WHO ARE SEVERELY
DISABLED AND HAVE LITTLE OR NO
INCOME.
ACCORDING TO THE V.A., VETERANS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE AID AND
ATTENDANCE BENEFIT ARE DEFINED
AS THOSE REQUIRING THE AID OF
ANOTHER PERSON IN ORDER TO
PERFORM HIS OR HER ACTIVITIES
OF DAILY LIVING.
SUCH AS BATHING, FEEDING,
DRESSING, USING THE RESTROOM,
ADJUSTING PROSTHETIC DEVICES OR
PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM THE
HAZARDS OF THEIR DAILY
ENVIRONMENT.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS
BENEFIT, OUR SEVERELY DISABLED
VETERANS MUST FIRST ESTABLISH
THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR A
LOW-INCOME PENSION.
ONCE ELIGIBILITY IS DETERMINED,
THOSE LOW-INCOME DISABLED VETS
CAN RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL AID
AND ATTENDANCE BENEFIT ANNUALLY
TO HELP THE COST OF THEIR
MEDICAL CARE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
THE AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFIT
IS FOR MEDICAL CARE.
IT IS NOT DISCRETIONARY INCOME.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THESE
VETERANS STRUGGLE DAILY TO KEEP
THE LIGHTS ON, PUT FOOD ON THE
TABLE AND TO KEEP A ROOF OVER
-- KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR
HEADS.
ADD TO THAT THE COST OF PAYING
FOR A LIVE-IN AIDE AND IT
BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMELESS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT OPERATES A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT CAN
ASSIST THESE VETERANS.
HOWEVER, THE COURAGE STATUTE
REQUIRES THAT THE AID AND
ATTENDANCE BENEFIT BE COUNTED
AS INCOME WHEN DETERMINING
ASSISTANCE.
ELIGIBILITY FOR HOUSING
MR. SPEAKER, THIS MAKES NO
SENSE.
THE V.A. PROVIDES THIS BENEFIT
TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOW-INCOME,
DISABLED WARTIME VETERANS HAVE
THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO
RECEIVE THE MEDICAL CARE THEY
NEED AND HAVE EARNED.
THE COST OF AN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITY CAN BE $39,600 AND THE
MEDIAN COST OF A ROOM IN A
NURSING HOME IS BETWEEN $73,000
AND $81,000 ANNUALLY.
BY PROVIDING THE AID
INDEPENDENCE VETERAN AND
KEEPING THE -- IN-- THE AID
INDEPENDENCE SERVICE KEEPS THE
VETERAN INDEPENDENT.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S THE STATED
GOAL OF BOTH THIS HOUSE AND
THIS ADMINISTRATION TO RELEASE
-- REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN OUR
VETERAN POPULATION.
PASSING THIS LEGISLATION WILL
GOAL.
HELP ENSURE WE ACHIEVE THIS
H.R. 6361 INCLUDES AN IMPORTANT
PROVISION AUTHORED BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE NINTH
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, CONGRESSMAN
AL GREEN.
IT WOULD CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM
TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR MODIFYING
AND REHABILITATING HOMES IF OUR
NATION'S LOW-INCOME DISABLED
VETERANS.
H.R. 6361 WAS DRAFTED IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER AND THIS IS
REFLECTED IN THE OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT IT RECEIVED WHEN IT WAS
REPORTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2012.
THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO
PROVIDING THE SERVICE AND
ASSISTANCE OUR LOW INCOME
VETERANS HAVE EARNED AND
DESERVE.
I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS AND
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THINK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HELP IN
THIS LEGISLATION AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK
IS RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO
COMPLIMENT THE GENTLEMAN AND
POINT OUT THAT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, ONE OF THE LARGEST
GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
HOMELESS ARE --
I WANT LIKE TO
POINT OUT THAT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ONE OF THE LARGEST
GROUPS OF HOMELESS ARE OUR
VETERANS.
I SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT HELPS
KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOMES.
I YIELD BACK TO THE THE
GENTLELADY, MRS. BIGGERT.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
I HAVE NO FURTHER
SPEAKERS, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF THE TIME.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF THE TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
6361 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3'S BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
MR. SPEAKER.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
I MOVE TO SUSPEND
THE RULES AND PASS THE BILL
H.R. 64 --
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS THE BILL H.R. 6431.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 6431.
A BILL TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY
WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S.
SUPPORT FOR ASSISTANCE PROVIDED
BY INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS FOR BURMA AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
ROYCE, AND THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
NEW YORK, MRS. MALONEY, EACH
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
GOING TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INSERT
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL INTO THE
RECORD ON THIS MEASURE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
THIS AFTERNOON, CONGRESS WAS
FINALLY ABLE TO PRESENT AUN SUN
SUU KHYI THE GOLD MEDAL FOR
FREEDOM.
I WAS AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF
MR. CROWLEY'S LEGISLATION THAT
SET THE STAGE FOR TODAY'S
CEREMONY.
OF COURSE THAT LEGISLATION
PASSED YEARS AGO, BACK IN 2008,
MS. KHYI'S HOUSE WAS HER
PRISON.
34 THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD NEVER
COME.
SHE WAS ABLE TO VISIT CAPITOL
HILL TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS
AWARD, MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, IS A TESTAMENT OF THE
CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN HER
IMPORTANT COUNTRY.
THE OPPOSITION HAS WON SEATS IN
PARLIAMENT, MEDIA RESTRICTIONS
HAVE BEEN EASED.
HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS,
INCLUDING MANY THIS WEEK, HAVE
BEEN RELEASED.
CONGRESS CAN BE PROUD OF THE
ROLE THAT IT HAS PLAYED.
SANCTIONS WERE IMPORTANT WERE
IMPORTANT BUT SADGESES CAN'T
KEEP UP THE MESSAGE FROM TODAY.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE MS. KYI
DELIVERED IN WASHINGTON.
SHE EMPHASIZED THE ROLE
CONGRESS CAN PLAY IN BUILDING
UP THE INSTITUTIONS THAT BURMA
BADLY NEEDS.
THIS COUNTRY, ONCE SOUTHEAST
RICHEST COUNTRY, IS NOW
ITS POOREST.
ITS CORRUPT GENERALS HAVE
DESTROYED THE ECONOMIC
LANDSCAPE OF BURR MASM THE
BURMESE PEOPLE ARE DESTITUTE.
DEMOCRACY WILL NOT THRIVE IN
THIS ECONOMIC DESPAIR.
ISOLATED FOR DECADES, THE
INSTITUTIONS THAT BURMA NEEDS
TO RUN A DEMOCRACY ARE EITHER
WEAK OR DO NOT EXIST.
WE COULD HELP BURMAEST TABLY
THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO
CONNECT WITH THE WORLD THIS
ASSISTANCE ALSO CAN HELP THE
BURMESE WITH THEIR BASE
EXNEEDS.
NEEDS.
WITHOUT THIS IN -- THEIR BASIC
WITHOUT THIS IN PLACE, THE
POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL BACK
SLIDING IS REAL.
HOWEVER, SEVERAL LAWS ON OUR
BOOKS DIRECT THE REPRESENTATIVE
AT EACH FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
TO VOTE NO WHEN IT COMES TO ANY
PROPOSAL RELATED TO BURMA.
THERE IS NO WAIVER.
WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL WHEN IT
COMES TO SANCTIONS.
I'D NOTE THAT A U.S. NO VOTE IS
NOT A VETO.
IT DOESN'T STOP THESE
INSTITUTIONS FROM BEING
INVOLVED WITH BURMA.
IT JUST STOPS US FROM BEING
PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES,
WHEN ARE THE INTERESTS OF THE
-- OF THE U.S. AND THE BURMESE
PEOPLE BEST SERVED?
WHEN THE U.S. IS PLAYING A REAL
ROLE, HELPING TO SHAPE THESE
INSTITUTIONS' INVOLVEMENT WITH
BURMA?
OR ARE THEY BEST SERVED WHEN
THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IS SHUT
OUT OF THE ROOM, LEFT WITH ONLY
ONE OPTION?
OPTIONS.
THIS LEGISLATION GIVES MORE
YES, NO, OR ABSTAIN.
WHEN U.S. SUPPORT IS POSSIBLE,
THAT GIVES US LEVERAGE.
WE HAVE GREAT WEIGHT AT THESE
INSTITUTIONS, EVEN WHILE THEY
ARE MAINLY FUNDED BY OTHERS.
LIKE OTHER MEMBERS, I'M NOT
HAPPY WITH WHERE BURMA IS
TODAY.
I WANT ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS
RELEASED.
THERE IS TOO MUCH ETHNIC
VIOLENCE.
THIS BILL DOESN'T TOUCH THE
COURSE.
IMPORT BAN OR OTHERS, OF
THE TREASURY AUTHORITY SHOULD
USE ITS AUTHORITY TO TARGET ANY
INDIVIDUAL UNDERMINING PROGRESS
IN BURMA.
THIS LEGISLATION IS LICENSE TO
BOLSTER REFORM, WHERE
APPROPRIATE AND WHERE POSSIBLE.
NOT A SEAL OF APPROVAL.
GIVEN WHERE BURMA IS TODAY,
IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT CONGRESS
WAS -- RESPOND IN THIS WAY TO
ENSURE THAT THE U.S. IS IN A
POSITION TO CONTINUE TO PRESS
FOR REFORMS.
MOVING FORWARD, CONGRESS WILL
NEED TO ENSURE THAT THESE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE
PUSHING STRINGENT TRANSPARENCY
AND MONITORING ITS IMPACT ON
HUMAN RIGHTS.
THOSE GOALS, WHICH WE ALL
SHARE, ARE BEST ADVANCED BY
ADOPTING THIS LEGISLATION.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER,
CURRENTLY CONGRESSIONAL
MANDATES REQUIRE THAT THE U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MUST VOTE NO ON
ANY PROPOSED ASSISTANCE GOING
FROM AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION TO BURMA.
THIS BILL BEFORE US TODAY WOULD
CHANGE THAT.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY TO INSTRUCT OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AT THE
WORLD BANK, THE ASIAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK, AND THE
I.M.F. TO SUPPORT PROPOSED
ASSISTANCE TO BURMA IF THE
PRESIDENT DETERMINES THAT IT IS
IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST.
THIS FLEXIBILITY WILL BE NEEDED
IN THE COMING MONTHS.
THERE WILL LIKELY BE SOME
IMPORTANT VOTES COMING UP AT
THE WORLD BANK AND THE ASIAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK ON DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS AND AREAS, CLEARANCES,
PACKAGES FOR BURMA.
BINDING THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
TO ALWAYS VOTE NO ON SUCH
MEASURES WOULD WORK DIRECTLY
AGAINST OUR HOPE OF ENGAGING
BURMA AND SUPPORTING HER
AND THAT'S WHY I STRONGLY
DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.
SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
REFORMS IN BURMA SHOW GREAT
PROMISE.
THAT IS WHY THE UNITED STATES
LIFTED THE SANCTIONS ON
INVESTMENT IN BURMA BACK IN
JULY AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO
NOW IS TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT
AND ECONOMIC AID TO BURMA
THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
BOTH MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT
AND INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
ARE IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE BURMA
NEEDS BOTH LONG-TERM AND
SHORT-TERM RESULTS.
HER PEOPLE MOOD TO SEE THAT
DEMOCRACY HAS TANGIBLE,
POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THEIR
EVERYDAY LIVES.
IT IS NOT JUST IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE
THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
THE DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC
REFORMS IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS
IN THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED
STATES AS WELL.
WOULD SAY THAT IT'S IN
THE WORLD'S BEST INTEREST TOO.
IT WAS A GREAT HONOR TODAY TO
WELCOME AUNG SANS IS SUU KYI TO
WASHINGTON.
I CONGRATULATE HER ON RECEIVING
THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL,
THE HIGHEST AWARD WE CAN GIVE
ANYONE, WHICH SHE RICHLY
DESERVES.
SHE HONORS US BY HER PRESENCE
AND HER ACCEPTANCE OF THIS
AWARD.
HER UNSHAKEABLE CONVICTION THAT
DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS WERE
NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR BURMA
PROVIDED HER COUNTRY WITH A
MODEL OF COURAGE AND
PERSEVERANCE THAT HELPED TO
SUSTAIN IT THROUGHOUT THE MOST
DIFFICULT YEARS.
WE CONGRATULATE HER, WE THANK
HER, AND I WANT TO LET HER KNOW
THAT SHE IS A VERY SPECIAL
AND THAT WE
REMAIN STRONGLY COMMITTED TO
THE CAUSE OF REFORM IN HER
COUNTRY AND TO SUPPORTING NOT
ONLY HER COUNTRY BUT HER
PEOPLE.
SHE HAS SAID THAT AID AND
INVESTMENT IN BURMA MUST BE
DONE IN A WAY THAT IS DEMOCRACY
FRIENDLY.
SHE DESCRIBES THAT AS
INVESTMENTS THAT PRIORITIZE
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY,
WORKERS' RIGHTS, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
SHE HAS ALSO SAID THAT THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO APPLY
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
STANDARDS SUCH AS THE I.M.F.
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICES ON
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY.
I AGRY WITH HER WHOLE HEARTEDLY
ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.
AS THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS MOVE TO RE-ENGAGE
IN BURMA AND WE MOVE THROUGH
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN
SUPPORT OF THAT ENGAGEMENT, I
URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO USE
LEADERSHIP TO HAVE ENSURE
THAT ASSISTANCE TO BURMA
SUPPORTS DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.
EN-- DEMOCRATIC REFORMS,
ENSURES AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTES
SAFEGUARDS TO PROMOTE GROWTH,
ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND HELPS THE
PEOPLE THERE IS A TIDE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF NATION THAT TAKEN AT
THE FLOOD CAN LEAD TO
GREATNESS.
THIS IS SUCH A MOMENT OF
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORT
FOR BURMA.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL AND TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE
PEOPLE OF BURMA TOWARD THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRULY JUST
AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
IS RECOGNIZED.
I HAVE NO FURTHER
SPEAKERS.
MR. --
I HAVE NO FURTHER
SPEAKERS, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
IT IS SAID THAT BURMA IS
UNDERGOING A TRIPLE TRANSITION
FROM A MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO A
MORE OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT, ALSO IT'S MOVING
FROM CONFLICT TO PEACE, AND
IT'S MOVING FROM A CLOSED
ECONOMY TO A MORE OPEN ECONOMY.
ALL THREE OF THESE TRANSITIONS,
OF COURSE, ARE EQUALLY
DAUNTING.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI SHOWS US HOW
FAR THEY HAVE COME BUT ALSO HOW
FAR THEY HAVE LEFT TO GO.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TO KEEP
PUSHING BURMA IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
PUSHING IT IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION SO ALL POLITICAL
PRISONERS ARE FREED AND SO THAT
A FULLY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
RESPECTS THE RIGHTS OF ALL ITS
MINORITIES.
PEOPLE, INCLUDING ITS ETHNIC
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO ENSURE
THAT BURMA CONTINUES MOVING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I URGE
THE ADOPTION OF THE BILL AND I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
6431.
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
2/3 OF THOSE VOTING HAVING
RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS THE
BILL H.R. 2827 WITH AN
AMENDMENT.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 2827, A BILL TO
AMEND THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934, TO CLARIFY
PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE
REGULATION OF MUNICIPAL
ADVISORS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
DOLD, AND THE GENTLELADY FROM
NEW YORK, MRS. MALONEY, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND TO ADD EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
ON THIS BILL.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF AS MUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2827,
WHICH WOULD CLARIFY THE
DEFINITION OF A MUNICIPAL
ADVISOR TO REFLECT THE INTENT
OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THIS BILL RECEIVED UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT AND PASSED OUT OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
WITH A VOTE OF 60-0.
I'D LIKE TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.
MUNICIPAL ADVISORS ARE
CONSULTANTS WOULD WOULD WHO
ADVISE LOCAL -- WHO ADVISE
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
LIKE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL
ADVISORS, MUNICIPAL ADVISORS
MUST COMPLY WITH AN EXISTING
LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
WHILE OWNING THEIR -- WHILE
DOUCHEARY DUTY.
OWNING THEIR CLIENTS A IF HE
BUT BEFORE -- IF I *** YEAR
DUTYY.
BUT BEFORE -- IF I DISH YEAR --
FIDUCIARY DUTY.
THIS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT AND
I WOULD ARGUE UNFAIR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN FAVOR
OF THE UNREGULATED MUNICIPAL
ADVISORS.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
REGULATED GAP GAVE A FEW BAD
ACTORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO,
LIKE MOST PEOPLE, AREN'T
FAMILIAR WITH ADVANCED AND
TECHNICAL FINANCIAL PRODUCTS.
DODD-FRANK SECTION 975
ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BY
REQUIRING THESE UNREGULATED
ADVISORS TO REGISTER WITH THE
SEQUESTER AND TO FOLLOW RULES
WRITTEN -- S.E.C. AND FOLLOW
RULES.
THE PROVISIONS GENERALLY HAVE
BIPARTISAN POLITICAL SUPPORT AS
WELL AS WIDESPREAD INDUSTRY
SUPPORT.
HOWEVER MOST OF US, BOTH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS,
BELIEVE THAT THE S.E.C.'S
INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW HAS
GONE FAR BEYOND WHAT CONGRESS
INTENDED.
AMONG OTHER THINGS -- BY DOING
-- AMONG OTHER THINGS,
REQUIRING VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF
LOCAL GOVERNING BOARDS,
ENGINEERING PROVIDING TECHNICAL
AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND
BANK TELLERS, FOR INSTANCE, TO
REGISTER WITH THE S.E.C. AS
MUNICIPAL ADVISORS.
IN RESPONSE TO ITS PROPOSAL,
THE S.E.C. RECEIVED OVER 1,000
COMMENT LETTERS FROM ACROSS THE
INDUSTRY THAT WERE
OVERWHELMINGLY CRITICAL OF THE
PROPOSED RULE.
AND THAT IS WHY I INTRODUCED
H.R. 2827.
H.R. 2827 TAKES IMPORTANT STEPS
TO ADDRESS THESE WIDELYING AN
KNOWLEDGE -- ACKNOWLEDGED
CONCERNS AND -- WIDELY
ACKNOWLEDGED CONCERNS AND
SPECIFIESED SCOPES AND LIMITS
OF DODD-FRANK'S MUNICIPAL
ADVISOR PROVISIONS.
AFTER INTRODUCING OUR ORIGINAL
VERSION, H.R. 2827, WE ASKED
EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
AS WELL, WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF
PERSPECTIVES, TO GIVE US THEIR
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR
IMPROVING THE LEGISLATION.
MY COLLEAGUE AND CO-SPONSOR
FROM WISCONSIN, MS. MOORE, AND
I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS
WORKING AND LISTENING WITH ALL
CONCERNED PARTIES TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE FULLY CONSIDERED
ALL THE VIEWPOINTS TO COME UP
WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE
LEGISLATION THAT COULD ALSO
PASS WITH BROAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK
HER FOR ALL OF HER EFFORTS AT
THIS TIME.
TWO CONCERNS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL
VERSION OF THIS BILL, MR.
SPEAKER, OF H.R. 2827, THAT
WERE MOST SIGNIFICANT, FIRST
WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION
OF THE BILL WOULD STRIKE THE
FEDERAL FIDUCIARY DUTY FOR
MUNICIPAL ADVISORS, LEAVING IN
PLACE JUST THE STATE-BASED
STANDARDS.
SECOND, THE ORIGINAL BILL WOULD
HAVE EXCLUDED CERTAIN PARTIES
FROM REGULATION AS MUNICIPAL
ADVISORS, EVEN WHEN EXPLICITLY
ENGAGED TO PROVIDE MUNICIPAL
ADVISOR SERVICES.
DURING THE SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP,
MS. MOORE AND I ARTICULATED OUR
LAND FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THE
LEGISLATION -- OUR PLAN FOR
GOING FORWARD WITH THE
LEGISLATION AND INVITED
SUGGESTION FROM INDUSTRY AND
OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE
GENUINE ENGAGEMENT OF THE
PARTIES FROM ACROSS THE
INDUSTRY AND THEY'RE
WILLINGNESS TO GENEROUSLY SHARE
THEIR TIME AND EXPERIENCE,
EFFORT AND KNOWLEDGE WITH US.
ALL OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS
ULTIMATELY PRODUCED A BETTER
AND STRONGER AMENDED BILL.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS NEW
VERSION OF THE BILL ADDRESSES
THE POINTS RAISED SINCE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP AND WHILE
MAINTAINING OUR BROAD COALITION
OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORTERS.
THIS NEW BILL PRESERVES THE
FEDERAL FIDUCIARY STANDARD AND
REMOVES THE BLANKET STATUS
EXEMPTIONS WHILE STILL
MAINTAINING A BRIGHT LINE
MUNICIPAL ADVISOR POSITION.
IT PROTECTS ISSUERS BY
ESTABLISHING CLEAR LINES FOR
RULES AND FOR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR
ACTIVITY AND PROVIDES CLARITY
IN THE MARKETPLACE.
IN ADDITION TO THE AMENDMENT
SUBSTANCE, I'M VERY PROUD OF
THE PROCESS, WHAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO UNDERTAKE TO GET US TO
THIS POINT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
AGAIN, MS. MOORE, AND THE STAFF
FOR WORKING WITH ME AND MY
STAFF AND THANK ALL OF THOSE
WHO WORKED WITH US TO GET US TO
WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS.
THEY WERE SO GENEROUS IN
SHARING THEIR TIME AND I'M
CONFIDENT WHAT WE HAVE IS A
FORWARD WITH.
GOOD BILL THAT WE CAN MOVE
AGAIN I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT H.R. 2827.
WITH THAT I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I SEND
TO THE DESK A PRIVILEGED REPORT
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR
FILING UNDER THE RULE.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
REPORT TO AKY --
ACCOMPANY HOUSE RESOLUTION 788,
RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE JOINT
RESOLUTION, HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 118, PROVIDING FOR
CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER
CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED
STATES CODE, OF THE RULES
SUBMITTED BY THE OFFICE OF
FAMILY ASSISTANCE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
RELATING TO WAIVER AND
EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY UNDER
SECTION 1115 OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT, 42, UNITED STATES
CODE, 1315, WITH RESPECT TO THE
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY
FAMILIES PROGRAM.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
THE BILL, H.R. 3409, TO LIMIT
THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR TO ISSUE
REGULATIONS BEFORE DECEMBER 31,
2013, UNDER THE SURFACE MINING
CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF
1977, AND PROVIDING FOR
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD
FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2012,
THROUGH NOVEMBER 12, 2012.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM WISCONSIN,
MS. MOORE, WILL CONTROL THE
TIME.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM WISCONSIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MR. SPEAKER.
I THINK MR. -- I THANK MR. DOLD
-- I THINK MR. DOLD DEALT VERY
WELL WITH MANY OF THE SPECIFICS
OF H.R. 2827, RELATING TO THE
REGULATION OF MUNICIPAL
ADVISORS.
SO BEFORE I LOSE PEOPLE, I WANT
TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESS THAT BROUGHT THE BILL
TO THIS POINT AND TO THANK A
LOT OF PEOPLE FOR THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FINAL
LEGISLATION.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE BILL THAT
PASSED THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE BY 60-0 REFLECTS THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AT ITS
ABSOLUTE BEST.
IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
BETWEEN REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS,
ISSUERS AND MARKET PARTICIPANTS
AND VERY, VERY DILIGENT
STAFFERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE.
IF THERE'S A SINGLE ELEMENT
THAT IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE BILL GETTING TO THIS POINT,
IT IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE
PEOPLE INVOLVED.
IT SPEAKS TO THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM, THAT THEY
STAYED AT THE TABLE AND
NEGOTIATED WITH THE SINGULAR
PURPOSE OF GETTING TO THE BEST
RESULT FOR THE MUNICIPAL
MARKET.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE
ISSUES WERE TOUGH AND THE
DISAGREEMENTS REAL.
TIMES WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
VERY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO JUST
GIVE UP AND WALK AWAY.
BUT TO THE CREDIT OF ALL
INVOLVED, EVERYONE KEPT TALKING
AND KEPT SEARCHING FOR
SOLUTIONS.
MR. DOLD DESERVES A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL.
HE WAS CONSISTENTLY WILLING TO
ENGAGE TOUGH ISSUES IN AN OPEN
AND THOUGHTFUL MANNER.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMITTEE,
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT ALIKE,
FOR THEIR INVALUABLE INPUT AS
WE NEGOTIATED THE BILL.
FINALLY, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT I MENTION THE
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR.
FRANK AND MS. WATERS.
AT MANY CRITICAL POINTS, BOTH
WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING
GUIDANCE.
H.R. 2827, WHICH PASSED THE
HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE 60-0, WAS NOT -- IT
ALMOST DIDN'T PASS AT ALL THERE
WAS SO MUCH CONFUSION I THINK
GENERATED FROM THE S.E.C.
PROMULGATING A RULE THAT
INITIALLY WAS VERY, VERY
CONFUSING.
BUT IT'S ONLY THE SECOND
LEGISLATIVE EFFORT RELATED TO
DODD-FRANK TO PASS THE
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY.
PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF
DODD-FRANK, NONDEALER ADVISORS
TO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WERE
UNREGULATED.
THESE UNREGULATED PARTIES WERE
INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF
MUNICIPAL MARKET SCANDALS THAT
ULTIMATELY DEFRAUDED TAXPAYERS.
SECTION 975 BRINGS MUNICIPAL
FINANCIAL ADVISORS, AGENTS AND
G.I.C. BROKERS UNDER FEDERAL
SECURITIES LAW.
IT IS A GOAL THAT HAS -- IS NOT
PARTISAN.
UNFORTUNATELY IN 2010 THE S.
E.C. RELEASED A PROPOSED RULE
MAKING RELATED TO SECTION 975
THAT CREATED MASSIVE CONFUSION
IN A MUNICIPAL MARKET REGARDING
HOW SECTION 975 WOULD BE
APPLIED IN THE REAL WORLD.
H.R. 2827 SEEKS TO CLARIFY
SECTION 975, TO PROVIDE
CERTAINTY TO THE MARKET SO,
THAT THE RULES CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED AND TAXPAYERS CAN
BENEFIT FROM THE PROTECTION IT
BRINGS.
THIS BILL TAKES A FUNDAMENTALLY
DIFFERENT APPROACH FROM THE
S.E.C. OF THE DEFINITION OF
MUNICIPAL ADVISORS.
IT MAKES MUNICIPAL ADVISOR AN
EXCLUSIONARY DEFINITION RATHER
THAN TRYING TO OUTLINE AND
DEFINE CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
WHICH END UP BEING VERY VEGAS
-- VAGUE AND OVERLY BROAD.
AND IT DOESN'T UNNECESSARILY
SWEEP IN THE UNIVERSE OF OTHER
PROFESSIONALS OR IMPINGE ON THE
RELATIONSHIPS OF ISSUERS AND
OTHER MARKET PARTICIPANTS
ENGAGED IN LEGITIMATE AND
NECESSARY MARKET ACTIVITIES.
MR. SPEAKER, HOW MUCH TIME
REMAINS?
THE
GENTLELADY HAS 16 MINUTES
REMAINING.
MOORE MAR MOORE 16 MINSK --
16 MINUTES.
OK.
UNDERWRITING, PROVIDING
ACCOUNTING SERVICES,
ENGINEERING ADVICE, OR OFFERING
TRADITIONAL DEPOSITS IN CASH
MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO
MUNICIPALITIES.
IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACH
THAT EFFECTUATES THE GOALS OF
975 WHILE MEETING THE
REAL-WORLD NEEDS OF MARKET
PARTICIPANTS.
I WANT TO URGE EVERYONE -- ALL
MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
IMPORTANT REGULATORY
LEGISLATION AND AGAIN I CANNOT
THANK THE PARTICIPANTS ENOUGH
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS BILL.
AND I WANT TO RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I JUST WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR HER HELP AND
SUPPORT WITH REGARD TO THIS
PROCESS, WHICH AS SHE APTLY
POINTS OUT WAS AT TIMES A
LITTLE STRENUOUS BUT I BELIEVE
IN THE END WE WERE ABLE TO COME
TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN
FASHION, TO PRODUCE WHAT I HOPE
IS QUALITY LEGISLATION THAT
WILL BE -- WILL BE ABLE TO BE
BETTER FOR MUNICIPAL ADVISORS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND WOULD INQUIRE DISH DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY SPEAKERS --
I WOULD LIKE TO
YIELD SOME TIME TO MRS.
MALONEY.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
MRS. MALONEY IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2827
AND COMMEND MY GHOOD FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, MS. MOORE, AND MR.
DOLD, AND RANKING MEMBER FRANK,
AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKED
VERY *** THIS BILL IN THEIR
BIPARTISAN WAY.
WILLINGNESS TO WORK IN A
IT IS HELPFUL TO RECALL THAT
THE ORIGINAL DODD-FRANK
REGULATIONS RELATING TO
MUNICIPAL BOND ADVISORS ONLY
CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A NUMBER
OF MANMADE FINANCIAL DISASTERS
INVOLVING MUNICIPALITIES AND
THEIR ADVISORS.
WHO WERE UNREGULATED.
IT WAS JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO
THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA,
FILED THE BIGGEST MUNICIPAL
BANKRUPTCY IN U.S. HISTORY.
THEY JOINED THE RANKS OF 11
FILE A
CHAPTER 9 BANKRUPTCY THAT YEAR,
INCLUDING BOISE COUNTY, IDAHO,
CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND,
AND HARRISONBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
THEY ALL HAD UNIQUE PROBLEMS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
HAD IN COMMON, THEY GOT SOME
PRETTY COSTLY ADVICE AND IT
WILL HAUNT TAXPAYERS FOR YEARS.
THIS WAS AN AREA THAT WAS
COMPLETELY UNREGULATED BEFORE
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE
DODD-FRANK REFORMS, INCLUDING
THE MUNICIPAL ADVISOR
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT WERE
CRISES.
ENACTED TO RESPOND TO THOSE
THE DODD-FRANK REFORMS REQUIRE
INDIVIDUALS TO ADVISE
MUNICIPALITIES TO BE REGISTERED
WITH THE S.E.C. AND BE SUBJECT
TO THE MUNICIPALITIES RULE
MAKING BOARD.
THIS IS A GOOD THING.
MOST AGREE THAT THE S.E.C.'S
PROPOSED RULE, THE ORIGINAL
ONE, WENT TOO FAR AND MADE THE
DEFINITION OF A MUNICIPAL
ADVISOR A LITTLE TOO BROAD.
IT WAS DEFINED IN A WAY THAT
COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAPTURED
THOSE WHO WERE NOT PROVIDING
INVESTMENT ADVICE.
I KNOW MANY INSTITUTIONS WERE
CONCERNED THAT UNDER THE
S.E.C.'S PROPOSED RULE, MERELY
PROVIDING A BANK ACCOUNT TO
YOUR MUNICIPALITY COULD MEAN AN
INSTITUTION WOULD HAVE TO
REGISTER AS AN ADVISOR AND BE
SUBJECT TO NFIB REGULATION, ALL
BECAUSE THEY JUST PROVIDED
BASIC BANKING SERVICES.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE
DURING THE CONSIDERATION OF
DODD-FRANK, I CAN TELL YOU THAT
THAT WAS NOT WHAT CONGRESS
INTENDED.
HOWEVER, I WAS CONCERNED THAT
THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS
BILL WENT TOO FAR IN THE OTHER
DIRECTION AND THAT COULD HAVE
OPENED UP SUCH A GAPING HOLE
YOU COULD HAVE DRIVEN A TRUCK
FULL OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY
THROUGH IT.
I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DRAFT
BILL ELIMINATED THE CRITICAL
FIDUCIARY DUTY STANDARD THAT WE
INCLUDED IN DODD-FRANK.
THE DIFUREBARY DUTY IS A VITAL
ELEMENT THAT ENSURES THAT THE
ADVISORS PROVIDE ADVICE THAT IS
IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
MUNICIPALITY.
SO I THINK THAT THIS REVISED
BILL, AND WE HAVE STRUCK A GOOD
BALANCE, FIDUCIARY DUTY IS BACK
IN, AND UNINTENDED CAPTURE IS
OUT.
THE REVISED LANGUAGE CLEARLY
AND REASONABLY DEFINES THE
ACTIVITIES THAT MUNICIPAL
ADVISORS ENGAGE IN AND
DESCRIBES THE KIND OF ADVICE
THEY PROVIDE.
THIS BILL NOW GIVES CLEAR
LEGISLATIVE GUIDANCE TO ENSURE
THE GOAL OF HEIGHTENED
SUPERVISION OF KNEW MOVES ANY
PAL ADVISORS IS REALIZED.
IT KEEPS TAXPAYERS SAFER,
CREDIT MARKETS MORE STABLE AND
REGULATIONS A BIT FAIRER.
ALL IN ALL, I WOULD SAY THAT
IT'S A JOB WELL DONE, DONE IN A
BIPARTISAN SPIRIT, WITH A GREAT
TIME AND COMMITMENT.
I COMMEND THE TWO MAJOR
SPONSORS WHO ARE SPEAKING WITH
US TODAY AND I YIELD BACK MY
MOORE.
TIME TO MY GOOD FRIEND, GWEN
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE THE GENTLELADY FROM
WISCONSIN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, THANK YOU, THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN AGAIN,
I THINK WE NEED TO CREDIT MR.
TOLD, A FAIRLY NEW MEMBER THAT
WE ACTUALLY LISTENED TO MEMBERS
WHO WERE SENIOR MEMBERS AND
DIDN'T BASE IT ON PARTISAN
DIFFERENCES AS SO OFTEN OCCURS
BUT REALLY RESPECTED PEOPLE'S
EXPERIENCE AND LISTENED TO
THEIR ADVICE VERY EARNESTLY.
SO AGAIN, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND
I WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN
BACCHUS FOR ALLOWING THIS TO
MOVE -- BACCHUS FOR ALLOWING
THIS -- BAUCUS FOR ALLOWING
THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THANK MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
WISCONSIN, MS. MOORE, FOR ALL
HER WORK AND EFFORTS TO WORK
WITH ME ON WHAT I HOPE IS GOING
TO BE A BILL THAT EVERYONE HERE
IN THIS CHAMBER WILL SUPPORT.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
EVERYONE, MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE, TO SUPPORT
H.R. 2827 AND I YIELD BACK THE
PLANS OF MY TIME.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2827?
-- H.R. 2827 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR
2/3'S BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASS H.R. 5987 AS AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TIE
THOLVE -- TITLE OF THE BILL.
H.R.
5987, A BILL TO ESTABLISH THE
HISTORICAL PARK IN OAK RIDGE,
TENNESSEE,S WILL ALMOST, NEW
MEXICO AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR.
HASTINGS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OHIO, MR. KUCINICH, EACH
WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE
FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE
AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND
INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON
THE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
H.R. 5987 IS A BIPARTISAN BILL
THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK.
THERE'S A LIKE BILL, BIPARTISAN
BILL, ALSO PENDING IN THE
SENATE.
THE PARK WILL ENCOMPASS THREE
LOCATIONS THAT WERE INTEGRAL TO
THE TREMENDOUS ENGINEERING AND
HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT.
THE THREE LOCATIONS ARE THE
HANNIFORD SITE IN MY HOME STATE
OF WASHINGTON, LOS ALAMOS, IN
NEW MEXICO, AND OAK RIDGE, IN
TENNESSEE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
FACILITIES ELIGIBLE TO BE
INCLUDED IN THIS PARK ARE
ALREADY OWNED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THEY ARE LOCATED ON LANDS OWNED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
OUR NATION ALREADY POSSESSES
THESE PIECES OF HISTORY.
THE REAL PURPOSE OF THIS BILL
IS TO OFFICIALLY DECLARE THE
IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE
HISTORY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO
THE PUBLIC, AND INCLUDING THE
UNIQUE ABOUTS OF THE PARK
SERVICE TO HELP TELL THIS
STORY.
CURRENTLY SOME OF THESE
HISTORIC FACILITIES, SLATED FOR
INCLUSION IN THIS PARK, ARE
SCHEDULED TO BE DESTROYED AT
CONSIDERABLE TAXPAYER EXPENSE.
A GREAT MANY LOCAL COMMUNITY
LEADERS IN ALL THREE STATES AND
INTERESTED CITIZENS HAVE WORKED
TO COORDINATE A COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVING THIS PIECE OF OUR
HISTORY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE GOVERNMENT
WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FROM FOREGONE DESTRUCTION AS
OPPOSED TO THE MINIMAL COST OF
PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS AND
PARK ADMINISTRATION.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANHATTAN
PROJECT BY THE MEN AND WOMEN AT
SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE
BILL CONTAINS A PROVISION
ALLOWING COMMUNITIES LIKE
DAYTON, OHIO, FOR EXAMPLE,
OUTSIDE THE HISTORICAL PARK, TO
RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF INTERIOR AS THEY SEEK TO
PRESERVE AND MANAGE THEIR OWN
MANHATTAN PROJECT RESOURCES.
THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, IT'S PART OF OUR
HISTORY, MR. SPEAKER.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION AND I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN VEMBS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TO MY FRIEND, MR. HASTINGS, THE
TECHNOLOGY WHICH CREATED THE
BOMB CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM
THE HORROR WHICH THE BOMB
CREATED.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE
TECHNOLOGY OF THE BOMB BESPEAKS
A MORAL BLINDNESS TO ITS
EFFECTS.
WHICH INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE
DEVASTATION OF THE PEOPLE OF HI
ROACH MA AND NAGASAKI BUT THE
$10 TRILLION COLD WAR TEEN THE
BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA
AND THIS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHICH TODAY
HANG OVER THE WORLD LIKE SO
MANY SWORDS OF DAMOCLES.
AT A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE
ORGANIZING THE WORLD TOWARD
ABOLISHING NUCLEAR WEAPONS,
BEFORE THEY APOLISH US, WE ARE
INSTEAD INDULGING IN ADMIRATION
AT OUR CLEVERNESS AS A SPECIES.
THE BOMB IS ABOUT GRAVEYARDS,
NOT ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS.
THE PHILOSOPHER ALFRET NORTH
WHITEHEAD ONCE WROTE, THE MAJOR
ADVANCES IN CIVILIZATION ARE
PROCESSES THAT ALL BUT WRECK
THE SOCIETIES IN WHICH THEY
OCCUR.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
IS RECOGNIZED.
I ADVISE MY
FRIEND FROM OHIO, I HAVE NO
MORE REQUESTS FOR TIME.
I'M PREPARED TO YIELD BACK IF
HE'S PREPARED TO YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
I SHALL CONTINUE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
WHEN YOU WALK
INTO THE BRADBERRY SCIENCE
MUSEUM AT THE LOS -- INTO THE
BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM AT LOS
ALAMOS, YOU'RE GREETED ON YOUR
IMMEDIATE LEFT BY REPLICAS OF
FAT MAN AND LITTLE BOY, THE TWO
BOMBS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA AND
NAGASAKI.
THE SPACE SURROUNDING THEM DOES
NOT INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE
LEVELED JAPANESE CITIES.
PICTURES OF CHILDREN WITH
MASSIVE BIRTH DEFECTS.
OR STORIES OF FAMILIES AND
HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY
OBLITERATED IN THE BLINK OF AN
EYE.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A
DISCUSSION OF THE HEALTH
EFFECTS, OF WORLDWIDE
DISTRIBUTION OF RADIATION FROM
THE BOMBS OR FROM THE LARGER
PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR
LOS ALAMOS.
TECHNOLOGY THAT EMANATED FROM
IN ORDER.
MR. SPEAKER, THE HOUSE IS NOT
I'M SORRY, BUT I'M MAKING A
PRESENTATION AND I CAN'T
CONTINUE IF MEMBERS ARE
TALKING.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
I'M ASKING
MEMBERS, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
DEBATE, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION
AND IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE
TO SAY, IF YOU COULD
PARTICIPATE, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
I'M SPEAKING AND THIS -- ABOUT
THE BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM.
THE BOMBS RESIDE IN IS A
SECTION OF THE MUSEUM CALLED
DEFENSE, WHICH PRESENTS
INFORMATION ON THE NUCLEAR
ARSENAL, NUCLEAR STOCKPILE AND
PLUTONIUM EXPLOSIVES.
OTHER SECTIONS TALK ABOUT HOW
THE BOMB WAS TRIGGERED.
HOW THE BOMB WAS TRIGGERED.
A SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF THE
MYRIAD NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT CAME OUT OF --
CAME OUT OF THE MANHATTAN
PROJECT IS RELEGATED TO ON
SECURITY.
A PUBLIC FORUM TUCKED AWAY IN A
CORNER PROVIDES SPACE FOR
PUBLIC INPUT.
NOW WHEN THE U.S. DROPPED
ATOMIC BOMBS ON HIROSHIMA AND
NAGASAKI IN AUGUST OF 1945,
MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE WERE
KILLED INSTANTLY.
IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED,
OVER 100,000 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE
DIED OF RADIATION POISONING.
THE JAPANESE PEOPLE TODAY
CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE
DEVASTATING AND LONG-TERM
EFFECTS OF THE BOMB.
IT IS NOW WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED
BY MANY TOP U.S. GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AT THE TIME OF THE
WAR THAT DROPPING THE BOMB ON
JAPAN WAS COMPLETELY
UNNECESSARY.
AND I WANT TO GET INTO THAT
SECTION AT THIS MOMENT, SO THAT
THOSE WHO SAY, WELL, WE NEED TO
CREATE A MEMORIAL TO THE BOMB
BECAUSE IT ENDED THE WAR, WELL
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME
QUOTES, MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS
DAVID EISENHOWER,
WHO WAS GENERAL OF THE ARMIES
AND ALSO LATER ON PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
HE SAID, IN JULY, 1945,
SECRETARY OF WAR STINSON,
VISITING MY HEADQUARTERS IN
GERMANY, INFORMED ME THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARING TO
DROP AN ATOMIC BOMB ON JAPAN.
I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO FELT
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF COGENT
REASONS TO QUESTION THE WISDOM
OF SUCH AN ACT.
THE SECRETARY, UPON GIVING ME
THE NEWS OF THE SUCCESSFUL BOMB
TEST IN NEW MEXICO AND OF THE
PLAN FOR USING IT ASKED FOR MY
REACTION.
APPARENTLY EXPECTING A VIGOROUS
ASSENT.
DURING HIS RECITATION OF THE
RELEVANT FACTS, I HAD BEEN
CONSCIOUS OF A FEELING OF
DEPRESSION AND SO I VOICED TO
HIM MY GRAVE MISGIVINGS, FIRST
ON THE BASIS OF THE -- OF MY
BELIEF THAT JAPAN WAS ALREADY
DEFEATED AND THAT DROPPING THE
BOMB WAS COMPLETELY
UNNECESSARY, AND SECONDLY
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT OUR
COUNTRY SHOULD AVOID SHOCKING
WORLD OPINION BY USE OF A
WEAPON WHOSE EMPLOYMENT WAS, I
THOUGHT, NO LONGER MANDATORY AS
A MEASURE TO SAVE AMERICAN
LIVES.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT JAPAN WAS,
AT THAT VERY MOMENT, SEEKING
SOME WAYS TO SURRENDER WITH A
MINIMUM LOSS OF FACE.
THE SECRETARY WAS DEEPLY
PERTURBED BY MY ATTITUDE,
UNQUOTE.
THAT'S DWIGHT EISENHOWER IN A
BOOK CALLED "MANDATE FOR
CHANGE," PAGE 360.
FROM GENERAL DOUGLAS MCARTHUR,
NORMAN COUSINS WAS A CONSULTANT
TO GENERAL MCARTHUR DURING THE
AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF JAPAN.
COUSINS WRITES OF HIS
CONVERSATIONS WITH MCARTHUR.
HIS VIEWS ABOUT THE DECISION TO
STARKLY
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE GENERAL
PUBLIC PRESUPPOSED.
WHEN I ASKED THE GENERAL ABOUT
THE DECISION TO DROP THE BOMB, I
WAS SURPRISED HE HADN'T BEEN
CONSULTED.
WHEN, WHAT, I ASK, WOULD HIS
ADVICE HAVE BEEN.
HE SAW NO MILITARY JUSTIFICATION
FOR THE DROPING OF THE BOMB.
THE WAR MIGHT HAVE ENDED WEEKS
EARLIER IF THE UNITED STATES HAD
AGREED TO THE RETENTION OF THE
INSTITUTION OF THE EMPEROR.
THAT'S FROM A BOOK CALLED "THE
PATHOLOGY OF POWER," NORMAN
COUSINS.
LEO JILAD WAS THE FIRST
SCIENTIST TO CONCEIVE HOW AN
ATOMIC MIGHT BE MADE IN 1933.
HE SPEAKS OF A MEETING WITH THE
HEAD SCIENTIST OF THE MANHATTAN
PROJECT.
QUOTE.
I TOLD OPPENHEIMER IT WOULD BE A
GREAT MISTAKE TO USE THE BOMB
GENERALS CITIES OF JAPAN.
WELL, DON'T YOU THINK THAT IF WE
TELL THE RUSSIANS WHAT WE INTEND
TO DO AND USE THE BOMB IN JAPAN,
THE RUSSIANS WILL UNDERSTAND IT?
THEY'LL UNDERSTAND IT ONLY TOOL
WELL, JILAD REPLIED.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CLARK, WHO WAS
THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
OFFICER PREPARING FOR PREPARING
INTERCEPTED JAPANESE CABLES,
QUOTE, WHEN WE DIDN'T NEED TO DO
IT AND WE KNEW WE DIDN'T NEED TO
DO IT, AND THEY KNEW THAT WE
DIDN'T NEED TO DO IT, WE USED
THEM AS AN EXPERIMENT FOR TWO
ATOMIC BOMBS, UNQUOTE.
DECISION
TO USE THE ATOMIC BOMB."
PEROWICZ SAID I THINK IT CAN BE
PROVEN THAT THE BOTTOM WAS NOT
ONLY UNNECESSARY BUT KNOWING IN
ADVANCE NOT TO BE NECESSARY.
ANOTHER QUOTE, THE JAPANESE
POSITION WAS HOPELESS EVEN
BEFORE THE FIRST ATOMIC BELL
FELL BECAUSE THE JAPANESE LOST
CONTROL OF THEIR OWN AIR,
COMMANDER GENERAL ARNOLD.
THE JAPANESE HAD IN FACT ALREADY
SUED FOR PEACE.
THE ATOMIC BOMB PLAYED NO
DECISIVE PART IN THE SEA OF
JAPAN.
CHESTER WNIMITZ, COMMANDER OF
THE PACIFIC FLEET, QUOTE, THE
USE OF ATOMIC BOMBS WAS OF NO
MATERIAL ASSISTANCE IN OUR WAR
AGAINST JAPAN.
THE JAPANESE WERE ALREADY
DEFEATED AND READY TO SURRENDER.
THIS IS ADMIRAL LEAHY, QUOTE,
CERTAINLY PRIOR TO THE 31 OF
DECEMBER, 1945 A IN ALL
PROBABILITY PRIOR TO 1 NOVEMBER,
1945, JAPAN WOULD HAVE PROBABLY
SURRENDERED.
QUOTE, AND THAT'S FROM THE
STRATEGIC BOMBING SURVEY.
THE WAR WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER IN
ENTERING.
TWO WEEKS WITHOUT THE RUSSIANS
THE ATOMIC BOMB HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE END OF THE WAR AT
ALL.
THIS IS FROM COLONEL GENERAL
LEMAY.
THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS NOT
NECESSARY.
SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE CREATION
OF A NATIONAL PARK AND THE
NAMING OF THE PARK AFTER THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT -- MAY I ASK
HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE?
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS 10 MINUTES
REMAINING.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, SINCE
IT CAN BE WIDELY DISPUTED AND BY
TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS THAT THE
DROPPING OF THE BOMB WAS NOT
NECESSARY, THEN WHY ARE WE
NAMING THIS -- HONORING THIS
TECHNOLOGY WITH A NATIONAL PARK?
IT IS REALLY A LEGITIMATE
QUESTION.
WHEN THE U.S. DROPPED ATOMIC
BOMBS IN JAPAN IN AUGUST OF 1945
AGAIN, 200,000 PEOPLE WERE
KILLED.
DISCUSSION IN
THE CONTEXT OF HONORING A
TECHNOLOGY THAT CREATED A BOMB,
I THINK, REALLY RAISES QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS
COUNTRY AND WHERE WE ARE WITH
THE BOMB.
THE SPLITTING OF THE ATOM AND
THE USE OF THE SPLIT ATOM TO
CREATE A ATOMIC BOMB BESPEAKS AN
INTENSIFICATION OF THINKING, OF
US VERSUS THEM, WHOEVER THEY
ARE.
WE THEN DECIDED THAT ALL OF OUR
PROBLEMS IN HUMANITY COULD BE
SOLVED BY TECHNOLOGY, THAT THE
BOMB WAS THEN PUT IN PLACE OF
REASON, THAT THE BOMB WAS PUT IN
PLACE OF DIPLOMACY, THAT THE
BOMB WAS IN PLACE OF TALKING
WITH EACH OTHER AND SETTLING OUR
DIFFERENCES.
THE BOMB THEN BECAME THE META
HOW IT RULES OVER
HUMANITY.
WE ARE CAPTIVES OF OUR OWN
MACHINE.
I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG PERSON
GOING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
DOING DRILLS AS DUCK AND COVER
BECAUSE WE BELIEVED THAT THE
UNITED STATES WAS GOING TO BE
ATTACKED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
THE FEAR DROVE ENTIRE
GENERATIONS, THE FEAR CAUSED THE
UNITED STATES TO SPEND TRILLIONS
OF DOLLARS ON A COLD WAR THAT
TOOK AWAY FROM THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE.
THE FEAR RESIDES IN THE WORLD
TODAY, WHEN THERE ARE SOME WHO
URGE AN ATTACK ON IRAN, WHY?
BECAUSE THEY ARE SAID TO BE
DEVELOPING A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
WHERE DOES THIS STOP?
WE CANNOT HONOR THIS TECHNOLOGY.
WE CANNOT CELEBRATE INGENT THAT
WAS USED TO PUT HUMANITY AT
RISK.
WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO REASSESS WHO
WE ARE AS HUMAN BEINGS AND ASK
OURSELVES WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE
ESSENTIALLY REACHED THE LIMITS
OF OUR ABILITY TO DEVELOP
TECHNOLOGY WHICH WE CAN CONTROL.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
WHEN YOU LEARN THAT THE SOUTH IS
EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS UPSET
BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN ACTIVITY,
WHEN YOU LEARN THAT SCIENCE CAN
NOW CREATE OR BEGANISMS THAT CAN
CHANGE THE NATURE OF FOOD.
MATTER OF FACT, LIFE ITSELF CAN
BE CHANGED THROUGH CLONING, WE
ASK THESE MANY GODS WHO CAN
TINKER WITH OUR PLANET AND LIFE
ITSELF AND NAME PARKS AFTER IT.
NO.
IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, SOME
THIS IS JUST A
PARK, WHAT ARE YOU SO EXCITED
ABOUT?
THIS IS ABOUT A NAMING A NEW
NATIONAL PARK AFTER THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT.
AND WE HAVE TO JUST STOP AND
REFLECT ON WHERE THIS TAKES US.
THERE SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE FULL LEGACY OF THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT, INCLUDING ITS
DEVASTATING EFFECTS UPON THE
JAPANESE PEOPLE AND UPON THE
REST OF THE WORLD.
IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NEW
PARK, IT SHOULD SERVE AS A
SOLEMN MONUMENT TO
JAPANESE-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP
THAT ROSE FROM THE ASHES AND
WORLDWIDE WORK FOR NUCLEAR
DISARMAMENT THAT CONTINUES TO
THIS DAY RATHER THAN A
CELEBRATION OF A TECHNOLOGY THAT
HAS BROUGHT SUCH DESTRUCTION TO
THE WORLD.
NOW, OUR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE
THIS DIMENSION, EVEN IN ITS
FIRST ITERATION, IS A
SIGNIFICANT INJUSTICE.
I LOOKED AT THE C.R.S. REPORT ON
THIS AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF
HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE FRAMED
OR PHRASED.
THE MUSEUM AT LOSSAL MOST, IS A
-- LOS ALAMOS AND WE ARE
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY AT A RATE
THAT FAR EXCEEDS AT A RATE TO
MANAGE IT.
WE ARE NOW MEMORIALIZING A
NATIONAL PARK.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS 4 1/2 MINUTES.
READ A
POEM BY HENRY REED, CALLED "THE
NAMING OF PARKS," AND HE
JUXTAPOSES IN THIS POEM, JAPAN
BEFORE THE DROPPING OF THE BOMB
AND THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE
BOMB ITSELF.
IT'S WORTH READING FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
CALLS IT "THE NAMING OF PARKS."
PARKS.
TODAY WE HAVE THE NAMING OF
YESTERDAY, WE HAD DAILY CLEANING
AND TOMORROW MORNING, WE SHALL
HAVE WHAT TO DO AFTER FIRING.
BUT TODAY, TODAY, WE HAVE THE
NAMING OF PARKS.
LIKE CORAL AND ALL OF THE
NEIGHBORING GARDENS, TODAY WE
HAVE THE NAMING OF PARKS.
THIS IS THE ROLLER SLING SWIVEL
THE UPPER SLING
SWIVEL THAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN
YOU ARE GIVEN YOUR SLINGS.
THIS IS THE PILING SWIVEL, WHICH
IN YOUR CASE YOU HAVE NOT GOT.
THE BRANCHES HOLDING THE GARDEN,
SILENT, ELLQUEPT GESTURES, WHICH
IN OUR CASE WE HAVE NOT GOT.
THIS IS THE SAFETY CATCH, WHICH
IS RELEASED WITH AN EASY FLICK
OF THE THUMB.
AND PLEASE DO NOT LET ME SEE
ANYONE USING HIS FINGER.
YOU CAN DO IT EASILY IF YOU HAVE
STRENGTH IN YOUR THUMB.
THE BLOSSOMS ARE FRAGILE AND
MOTIONLESS, NEVER LETTING ANYONE
SEE ANY OF THEM USING THEIR
FINGER.
AND OH, THIS, YOU CAN SEE IS A
BOLT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO OPEN
THE BRIDGE AS YOU SEE IT.
WE CAN SLIDE IT RAPIDLY
BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS AND WE
THE SPRING AND THE
EARLY BEES ARE ASSAULTING AND
FUME BLING THE FLOWERS.
THEY CALL IT EASING THE SPRING.
THEY CALL IT EASING THE SPRING
AND PERFECTLY EASY IF YOU HAVE
ANY STRENGTH IN YOUR THUMB LIKE
THE COCKING PIECE AND POINT OF
BALANCE, WHICH IN OUR CASE, WE
HAVE NOT GOT AND THE BLOSSOMS,
SILENCED IN ALL OF THE GARDENS
AND THE BEES GOING BACKWARDS AND
FORWARDS, FOR TODAY, WE HAVE THE
NAMING OF PARKS.
WE ARE NAMING A PARK TODAY,
YESTERDAY, WE HAD THE NAMING OF
PARKS AND NOT JUST JAPAN THAT
OUR HUMANITY WAS OBLITERATED,
IT.
UNTIL WE GET A CHANCE TO RECLAIM
AND I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS
I'M PREPARED TO
CLOSE IF THE GENTLEMAN WILL