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MILITARY GUESTS WILL BE AT
THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE
PRESIDENT.
LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
AT 1:35 EASTERN TIME ON C-SPAN3
AND C-SPAN RADIO.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2011]
THE SPEAKER'S ROOM,
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 13,
2011.
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
ROB WOODALL TO ACT AS SPEAKER
PRO TEMPORE ON THIS DAY.
SIGNED, JOHN A. BOEHNER,
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR WILL NOW RECOGNIZE
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS FOR MORNING HOUR
DEBATE.
THE CHAIR WILL ALTERNATE
RECOGNITION BETWEEN THE PARTIES
WITH EACH PARTY LIMITED TO ONE
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS AND THE MINORITY WHIP
LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES EACH
BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL DEBATE
CONTINUE BEYOND 11:50 A.M.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
ROYBAL-ALLARD, FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
THIS WEEK DURING ALCOHOL
AWARENESS MONTH I BELIEVE IS
THE NEXT STEP IN FEDERAL
EFFORTS TO PREVENT UNDERAGED
DRINKING.
MY BILL, THE RE-AUTHORIZATION
OF THE SOBER TRUTH ON
PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING
ACT, BUILDS ON THE SUCCESSFUL
PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS OF THE
ORIGINAL BILL, BETTER KNOWN AS
THE STOP ACT.
SINCE THE STOP ACT BECAME LAW
IN 2006, THERE HAS BEEN
INCREASED COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO
ADDRESS UNDERAGED DRINKING AS A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES AND WE
HAVE SEEN LOCALIZED IMPROVEMENT
IN TEEN DRINKING STATISTICS.
WHILE THESE POSITIVE RESULTS
ARE ENCOURAGING, THE FACT
REMAINS ALCOHOL STILL IS THE
PRIMARY DRUG OF CHOICE OF OUR
YOUTH.
IN 2009, ABOUT 10.4 MILLION
TEENS AGED 12 TO 20 REPORTED
DRINKING ALCOHOL IN THE PAST
MONTH.
OF THESE APPROXIMATELY 6.9
MILLION WERE BINGE DRINKERS AND
DRINKERS.
ALARMINGLY, ACCORDING TO THE
LATEST PUBLICATION OF THE
MONITORING THE FUTURE SURVEY,
53.7% OF 12TH GRADERS BELIEVE
DRINKING FIVE OR MORE ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES ONCE OR TWICE EACH
WEEKEND IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT
RISK.
THESE FACTS LEAVE LITTLE DOUBT
ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE
FEDERAL UNDERAGE DRINKING
PREVENTION EFFORTS TO EDUCATE
OUR SOCIETY ABOUT THE DANGERS
OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG OUR ACT.
THE STOP ACT RE-AUTHORIZATION
BILL WILL CONTINUE THE
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS OF THE
ORIGINAL STOP ACT INCLUDING THE
ANTI-UNDERAGE DRINKING NATIONAL
MEDIA CAMPAIGN DIRECTED TO
PARTIES, THE COORDINATION OF
FEDERAL EFFORTS THROUGH THE
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL AND THE
GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP ADDRESS
UNDERAGE DRINKING.
AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT
RESEARCH, THE BILL ALSO DIRECTS
THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE TO
REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF
DRINKING ALCOHOL ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADOLESCENT
BRAIN AND IT ESTABLISHES GRANTS
TO TRAIN PEED AT RICK HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS ON -- PEDIATRIC
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO
SCREEN AND TREAT CHILDREN AND
TEENS WHO'VE HAD ALCOHOL
EXPOSURES.
MR. SPEAKER, CONTINUING THE
INVESTMENT OF THE STOP ACT IS A
COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO
REDUCE THE $53 BILLION ANNUAL
COST OF UNDERAGE DRINKING TO
OUR NATION.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL
REDUCE THE SUFFERING, THE
VIOLENCE AND DEATH THAT FAR TOO
OFTEN ARE CAUSED BY UNDERAGE
DRINKING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
CO-SPONSOR THE STOP ACT
RE-AUTHORIZATION BILL AND KEEP
OUR COUNTRY MOVING FORWARD IN
ADDRESSING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISES FACING OUR YOUTH.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
ROS-LEHTINEN.
THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER.
AND I RISE THIS MORNING TO
COMMEMORATE THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAY OF PIGS
OPERATION.
ON APRIL 17, 1961, THE
ANTI-COMMUNIST PATRIOTS OF
BRIGADE 2506 WERE DETERMINED TO
HELP THEIR HOMELAND AND THEIR
LOVED ONES WHO WERE LIVING
UNDER A REPRESSIVE REGIME.
EVEN THOUGH THE OPERATION WAS
NOT SUCCESSFUL, THE DEDICATION
AND THE COMMITMENT THAT THESE
BRAVE INDIVIDUALS ILLUSTRATED
DURING THE CONFLICT WAS
EXCEPTIONAL.
DURING THE OPERATION, ONE HERO
WAS ASKED IF HE WISHED TO BE
EVACUATED AND HE SAID, I WILL
NEVER LEAVE THIS COUNTRY.
THESE INDIVIDUALS SHODSE A
STRONG SENSE OF HEROISM AS THEY
WERE UP AGAINST THE REPRESSIVE
REGIME'S ARMED FORCES.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN WAS A
LONG-STANDING SUPPORTERS OF
INDIVIDUALS TAKING ACTION TO
FREE THEMSELVES FROM
OPPRESSIVE, SOCIALIST AND
COMMUNIST REGIMES.
WHEN REFERRING TO THE BAY OF
PIGS, PRESIDENT REAGAN STATED,
QUOTE, BY SUPPORTING COURAGEOUS
FREEDOM FIGHTERS AROUND THE
WORLD WE'RE SHINING A LIGHT ON
A PATH OUT FROM COMMUNISM, END
QUOTE.
THESE HEROES REACHED THE
BEACHES OF PLAYA HERON TO FIGHT
AGAINST COMMUNISM IN CUBA THAT
WAS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE
SOVIET UNION DURING THE COLD
WAR.
THE EVIL EMPIRE MADE A STRONG
PUSH INTO CUBA THAT BECAME A
UNITED STATES.
A STRONG SOVIET UNION PRESENCE
IN CUBA LED TO THE CUBAN
MISSILE CRISIS.
THE INTRUSION CEMENTED THE
DANGERS OF THE SOVIET UNION
HAVING VERY CLOSE TIES TO THE
CUBAN REGIME.
DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE WERE IN SEVERE
JEOPARDY AS THE COMMUNIST
FORCES WERE LOOKING TO EXPAND
THEIR CONTROL.
BUT THE WILL OF THE
FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLE WHO SEEK
A BETTER FUTURE WILL NOT BE
DETERRED BY THE EVILS AND THE
POWER OF COMMUNISM.
THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ARE
FUNDAMENTAL NECESSARY ITS OF A
FREE SOCIETY.
AS -- NECESSITIES OF A FREE
SOCIETY.
AS A -- DEMOCRACIES THROUGHOUT
THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
FLOURISHED IN OPEN SOCIETIES.
HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES MUST
REMAIN VIGILANT THAT HISTORY
DOES NOT REPEAT ITSELF.
AT THIS MOMENT RUSSIA IS
CURRENTLY INFILTRATING THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE BY JOINING
FORCES WITH ANTI-DEMOCRATIC
TYRANTS SUCH AS CHAVEZ, ORTEGA
AND MORALES.
RECENTLY, REPORTS HAVE
INDICATED THAT RUSSIA HAS SOLD
$15 BILLION WORTH OF WEAPONS
AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO
CHAVEZ.
IN ADDITION, SENIOR RUSSIAN
MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE
MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF
ESTABLISHING REFUELING BASES
FOR RUSSIAN BOMBERS IN CUBA.
RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE RAISE
SERIOUS CONCERNS AS THEY ARE
ARMING ROGUE REGIMES THAT ARE
COUNTER TO THE INTEREST AND THE
SECURITY OF OUR BELOVED NATION.
THE VETERANS OF THE BAY OF PIGS
SYMBOLIZE THIS STRUGGLE BETWEEN
COMMUNISM AND FREEDOM.
THE BRAVE BRIGADE 2506 PATRIOTS
DECIDED TO RISK THEIR VERY
LIVES IN ORDER TO LIBERATE AN
THESE MEN FOUGHT COURAGEOUSLY
ON THAT HISTORIC DAY, CAME FROM
MANY BACKGROUNDS BUT ALL OF
THEM CARED ABOUT FREEDOM AND
LIBERTY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CUBA.
EVEN THOUGH THE BAY OF PIGS'
OPERATION WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL,
THEIR CALL TO SERVE ROSE AGAIN
TO PROTECT OUR NATION FROM
ENEMIES ABROAD.
MANY OF THESE VETERANS
CONTINUED TO SERVE THE UNITED
STATES BY JOINING OUR ARMED
FORCES AND FIGHTING WITH HONOR
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL
INDIVIDUALS WHO CONSISTENTLY
ARE WORKING TOWARD FULFILLING
THE DREAMS OF A FREE CUBA WHICH
IS THE DREAM OF THE VETERANS OF
THE BRIGADE 2506 WHO ASPIRED
AND FOUGHT FOR A FREE AND
DEMOCRATIC CUBA.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
VETERANS OF THE BAY OF PIGS WHO
ARE WITH US TODAY IN THE
GALLERY.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR
COMMITMENT FOR A FREE CUBA AND
A STRONG UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR WOULD REMIND MEMBERS
NOT TO MAKE REFERENCES TO
OCCUPANTS IN THE GALLERY.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
CHU, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF
HARRY LU.
HE WAS A MARINE SERVING THE
OPERATION OF OPERATING ENDURING
FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN.
FREEDOM, HOWEVER, DOES NOT COME
WITHOUT A PRICE.
HARRY LU DIED IN AFGHANISTAN ON
SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011.
HE WAS 21 YEARS OLD.
HE WAS THE SON OF SANDY AND
ANNA LU, THE SISTER OF CARMEN
LU AND WAS MY NEPHEW.
HE DIED IN HELMAND PROTCHES.
HE JOINED THE MARINES IN AUGUST
OF 2009 AND REPORTED TO HIS
UNIT IN FEBRUARY OF 2010.
HE WAS BASED IN HAWAII WITH THE
THIRD MARINE REGIMEN, THIRD
MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
HIS UNIT WAS DEPLOYED TO THE
MIDDLE EAST IN NOVEMBER WHEN
THEY JOINED THE MARINE COMBAT
TEAM FOR COUNTERINSURGENCEY
WORK WITH THE AFGHAN NATIONAL
SECURITY FORCES.
THEIR GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE
SECURITY TO LOCALS AND TO
PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT IN THE
REGIME.
HE WAS SET TO RETURN HOME ON
JULY, 2011, THREE MONTHS BEFORE
HIS DEATH.
HARRY WAS A POPULAR AND
OUTGOING STUDENT, BOTH AT SANTA
CLARA HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE
GRADUATED IN JUNE, 2008, AND AT
MISSION COLLEGE WHERE HE TOOK
CLASSES FOR A YEAR.
HE WAS KNOWN FOR JOKING,
SMILING AND FOR WANTING TO KEEP
THE MOOD LIGHT.
ONE OF HIS TEACHERS SAID HE
BROUGHT LIFE AND LAUGHTER TO
THE CLASSROOM.
HE LOVED PHYSICAL SPORTS,
ESPECIALLY TRICKING A FORMER
BREAKDANCING INVOLVING KICKS,
FLIPS AND TWISTS.
IT COMBINES CHINESE MARTIAL
ARTS AND GYMNASTICS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE CLUB CALLED
THE SIDESTEP BREAK DANCE CLUB,
HE PERFORMED SEVERAL TIMES IN
HIS FRIENDS SAID HIS BEST TRICK
WAS THE BUTTERFLY TWIST WHERE
ONE SPINS 360 DEGREES IN A
HORIZONTAL FLIP.
UPON HIS DEATH, HIS FRIENDS
HONOR HIM WITH A TRICKING
SESSION AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
HARRY'S BEST FRIEND, TRAVIS
TROTTER, SAID EVERYONE HERE HAS
BEEN INFLUENCED BY HIM IN SOME
WAY OR ANOTHER.
WHETHER IT BE THROUGH DANCING,
HIS ARTISTIC TALENT, HIS
TRISHING OR JUST BEING THE
PERSON HE WAS, FRIENDLY WITH
EVERYONE.
HIS SUPERIOR IN THE MARINES
SAID, QUOTE, ONLY A SMALL
PORTION OF OUR SOCIETY
VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE THEIR
COUNTRY.
LANCE CORPORAL LU WAS ONE OF
THOSE VOLUME UNFIERCE.
WITHIN THE SECOND BATTALION,
THIRD MARINE, HE WAS WELL LIKED
BY HIS FELLOW MARINES AND WAS
KNOWN FOR GETTING ALONG WITH
EVERYONE BECAUSE OF HIS
EASYGOING NATURE.
HE TOOK HIS JOB SERIOUSLY AND
PERFORMED HIS DUTIES WITH
ENTHUSIASM.
IN AFGHANISTAN HE VOLUNTEERED
FOR THE DIFFICULT MISSIONS AND
DEMONSTRATED UNCOMMON ENDURANCE
ON A FOUR TO EIGHT-HOUR FOOT
PATROL.
LANCE CORPORAL LU ALSO
DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT AND
COURAGE ON TWO SEPARATE
OCCASIONS WHEN HIS UNIT CAME
UNDER ENEMY FIRE.
ONE OF THESE EVENTS IS CAPTURED
IN THE FOLLOWING.
AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 P.M. ON
MARCH 21, 2011, THIRD SQUAD OF
THIRD PLATOON GOLF COMPANY OF
SECOND BATTALION THIRD MARINES
WAS ENGAGED BY SMALL ENEMY
FIRES IN GARAGI VILLAGE,
HELMAND PROVINCE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THE ENEMY ENGAGED WITH SEVERAL
BURSTS OF AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
FIRE.
AT THE TIME OF CONTACT, THE
MAJORITY OF THE SQUAD WAS IN A
SMALL HOLE IN THE GROUND TAKING
COVER TO EAT EVENING CHOW.
LANCE CORPORAL LU IMMEDIATELY
IDENTIFIED THE ENEMY POSITION
APPROXIMATELY 200 METERS TO THE
SOUTHEAST AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY
POSITION INITIALLY WITH AN
M-203 GRENADE LAUNCHER LOCATED
AT HIS POST.
HE TOOK UP HIS AUTOMATIC WEAPON
AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY WITH AN
ESTIMATED 200 ROUNDS UNTIL THEY
HAD HAD ENOUGH AND BROKE
CONTACT.
HIS SQUAD THEN CONTINUED WITH
THEIR MISSION.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF LANCE
CORPORAL LU'S SERVICE.
IT SERVES AS A REMINDER OF ALL
THOSE WHO TODAY SERVE IN HARM'S
WAY.
LIKE LANCE CORPORAL LU, THEY
SERVE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY,
OUR FREEDOM AND OUR WAY OF
LIFE.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE COURAGE
AND SACRIFICE OF LANCE CORPORAL
LU, UNQUOTE.
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND TO MANY, A
GREAT PERFORMER AND A DEDICATED
SOLDIER.
HIS READY SMILE AND WARM
ATTITUDE WILL BE REMEMBERED BY
ALL WHO KNEW HIM.
HIS SACRIFICE FOR HIS COUNTRY
WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
FOR HIS SERVICE, HARRY LU WILL
BE HONORED WITH THE NATIONAL
DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, THE
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE
MEDAL AND THE AFGHANISTAN
CAMPAIGN MEDAL.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, MR.
DESJARLAIS, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I PAY TRIBUTE TO LANCE CORPORAL
ANDREW PAUL CARPENTER WHO
TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE WHILE
BRAVELY SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
ANDREW ENLISTED IN THE UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS ON
SEPTEMBER 7, 2007, WHERE HE WAS
ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND
BATTALION, EIGHTH MARINE
REGIMEN, SECOND MARINE
DIVISION, SECOND MARINE
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, CAMP
LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA.
IN AUGUST OF 2010 ANDREW WAS
DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN FOR THE
SECOND TIME WHERE HE BRAVELY
SERVED ON THE FRONT LINES
DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS.
WHILE PATROLLING THE HELMUND
PROVIDENCE IN AFGHANISTAN, HE
SUSTAINED FATAL COMBAT RELATED
INJURIES AND DIED ON FEBRUARY
19, 2011.
ANDREW GRADUATED IN 2002 FROM
COLUMBIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN
COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE.
HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE SCHOOL'S
MARCHING BAND WHERE HE PLAYED
THE TROMBONE AND HELPED THE BAND
WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DURING
HIS SENIOR YEAR.
ANDREW WENT ON TO FURTHER HIS
EDUCATION AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
STATE UNIVERSITY.
HE ENJOYED NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES
SUCH AS PLAYING GOLF, SOCCER,
AND PAINT BALL AND MADE FRIENDS
EASILY THROUGH HIS DEPENDABLE
AND LOYAL NATURE.
HE'S REMEMBERED BY THOSE WHO
KNEW HIM AS SOMEONE WHO
CONSTANTLY WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT SERVING THE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WAS A
NATURAL CHOICE FOR HIM.
BEFORE JOINING THE MARINES,
ANDREW WORKED AT THE YMCA FUN
COMPANY WHERE HE PURSUED ONE OF
THE THINGS HE ENJOYED MOST IN
LIFE, WORKING WITH CHILDREN.
ANDREW WOULD OFTEN DRESS UP IN
BATMAN COSTUMES TO INTER--
ENTERTAIN KIDS AT THE YMCA.
HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS TENDER
HEART AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE
CHILDREN.
ON JANUARY 1, 2010, ANDREW
MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE,
CHRISTY.
SHE WAS TRULY HIS BEST FRIEND
AND SOULMATE.
HE WOULD OFTEN SAY THAT THEIR
WEDDING DAY WAS BY FAR THE BEST
DAY OF HIS LIFE.
SHORTLY BEFORE ANDREW WAS
DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN, HE AND
CHRISSIE LEARNED THEY WOULD BE
BLESSED WITH A BABY BOY, BORN
MARCH 18, 2011.
LANDON, NO WORDS CAN
SUFFICIENTLY EXPRESS THE
GRATITUDE OR REPAY THE DEBT THAT
WE OWE YOUR FATHER FOR HIS
SELFLESS SERVICE IN PROTECTING
OUR GREAT NATION.
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE SO THAT WE
MAY ALL BE BLESSED WITH OUR
NATION'S MOST FUNDAMENTAL
TENETS, LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
YOUR FATHER SIMPLY PUT IS A TRUE
AMERICAN HERO.
AS YOU GROW UP IN THIS GREAT
NATION, KNOW THAT YOU ARE GIVEN
THE -- THAT PRIVILEGE BECAUSE
MEN LIKE YOUR FATHER WHO MAKE
GREAT SACRIFICES TO PROTECT OUR
FREEDOMS.
CHRISSY, DURING THIS DIFFICULT
TIME I HOPE YOU CAN FIND SOME SO
LACE IN THE FACT THAT YOUR
HUSBAND GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT
YOU AND YOUR SON CAN CONTINUE TO
LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE.
AND FINALLY, THANK YOU TO THE
ANDREWS FAMILY FOR RAISING SUCH
AN EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG MAN.
TODAY WE HONOR AND REMEMBER
ANDREW PAUL CARPENTER.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE
SACRIFICES HE MADE IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE
BLESSED WITH THE PRECIOUS GIFT
OF FREEDOM.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
HOYER, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM TWO MEMBERS
ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO
WITHOUT RESPECT OF COURSE TO ANY
PARTISAN DIFFERENCES RAISED
THEIR VOICES IN SADNESS ABOUT
THE LOSS OF TWO OF OUR BRAVE
AMERICANS.
IN THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
I JOIN THEIR SENTIMENT.
LET ME SAY THIS, MR. SPEAKER,
THOSE TWO AMERICANS WHOSE LIVES
WE HAVE NOW LOST SHOWED
EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE.
EXTRAORDINARY HONESTY IN THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
WE IN THIS BODY WILL NOW BE
CALLED UPON TO SHOW SUCH COURAGE
AND HONESTY AS WE ADDRESS THE
EXTRAORDINARY FISCAL CRISIS THAT
CONFRONTS US.
TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA IS
SPEAKING ON A PLAN TO CONFRONT
OUR NATION'S UNSUSTAINABLE
I BELIEVE IT WILL STAND IN STARK
CONTRAST TO THE BUDGET THAT'S
GOING TO BE OFFERED BY MR. RYAN.
A BUDGET OF DISASTROUS
PRIORITIES, IN MY OPINION, THAT
CONSEQUENCE STRAITS ITS PLAN ON
MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASS --
CONCENTRATES ITS PLAN ON MIDDLE
AND WORKING CLASS AMERICANS
WHILE CREATING ANOTHER WINDFALL
FOR THE WEALTHIEST IN OUR
COUNTRY.
AT A TIME WHEN INCOME INEQUALITY
IS AT A HEIGHT WE HAVEN'T SEEN
SINCE THE 1920'S, THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET ENDS MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
IT.
TRANSFORMING A SYSTEM OF
GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE INTO A
SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES SENIORS
WITH LESS COVERAGE AND GREATER
EXPENSES.
YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IT DISMANTLES MEDICAID PUTTING
SENIORS' NURSING HOME CARE AT
VERY SUBSTANTIAL RISK.
AND IN FACT WITH AN INABILITY TO
PAY.
CUTTING OFF CARE FOR DISABLED
AND POOR AMERICANS.
THESE ENTITLEMENTS MUST BE
ADDRESSED.
BUT WE MUST ADDRESS THEM IN A
WAY THAT BOTH KEEPS THEM
SUSTAINABLE AND MAKES THEM
AVAILABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
SOMEHOW, HOWEVER, AFTER
UNDERMINING THE SOCIAL COMPACT
OF MEDICARE, AFTER CUTTING CARE
FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, AFTER
SENDING MORE THAN 30 MILLION
AMERICANS BACK TO THE RANKS OF
THE UNINSURED, THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET FINDS TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO GIVE AS TAX CUTS TO
THE WEALTHIEST AMONG US.
REPUBLICANS SAY WE ARE TOO BROKE
TO AFFORD THE PROMISE OF
MEDICARE.
BUT WE ARE FLUSH ENOUGH TO SPEND
TRILLIONS IN TAX CUTS FOR THOSE
OF US WHO ARE THE BEST OFF.
IN FACT, THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
SPENDS SO MUCH ON CORPORATE
SUBSIDIES AND TAX BREAKS FOR THE
WEALTHY AND LOSES SO MANY
SAVINGS BY REPEALING THE COST
CONTROLS IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, THAT IT FAILS TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET FOR 10 YEARS OR EVEN
20 YEARS.
WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS SO-CALLED
PATH TO PROSPERITY BEFORE.
IT LEADS TO SKYROCKETING
DEFICITS BECAUSE THE SUPPLY SIDE
DOING MA THAT LOWER TAXES --
DOGMA THAT LOWER TAXES LEADS TO
REVENUES HAS PROVEN FALSE OVER
THE LAST THREE DECADES.
READ THE FACTS.
IF REPUBLICAN TAX DOGMA MADE
SENSE, THEN OUR DEBT WOULD NOT
HAVE INCREASED 200% UNDER RONALD
REAGAN.
OR 115% UNDER THE SECOND
PRESIDENT BUSH.
BUT THEY DID.
IN FACT, WE HAVE SEEN REPUBLICAN
PROMISES OF PROSPERITY PROVEN
WRONG TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
OVER THE 30 YEARS THAT I HAVE
SERVED HERE IN CONGRESS.
IN 2007 NOW MAJORITY LEADER
CANTOR SAID THE BUSH TAX CUTS,
QUOTE, HAVE SPURRED SPECTACULAR
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THAT WAS IN 2007.
LET ME REMIND ALL THE MEMBERS OF
THIS BODY IT WAS IN DECEMBER OF
2007 WE FELL INTO THE GREAT
RECESSION, THE DEEPEST RECESSION
WE HAVE HAD SINCE HERBERT
HOOVER.
THE GROWTH WAS SPECTACULAR ONLY
FOR THE TOP 1%.
BUT FOR THE REST OF AMERICA, THE
BUSH ECONOMY PRODUCED WHAT THE
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" CALLED,
AND I QUOTE, THE WORST TRACK
RECORD FOR JOB CREATION SINCE
THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN KEEPING
RECORDS.
THAT'S WHAT THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" SAID OF THE BUSH
ECONOMIC PROGRAM WHICH MR.
CANTOR SAID WOULD BE A JOB
CREATOR.
THROUGHOUT THE BUSH YEARS,
MIDDLE CLASS INCOME STAYED
STAGNANT AND DEFICITS SOARED.
WHAT DO REPUBLICANS SAY ABOUT A
BUDGET THAT HELPED CREATE
UNPRECEDENTED PROSPERITY, THE
1993 CLINTON BUDGET, HERE'S WHAT
SPEAKER BOEHNER SAID, QUOTE, HOW
JOBS?
WHO DOES THIS SPENDING
STIMULATE?
EXCEPT MAYBE THE LIBERAL FACULTY
AT HARVARD OR BERKLEY.
OF COURSE CONTRARY TO THE
SPEAKER'S ASSERTION, THE CLINTON
YEARS SAW THE BIGGEST PRODUCTION
OF JOBS SINCE I HAVE BEEN
SERVING IN CONGRESS.
22.7 MILLION NEW JOBS.
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALMOST 21
MILLION JOBS AS OPPOSED TO THE
PRIVATE SECTOR LOSS OF JOBS
UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH.
ABOUT 7,000 LOSS OF JOBS PER
MONTH VERSUS 260,000 -- 216,000
NEW JOBS EVERY MONTH ON AVERAGE
UNDER BILL CLINTON.
THOSE WORDS REPRESENT THE SAME
FLAWED PRIORITIES WE SEE IN THIS
NEW REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY, A
FAILURE TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE,
AND A HEAVIER BURDEN ON WORKING
FAMILIES.
OUR COUNTRY DESERVES BETTER, MR.
SPEAKER.
LET'S REFORM OUR ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS WITH A SCALPEL NOT AN
AXE.
LET'S LOOK FOR SAVINGS IN EVERY
PART OF THE BUDGET, DEFENSE
INCLUDED.
LET'S CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES, BUT
LET'S ALSO USE THE TAX CODE TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT AND ENSURE
THAT ALL OF US, EVEN THE MOST
PRIVILEGED, PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN US DOWN
THIS PRIM ROSE PATH BEFORE, MR.
SPEAKER.
IT IS DEMONSTRABLY LED TO HIGHER
DEBT, STAGNATION FOR WORKING
AMERICANS, AND MOST RECENTLY AN
ECONOMIC IMPLOSION.
WE MUST NOT CHOOSE THAT DEAD END
AGAIN.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR.
CRAVAT, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO
OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
PLAYERS, COACHES, AND SUPPORTERS
OF THE MINNESOTA BULLDOGS' MEN'S
ICE HOCKEY TEAM FOR THEIR
HISTORIC VICTORY THIS PAST
SATURDAY ON APRIL 9, 2011.
THE DRAMATIC FASHION OF KYLE
SMITH WHO GREW UP JUST MINUTES
FROM DULUTH SCORED THE
GAME-WINNING GOAL WITH 3:22 INTO
OVERTIME AND THE BULLDOGS WITH
THEIR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE
SCHOOL HISTORY WON BY A SCORE OF
3-2 OVER THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN.
THE THRILLING WIN CULMINATED A
FANTASTIC SEASON FOR U.M.D.'S
FANTASTIC HOCKEY TEAM WITH THEM
AMAZING A RECORD OF 26-10-6.
THE NCAA HOCKEY TITLE WIN COMES
IN THE SAME ACADEMIC YEAR AS THE
NCAA DIVISION TWO FOOTBALL TITLE
FOR THE BULLDOGS, MAKING THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, DULUTH,
JUST THE SECOND COLLEGE EVER TO
WIN BOTH A HOCKLE TITLE AND
FOOTBALL TITLE IN THE SAME
ACADEMIC YEAR.
MR. SPEAKER, THAT'S QUITE A FEAT
I NOW SPEAK TO THE EIGHTH
DISTRICT AND FOR ALL MINNESOTANS
TO SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE OF OUR
BULLDOGS AND HAVE THE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY BACK IN THE
STATE OF HOCKEY, MINNESOTA.
AND I YIELD BACK, SIR.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
SANCHEZ.
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I'M PLEASED TO RISE THIS MORNING
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE REGARDING THE
KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND
ITS EFFECT ON WORKING FAMILIES.
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I'M
COMMITTED TO TRADE.
TRADE CAN BENEFIT OUR NATION,
OUR BUSINESSES, AND OUR WORKING
IN FACT, I'M A MEMBER OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PORT COUNCIL.
OUR GOAL IS TO DOUBLE AMERICA'S
EXPORTS IN FIVE YEARS, NOT TO
EXPORT AMERICAN JOBS.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CURRENT
TRADE POLICY AND THE ONE THAT
STARTED WITH NAFTA AND HAS GONE
DOWNHILL FROM THERE IS THAT IT'S
BENEFITS ARE SCREW SKEWED.
THE BENEFITS ARE CONCENTRATED IN
A FULL MULTIPOWERFUL
CORPORATIONS AND IT'S
HARDWORKING MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES WHO PAY THE PRICE.
THE KOREA F.T.A. DOESN'T FALL
FAR FROM THE NAFTA TREE.
A FEW STOCK PRICES AND C.E.O.
BONUSES MAY GO UP, BUT THE KOREA
F.T.A. WILL KILL JOBS, PUSH DOWN
WAGES, AND DRIVE SMALL COMPANIES
OUT OF BUSINESS.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH
THE KOREA F.T.A. IS THAT IT
OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE ILLEGAL
TRADE FROM CHINA.
MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE AND BOTH SIDES OF THE
F.T.A. DEBATE HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT TRADING WITH CHINA.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CHINA
MANIPULATES ITS CURRENCY,
DOESN'T PROTECT INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY AND ENGAGES IN ILLEGAL
U.S. TARIFFS.
YOU CAN GO ON THE INTERNET RIGHT
NOW FINDING WEBSITES BRAGGING
THEY CAN HIDE THE SOURCE OF
CHINESE GOODS AND THEREBY AVOID
PAYING DUTIES OWED TO THE U.S.
THE ILLEGAL TRANSSHIPMENT
MISLABELING AND DUTY EVASION ROB
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF MONEY
THAT WE ARE OWED.
THEY ALSO DRIVE U.S. BUSINESSES
OUT OF BUSINESS.
U.S. BUSINESSES OFTEN GO TO
GREAT LENGTHS AND EXPENSE TO
PROVE THAT CHINESE GOODS ARE
BEING DUMPED AND RECEIVING
ILLEGAL SUBSIDIES.
WHEN THE DUTIES THE U.S. IMPOSES
AREN'T PAID, HARDWORKING
AMERICANS LOSE THEIR JOBS WHEN
THEIR WORKPLACES SHUT THEIR
DOORS FOREVER.
FROM NEW YORK TO SOUTH CAROLINA,
TO LINWOOD, CALIFORNIA, IN MY
OWN DISTRICT, AMERICAN
BUSINESSES HAVE TURNED OFF THE
LIGHTS AND SENT WORKERS HOME DUE
TO UNFAIR CHINESE COMPETITION.
AND CHINA DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO
BREAK THE RULES TO REAP THE
BENEFITS OF THE KOREA F.T.A.
THIS AGREEMENT WHICH WAS
NEGOTIATED BY PRESIDENT BUSH
ONLY REQUIRES THAT 35% OF A
KOREAN CAR BE MADE IN KOREA TO
BE ELIGIBLE FOR TARIFF BENEFITS.
THAT MEANS 65% OF THE CAR CAN BE
MADE IN CHINA, BY CHILD LABOR,
PRISON LABOR, AND WORKERS WHO
LACK THE RIGHT TO FORM FREE AND
INDEPENDENT UNION.
AMERICA HAS LOST ABOUT 7.5
MILLION JOBS SINCE THE RECESSION
BEGAN.
WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER
JOB-KILLING TRADE AGREEMENT THAT
IGNORES AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES.
WE HAVE LEARNED SOME VERY HARD
LESSONS AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS
OF NAFTA-STYLE FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS.
WE HAVE HEARD MANY PROMISES JUST
LIKE THE PROMISES WE ARE HEARING
ABOUT THE KOREA F.T.A.
BUT THE FACT IS, THAT THEY ARE
FAILURES.
NAFTA WAS SUPPOSED TO SOLVE
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY
DEVELOPING A ROBUST ECONOMY IN
MEXICO THAT WOULD ALLOW
HARDWORKING PEOPLE TO PROVIDE
HOME.
THAT DIDN'T WORK.
CAFTA WAS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE
BOLD NEW SAFETY AND WAGE
PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS BUT
THESE PROTECTIONS ARE
DISAPPOINTINGLY WEAK, ALLOWING
COUNTRIES TO DOWNGRADE THEIR OWN
LABOR LAWS.
THE ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY
NEGOTIATED A DEAL WITH A
COUNTRY THAT AS OUR OWN STATE
DEPARTMENT REPORTED, WAS
EXPERIENCING A FORCED LABOR
PROBLEM.
FORCED LABOR.
HOW ARE OUR AMERICAN FAMILIES
SUPPOSED TO CARE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES AND SEND THEIR KIDS TO
COLLEGE WHEN THEY'RE COMPETING
WITH FORCED LABOR?
FREE TRADE WAS SUPPOSED TO
INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
FOR EVERYBODY, FOR BIG
BUSINESSES AS WELL AS SMALL AND
FOR HARDWORKING FAMILIES AT
HOME AND ABROAD.
THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED.
TOO MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
LEFT TO ROT BECAUSE
CORPORATIONS SHUT DOWN U.S.
PLANTS TO CHASE INCREASINGLY
CHEAP LABOR AND WEAK
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ABROAD.
AFTER 15 YEARS OF LIVING WITH
NAFTA AND ITS CLONES, REAL
WAGES FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE
OUR TRADE DEFICIT IS IN THE
TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
OUR MANUFACTURING BASE IS
FALLING APART.
THE AMERICAN WORKER IS NOW MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN BEFORE, BUT
THAT INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY HAS
NOT LED TO HIGHER WAGES.
THE TRUTH IS THE NAFTA FREE
TRADE MODELS FAVOR THE
WEALTHIEST FEW AND THE
CORPORATE FAT CATS AT THE
EXPENSE OF SMALL BUSINESSES,
WORKERS, FAMILIES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES.
IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS,
WE WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER AT
LEAST TWO OF THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION'S TRADE DEALS
WITH KOREA AND COLOMBIA.
DESPITE THE LONG RECORD OF
FAILED F.T.A.'S WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR THAT THERE'S A CONSENSUS
OF SUPPORT FOR THESE F.T.A.'S.
WE'LL HEAR THAT ANYONE THAT
KNOWS ABOUT TRADE WILL SUPPORT
THESE AGREEMENTS.
DON'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT'S
NOT TRUE.
ADVOCATES FOR AMERICA'S
FAMILIES, BOTH INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE OF CONGRESS, HAVE GRAVE
CONCERN.
WE WANT A NEW PATH THAT CREATES
REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS
AND THE BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY
THEM.
WE WANT TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT
DON'T SELL OUR ENVIRONMENT
SHORT, CLOSE DOORS FOR OUR
CHILDREN OR SUBSTITUTE THE
JUDGMENT OF --
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I THANK THE CHAIR
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA, MR. WOLF, FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
BRING THE ATTENTION OF THE
HOUSE LEGISLATION I'M
INTRODUCING TO CREATE AND
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STUDY
GROUP MODELED AFTER THE IRAQ
STUDY GROUP TO BRING FRESH EYES
TO THE WAR EFFORT IN
AFGHANISTAN WHICH IS NOW IN ITS
10TH YEAR.
LAST AUGUST I BEGAN PRESSING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONVENE
AN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
STUDY GROUP.
PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY
STATE RICE, DEFENSE SECRETARY
RUMSFELD CAME TO SUPPORT THE
IRAQ STUDY GROUP, ABLELY LED BY
BIPARTISAN CHAIRS, JAMES BAKER,
LEE HAMILTON.
IT HAS BEEN MY HOPE THAT THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WOULD COME
TO VIEW THIS BIPARTISAN FRESH
EYES APPROACH, WHICH IS ALL
GOOD FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN
UNIFORM AND GOOD FOR THE
COUNTRY AS WELL.
ASIDE FROM THE SPECIFIC POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE IRAQ STUDY
GROUP HELPED FORCE A MOMENT OF
TRUTH IN OUR NATIONAL
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAR
EFFORT.
IT WAS APPARENT LAST SUMMER AND
STILL TRUE TODAY THAT WITH
ROUGHLY 100,000 TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN, NO CLEAR END IS IN
SIGHT TO OUR NATION'S LONGEST
RUNNING WAR AT 10 YEARS AND
COUNTING.
AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.
A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT
AFGHANISTAN IS WHAT IS URGENTLY
NEEDED.
BEFORE PROPOSING THIS IDEA TO
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, I
SPOKE WITH A A NUMBER OF
KNOWLEDGEABLE INDIVIDUALS,
INCLUDING FORMER SENIOR
DIPLOMATS, PUBLIC POLICY
EXPERTS AND RETIRED AND ACTIVE
DUTY MILITARY.
MANY BELIEVE, ALL BELIEVE OUR
AFGHANISTAN POLICY WAS ADRIFT
AND THERE WAS NEAR UNANIMOUS
POSITION THAT AN
GROUP WAS NEEDED.
AMONG THOSE DISTINGUISHED
INDIVIDUALS WHO EMBRACED THE
IDEA WAS FORMER AMBASSADOR TO
IRAQ, RYAN CROCKER.
SADLY, THE WAR HAS REMAINED
DISTANT FOR MANY AMERICANS.
IT IS RARELY SPOKEN OF FROM THE
PRESIDENTIAL BULLET POST.
IN FACT, A RECENT FOX NEWS
PIECE REPORTED, QUOTE, THE LAST
TIME OBAMA SPECIFICALLY DEVOTED
A FULL PUBLIC SPEECH TO
AFGHANISTAN WAS DECEMBER 9,
2009, 16 MONTHS AGO, WHEN HE
ANNOUNCED AT WEST POINT THAT HE
WAS SENDING AN ADDITIONAL
30,000 U.S. TROOPS TO THAT
WAR-TORN COUNTRY.
AND THIS CONGRESS OUGHT TO BE
LOOKING AT THIS ALSO.
FURTHER, THE WAR IS SELDOM
COVERED IN GREAT DEPTH IN THE
NEWS, AND YET FOR THE HUSBANDS
AND WIVES AND MOTHERS AND
FATHERS, SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO
HAVE SENT OFF A LOVED ONE IN
UNIFORM, THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
IS ANYTHING BUT DISTANT.
IT IS UNCERTAINTY AND
SACRIFICE.
IT IS SEPARATION AND WORRY AND
MANY TIMES IT IS LIFE AND
DEATH.
DESPITE MY SEVERAL LETTERS TO
THE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
CALLING FOR A VIGOROUS DEBATE
AND DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF
OUR NATION'S GREATEST MINDS,
THE IDEA FOR THE STUDY GROUP
HAS LANGUAGE WISHED.
AND SO TODAY AFTER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS NEGLECTED
THIS, I AM INTRODUCING
LEGISLATION TO CREATE AN AFTER
BEGAN-PAKISTAN STUDY GROUP
COMPRISED OF NATIONALLY KNOWN
AND -- AFGHAN-PAKISTAN STUDY
GROUP COMPRISED OF NATIONALLY
KNOWN PEOPLE WHO I BELIEVE
SERVE TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED
CLARITY TO A POLICY THAT
APPEARS ADRIFT AT BEST AND
HIGHLY POLITICIZED AT WORST.
I WAS DEEPLY TROUBLED BY BOB
WOODWARD'S REPORTING WHICH
INDICATED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A
WAR STRATEGY WERE INFUSED WITH
POLITICAL CALCULATIONS.
WOODWARD ALSO WROTE OF AN
ADMINISTRATION THAT WRESTLED
WITH THE MOST BASIC QUESTION
ABOUT THE WAR.
WHAT IS THE MISSION?
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO?
WHAT WILL WORK?
THESE ARE QUESTION THAT THE MAN
ANSWERS.
I BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS OF ALL
POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS CAN
ENBRACE THIS FRESH EYES
APPROACH FOR IT IS ALWAYS,
ALWAYS TO OUR NATIONAL INTEREST
TO OPENLY ASSESS THE CHALLENGES
BEFORE US AND TO CHART A CLEAR
COURSE TO SUCCESS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS CONGRESS, BOTH POLITICAL
PARTIES, CANNOT DO WHAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING.
WE CANNOT IGNORE THIS ISSUE.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MS. SCHWARTZ.
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE
MINUTES AND TO REVISE AND
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
FOR DECADES
MEDICAID HAS BEEN A LIFELINE
FOR OLDER AMERICANS, PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
AMERICANS.
BUT THIS WEEK, REPUBLICANS ARE
TRYING TO STRIP THIS.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PROPOSAL
DISMANTLES MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
IT, TELL SENIORS THEY ARE GOING
TO BE ON THEIR OWN TO FIND
INSURANCE NO MATTER WHAT THE
COST OR HOW SICK THEY ARE.
AND IT SLASHES MEDICARE
COVERAGE FOR SENIORS WHO NEED
LONG-TERM CARE, THREATENING THE
MOST SICKEST AND FRAIL
AMERICANS IN NURSING HOME WITH
NO CARE AT ALL.
THIS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG
APPROACH TO SOLVING OUR
NATION'S BUDGET PROBLEM.
EVERY DAY 48 MILLION ELDERLY
AND DISABLED AMERICANS ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY COUNT ON MEDICARE
FOR THEIR LIFE-SAVING
MEDICATIONS, DOCTOR VISITS AND
HOSPITAL CARE.
69% OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF
65, AND THEY ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, OPPOSE
MEDICARE -- OPPOSED MEDICARE
BECOMING A VOUCHER PROGRAM.
SENIORS KNOW THAT CHANGING
MEDICARE TO A VOUCHER PROGRAM
MEANS THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE
ACCESS TO A GUARANTEED SET OF
BENEFITS.
THAT A VALUE OF LIMITED VOUCHER
WON'T KEEP UP WITH RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THAT THE VOUCHER WOULD BECOME
INSUFFICIENT OVER TIME AND THE
CARE THEY NEED COULD BECOME
UNAFFORDABLE.
THAT TOO MANY TAXPAYER DOLLARS
WILL BE SPENT ON ADVERTISING
CAMPAIGNS AND ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS INSTEAD OF ACTUAL MEDICAL
EXPENSES.
AND SENIORS KNOW THAT
PRIVATIZING MEDICARE MEANS
LIMITS ON BENEFITS, OBSTACLES
TO CARE, UNCERTAIN
REIMBURSEMENTS, CO-PAYMENTS FOR
PRIMARY CARE OR SPECIALTY CARE,
EXCLUSIONS FOR CERTAIN
SERVICES, DISCRIMINATION BASED
ON INCOME, ILLNESS OR AGE, AND
MORE UNCERTAINTY AS A SERIOUS
ILLNESS OR LONG-TERM NEED FOR
CARE OCCURS.
VOUCHERIZING MEDICARE WILL MEAN
THEY WILL PAY MORE IN PREMIUMS
OR DO WITHOUT.
AND IT DOESN'T END THERE.
IN ADDITION TO MEDICARE CUTS,
REPUBLICANS ALSO WANT TO TAKE
AWAY MEDICAID FOR THE NEARLY
SIX MILLION SENIORS WHO DEPEND
ON IT FOR NURSING HOME OR
LONG-TERM CARE.
THEY SAY PROUDLY THAT THEY WILL
CUT FUNDING TO STATES BY $1
TRILLION.
THIS MEANS THAT DISABLED AND
FRAIL ELDERLY AMERICANS WILL BE
PLACED ON WAITING LISTS FOR
SERVICES OR HAVE NO ACCESS TO
CARE AT ALL.
IN PENNSYLVANIA, MY HOME STATE,
NEARLY 40% OF FUNDS SPENT ON
LONG-TERM CARE WOULD BE AT
RISK.
THIS INCLUDES 62% OF NURSING
HOME RESIDENTS AND 25,000
PENNSYLVANIAN SENIORS WHO
RECEIVE HOME HEALTH SERVICES.
AND YET WHEN REPUBLICANS HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE COSTS
WHILE MAINTAINING AND
STRENGTHENING CARE FOR OUR
SENIORS, THEY DEMONIZED THE
PLAN.
BUT STOP IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEDICARE.
AND THEY STILL WANT TO REPEAL
THE LAW THAT PREVENTS
CO-PAYMENTS AND MAKES
PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS MORE
AFFORDABLE AND IMPROVES
COORDINATION OF CARE AND HEALTH
OUTCOME, REDUCES COSTS AND CARE
FOR OUR SENIORS.
THEY REPEAL THE CARE THAT SAVES
TAXPAYERS ALMOST $400 BILLION
-- ALMOST $500 BILLION BY
ENDING OVERPAYMENTS TO
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
AND EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE
MEDICARE TRUST FUND FOR 12
YEARS.
INSTEAD, THE REPUBLICANS HERE
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT AND PUT
HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICAN
SENIORS AT GREAT RISK.
BUDGET COMMITTEE, I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO REDUCING THE
DEFICIT.
TO DO THIS RIGHT, THE SOLUTION
MUST INCLUDE SPENDING CUTS, TAX
POLICY REFORM AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
WE SHOULD NOT FIX OUR BUDGET
PROBLEMS BY FAILING TO MEET OUR
OBLIGATIONS TO OUR SENIORS.
EVERY DAY WE HEAR HOW
REPUBLICANS ARE TO SLASH
BILLION OF DOLLARS FROM
ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE
SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT.
THEY SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE,
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO EDUCATE OUR
CHILDREN OR FIX OUR ROADS OR
FUEL INNOVATION OR COVER HEALTH
CARE COSTS FOR SENIORS.
YET, IN THE SAME PROPOSAL TO
SLASH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FOR
MFL SENIORS, REPUBLICANS MAKE
PERMANENT TAX CUTS FOR THE
WEALTHIEST 2% OF AMERICANS.
IN THE VERY SAME BUDGET
PROPOSAL WHERE REPUBLICANS TAKE
AWAY GUARANTEED BENEFITS FOR
SENIORS, THEY PROTECT BILLIONS
OF TAX SUBSIDIES TO THE OIL AND
GAS INDUSTRY.
IN THE VERY SAME BUDGET
PROPOSAL WHERE REPUBLICANS GIVE
SENIORS A LIMITED VOUCHER TO
PAY FOR HIGHER INSURANCE
PREMIUMS, THEY PROTECT THE
PENTAGON FROM SPENDING CUTS ON
UNNECESSARY WEAPON SYSTEMS.
$1 TRILLION IN TAX
EXPENDITURES, $700 BILLION IN
TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY FEW,
$40 BILLION IN TAX BREAKS FOR
OIL COMPANIES, AND BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO CONTINUE IN
EFISHENCIES IT THE PENTAGON.
ALL OF THIS IS PROTECTED BY THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
AND INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE TO
SLASH BENEFITS TO OUR SENIORS
AND OUR DISABLED AMERICANS.
BUDGETS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES
AND THEY ARE ABOUT OUR VALUES.
YET, WE SHOULD GET SERIOUS
ABOUT OUR NATION'S DEFICIT BUT
LET'S BE SURE THAT OUR
PRIORITIES ARE RIGHT AND WE DO
NOT THREATEN OUR OBLIGATIONS TO
OUR SENIORS, TO OUR CHILDREN OR
TO OUR FUTURE.
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR.
LONG, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
OF AMERICAN CAPITALISM AND MY
PROFESSION FOR OVER 30 YEARS,
WHICH IS AUCTIONEERING.
THEY SELL ABOUT $20 TRILLION IN
ASSETS EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED
STATES, AND THIS FIGURE DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE MILLIONS OF
TRANSANGSTS THAT OCCUR ONLINE
WITH ONLINE AUCTIONS.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE
20,000 AUCTIONEERS IN THE
NATION, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
WHICH ARE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS.
AUTO AUCTIONS MAKE UP THE
LARGEST VOLUME OF AUCTIONS WITH
OVER $80 BILLION IN VEHICLES
BEING SOLD BY AUCTIONEERS
ANNUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU DRIVE A USED CAR,
CHANCES ARE IT'S BEEN ACROSS
THE AUCTION BLOCK.
AUCTIONS AND AUCTIONEERS HAVE
BEEN HERE OVER 2,000 YEARS.
IT WAS THE FORMATION OF
COMMERCE HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AUCTIONEERS FIRST ARRIVED IN
THE UNITED STATES WHEN THE
PILGRIMS ARRIVED.
YOU GO TO AN AUCTION IN
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, PORTLAND,
OREGON, TUCSON, ARIZONA, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, ANYWHERE YOU GO TO AN
AUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY WE ALL
GO BY ONE HANDLE.
THAT HANDLE IS COLONEL.
YOU CAN WALK UP TO AN
AUCTIONEER IN ANY AUCTION IN
THE UNITED STATES, YOU DON'T
KNOW THAT AUCTIONEER'S NAME,
YOU SAY, HEY, COLONEL, THEY'LL
TURN AROUND AND ANSWER YOU.
WHY COLONEL?
THAT DATES BACK TO THE CIVIL
WAR IN THIS COUNTRY.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THEY NEEDED
A WAY TO GET RID OF THE MULES
AND TACT AND THINGS THEY LEFT
OVER AND SUPPLIES SO THEY DID
THAT BY MATTER OF PUBLIC
AUCTION.
THEY NOMINATED THE ARMY
OCCURRENCE TO SERVE AS THE
NOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AS
AUCTIONEERS.
HOWEVER, THEY WOULD JUST HAVE A
DOLLAR FOR THIS SADDLE, $1.50.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE TURN
COLONEL, THAT'S WHERE IT
ORIGINATED, BACK IN THE CIVIL
WARS WAR.
THEY SOLD CROPS, IMPORTS,
LIVESTOCK, TOOLS, TOBACCO, FUR
AND FARMS.
EVEN PRESIDENT GEORGE
WASHINGTON WAS AN AVID BUYER AT
PUBLIC AUCTION.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I HAD THE
HONOR OF SELLING REAL ESTATE AT
PUBLIC AUCTION AND I'D SELL
ESTATE.
ONCE IN A VERY GREAT WHILE.
BUT I SOLD REAL ESTATE AS
PEOPLE'S FIRST OPTION.
NOT THEIR LAST RESORT.
SO KEEP IN MIND AUCTIONS CAN BE
A WAY TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST
VALUE IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF
TIME.
YOU GET A HOT PROPERTY, INSTEAD
OF HAVING IT LISTED AND SOLD IN
ONE DAY, TWO DAYS, PUT IT UP AT
PUBLIC AUCTION AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENS.
THEY WORK WITH BANKS,
ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS,
BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS AND
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO LIQUID
ATE PROPERTY SEIZED.
THEY CREATE A COMPETITIVE
WITH SELLERS EVERY DAY.
THE NATIONAL AUCTIONEERS
ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS
STRIVE TO ADVANCE THE AUCTION
METHODS OF MARKETING AND
UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
OF PROFESSIONALISM TO THE
NATIONAL PUBLIC.
FOR OVER 20 YEARS NATIONAL
AWKEER DAY HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
FOR THOSE REASONS AND MORE, JEFF
DUNCAN, ANOTHER FRESHMAN
AUCTIONEER MEMBER OF CONGRESS
AND MYSELF, WANT TO MAKE THIS
THE THIRD SATURDAY IN APRIL
NATIONAL AUCTIONEERS DAY, WE'LL
DROP A BILL TO THAT EFFECT.
THIS WILL HEIGHTEN THE AWARENESS
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
BY AUCTIONS AND AUCTIONEERS TO
THE HISTORY OF THE NATION AND
ITS ECONOMY.
AUCTIONS ARE THE LAST STRONGHOLD
OF COMPETITIVE FREE MARKET
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND CONTINUE
TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS
OF ESTABLISHING A FAIR MARKET
VALUE.
ALSO ONE OTHER THING, BEING AN
AUCTIONEER IN CONGRESS, THE WAY
OUR DEBT IS RUNNING OUT OF
CONTROL THEY FIND IT VERY HANDY
TO HAVE JEFF DUNCAN AND MYSELF
HERE IN WASHINGTON.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE
THAT CAN ACTUALLY KEEP UP WITH
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
$5 TRILLION, NOW $2 TRILLION,
NOW $4 TRILLION, $4 TRILLION.
$8 TRILLION DOLLAR.
$10, $10, $11 TRILLION, $13
TRILLION, $14 TRILLION, NOW $15
-- I HAVE SOLD AT $14 TRILLION.
THANKFULLY, MR. SPEAKER, WE ALSO
CAN SAY THOSE NUMBERS BACKWARDS
SO WE GET THE SPENDING UNDER
I'LL BE BACK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK MR.
RANGEL FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
REMARKS.
OBJECTION.
I THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY --
I THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GREET A GROUP OF
MINISTERS THAT HAVE COME TO THE
NATION'S CAPITOL IN ORDER TO
SUPPORT THE RESOURCES TO
ELIMINATE ***-AIDS VIRUS
INFECTIONS.
IT IS STRANGE HOW GOD HAS MADE
US FORGET THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE
WITH GOOD HEALTH UNTIL, OF
COURSE, WE -- THAT HEALTH IS
ENDANGERED AND THEN WE RECOGNIZE
THAT WHAT WE HAVE DEPENDED ON
MAY BE THREATENED OR MAY BE GONE
OR MAY NOT EVEN EXIST FOR THE
40,000 PEOPLE THAT DON'T ENJOY
HEALTH INSURANCE.
BECAUSE THIS DISEASE HAS SUCH A
STIGMA AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
SUFFER FROM IT AND 500,000
AMERICANS HAVE DIED FROM IT, IT
HAS BEEN A VERY COSTLY SITUATION
IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THE
MEDICATION IT IS TO STOP THE
DISEASE AND PREVENT DEATH AND
DEATH IS CERTAIN WITHOUT
TREATMENT.
THESE MINISTERS HAVE FORMED SOME
20 YEARS AGO IN A GROUP HEADED
BY DEBORAH HOWSE AND TODAY
DIRECTED BY C. VIRGINIA FIELDS.
PASTOR CALVIN BUTTS FROM THE
ABET SENIOR BAPTIST CHURCH, A
LANDMARK IN HARLEM, NEW YORK
CITY AND THE COUNTRY HAVE
BROUGHT TOGETHER MINISTERS FROM
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS
THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
AND OTHER OUTSTANDING PEOPLE TO
MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT THIS DISEASE IS NOT ONLY
CAUSED BY THE INFECTION OF THE
VIRUS, BUT IS CAUSED BY RECKLESS
SEX, UNPROTECTED SEX, ACTIONS OF
MEN IN PRISON.
ACTIONS THAT WHEN THEY COME HOME
THEY TRANSMIT THROUGH ***
ACTIVITIES TO THEIR WIVES.
SO TO A LARGE EXTENT IT IS THE
IGNORANCE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
CAUSED THIS DISEASE TO EXPLODE
AND TO SPREAD BEYOND THE
COMMUNITIES THAT IT WAS
INITIATED.
IT'S COST A LOT OF MONEY IN
ORDER TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE
CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THIS
DISEASE.
BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TAKE THAT
MUCH MONEY TO BE ACTIVE IN
MAKING CERTAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE
EDUCATED BY THE THREAT OF THOSE
DISEASES.
AND THAT IS WHY THEY COME TO
WASHINGTON TODAY WHEN THERE IS A
BELIEF THAT MEDICAID THAT
PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR THE
VERY, VERY POOR, THAT IT IS NOT
IN JEOPARDY BY PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO TRANSFER A FEDERAL, A
NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
STATES AS WE FIND PROPOSALS
COMING UP THIS WEEK.
THAT IS WHY MEDICARE, WHICH IS A
NATIONAL PROGRAM, IS BEING
THREATENED BY THE IDEA THAT
PEOPLE CAN GET A VOUCHER AND GO
OUT AND GET INSURANCE FROM AN
INSURANCE COMPANY.
IMAGINE GOING TO AN INSURANCE
COMPANY, BEING INFECTED WITH
AIDS, A TERMINAL DISEASE, AND
SEEING WHAT COSTS THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD ASK YOU
FOR WITHOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL
-- OLD PEOPLE, BLACK, WHITE,
CATHOLIC, AND PROTESTANT COULD
COME TOGETHER IN TERMS OF
ANSWERING THE QUESTION, HOW DO
YOU TREAT THE LESSER AMONG US?
HOW DO YOU TREAT THE POOR IN OUR
AND ISN'T IT A FACT THAT IF YOU
REACH OUT A HAND AND PROVIDE THE
MEDICINE AND THE SUPPORT FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED
WITH H.I.V. AND WITH AIDS IN THE
LONGER SENSE WHAT WE ARE DOING
IS ALLOWING AMERICANS TO BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE.
HEALTHY, HAVING HEALTHY
FAMILIES, AND HEALTHY CHILDREN
SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET
AN EDUCATION, A DECENT JOB, AND
PROVIDE AMERICA WITH THE TYPE OF
TALENT THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IF
WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THIS NEW AGE
WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE
SO IMPORTANT IF WE ARE GOING TO
BE COMPETITIVE.
SO NOW IS THE TIME WHERE THESE
MINISTERS HAVE COME TO OUR
NATION'S CAPITAL, PERHAPS TO
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE OF ALL
FAITHS, WHETHER THEY COME FROM
THE MOSQUE, FROM THE SYNAGOGUES,
WHETHER THEY COME FROM OUR
CHURCHES TO GO BACK TO THE
BIBLICAL WRITINGS AS WE LOOK AT
WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH TODAY.
AND THAT IS HOW DOES A GREAT
NATION AS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, HOW DO WE TREAT OUR
POWERLESS?
HOW DO WE TREAT OUR POOR?
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR TO LEAVE
POVERTY AND MOVE TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS?
THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS,
MR. SPEAKER, IS IN OUR HANDS AND
I DO HOPE THAT WE VOTE AND DO
THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA, MISS SPEIER,
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, I RISE
TODAY ONCE AGAIN TO HIGHLIGHT
THE EPIDEMIC OF *** AND ***
ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY.
AS I SAID LAST WEEK THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BY THEIR
OWN CALCULATIONS ESTIMATES THAT
OVER 19,000 SERVICE MEMBERS,
MOSTLY WOMEN, BUT SOME MEN, ARE
*** OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
AND FURTHERMORE, ONLY 13% REPORT
THESE RAPES OR *** ASSAULTS.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE
ASSIGNED TO ADJUDICATE CASES OF
*** IN THE MILITARY IS IN
COMPLETE SHAMBLES.
VICTIMS ARE BLAMED.
ASSAILANTS ARE PROMOTED.
UNIT COMMANDERS WHOSE PROMOTIONS
ARE DEPENDENT ON THE CONDUCT AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE SOLDIERS THEY
SUPERVISE HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO
THAT ALLEGATIONS ARE FEW AND
CONVICTIONS ARE FEWER.
MEANWHILE, WHAT ARE WE DOING
HERE IN CONGRESS?
OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS THERE
HAVE BEEN REPORTS AND THERE HAVE
BEEN HEARINGS, 18 OF THEM, AND
WE MAKE LOTS OF CHOYS BUT THEN
NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT.
AS A RESULT OF THIS CODE OF
SILENCE, THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF CASES GETS SWEPT
UNDER THE PROVERBIAL RUG.
LAST WEEK I TOLD THE STORY OF
TECHNICAL SERGEANT MARY
GALLAGHER.
THE FEEDBACK I HAVE GOTTEN IS
CONSIDERABLE.
A WOMAN NAMED KATIE WROTE ON MY
FACEBOOK PAGE, QUOTE, I AM ONE
OF THOSE VICTIM SOLDIERS.
JACKIE, THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING
FOR A BASIC RIGHT.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS IS STILL
NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY.
I DREAM THAT SOON WOMEN AND MEN
WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR
COUNTRY WITHOUT THE THREAT OF
*** THAT WILL GO UNPUNISHED,
UNQUOTE.
BUT STOPPING MILITARY ***
SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST A
DREAM.
IT MUST BE A REALITY.
WE OWE OUR SERVICE MEMBERS THE
SAME PROTECTION THAT THEY
PROVIDE TO ALL AMERICANS.
TODAY I WANT TO SHARE THE STORY
OF *** BASICUS.
SERVED IN THE COAST GUARD FROM
NOVEMBER, 2005, TO MAY OF 2007.
HER ALLEGATION IS AS FOLLOWS, ON
MAY 30, 2006, *** WAS ***
BY A SHIPMATE WHEN SHE WAS
VERMONT.
DURING A HIKE, HER *** THREW
HER ON TO THE GROUND, PUNCHED
HER IN THE FACE, AND *** HER.
SHE REPORTED THE *** TO COMMAND
WHO TOLD HER TO CEASE SPEAKING
ABOUT IT OR SHE WOULD BE CHARGED
WITH THE MILITARY EQUIVALENT OF
SLANDER.
SHE LATER OBTAINED PHOTOGRAPHS
AND ADMISSIONS MADE BY HER
*** THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT THAT COMMAND
FAILED TO BRING HIM TO JUSTICE
IN ANY WAY.
INSTEAD, THEY FORCED THE'MAN TO
LIVE ON THE SAME FLOOR WITH HER
*** WHERE HE WOULD REMAIN A
CONSTANT THREAT.
COMMAND ALSO TOLD THE *** TO
WORK WITH HER *** AND USE THE
TIME TOGETHER TO, QUOTE, WORK
OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES, UNQUOTE.
COMMAND WAS WELL AWARE BUT DID
NOT STOP FURTHER ASSAULTS AND
HARASSMENT OF THE ***
CONTINUED.
INSTEAD SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO
BOSTON WHERE COAST GUARD
PERSONNEL CALLED HER A QUOTE,
LIAR, UNQUOTE, AND A QUOTE,
***, UNQUOTE.
WHEN SHE WAS ON BASE PERFORMING
HER DUTIES, A GROUP OF COAST
GUARD PERSONNEL CORNERED THE
*** AND TRIED TO RIP OFF HER
UNIFORM.
THEY CALLED HER A CRAZY LYING
*** AND SAID SHE WOULD PAY FOR
SNITCHING ON THEIR FRIEND.
THEY THREATENED TO *** HER
AGAIN.
WHEN SHE REPORTED THIS
HARASSMENT, THE COAST GUARD'S
QUOTE, VICTIM ADVOCATE, UNQUOTE,
TOLD HER NOT TO PURSUE
WOULD BE SEEN AS DIFFICULT.
IN ADDITION, HER APPOINTED
ATTORNEY SAID IF HER *** DID
NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF ***
ASSAULT, QUOTE, WHY WOULD HE
ASSAULT ANYONE NOW?
THE *** WAS DENIED RANK
INVESTIGATIONS.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE HAD
MET ALL THE NECESSARY
REQUIREMENTS.
SHE DESCRIBED HER HORRIFIC
ORDEAL THIS WAY, QUOTE, IF I
TOLD THEM THAT MY HOUSE WAS
BROKEN INTO, NOT ONE PERSON
WOULD QUESTION ME.
BLAME ME, OR SAY THAT I WAS
LYING.
BUT WHEN I SAY THAT BODY WAS
BROKEN INTO, PEOPLE
AUTOMATICALLY FEEL THAT THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE ME, TO
DOUBT ME, AND TO BLAME ME.
UNQUOTE.
WHAT A PROFOUND STATEMENT BY THE
***.
SHE HAS NOW STARTED THE MILITARY
*** CRISIS CENTER TO HELP HER
FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND VICTIMS.
TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE.
SHE IS TRULY AN AMERICAN SHERO.
HER STORY SHOWS THE URGENT NEED
TO PROTECT SERVICE MEMBERS FROM
ON THE SAME DAY I DELIVERED MY
FLOOR SPEECH LAST WEEK, THE
AUSTIN --
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE
IN RECESS UNTIL 12:00 NOON