October 26, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H11767 Jonathan Stertzbach, an independent ask three times, God, please, God, I am concerned that Chaplain Stertzbach Baptist by training. Chaplain please, God, please continue to bless was removed without justification. Again, I Stertzbach was called to perform a me- America. am requesting that you investigate this inci- dent and provide an explanation. morial service for a fallen soldier. In FEBRUARY 6, 2005. Sincerely, that division, he had to e-mail his Department of the Army, The Inspector General, 1700 Army Pentagon, WALTER B. JONES, prayer to the divisional chaplain. In Member of Congress. the prayer, the divisional chaplain Washington, DC. DEAR LTG STANLEY GREEN: It has come to f struck through the words ‘‘Jesus my attention that in all branches of the TRI-CAUCUS WELCOMES ALL Christ.’’ He sent back the prayer with military it is increasingly difficult for chap- the strike-through of ‘‘Jesus Christ’’ to lains to pray in adherence to their faith. I INTERNS AND STAFF Jonathan Stertzbach. Chaplain have read reports, received letters, and seen The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Stertzbach went to the company com- documentation which verifies that suppres- previous order of the House, the gen- mander, and asked permission not to sion of religious freedom throughout our tleman from (Mr. ELLISON) pray. Armed Forces is a pervasive problem, affect- is recognized for 5 minutes. The company commander says, Why ing military chaplains from all denomina- Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, I tions and religions. Of particular concern is not? an incident involving Army Captain Chap- come here to read a statement that He says, Because I’ve been ordered lain Jonathon Stertzbach of the 3–6 FA HHB was recently issued by an organization not to close my prayer as I see fit, in Iraq. I am writing to request that the here in our own Congress, our own based on my conscience, and knowing Army Inspector General investigate whether body, known as the Tri-Caucus. The that the deceased soldier had attended Chaplain Stertzbach was illegally removed Tri-Caucus includes members of the his chapel, a Christian chapel. from his chapel. Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus and the So the company commander said to This chaplain who is serving our troops in Asian Caucus, and is made up of about Chaplain Stertzbach, You will pray, harm’s way in Iraq was asked by another 87 Members of this body. unit, whose chaplain had to return home to and you will pray as you see fit. start chemotherapy after cancer was discov- The statement says as follows: He did, and he closed his prayer in ered, to serve the spiritual needs of the ‘‘Four of our colleagues, Representa- the name of his Savior, the Lord Jesus unit’s soldiers in weekly movement to an un- tives of , PAUL Christ. From that, the divisional chap- disclosed FOB (Forward Operating Base) as BROUN of , of Ar- lain removed Chaplain Stertzbach from well as his own battalion. During one of the izona and of North Caro- his chapel. missions, tragically, one of the soldiers was lina recently requested the House Ser- In 2005, when I heard this story, I killed in action. The unit’s Commanding Of- geant at Arms to launch an investiga- wrote a letter to Lieutenant General ficer asked this chaplain to perform the me- tion of the civil rights group CAIR, or morial ceremony because he had bravely Council on American-Islamic Rela- Stanley Green, the inspector general of served the soldiers, and gone to the risk of the United States Army, and I asked convoying to the FOB (Forward Operating tions, to determine whether it was for an investigation into this case in- Base) weekly. placing staff and interns in key con- volving Chaplain Stertzbach. I am Before the memorial ceremony, the chap- gressional offices who they fear are pleased to say, Madam Speaker, that lain submitted two prayers and a meditation acting as ‘spies.’ Chaplain Stertzbach was returned to for the Division Chaplain and his direct su- ‘‘This proposed investigation coin- his chapel. The inspector general found pervising chaplain to review and was ap- cides with the launch of a book by that he should never have been re- proved. The Brigade Chaplain, having just Dave Gaubatz, an anti-Islamic activist arrived from Fort Drum, attempted to re- and author of the book ‘Muslim Mafia: moved. move the chaplain from administering the Madam Speaker, very briefly, I just prayers of the memorial ceremony because Inside the Secret Underworld that’s want to read the bill, which is so sim- he concluded his prayer in the name of Jesus Conspiring to Islamize America.’ It fea- ple. This is what it says: to ensure that Christ in a public forum. The chaplain, ad- tures an introduction by Representa- every military chaplain has the prerog- hering to his conscience and faith tradition, tive MYRICK and was written after ative to close a prayer outside of a reli- said he would not strike the words Jesus Gaubatz posed as an intern at CAIR in gious service according to the dictates Christ. an effort to ‘infiltrate’ the group. of the chaplain’s own conscience. The unit’s Commanding Officer intervened, ‘‘These charges smack of an America explaining that Chaplain Stertzbach volun- 60 years ago where lists of ‘un-Amer- Madam Speaker, this is a sad day in teered to serve a different unit outside of his America. I would be on this floor for a assigned unit and placed his life in harm’s ican’ agitators were identified. We Jewish rabbi. I would be on this floor way to provide for the needs of the unit’s sol- should be affirming the importance of for a Muslim who happened to be a diers. The Commanding Officer instructed diversity and tolerance for all interns chaplain in the military. I hope that that Chaplain Stertzbach would pray accord- and staff who serve in Congress with- my colleagues on both sides of the aisle ing to his faith tradition and the prayers out suspicion of being identified as will look at this bill, because all it says that he had already submitted. The Brigade ‘spies.’ is that you can close your prayer based Chaplain told him to qualify his prayer at ‘‘The idea that we should investigate the beginning with ‘‘Please pray according on your heart, based on the dictates of Muslim interns as spies is a blow to the to your faith tradition, as I pray according very principle of religious freedom that your faith outside the church on base, to mine’’ and then close the prayer with ‘‘in even over the body of a dead soldier. thy name we pray, and in Jesus’ name I our Founding Fathers cherished so dearly. If anything, we should be en- b 1945 pray.’’ Chaplain Stertzbach delivered the memorial meditation and prayers for the couraging all Americans to engage in Madam Speaker, as I close, I want to fallen hero, but still followed orders with the the U.S. political process, to take part make it clear, because I see my friend ‘qualifier’ remaining in place. in, and to contribute to, the great on the floor who is of the Muslim faith, After the incident, Chaplain Stertzbach’s democratic experiment that is Amer- that I would be on this floor tonight story reached the media. The Chaplain was ica. for a Muslim chaplain who was told directly contacted by ‘‘We all have experienced the sting of that he, an imam, could not close a and referenced in a Washington Times Janu- ary story. Chaplain Stertzbach’s incident discrimination and we know that there prayer based on their faith. was not printed, but he was quoted as saying will be challenges ahead. But our mes- Madam Speaker, I close by asking the following: sage should be firm that the America God to please bless our men and women ‘‘You need to allow people to pray accord- we believe in welcomes people of all in uniform. I ask God to please bless ing to their faith group. Many faith groups backgrounds to the U.S. Congress. the families of our men and women in do not pray in general and generic ‘‘We ask these charges be disavowed our uniform. I ask God in His loving terms.... For Christian groups, the name and we issue a hearty welcome to in- arms to hold the families who have of Jesus is from where all the power comes.’’ terns and staff of all creeds, color, given a child dying for freedom in Af- I believe Chaplain Stertzbach answered questions fairly, accurately, and within his ethnicities and sexual orientation.’’ ghanistan and Iraq. legal rights. Consequently, his answers to I read this statement and will submit Madam Speaker, I ask God to give the media and the incident surrounding the it for the RECORD and again thank the wisdom, strength and courage to the memorial ceremony resulted in Chaplain leadership of the Tri-Caucus, Congress- President of the United States. And I Stertzbach’s removal from his chapel. woman BARBARA LEE, Congresswoman

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I understand previous order of the House, the gentle- We cannot allow Iran to undermine the Democrats’ desire to merge the two woman from Florida (Ms. ROS- U.S. efforts and kill our soldiers in Af- Senate committee bills, but this proc- LEHTINEN) is recognized for 5 minutes. ghanistan. We cannot allow Iran to re- ess concerns me because in this closed Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speak- turn Afghanistan to the status of a office, the future of health care for er, on Wednesday, the House Com- failed state and pave the way for at- Kansans is being decided. mittee on Foreign Affairs will hold a tacks against the West using Afghani- Does this small group understand the long-overdue markup of the Iran Re- stan as its launching pad. We cannot problems that cutting Medicare reim- fined Petroleum Sanctions Act. Some allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons bursement rates will pose for Kansas of our colleagues are focusing exclu- capabilities which threaten the United hospitals, doctors, nurses and other sively on Iran’s nuclear ambition, as it States and our allies. health care providers? Kansas hospitals was the nuclear program in itself that If we are to be vigilant in protecting operate on razor-thin margins because was the catalyst for the concern. the lives of our men and women—mili- they are already dramatically under- But if Iran were comprised of a re- tary and civilian—in Afghanistan, we paid by Medicare. If these rates are fur- sponsible, democratic government, must increase the pressure on the Ira- ther reduced, as the current reform would we be as apprehensive about nian regime and impose immediate bills propose, Kansas hospitals may be their nuclear activities? Of course not. sanctions on Iran. This should be our forced to close and access to health But we are talking about an Iranian re- first option. care for Kansans will be reduced. gime which just this year conducted We don’t have the luxury of time, to Is this small group considering com- two missile tests and continues to wait for an eventual Iranian response monsense ideas that have been pro- work on the range of its missiles and to U.S. diplomatic overtures. We can- posed by Members of Congress on both on enabling them to carry a nuclear not wait for the U.N. Security Council sides of the aisle that would make payload. We are talking about a regime to come around. We cannot wait for quality coverage more affordable and whose leaders throughout the years our European and other allies to decide more accessible for more Americans? have made it abundantly clear that to do the right thing. The United Some of those ideas that we have they will stop at nothing to destroy the States must lead by example. It is time talked about include placing as much Jewish State of Israel. We are talking to cut off the Iranian regimes’s eco- emphasis on wellness as we do on ill- about an Iran which for nearly three nomic lifeline. As such, we should not ness by giving employers and insurers decades has been designated by our stop at this week’s Foreign Affairs flexibility to reward individuals who U.S. Department of State as the Committee markup. improve their health and manage their world’s leading state sponsor of global I urge the majority to bring the disease; encouraging medical students terrorism. The clerical regime is fo- strongest possible form of the Iran Re- to become primary care physicians and menting bloodshed and promoting fined Petroleum Sanctions Act to the nurses and incentivizing them to care chaos in the West Bank and Gaza and floor next week for a vote, followed by for patients in underserved commu- Lebanon and the Persian Gulf, as well quick Senate action so that it gets to nities; permitting the sale of insurance as in Iraq, where it is actively assisting the President’s desk before the end of across State lines, establishing high in the murder of our U.S. soldiers. the year. We must do this now. risk pools and reinsurance pools to ad- On the battlefields of Afghanistan, f dress preexisting conditions and pro- Iran is also playing a deadly subversive viding incentives to low-income fami- role. As early as 2002, allegations HEALTH CARE lies to retain or purchase private emerged that Iran was supporting in- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a health insurance that best meets their surgent groups in Afghanistan, includ- previous order of the House, the gen- needs; reforming our medical liability ing its former archenemy, the Taliban. tleman from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) is system to reduce frivolous lawsuits However, the first significant report of recognized for 5 minutes. that lead to inflated insurance pre- Iranian weapons in Afghanistan came Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam miums and the practice of defensive in April of 2007. Then-chairman of the Speaker, I came to Congress with a medicine; encouraging health care sav- Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter purpose, a purpose of working to pre- ings by offering individuals health sav- Pace, announced: ‘‘We have intercepted serve the way of life that we live in ings accounts that enable families to weapons in Afghanistan headed for the Kansas. I was born and raised in Kan- take ownership of their health; and up- Taliban that were made in Iran.’’ sas, and my home and family are still grading our outdated health records Since 2007, several large shipments in Kansas. I never moved to Wash- system through the use of new tech- have been seized near the Iranian bor- ington, D.C. because I love the sense of nology to streamline costs and reduce der. U.S. officials say that Iranian- community and belonging that Kansas medical errors. made weapons have been found in Af- communities offer. Access to quality, It is my hope that these issues are ghanistan and used by Taliban-led in- affordable health care is one of those being addressed as the President and surgents. These weapons have included things that determine whether our Democrat leaders craft the health care Tehran’s signature roadside bomb, the communities survive and whether we reform bill. I have traveled across my explosively formed penetrator, EFP, have a future. This is why the current State, and I have heard many Kansans AK–47s, as well as C–4 plastic explo- health care reform debate is so impor- who have worries. They are concerned sives and mortars. tant to me, and I am extremely con- about their health care and about the On August 29 of this year, just a few cerned about the direction that we are future of their State and country. Kan- days before General McChrystal sub- going. sans and all Americans deserve to mitted his request to this administra- During his campaign, President know what their Representatives are tion, Afghan and NATO forces uncov- Obama stressed transparency and ac- voting on, and they deserve the assur- ered a weapons collection in Herat with countability in the health care debate. ance their business will be conducted EFPs, Iranian-made rockets and dozens He said, I’m going to have all the nego- in a deliberate and open way. of blocks of Iranian C–4 plastic explo- tiations around a big table and that The President has expressed a desire sives. the negotiations will be televised on C– to explore a wide range of options for In the August 2009 declassified, SPAN so that people could see who is health care reform. Kansans want com- leaked version of his assessment, Gen- making the arguments on behalf of monsense reforms that enhance our eral Stanley McChrystal stated that: their constituents and who is making current system and reduce health care ‘‘Iran plays an ambiguous role in Af- the arguments on behalf of drug com- costs. What we do not want is the tril- ghanistan, providing developmental as- panies or insurance companies. lions in new deficit spending, reduced

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