10584 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 8, 2006 the Korean War. George Dunne began Secretary of State, the Honorable Bur- clear to me, Corporal Eric Lueken em- his public service career as a park su- ton Naturus, Alderman and committee- bodied the very best of what makes pervisor at a Lake Michigan play- man of the 42nd Ward, and the honor- this country great. Corporal Lueken’s ground, and went on to a series of posi- able Walter Burnett, alderman of the sacrifice, his commitment to his faith, tions with the Chicago Park District. 27th Ward. his family, and his country was unwav- He was elected to the Illinois House Mr. Speaker, I am sure that they ering. of Representative in 1955 and elevated would join with me and countless oth- Semper Fidelis, always faithful, at to House Majority Leader in 1961. In ers of saying thanks to his family for home, in Afghanistan, and Iraq. South- 1962 he was elected to the Cook County sharing with all of us a tremendous ern Indiana has lost a remarkable Board and 7 years later he was elected elected official, politician, but most of young man. My thoughts and prayers to the position of President of the all a gentleman and a humanitarian. are with the Lueken family and with Board. George served in that position f all of many men and women of the for 31 years, until his retirement in United States Armed Forces who de- HONORING CORPORAL ERIC R. 1990. fend liberty around the world. LUEKEN In addition to his government serv- f Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I would ice, George held responsible posts in DEMOCRATS PLAN FOR A WAY like to claim the time of Ms. FOXX. the Cook County Democratic Party. He FORWARD IN IRAQ was Democratic committeeman of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without 42nd Ward on Chicago’s north side for objection, the gentleman from Indiana The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under more than 40 years, and as chairman of is recognized for 5 minutes. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- the Cook County Democratic Party for There was no objection. uary 4, 2005, the gentleman from Cali- all but 5 years from 1976 to his retire- Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I rise fornia (Mr. SCHIFF) is recognized for ment in 1990. today to honor a young man, a Marine half the time until midnight as the des- George Dunne was present at many of from my district who served with the ignee of the minority leader. Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, there have the great historical landmark events of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, been too many dark days in Iraq of his day. He was with Colonel Jacob 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expe- late, but today is not one of them. The Arvey at the 1984 Democratic Conven- ditionary Force in Iraq. removal of Abu Musab al Zarqawi is a tion in Philadelphia for the nomination Corporal Eric R. Lueken of Dubois, Indiana joined the Marines in 2003. He welcome event. of Harry Truman. Zarqawi was a blood thirsty thug and served in Afghanistan from November 20 years later he was with Mayor an indiscriminate killer of innocent 2004 to June 2005. On March 11, 2006, he Richard J. Daley at the 1968 Demo- men, women and children. All Ameri- left for service in Iraq. Eric grew up on cratic Convention for the nomination cans join in congratulating the Amer- the family poultry farm, played bas- of Hubert Humphrey. ican military and the Iraqi people for ketball at Northeast Dubois High However, Mr. Speaker, for me those their success in tracking, finding and School, and joined the Marines because are not the events I remember. When I eliminating the most vicious terrorist he wanted to do something he could be remember George Dunne, I remember in Iraq. 1983 when Harold Washington won the proud of. It is too early to predict what the ef- Democratic nomination for Mayor of Corporal Leuken’s mother, Melinda fect of the elimination of Zarqawi will Chicago. The Democratic Party began Lueken, said he wanted to achieve have on the counterinsurgency effort to split along racial lines, with some something for himself and he did. He that the Iraqi and coalition forces are white Democrats turning to oppose the was just a country boy. He liked hunt- engaged in. nominee of their own party. ing and fishing. But he wanted to do On the one hand there is ample his- George Dunne was one of those who something with his life and he did not torical evidence that eliminating ter- resisted such splitting tactics and sup- want to always stick around here in rorist and insurgent leaders does not ported Harold Washington, including the little town of Dubois. necessarily cripple their movements. what was to become immortalized in Lueken’s fiance´e, Ericka Merkel, New leaders rise up to take their one famous photograph, marching arm said, ‘‘Once he joined the Marine Corps, places. In the Iraqi case, however, in arm with Washington at the St. Pat- all of his needs, they were second. Ev- Zarqawi’s form of jihad, which has re- rick’s Day Parade. erybody else’s needs were first. He sulted in the slaughter of so many in- I remember the depth of the crisis at never put himself first.’’ Even in Iraq nocent civilians has alienated most Cook County Hospital when George he said, ‘‘I am praying for you.’’ He was Iraqis and helped to foster reported Dunne, became President of the Cook never praying for himself. back-channel negotiations between the County Board. At one time Cook Coun- This Memorial Day, Mr. Speaker, U.S., the Iraqi Government and some of ty Hospital had been a model for public adds special meaning for me. Corporal the insurgent groups over the past few health institutions. But by the early Lueken was killed on April 22, 2006 months. 1970s, many were calling for the closing when his convoy was the target of an Whether the confluence of Zarqawi’s of the hospital. improvised explosive device in Iraq’s death and the completion of the new Today we would call it privatization Anbar Province. Iraqi cabinet can accelerate the pros- of the hospital. Eventually, President Corporal Lueken was a field radio op- pects for some kind of more open nego- Dunne put aside his political predi- erator. He was only 23 years old. Mr. tiations remains to be seen. Especially lections and hired a radical young doc- Speaker, I attended the memorial serv- as the sectarian violence that Zarqawi tor, Dr. Quentin Young to lead the De- ices for Corporal Lueken and witnessed sought has continued to grow in recent partment of Medicine, a move which an incredible outpouring of affection months. today is generally created with saving and gratitude from the people of Even as we celebrate Zarqawi’s death the hospital. Dubois County, Indiana, from the peo- and recall the horrors he perpetrated, Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that we ple who knew Eric best. the videotaped beheadings of helpless mortals should make final judgement The Marine Honor Guard, Marine hostages, the mass casualty suicide on the life of other mortals, but when Corps Association, VFW, American Le- bombings of Shiite mosques, and the we reflect on the life of George Dunne, gion and other Armed Services mem- horrific destruction of the UN head- I hope that these qualities and actions bers, current and past, traveled great quarters, we cannot turn away from are among those which are never for- distances to show their respect and the grim reality, that the war the gotten. support for his friends, his fiance´e and President declared over in the spring of Several of his proteges are integral his family. 2003 has been bloodier, costlier, longer parts of Illinois and Chicago politics, Like so many young men and women and more difficult than the administra- such as the Honorable Jesse White, who choose to serve our country, it is tion anticipated or planned for.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:14 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00209 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR08JN06.DAT BR08JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE June 8, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 10585 We need a new way forward in Iraq, use of force against Iraq because of the In Baghdad, Shiite units, some of and that is what we would like to talk threat that Saddam Hussein had stock- them nominally under the control of about tonight. The Democratic ideas piles of chemical and biological weap- the Ministry of Interior, have acted as for a new way forward in Iraq are part ons, and because we were told he had death squads, and the streets of the of an overall effort to reconfigure an active nuclear weapons program. capital have become a dumping ground America’s security for the 21st Cen- If you go back and look at the debate for bodies. tury, a plan we call Real Security. in the House and Senate, this was a de- We have a moral obligation to do Earlier this spring, Members of our cision taken by the Congress to pre- what we can to avoid having Iraq spiral party from both the House and the vent Iraq from acquiring and using or into all-out civil war. But now is the Senate unveiled a comprehensive blue- transferring nuclear weapons. time for Iraqis themselves to decide print to better protect America and re- Months later as American forces whether they wish to be one country. store our Nation’s position of inter- pushed across the Kuwaiti frontier and That is the decision we cannot make national leadership. into Iraq, we were told by the Presi- for them. Our plan, Real Security, was devised dent that our troops were on a hunt for Accordingly, the first element of the with the assistance of a broad range of weapons of mass destruction. Deliv- Real Security Plan for Iraq calls for experts, former military officers, re- ering the Iraqi people from the bru- the United States to take the nec- tired diplomats, law enforcement per- tality of Saddam Hussein was a noble essary steps to ensure that 2006 is a sonnel, homeland security experts and act, but the promotion of democracy in year of significant transition to full others, who helped identify key areas Iraq was not our primary reason for Iraqi sovereignty. where current policies have failed and going to war. b 2245 where new ones were needed. Similarly, we knew that the Shiite In a series of six special orders, my majority had suffered terribly under There is a broad consensus among ex- colleagues and I have been sharing the Ba’athist regime, and freeing them perts here and abroad that Iraq’s fu- with the American people our vision from the oppression of the Sunni mi- ture will be determined politically and for a more secure America. The plan nority was an added benefit of the in- not by force. The formation of a perma- has five pillars, and each of our special vasion. But reordering the ethnic bal- nent Iraqi government, one that will order hours have been addressing them ance of political power in Iraq was not have power, legitimacy and vision, to in turn: Building a 21st Century Mili- our primary purpose for going to war. assume primary responsibility for se- Soon after the fall of Baghdad, it be- tary, Winning the War on Terror, Pro- curing and governing the country is a came clear that many of the prewar as- viding for Our Homeland Security, A necessary precondition to ending the sumptions that had guided the Presi- Way Forward in Iraq, and the Achieve- insurgency, preventing civil war and dent and his advisors were wrong. ment of Energy Independence. allowing large scale reconstruction to There were no chemical or biological Tonight we address a New Course in begin. weapons. There was no nuclear pro- Iraq, to make 2006 a year of significant Consequently, our role in Iraq must gram. And while many Iraqis cele- transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, become more political and less mili- brated the ouster of Saddam Hussein, with the Iraqis assuming primary re- tary for if there is one thing that Iraqis they did not line the streets of Bagh- of every religious, political and ethic sponsibility for securing and governing dad to greet our troops with flowers. In their country with a responsible rede- stripe can agree on, it is that they do fact, within days, there emerged the not want foreign troops in their coun- ployment of U.S. forces. beginnings of what would be an orga- Democrats will insist that Iraqis try indefinitely. nized, deadly insurgency that would The second element of the Demo- make the political compromises nec- quickly put an end to General Tommy essary to unite the country and defeat cratic Real Security plan for Iraq is a Frank’s plan to pare down the 140,000 responsible redeployment of our troops the insurgency, promote regional diplo- troops in Iraq in April of 2003 to 30,000 during the course of 2006 so that we are macy and strongly encourage our allies by September of 2003. not drawn into sectarian conflict, and and other nations to play a construc- In recent months, the nature of the tive role. struggle in Iraq has changed yet again. so that Iraqis are forced to take pri- I have been to Iraq three times to Long-simmering ethnic tensions which mary responsibility for securing and visit our troops there, and I have spent had been suppressed under Saddam’s governing their country. The process of time with our wounded here and in totalitarian regime have threatened to training Iraqi security forces has gone Germany. They have done everything tear the country apart. more slowly than many had hoped and we have asked of them, and they have While the full-scale civil war that few Iraqi units are capable of taking a done it magnificently. Whatever suc- many feared in the wake of the bomb- leading role in combating the insur- cess we have had in Iraq, every village ing of Askariya mosque in Samarra has gency and remain almost wholly de- that was secured, every public works not come to past, not yet, most observ- pendent on coalition forces for project that was completed, every ers believe the country is currently in logistical support. school that was reopened, is due to the the grip of a low-level civil war that We must redouble our efforts to train efforts of our soldiers, sailors, airmen could erupt into full-scale conflict at Iraqi forces in order to allow for the re- and marines. any time. sponsible redeployment of American But, Mr. Speaker, these heroes are As first, much of the sectarian vio- troops without a consequent loss of se- still being killed and wounded daily. lence was perpetrated by Sunni insur- curity in the areas we leave. A respon- Over 2,450 American troops have been gents who saw continuing violence and sible redeployment of American coali- killed and thousands more have been instability in Iraq as their best hope to tion forces will have to be done in injured. American taxpayers are pay- gain power in a country dominated by stages to build greater Iraqi sov- ing approximately $194 million a day Shiia Muslims. ereignty and control over security, not for the war, according to the CBO. Shiite political factions have re- civil war. That is more than $1 billion a week. sponded by creating militias, and these In the first phase of redeployment, I A recent Congressional Research have become more active in targeting believe our forces should be gradually Service report puts the current cost of Sunnis over the past few months. In re- withdrawn from urban centers where continued operations in Iraq and Af- cent weeks I have been concerned by their mere presence in large numbers ghanistan at close to $10 billion a media reports that Shiite militias have has earned the animosity of the local month, with most of that money going been deploying to Kirkuk, Iraq’s third population. Our troops should be to Iraq. largest city, in a bid to forestall any moved to smaller cities where recon- This is a conflict that has come to attempt by Kurds to assert control struction is supported by the local pop- grief in so many ways. In the fall of over this major center of Iraq’s oil-rich ulation and to remote bases where our 2002, Congress voted to authorize the north. troops will be able to support Iraqi

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:14 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00210 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR08JN06.DAT BR08JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE 10586 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 8, 2006 units if necessary but will not become to assume a greater role in training I was there I had the sense that we a buffer between warring sects bent on Iraqi security forces, as well as provide were getting close to finding al- killing each other. long-promised economic support. Zarqawi. He was still on the loose but Over time, these troops will be with- Finally, the last element of the Real we were getting closer, and I am glad drawn from Iraq altogether and rede- Security plan is the need to hold the that we finished the job. This is a guy ployed outside the country, either in administration accountable for its con- who relished beheadings. This is some- the region or back to the United duct of the war. More than any other one who enjoyed car bombings. This is States. We should publicly declare that variable under the control of Congress, someone who killed Americans who the U.S. does not seek to maintain a our failure to perform this oversight killed, Sunnis, who killed Shi’ia, who permanent military presence in Iraq has been a major factor contributing to killed Kurds. And so I believe it is an and many of us have co-sponsored leg- the difficult situation in Iraq. important day and it is good news that islation to prevent the establishment The failure of oversight and the need while we have many struggles ahead of bases which can only serve as a cata- to hold accountable people that are re- this one struggle no longer exists. lyst for the insurgency and for foreign sponsible for those failures has plagued But I think it is very important for jihadis. the Iraq war from the beginning. And us to focus on the future. While I was A redeployment of American troops because this Congress, this Republican- in Iraq I had the opportunity to meet cannot succeed if the Iraqis themselves controlled Congress refuses to hold the with Prime Minister Maliki and Presi- are not willing to find the political so- President to account, we keep making dent Talabani and General Casey and lution to counter the forces that the same mistakes over and over again. his troops. All of those people were in- threaten the unity of the country. For years, the administration and volved and should take credit for what There is to doubt that Iraq’s ongoing majority tried to cow into silence any- happened today. sectarian strife has been exacerbated one who dared to question the conduct The questioning now faces what is by the protracted struggle among and of the war by calling them unpatriotic. next. The gentleman talked about our inside Iraq’s political factions over the It is not disloyal to ask these ques- plan for Iraq. The fact that 2006 should formation of a permanent government. tions. Oversight is a core responsibility be a year of transition to full Iraqi sov- The real key to a better future for of Congress. The great strength of a ereignty, that we need a responsible re- the Iraqi people and the third element democratic system with built-in deployment of U.S. forces, that we need of the Democratic Real Security plan checks and balances is that mistakes to promote Iraqi political compromise to unite the country, encourage our al- for Iraq is the promotion of political are caught and corrected. Every Mem- lies to play a constructive role, hold compromise to unite the country. The ber of this House, Republican and Dem- the Bush administration accountable. recent formation of a national unity ocrat, wants a stable and representa- And there is one more thing that we government by the prime minister is a tive Iraqi government. But, Mr. Speak- must do that I know my colleagues and positive step. While Zarqawi’s death er, we cannot hope to change course in I agree completely on. And that is to has grabbed most of the headlines Iraq until and unless we are willing to make sure that our troops continue to today, the prime minister’s announce- acknowledge mistakes, until we hold have everything they need, because de- ment that he has filled the crucial va- the administration accountable and spite the fact that al-Zarqawi has been cancies in the interior defense and na- force change. removed, there are going to be other tional security ministries may prove Devising and implementing a suc- al-Zarqawis in the world. There are more important to Iraq’s future, which cessful end game in Iraq will be dif- going it be others who enjoy behead- will be determined politically and not ficult, but the President’s open ended ings and car bombings. And for as long commitment to remain in the country by force. as long as they exist, we are going to The Iraqi government must dem- is untenable and unwise. The American need the capabilities of meeting and onstrate to its people that it can actu- people want Iraq to succeed and for a defeating them. ally bring Iraq’s rival factions together representative government there to That is why I was so distressed when in a common effort to confront the for- survive and lead to a better future for my constituents woke up this morning eign jihadis and bring the insurgents the Iraqi people, but that success re- to this front page in our Long Island into the political process. This is the quires a new direction. newspaper, Newsday. The front page best hope for maintaining the unity of I now yield to two of my colleagues, headline, ‘‘Blood clot bandages, front- Iraq. But Mr. Speaker, we can not do it my fellow co-chairs of the Democratic line shortage, some troops calling alone. Study Group on National Security home to ask for life saving dressings.’’ American soldiers, American dip- their thoughts on the way forward in By the way, I would say to my lomats and American reconstruction Iraq. First, I would like to turn to Mr. friends from Georgia and California, experts are shouldering almost the en- ISRAEL of New York who has been a this story is under a story about how tire burden in Iraq. This is unfortu- great leader on this issue, who is the Ann Coulter visited my district having nately a problem wholly of our mak- Chair of the Democratic Task Force on just attacked 9/11 widows as being ing. The President made little effort to National Security. I yield to the gen- witches and harpies. After Ann Coulter bring others on board before we went tleman from New York. attacked 9/11 widows, I have about a into Iraq. And after the fall of Bagh- Mr. ISRAEL. I thank my friend from hundred of them in my district, comes dad, he rebutted an offer by the United California and particularly I want to to my district and attacks them. Under Nations to assume a central role in re- thank him for his strong and wise lead- that story is this story about potential building the country. ership on national security issues. shortages of blood clot bandages. Finding a way to internationalize the As the gentleman mentioned he and Let me share with my colleagues struggle to stabilize Iraq is the fourth our colleague from Atlanta, Georgia, what this story says. ‘‘Despite Army element of the Democratic Real Secu- Mr. SCOTT, and I co-founded the Demo- order that frontline medics get special rity plan for Iraq. It is not surprising cratic Study Group on National Secu- clotting bandages, soldiers say they’re our allies and others are reluctant to rity Policy, which advocates for a long still needed.’’ It begins with this lead. send their solders and contractors to and smart military, which believes in ‘‘Nine months after an Army order that help us. It is dangerous and we have policy that are robust and visionary all combat orders would get life saving not been amenable to listening to the when it comes to our national security. clotting bandages to curb bleeding suggestions of others. Unfortunately, I have the great honor, not just being deaths, some troops in Iraq are still the situation in Iraq has deteriorated a Member of Congress, but serving on calling home, asking friends and fami- to the extent that the world must re- the House Armed Services Committee. lies to supply them. Despite Army as- engage if only because the alternative And I was in Iraq just a month ago. It surances that there are plenty of ban- is too horrible to contemplate. At a was my second visit as a member of the dages to go around. Soldiers have writ- minimum, our allies should be willing Armed Services Committee. And when ten to say they have not found their

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:14 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00211 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR08JN06.DAT BR08JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE June 8, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 10587 way to all those on the front lines, and the leadership you would like. And I our marines, where our soldiers are, the manufacturer under contract with thank the gentleman. If the gentleman they did not choose to go over there. the Army acknowledged last week that has time, we can have a colloquy later They did not choose to go over there early production problems may have on but let me turn to my other col- with bad equipment, undermanned and spurred a shortage.’’ league from Georgia, Mr. SCOTT, one of in the rotation cycle that they have Now, let me be clear on this. We have our great leaders on national security that has put tremendous strain on our been working with the Army and we issues, and I yield to the gentleman. military. will continue to work closely with Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Thank you so Many of our marines, many of our them. They are trying to get to the much and to my good friend, Mr. soldiers, are over there not on their bottom of this and that is their obliga- ISRAEL. What a pleasure it is to serve, second tour, not even on their third tion. I appreciate their responsiveness the three of us, as co-chairs of our tour. Some are on their fourth tour of to this report. But we cannot afford Democratic Group on National Secu- duty. I talked with them. That is not continued reports like this three years rity and providing leadership for this right, and it is not fair. after the invasion. Nation on this critical area, and also I think as we talk tonight we need to It is unfair that Ms. Doreen Kenny, letting the American people know that talk about the strain that this Iraqi who lost her job, Jacob Fletcher, in Democrats stand, foremost, for na- situation is placing on our military so Iraq, one of the first Long Islanders to tional security. Our history, our legacy that when we judge our military, let us be killed in action, has to have her speaks to that. judge them right. Let us judge them photograph in this story with the As we have counted time and time with the hills and valleys and the quote, ‘‘If I can prevent one knock at again, every time we have had a na- mountains that they have got to go the door of a military family, I will do tional crisis, Democrats have paved the through over there. all I can to prevent them from living way and brought us through, from I want to talk about just for a second through the heartbreak I have had to Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Harry that nearly all of the available combat live through.’’ Truman, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. units in the United States, Army and Why is she in this story? Because Do- Who could be more strong than at the the Army National Guard and the Ma- reen Kenny, who lost her boy, is mail- Bay of Pigs, at the missile crisis in rine Corps, have been used up in the ing this critical medical equipment to Cuba, with the Soviet Union in the current operations in Iraq and Afghani- our troops in Iraq. That is not what she Cold War. We have been in the fore- stan. should be having to do right now. front in every aspect of protecting this So I know we will continue as Demo- Every available combat brigade from country and we are at the forefront the active duty Army has already been crats to ensure that when we go to war now. we do not go with the Army we have, to Afghanistan and Iraq at least once It is such a pleasure and I am just for a 12-month tour. Many are now in as Secretary Rumsfeld said, but with very proud to be here with you. I want the supplies they need. That those of their second or third tours of duty, and to pick up on that theme because while approximately 95 percent of the Army us who believe that we have to draw a we all salute the killing of al-Zarqawi, line against totalitarianism under- National Guard’s combat battalions we are proud of that, we are proud of and special operation units have been stand that we have to make sure our our military. supply lines are adequately equipped. mobilized since 9/11, and short of full 2300 That we cannot afford to send soldiers b mobilization or a new presidential dec- into hostility and then read reports We salute them for having done a re- laration of national emergency, there that they are calling home asking for markable job, but I think it is very im- is little available combat capacity re- blood clotting bandages. portant for us not to get too caught up maining in the Army National Guard. I want to thank the gentleman for in that as much as it is very important All active duty Marine Corps units his leadership. We will continue to pur- for us to look at this Iraq situation are being used on tight, tight rotation sue this vitally important plan for from the standpoint of the soldier, schedules, 7 months deployed, less than Iraq, but I know that at the center- from that person that is on the front a year home to rest or recess, then an- piece of those plans is the under- lines. other 7 months deployed, and all of the standing that we have to protect the Like the two of you, I have been to Marine Reserve combat units have protectors and defend the defenders, Iraq. I have been over into the war zone been mobilized. and that is what Democrats are doing twice. I have been into the European The point I am making is that the in the United States Congress today. theater. I have been into Afghanistan. decision to go to war is one thing. The Mr. SCHIFF. I thank the gentleman I have been on the front lines with our other thing is you never make that de- for yielding and for sharing the experi- troops. I have eaten with them. I have cision and you send on a mission that ence of your constituent. I think each been there and I have talked with is not clearly defined, that has been of us has sat down with troops return- them, and I have looked them in the moving and shaking. Let us review for ing from Iraq and heard the stories of eyes and they have looked me in the a moment just what our soldiers, just the lack of lifesaving equipment that eyes. We have been able to see and to what our military has been asked to they have had to cope with. I had lunch be able to feel one another’s passion do. with a guardsman from my district a and their pain. First of all, the mission was to go couple of weeks ago who told me dur- I am committed, as the two of you and find weapons of mass destruction, ing the year he was in Iraq, the are, to make sure that we speak for the based upon faulty information and Humvees they were riding in had no soldier, and this is what I want to do sometimes false information purpose- doors, and they had to jerry-rig sheets this evening. I want to talk about our fully, for whatever purpose. We know of plywood separated by sacks of sand military, and I want to talk about all that now. We did not know it then, or concrete, what we call hillbilly them from the standpoint of the sac- but we sent our military into that, and armor, to protect themselves as they rifices that our men and women in uni- we sent our military in with not went from base to base, asking each form are making. enough manpower. Seventy percent of other, why are we having to do this? Most recently, we had in the news the generals said we do not have And when we consider all of the the disturbing story about the marines enough manpower. The one person with misspent and unaccounted for billions and about what happened over there, the level of credibility, combat experi- of reconstruction dollars and how but I want you to know that this is one ence in this administration, Colin Pow- many coagulant bandages that would soldier here, this is one congressman, ell, made the statement, We do not go pay for or body armor or uparmored ve- who is going to not come to any con- to war without the size of the military hicles, I think it is the case of going to clusions, because no matter what the we need to do the job. You go with war with the leadership you have, not situation is on that battlefield, where massive force.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:14 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00212 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR08JN06.DAT BR08JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE 10588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 8, 2006 Then secondly, once there were no league from New York, a member of 133,000 of our troops are fighting the weapons of mass destruction, the mis- the Armed Services Committee, some- global war on terror. They are the ones sion changed to go to find Saddam Hus- one who is a military historian and who have been made to engage in the sein. We did that. studied the kind of strain we are plac- sacrifice. They are the ones who have Then to set up a free government. We ing on our active duty and our reserve, been uprooted from their families. did that, all under great, great obsta- what are your thoughts on this sub- These two gentlemen on the front cles. ject? page of my daily newspaper, they are And then the test, to reconstruct the Mr. ISRAEL. Well, I thank the gen- fighting the global war on terror. The country. That was not the mission of tleman for the question. You know, rest of us are watching it on television. our Army. every Member of Congress prides them- America can do better than that. I So, as we sit back and as we applaud selves on the work we do with respect refuse, and I know the gentleman from this great accomplishment today with to veterans case work. I know in my California and the gentleman from al-Zarqawi, let us not forget the sol- district we have two people devoted ex- Georgia should refuse to be the first dier. Let us not forget the difficult and clusively to trying to work with vet- generation of Americans in history to challenging and meandering, con- erans, get them their retroactive pay- say let everybody else do it, we will stantly changing mission, not having ment, get them their medals. just sit back and relax. We will pass a the resources, going into dung heaps, We secured over $2 million in my dis- permanent repeal of the death tax or going into landfills to get body armor. trict in back payments for our vet- the estate tax which may cost $300 bil- This country, and the very just pas- erans, but those are Vietnam veterans. lion, and then have the temerity to tell sionate story that STEVE ISRAEL talked Some of these are World War II vet- these people on the front page of about on the front page of the Newsday erans, Korean veterans. This country is Newsday, sorry, we cannot afford your and the Long Island newspaper today, just now catching up to people who supplies, we cannot afford to take care America deserves better. I tell you one were in the military theater 40 years of you when you come home. I do not thing, they are going to get better be- ago. Just catching up now to those peo- want to be the first generation of cause we in the Democratic group on ple. Americans to balance the budget on national security, we are going to Can you imagine what our situation the backs of someone who is on his make sure of it. We are going to hold is going to be where we now have a back in this photograph. this administration accountable. We multitude, a new generation of vet- We have an obligation if we are going are going to point in a new direction, erans coming back with post-traumatic to fight the Zarqawis of the world, and we are going to give the American stress disorder and other very serious something I believe we should do, to people the kind of strong, forceful, na- physical and psychological problems, make sure that those who are doing tional security that they need and can and we have to say to them we are the fighting are protected and make be proud of. sorry, we know we sent you to the sacrifices at home that save their lives Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I thank front, but now we have got to balance abroad. Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I have to the gentleman from Georgia. the budget on your backs because we I think most of the American people yield to the gentleman from Georgia. have run out of money? Just cannot do Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. That is ex- really do not have a firsthand sense of it as a result of the fiscal policy of the actly the point we were making earlier the kind of sacrifice that our troops past 6 years. in the debate early last week in terms are making, which is nothing short of When the gentleman and I were elect- of these tax cuts. I mean, we are here extraordinary, with the multiple de- ed, we had a $5.6 trillion surplus. We and this administration last week ployments that you mentioned, with could have paid for the war in Iraq and prides itself at a time when our sol- the uncertainty for their families of then paid for health care for every sin- diers are making these kinds of sac- when they will come home, if they will gle soldier that went, so that they did rifice, at a time that this administra- come home and in what condition they not have to go without the potential of tion will stand in the way of the con- will come home, the economic sac- coagulant bandages. So when they current receipts bill, and forcing our rifices the families make. came home, they came home to a coun- veterans to have to choose if they get One of the concerns I have is not only try that would take care of them. injured or they get a wound in the bat- the problem making sure that there is Now, we have got an $8 trillion debt, tlefield, and they have to retire from enough coagulant bandages while they and we have to make painful cuts. The the service, they have to choose be- are there, but what about when they other side has forced us to cut back on tween their retirement pay and their come home? Our VA system is already those services, forced veterans to dig disability pay. over capacity. The administration is deeper into their pockets. This administration is standing in talking about closing Walter Reed. I do Mr. SCHIFF. The gentleman and I the way of correcting that, and at the not know how that can be done. Every were talking just this morning, all same time will ask for tax cuts for the time I have been there it is been brim- three of us, about the need to sacrifice, top 1 percent of the most wealthy peo- ming with patients. the need to have leadership in this ple in this country, on the backs of not We, I do not think, have even begun country, and ask the American people treating our veterans right, on the to think about the demands on our to make a sacrifice. backs of not increasing the military health care system for veterans. This Right now, the people sacrificing are widows’ pay or giving the death bene- young Guardsman that I mentioned the people in uniform and their fami- fits that we need or giving the military earlier, he told me that he still has to lies, but the rest of us can contribute, service people the raise that they need. resist the impulse to drop to the deck too. I know you have been at the fore- This is why I was just so astounded when he hears someone close the door front of calling for our national sac- at the glee that came from the Repub- behind a Civic. There is something rifice, and we could start by balancing lican administration in passing a tax about the closing of a door behind a the budget so that these young sol- cut at a time of war, of great sacrifice. Civic that sounds a lot like a mortar diers, sailors, marines and airmen do Never before in this history has that going off at 2,000 meters. He said he not come back, in addition to having to occurred. was pretty well-off in Iraq; he was not try to put their lives back together, Mr. SCHIFF. If I could ask of the one of the people who had to bust down have that huge national debt hanging gentleman from Georgia, prior to the doors every day and go through that over their heads. Memorial Day weekend, you shared a kind of stress. Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, if the gen- short anecdote about meeting one of Imagine the mental health care tleman would yield, there is a lot of your constituents in Iraq. Can you tell needs, the physical health care needs. I talk by the administration about the us about that because I think it so do not think we are prepared yet to global war on terror and America’s characterizes the sacrifice we are talk- meet them, and I want to ask my col- fight on the global war on terror. ing about.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:14 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00213 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR08JN06.DAT BR08JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE June 8, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 10589 Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. This was a re- dier would not get the recognition they LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF markable experience I had with the deserved. This is what he was worried NAFTA soldier in Iraq, and we had to make about as he lay in the hospital. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a that choice of staying that night and I yield to the gentleman from New previous order of the House, the gentle- putting our own selves in greater dan- York. woman from Ohio (Ms. KAPTUR) is rec- ger because, you know, going over ognized for 5 minutes. there, you cannot fly up at night. You Mr. ISRAEL. I spent some time this Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I wish to have to go by the roads, but we made evening with the gentleman and with especially thank Congressman CARTER that choice, and I am so glad because it one of our best generals, and he was for allowing me this special privilege of gave me the experience of a lifetime. telling the story of visiting with a appearing before he does this evening. As we were in Camp Victory in Bagh- critically wounded soldier in a military Mr. Speaker, the wonderful time dad and we were gathered there, and hospital and walking out with that sol- about speaking at this time of day is this soldier came up and was just hug- dier’s mother. And the mother said, we get to cover subjects that may not ging me. I was hugging him, tears fall- General, my son is not sleeping at be on the agendas of any committee ing down his eyes, tears falling down night. And the General said, well, of but are of importance to the American my eyes, and we were just squeezing course he is not sleeping at night, look people. Tonight, I want to talk about each other. He said something to me I what he has been through. She said, no, the long-term consequences of a trade will never forget. He said, Congressman General, he is not sleeping because he agreement called NAFTA that passed SCOTT, when I am hugging you, it is is up all night thinking about the fact over a decade ago. like hugging a piece of home. I almost that his unit is still in Iraq and he is We were promised, as the American get choked up every time that happens. worried about them. people, that NAFTA would result in I am so glad that God gave me that more jobs, trade balances with Mexico That is the sacrifice that we are talk- experience. I am so glad we went there, and with Canada, and a higher standard ing about and the dedication and the and like other soldiers, a while later, of living in all of our countries. Indeed, professionalism, and we have an obliga- that soldier died. That is the kind of exactly the opposite has happened. tion to those men and women to pro- sacrifice, and I went over there and This country has now shipped out over tect them. looked in the eyes. 880,000 jobs, nearly a million jobs and Let me tell you another experience. If the gentleman would allow me to still counting, to Mexico and to Can- When I was in Afghanistan and I went make a concluding point. This front ada, and we have not amassed any over there to Afghanistan, at the time page newspaper tells the story of con- trade surpluses but, indeed, have fallen when you remember the debate was trast, and the same contrast is played into deep deficit with both countries. over that if we had had this kind of out on the floor of the House fre- I have a couple of charts here that body armor, that several thousand ma- quently. You have got this front, top of talk about this. Trade accounts with rines that have died or got wounded or the newspaper that says ‘‘Ann the Rip- Mexico prior to NAFTA signing were would have been saved, that story per Brings Campaign Against 9/11 Wid- positive. Every single year since came out. The Pentagon had given that ows to Long Island,’’ and then you have NAFTA’s signing, we have gone into report. the rest of the page devoted to the pos- deeper and deeper and deeper deficit, now over $50 billion a year, the largest b 2315 sibility of front-line shortages of crit- ical medical equipment. These guys get ever, with each billion dollars rep- So that was fresh on my mind when less so that Ann Coulter, who writes a resenting a loss of 20,000 more jobs in I was sitting there with this one unit. book calling 9/11 widows witches and this country. And in each one of the squads there is harpies, who will make a lot of money With Canada, the other country with a sniper. There is an armor guy, an ar- off the proceeds of that book, can get a which we were supposed to experience a tillery guy, but each one has a sniper bigger tax cut. trade surplus, we have also fallen into who the whole troop depends upon. And deficit. In fact, we have doubled the I started asking about the body armor How is that fair in America today? deficit that we had with Canada. And and they started going around saying, How is that just? How does that do jus- what is amazing about this is that yeah, we have all our armor on, but our tice to these people? It doesn’t. We can every year it gets worse. The American sniper here, he will not wear the neck do better. The Democrats will do bet- people inherently know this because it armor to protect himself from a head ter. We understand the need to fight is happening to them directly. wound or a neck wound that would be and to use hard power around the world At the same time in this country we almost fatal. And I asked him, I said to fight totalitarianism and to fight have increasing illegal immigration, why. He said, I won’t wear that because terrorism, but if you are going to take much of it from south of our border. it hurts my agility to be able to move on the fight, you got to take it on with What is interesting, most of the debate my head to protect my troops. We have the right supplies. And that is what we about immigration doesn’t even touch had many snipers. are about. on NAFTA. Yet if you look at what That kind of valor, that kind of cour- Mr. SCHIFF. I want to thank both NAFTA has caused inside of Mexico, age, that is the kind of sacrifice that my colleagues for joining me this over 2 million peasant farmers have we are talking about at a time when we evening and helping to further eluci- been displaced and another 500,000 more have not asked others in this Nation to date the Democratic plan for the way are coming each year. And why is that? make that sort of sacrifice. forward in Iraq, for talking about the Because the very small farmsteads of Mr. SCHIFF. I am sure that both my sacrifice our troops are making, for Mexico, in the Sinaloa Valley all the colleagues have had the experience of way down to Xcalas and Oaxaca are being there for our troops, and also visiting our troops in the hospital in being destroyed. raising the call that this be a shared Ramstein, Germany, and here in Wash- The agricultural provisions I tried to sacrifice in the war on terror; that we ington. Their thoughts are with their get into NAFTA back in 1993 were colleagues they left behind. They want not force those who have borne the bat- never allowed to be considered on this to get back to their troops to make tle to look out for themselves and to floor. If we had done that, we would sure they are there for their buddies. pay off our national debt when they get have been able to address the tragedy I had one soldier who was so con- back; that we heed the injunction of that is occurring in Mexico, which is cerned, could I do something about the Lincoln that we ‘‘look after him who the complete elimination of their small fact that one of the people in his bat- has borne the battle and his widow and holders and their farmers. I call it a talion really deserved recognition for his orphan.’’ continental sacrilege, the heartlessness what he had done, and since he wasn’t I want to thank you again for all that is embedded in NAFTA that is there to make the report this other sol- your leadership. costing jobs in our country, costing

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