E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 No. 62 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was ber of this body as they conduct our be called up on formal authorization by called to order by the Speaker pro tem- Nation’s business today. the reporting committee. pore (Ms. ESHOO). I offer this prayer in the wonderful Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamen- f name of our all sufficient Lord. tary inquiry, Madam Speaker. Amen. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER f tleman will state his inquiry. PRO TEMPORE Mr. SESSIONS. H.R. 1429, Head Start The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- THE JOURNAL Reauthorization, was reported out of fore the House the following commu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the Ed and Labor Committee on March nication from the Speaker: Chair has examined the Journal of the 23, 2007. Would it have been in order for WASHINGTON, DC, last day’s proceedings and announces the chairman or his designee to call up April 18, 2007. to the House her approval thereof. H.R. 1429 at this time? I hereby appoint the Honorable ANNA G. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Clause ESHOO to act as Speaker pro tempore on this nal stands approved. 2(b) of rule XIII is sufficient authority day. for the chairman of a committee to NANCY PELOSI, f Speaker of the House of Representatives. call up a bill on Calendar Wednesday. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamen- f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the tary inquiry, Madam Speaker. PRAYER gentleman from Florida (Mr. STEARNS) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- The Reverend Ron Jackson, East come forward and lead the House in the tleman will state his inquiry. Gaffney Baptist Church, Gaffney, Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. SESSIONS. Similarly, H.R. 493, South Carolina, offered the following Mr. STEARNS led the Pledge of Alle- the Genetic Information Non- prayer: giance as follows: discrimination Act, was reported by Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the the Ed and Labor Committee on March Your praise will always be upon our United States of America, and to the Repub- 5, 2007. Would it have been possible to lips because You are the wonderful lic for which it stands, one nation under God, call up H.R. 493 at this time? counselor, the mighty God, the ever- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Yes. lasting Father, the Prince of Peace. f Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamen- We thank You for every blessing of tary inquiry, Madam Speaker CALENDAR WEDNESDAY life. You have been so good to us. We The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- are grateful for the privilege of living The SPEAKER pro tempore. Today is tleman will state his inquiry. and working in this great country. the day of Calendar Wednesday. The Mr. SESSIONS. Is it in order for Mr. Thank You for our President and Clerk will call the roll of committees. MCKEON, the ranking member of the every Member of this body. May there The Clerk called the committees. Education and Labor Committee, to be love for You and love for one an- f call up the bill under his committee’s other because love never fails. Bless jurisdiction, Head Start? PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES each marriage and strengthen every The SPEAKER pro tempore. A com- family. Mr. SESSIONS. Parliamentary in- mittee member other than the chair- Bless our military personnel around quiry, Madam Speaker. man must have specific authorization the world. Give each one strength, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- of the committee to call up a bill on grace, wisdom and courage. Comfort tleman will state his inquiry. Calendar Wednesday. those families who have experienced Mr. SESSIONS. I understand that the Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamen- the death of a loved one in service of procedure that the Chair just went tary inquiry, Madam Speaker. our country. through is known as Calendar Wednes- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Loving Father, please minister to the day. Is it correct that any bill reported tleman will state his inquiry. devastated families, students and oth- by a committee and placed on the Mr. SESSIONS. Is it in order for any ers who are dealing with the tragedy Union or House calendar could have member of the minority to call up a that has occurred at Virginia Tech been called up by the chairman as the bill during the call of the committees? University. committee name was read? The SPEAKER pro tempore. A com- Now I pray that You would give wis- The SPEAKER pro tempore. A non- mittee member other than the chair- dom and clear guidance to each Mem- privileged bill otherwise in order may man must have specific authorization

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.000 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3482 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 of the committee to call up a bill on THE IRAQ WAR percent. We cannot continue to finance Calendar Wednesday. (Mr. NADLER asked and was given a broken health care system and expect different results. b 1010 permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his re- We need to transform our health care system to make sure that we focus on Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamen- marks.) patient safety, patient quality and pa- tary inquiry, Madam Speaker. Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, 4 years tient choice. I urge my colleagues to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- ago, the United States invaded Iraq, os- learn more about patient management tleman will state it. tensibly to eliminate weapons of mass care programs by visiting my Web site Mr. SESSIONS. Is the chairman of destruction. When no such weapons at murphy.house.gov. the committee the only person that is were found, instead of declaring vic- in order to call up a bill during the call tory and bringing the troops home, the f of the committees on Calendar Wednes- administration in its arrogance decided DEALING WITH VIOLENCE IN day? to dismantle the major institutions of AMERICA The SPEAKER pro tempore. Cal- Iraqi society and settle into a long- (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given endar Wednesday business may only be term occupation in order to remake called up on formal authorization by permission to address the House for 1 Iraq in our own image. minute and to revise and extend his re- the reporting committee. Clause 2(b) of The dismantling of Iraqi institutions, rule XIII is sufficient authority for the marks.) the army, the Baath party, et cetera, Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, envi- chairman of a committee to call up a led to the breakdown of the delicate ronmental awareness has created an bill on Calendar Wednesday. balances in Iraqi society and the emer- awareness of the urgency of collective f gence of civil war between Sunnis and action to save our planet. We need a Shiites. The continuing occupation led, similar commitment to dealing with INTRODUCTION OF THE REVEREND as occupations do, to the development violence in America. Would that the RON JACKSON, GUEST CHAPLAIN of a nationalist insurgency. tragic events in Blacksburg, Virginia, (Mr. SPRATT asked and was given Now we have Sunni, Shiites and the which took 33 lives, be an isolated ex- permission to address the House for 1 insurgents shooting at each other and ample of the effects of gun violence in minute.) all shooting at American troops. This America. Mr. SPRATT. Madam Speaker, to- will go on as long as the occupation In fact, about 32 people perish each day’s opening prayer was given by the continues. The only way out is for Con- and every day in America in handgun- Reverend Ronald B. Jackson. Reverend gress to mandate a timetable for a related incidents. The level of violence Jackson serves as the minister of East phased withdrawal of our troops. in our society constitutes a national Gaffney Baptist Church in Gaffney, Only such a mandate can get the emergency. I am offering the following South Carolina, a pulpit that he has Iraqi Government to step up to the approach to change America’s direc- filled with distinction since 1989. plate. As Defense Secretary Gates said tion, away from death and disintegra- Reverend Jackson’s ministry is based yesterday, the strong feelings ex- tion and towards life and social cohe- in East Gaffney Baptist Church, but pressed in the Congress about the time- siveness. First, passage of legislation not confined there. He has a television table probably has had a positive im- to create a Cabinet level Department ministry in Greenville and a radio min- pact in terms of communicating to the of Peace and Nonviolence, H.R. 808; sec- istry in Gaffney. He is a prominent Iraqis that this is not an open-ended ond, passage of H.R. 676 to create Medi- preacher, for sure, but he is also a pas- commitment. Only a mandated time- care for all, not-for-profit health care tor who has been recognized for service table for withdrawal will end the end- system focusing on mental health care throughout the Southeast. He has es- less occupation and end the endless issues; and, third, a ban on handguns, tablished, for example, a foundation to bloodshed of young Americans. legislation which I am currently draft- help needy ministers and their families ing. f called the Parsons’ Pantry Fund. America is being engulfed in violence Three years ago, Governor Sanford USING PATIENT CARE MANAGE- every day. Let’s show that we have the awarded him the Order of the Silver MENT TO IMPROVE HEALTH wisdom and the courage to come from Crescent, our State’s highest award for CARE our hearts to meet this challenge. volunteer service. (Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania f Reverend Jackson has spread the gos- asked and was given permission to ad- GO GATORS pel from the Second Baptist Church of dress the House for 1 minute and to re- (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given Great Falls, South Carolina, where he vise and extend his remarks.) was called to the pulpit, to Bethel Bap- permission to address the House for 1 Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. minute and to revise and extend his re- tist Church in Charleston, South Caro- Mr. Speaker, eighty percent of health lina, and even to Bourbon Street in marks.) care dollars are spent treating chronic Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, as we New Orleans, where he was assistant illnesses. These are complex cases continue to mourn the recent tragedy chaplain, before coming home to South where patients have multiple doctors, at Virginia Tech, we are reminded once Carolina and eventually settling in treatments, medications and tests. Er- again how fragile life is. Notwith- Gaffney. rors can result from confusion and standing this tragedy, I would like to Reverend Jackson is married to miscommunication, but case manage- take a short moment to acknowledge Karen A. Jackson. They have two chil- ment can be effective in reducing these the accomplishments of the University dren, Kimberly McMillin of Inman and errors. of Florida, which I represent in Gaines- Bryan Jackson of Gaffney; and three However, Medicare and Medicaid do ville, for repeating as men’s national grandchildren. Karen also has a son, not reimburse for patient care manage- basketball champions. Brock Burgess, of Gaffney. ment. Unnecessary hospitalizations in- This historic championship makes On behalf of the House, I want to creased from about 1 percent for a pa- the Gators the first team since 1991– thank Rev. Jackson for his inspiring tient with just one condition to 27 per- 1992 to win back-to-back national titles prayer and the Speaker and Rev. cent for a person with eight chronic and become only the seventh school Coughlin for asking him to open to- conditions. ever to repeat as champions. With the day’s session. The Federal Government will pay bil- Gators’ 84–75 victory over the Ohio f lions to treat chronic illness that could State Buckeyes, Florida remains the have been prevented. The University of only school in the NCAA history to ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Pittsburgh Medical Center found that hold both the men’s basketball and PRO TEMPORE care management can reduce re-hos- football championship titles in the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pitalizations of diabetics by 75 percent. same year. Chair will entertain up to 15 one- Another study reduced hospitalizations The Florida Gators are excellent rep- minute requests from each side. of patients with heart disease by 50 resentatives of both the university and

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.057 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3483 the great State of Florida in their fo- b 1020 body, yet she refused to let her phys- cused persistence and unassailable de- TIME FOR NEW DIRECTION IN ical injuries silence her voice. She be- sire to succeed. My colleagues, I take IRAQ came an outspoken advocate against great pride in representing the Univer- domestic violence, urging women in sity of Florida and congratulate Coach (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given abusive relationships to leave. She has Billy Donovan and the entire univer- permission to address the House for 1 appeared on ‘‘Nancy Grace’’ and sity on this great accomplishment. minute and to revise and extend his re- ‘‘Oprah.’’ marks.) During this National Crime Victims’ f Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, during Rights Week, we honor remarkable the President’s weekly radio address, people like Yvette Cade who speak out THE NEW DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS he accused the Democrats of spending for victims. Tonight, the Congressional (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- 68 days pushing legislation that would Victims’ Rights Caucus will award fornia asked and was given permission undercut our troops. Yvette Cade the Unsung Hero Award to address the House for 1 minute.) During his tour of the Middle East for triumphing over her personal trag- Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert edy to become a victor rather than a fornia. Mr. Speaker, over the past 3 Gates said, ‘‘The debate in Congress victim. months, the new Democratic Congress has been helpful in demonstrating to And that’s just the way it is. has reached across the aisle to work the Iraqis that American patience is f limited.’’ He goes on to say, it has a with Republicans on legislation that is FINDING A BETTER WAY IN positive impact ‘‘communicating to going to produce positive results for AMERICA the American people. We vowed to run the Iraqis that this is not an open- this House differently than the Repub- ended commitment.’’ (Mr. KAGEN asked and was given licans, and since day one, we have lived So who’s right? Either the Secretary permission to address the House for 1 up to that promise. of the Defense, who is calling for the minute and to revise and extend his re- During our first 100 hours, we passed Iraqis to take ownership of their coun- marks.) Mr. KAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise legislation increasing the minimum try, or the President, who is playing today to ask all of us what kind of Na- wage, reducing the cost of prescription politics here at home? The Congress tion are we when we neglect the needs drugs, making college more affordable, has provided the President the one of our senior citizens. thing he has refused to develop after 4 securing our Nation by implementing In the past 2 weeks, I have received years of war: a policy to get the Iraqis the 9/11 recommendations and ending over 15,000 cards from voters in Wis- subsidies for big oil companies. off the sidelines and onto the field. consin, just like this one from Elaine Since that time, we passed legisla- So after years of chaos and blood- in Peshtigo which reads: ‘‘I am soon an tion that changes the direction of the shed, when the administration asks for 80-year-old woman and a widow. My war in Iraq, but also fully funding our more troops and more time and more of husband and I farmed, and we certainly troops and supporting our veterans. At the same, we are calling for account- had hard times the first years. But the the end of last month, we also passed a ability of the Iraqis and a responsible years now are harder for old people. Oil budget resolution that balances our redeployment of U.S. troops. Our companies take a huge profit. The budget within 5 years, something that troops are bearing all of the responsi- CEOs make a salary no man on Earth the Bush administration and his budg- bility for the President’s policy, and is worth. The pill companies are taking ets have not been able to do. the Iraqis have no accountability. huge profits with no consideration for Not only is our budget fiscally re- Secretary Gates, thank you for your our old people. The people of my gen- sponsible, it also increases the funding honest assessment of what it takes to eration lived through the Depression, for children’s health care, for edu- bring a new direction to Iraq. World War II and two more wars, and cation and for veterans health care, all f now, in our old age, we face other ob- without raising taxes. Yes, we are ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER stacles.’’ going in a new direction. PRO TEMPORE My friends, there is a better way of doing things in America, and by work- f The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. AN- ing together, we will find it with no pa- DREWS). The Chair reminds Members to tient left behind. IMMIGRATION direct their remarks to the Chair and f (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked not to others, as in the second person. and was given permission to address f BALANCE BUDGET BY the House for 1 minute and to revise CONTROLLING SPENDING YVETTE CADE—VICTOR NOT and extend his remarks.) (Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin asked and VICTIM Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. was given permission to address the Speaker, most of us just returned from (Mr. POE asked and was given per- House for 1 minute and to revise and 2 weeks talking with constituents. In mission to address the House for 1 extend his remarks.) the Third District of Texas, folks only minute and to revise and extend his re- Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, had one thing on their mind, illegal im- marks.) the battle of ideas is alive and well migration. Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, in 2005, Yvette here in the House of Representatives They were hopping mad that illegal Cade walked into the Maryland court- where we have two different parties immigrants come into this country at room of District Judge Richard with two different philosophies; and all. They told me any proposal that Palumbo to extend the restraining nowhere is that more clear than in the would grant automatic American citi- order she had on her estranged hus- budget debate that is occurring today. zenship to illegal immigrants would be band. She was tired of the abuse. She In the budget that passed the House blanket amnesty, and they’re right. wanted ‘‘an immediate and absolute di- before the Easter recess, the majority People have waited years to become vorce.’’ passed the largest tax increase in American citizens through the legal Judge Palumbo, however, refused to American history. I just held 34 town proper channels. Granting blanket am- grant the victim’s request, made snide hall meetings in my First Congres- nesty to untold millions of illegal im- remarks and dismissed the assault sional District of Wisconsin, and my migrants undercuts the merits of cre- case, including the protective order. constituents are telling me they don’t ating a legal citizenship program. Just Two weeks later, Yvette Cade’s es- want to see the per-child tax credit get like in the 1980s, if we grant amnesty tranged husband walked into her place cut in half. They don’t want to see the now, many more illegal immigrants of business, doused her with gasoline, marriage penalty come back. They will simply flock into our country and struck a match and set her on fire. don’t want to see income tax rates demand their day for amnesty. Amer- Miraculously, Yvette Cade survived raised across the board. They don’t ica must be a Nation that respects the this brutal attack. She received third- want to see the death tax come back in rule of law and enforces it. degree burns over 60 percent of her full force.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.005 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3484 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 The tax cuts that passed in 2001 and to fight for their freedom and to fight cuts should not and cannot be allowed 2003 created 7.6 million new jobs. We for the ability to hold on to more of to expire. don’t need tax increases; but, unfortu- their hardworking income, and that is f nately, the budget that the majority exactly what we intend to do. b 1030 passed here does just that. It gets rid of f all of that tax relief that created all of SUPPORT STEM CELL RESEARCH DEFUSING THE WILL OF THE these jobs, and it gives the American AMERICAN PEOPLE people the largest tax increase in (Mr. SIRES asked and was given per- American history. I think it is wrong. mission to address the House for 1 (Mr. MCDERMOTT asked and was We on this side of the aisle, the mi- minute and to revise and extend his re- given permission to address the House nority, we believe in a different path: marks.) for 1 minute and to revise and extend Balance the budget by controlling Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, last week his remarks.) spending and keep taxes low. That’s the Senate followed our lead and Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, the the way to go, Mr. Speaker. passed legislation to advance potential President is going to talk to the con- gressional leaders about Iraq. It is his f life-saving stem cell research. The leg- islation now heads to the President’s way of trying to defuse the will of the AMERICAN PEOPLE CALL FOR desk where he has already threatened a American people. He is going to talk CHANGE veto. about his vision for a military victory (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given I hope the President will finally lis- in Iraq. He is going to talk about his permission to address the House for 1 ten to an overwhelming majority of the military escalation and how well it is minute and to revise and extend his re- American people, a bipartisan Congress working. marks.) and scientists who say this research He is not going to talk about the Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, Demo- can save millions of lives. bombing in the Green Zone last week, crats in Congress have heard the call As the American Association for the or the fact that about 3 hours ago there for change delivered by the American Advancement of Science has argued: were 127 Iraqis killed by a suicide people last November. In just 3 months, We owe it to those with serious ill- bomber. And it is only early morning. we restored the necessary oversight of nesses to vigorously pursue both adult There is plenty of time left in this day. the administration and reformed the stem cell research and embryonic stem The President will say there are good ethics rules of the House to lessen the cell research. days and there are bad days. In truth, influence of lobbyists and add trans- This is not a partisan issue. In fact, there are only bad days, and worse days parency to the legislative process. many in the President’s own party rec- in Iraq. We answered the call for change in ognize the potential that exists if sci- The only thing worth talking about direction in Iraq and kept our promise entists are allowed to expand their re- is protecting our soldiers by getting to our Nation’s veterans by voting to search. them out of the Iraq quagmire. That is increase VA health care funding by $11 Mr. Speaker, over the last 7 years, the only discussion worth having, be- billion. the President has only vetoed one bill, cause setting a timetable is the only We passed meaningful legislation and that was a similar stem cell re- way to protect and defend the U.S. sol- that will help middle class families, search bill that passed the Republican diers he keeps sending into harm’s lowering the cost of student loans and Congress last year. The President way. prescription drugs. should seriously reconsider his veto Don’t give him an inch, Mr. Speaker. And although we won’t be able to dig Bring our troops home. ourselves out overnight from the threat so we can begin life-saving re- mountains of debt Congress and the ad- search. f ministration built up over the past 6 f THE TAX CREDIT GAP years, the new Democratic Congress TAX CUTS CANNOT BE ALLOWED (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked passed a budget that achieves balance TO EXPIRE and was given permission to address in 5 years without raising a penny of (Ms. GRANGER asked and was given the House for 1 minute.) taxes. Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. In short, Mr. Speaker, we have lis- permission to address the House for 1 Speaker, American families are leaving tened to the American people and minute and to revise and extend her re- billions of dollars on the table each changed the way Congress does busi- marks.) Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, if year by not claiming tax credits that ness. Washington Democrats get their way, help families pay for child care, to send f millions of Americans will see their their children to college, save for re- MINNESOTANS SAY: STOP RAISING taxes go up by billions of dollars. In a tirement, or work their way into the TAXES Gallup Poll released earlier this week, middle class. (Mrs. BACHMANN asked and was 53 percent of the American people said Taxpayers claimed nearly $83 billion given permission to address the House their Federal income taxes were too in tax credits in 2004. But families for 1 minute and to revise and extend high, yet the Democrat leadership has missed out on over $10 billion in un- her remarks.) decided to move forward with the high- claimed tax credits, according to a new Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, last est tax increase in American history. estimate from the Joint Economic Saturday, 7,000 Minnesotans stood on In an editorial by the Wall Street Committee. You can find this report on the steps of the St. Paul capitol in our Journal, they said, ‘‘A tax increase of my Web site at maloney.house.gov. State for the purpose of standing for that magnitude could well lead to a re- The IRS can help close this tax credit freedom. It was a beautiful, sunny, cession and a plunge in receipts.’’ gap by reporting on the characteristics ebullient Saturday morning, and 7,000 Take these examples as evidence that of households not taking advantage of hardworking Minnesotans took their letting the Republican tax cuts expire these credits. This will help us conduct time away from their families and would only wreak havoc on millions of better outreach to families who are away from their work to stand on the American checkbooks. Over 115 million missing out on credits that reward steps of our State capitol to say: taxpayers would see a $1,716 increase in their hard work and help them get Enough is enough, stop raising my their tax bill in 2011. For 84 million ahead. taxes. women, it would be an increase of over f The last vote I took in this body $1,900. And for 42 million families with prior to our recess had the Democrats children, an increase of over $2,000 BRING THE TROOPS HOME calling for the largest tax increase in would become a scary reality. (Mr. COHEN asked and was given per- American history and the largest Chasing increased spending with mission to address the House for 1 spending increase in American history. higher taxes is not the path of fiscal re- minute.) The people in Minnesota, Mr. Speak- sponsibility and will not lead to fur- Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, during the er, asked me to come back to this body ther economic prosperity. These tax break, I was home in my district in

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.008 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3485 Memphis, Tennessee, and I spoke to 40 Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, and our veterans than what was origi- soldiers who had been to the Middle Orwellian democracy is alive and well nally requested by the President? East. They were being honored. I asked here in Washington. Our friends on the The supplemental provides 1.7 billion many of them if they wanted to return. other side seem to think that if they more for military health care, which Most, nearly all, said, ‘‘No. Why are we just say something, it is true. includes facility upgrades at Walter there and what are we accomplishing?’’ Talk about the budget. We have Reed and other hospitals that require I asked groups about their thoughts, heard this morning that they are going renovation. We also provide an addi- and almost to a one, they said, ‘‘Bring to balance the budget without raising tional $1.7 billion for veterans health the troops home; don’t stay the taxes. Funny thing is, the budget that care to ensure that they have access to course.’’ they passed will do this: Between 2010 quality care. The veterans I have met Mr. Speaker, I would submit to the and 2011 their budget will raise taxes with from New Jersey have told me President that he went to war under on ordinary income from 35 to 39.6, cap- that this is one of their top priorities. Donald Rumsfeld’s opinion that you ital gains from 15 percent to 20 percent, I have been opposed to the preemp- fight the war with the troops you have dividends from 15 percent to 39.6 per- tive war in Iraq from the beginning be- got. cent, estate tax, 0 percent to 55 per- cause the administration has failed to Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that cent. Child tax credit goes from $1,000 explore diplomatic solutions. And the President should support the to $500, and the lowest tax bracket goes therefore the stay-the-course strategy troops with the bill that the Congress from 10 percent to 15 percent. $400 bil- is wrong. And I hope that the President sends him. We have sent him a bill that lion in new taxes. will sign and not veto this bill. supports the troops, supports the vet- Mr. Speaker, they may be saying one f erans and, yet, brings our troops home. thing, but they are doing completely We must end this foolishness in Iraq, the opposite. They may be able to fool PRESIDENT BUSH SHOULD LISTEN the loss of American lives and the themselves, but they won’t fool the TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE spending of our tax dollars in a country American people. GATES WHO SAYS CONGRESS’ where we are not wanted. TIMELINES ARE USEFUL f f HONORING THE SACRIFICE OF (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given HONORING SLAIN UTICA POLICE LIVIU LIBRESCU permission to address the House for 1 OFFICER THOMAS LINDSEY minute.) (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, as the was given permission to address the permission to address the House for 1 President prepares to meet with con- House for 1 minute and to revise and minute.) gressional leaders today to discuss the Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, on Thurs- extend his remarks.) emergency supplemental, he should lis- day, April 12, 32-year-old Utica police Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speak- ten to his own Secretary of Defense, officer Thomas Lindsey was shot and er, I rise to thank God for Mr. Liviu who said that Congress’ timelines have killed in the line of duty during a rou- Librescu. been useful in forcing the Iraqi Govern- Monday was Holocaust Remembrance tine traffic stop in Utica, New York, ment to make compromises that have Day, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Liviu Librescu my hometown. been elusive in the past. was a teacher for 20 years at Virginia A 51⁄2-year veteran of the Utica police While traveling in the Middle East, force, Tom served for more than a year Tech. He was a husband and a father, 76 Defense Secretary Gates said yester- with an elite squad tasked with han- years of age, and a Holocaust survivor. day, and I am quoting, ‘‘The debate in dling special assignments. Tom was the On Monday, on Holocaust Remem- Congress has been helpful in dem- kind of guy that, as a teenager, he brance Day, he blocked the doorway to onstrating to the Iraqis that American traveled to Mexico one summer just to a classroom to protect the students in patience is limited. The strong feelings build churches. And prior to his tenure that classroom from almost certain expressed in the Congress about the as a Utica police officer, he served our death. And in so doing, he sacrificed timetable probably have had a positive Nation honorably as a U.S. Marine as his life. He survived the Holocaust and impact in terms of communicating to an embassy guard. made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave the Iraqis that this is not an open- As a former district attorney, I had his life so that others could live. Thank ended commitment.’’ the distinct privilege of working hand God for him. And that is what Democratic Mem- in hand with the dedicated men and May God bless his family and all of bers of this House have been saying for women of the Utica Police Department. those who have suffered at Virginia weeks. It is time to hold the Iraqi Gov- This loss affects those brave men and Tech. ernment accountable and pressure women and their families hardest of f them to meet the President’s own all. DEMOCRATS TAKE IRAQ IN A NEW guidelines. Tom put his life on the line in the DIRECTION WHILE PRESIDENT If President Bush refuses to listen to Marines and as a police officer, and he BUSH THREATENS TO VETO NEW this Democratic Congress and leaders paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect COURSE that he is meeting with today, it would his country and the community. Los- be nice if he would at least listen to his (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given ing someone like Tom is a great trag- Defense Secretary, who is saying that permission to address the House for 1 edy, but in this tragedy there is a les- our efforts to change the direction of minute and to revise and extend his re- son. We must learn from the way Tom the war in Iraq are having a positive ef- marks.) lived his life and his commitment to fect. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the new public service, his community and his f country. Democratic Congress has made good on My prayers are with Tom’s mother, its promise to change the direction of b 1040 Carmella Lindsey-Schisler, his the war in Iraq while providing critical funding for our veterans and our ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER girlfriend, Lisa, and his family and co- PRO TEMPORE workers. wounded soldiers. Yet, the President is I hope everyone can take a moment still threatening to veto a final con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- today to thank the men and the women ference report when it comes out of ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair in their local police departments who this Congress. will postpone further proceedings serve them so well. Why would the President veto a bill today on motions to suspend the rules f that requires Iraqis to take control of on which a recorded vote or the yeas their country by meeting key security, and nays are ordered, or on which the ORWELLIAN DEMOCRACY political and economic benchmarks the vote is objected to under clause 6 of (Mr. PRICE of Georgia asked and was President himself established? rule XX. given permission to address the House Why would he veto a bill that pro- Record votes on postponed questions for 1 minute.) vides greater protections for our troops will be taken later today.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.010 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3486 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 OFFERING HEARTFELT CONDO- ginia, in the Halls of Congress and in ther does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, LENCES TO THE VICTIMS AND every corner of this Nation. I represent neither do the invisible children walking the THEIR FAMILIES REGARDING hundreds of Virginia Tech families, night away to avoid being captured by the THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AT perhaps thousands of alumni, and rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated VIRGINIA TECH AND TO STU- members of my staff have friends and for ivory, neither does the Mexican child DENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRA- family who currently attend Virginia looking for fresh water, neither does the Ap- TION AND STAFF AND THEIR Tech. palachian infant killed in the middle of the FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN AF- Schools are meant to be sanctuaries night in his crib in the home his father built FECTED of learning and, most importantly, with his own hands being run over by a boul- sanctuaries of safety. Parents who send der because the land was destabilized. No one Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, their children off to college with all deserves a tragedy. I move to suspend the rules and agree the potential that a college education We are Virginia Tech. to the resolution (H. Res. 306) offering represents should be content that their The Hokie Nation embraces our own and heartfelt condolences to the victims reaches out with open heart and hands to children will be safe. and their families regarding the hor- those who offer their hearts and minds. We As we mourn with the Virginia Tech are strong, and brave, and innocent, and rific violence at Virginia Tech in community, this Congress must ex- Blacksburg, Virginia, and to the stu- unafraid. We are better than we think and plore every possible avenue towards de- not quite what we want to be. We are alive dents, faculty, administration and staff termining what can be done to prevent to the imaginations and the possibilities. We and their families who have been deep- this kind of tragedy in the future, will continue to invent the future through ly affected by the tragic events that whether in high schools or college cam- our blood and tears and through all our sad- occurred there. puses or on business premises or other ness. The Clerk read the title of the resolu- places where people may congregate. We are the Hokies. We will prevail. tion. Yet we must be realistic. From what The text of the resolution is as fol- We will prevail. we are hearing regarding this tragic in- We will prevail. lows: cident, it is not clear that any law We are Virginia Tech. H. RES. 306 would have been effective in deterring Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Resolved, That the House of Representa- the kind of senseless acts that oc- my time. tives— curred. Anyone willing to indiscrimi- Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker I yield (1) offers its heartfelt condolences to the nately shoot down innocent people and myself such time as I may consume. victims and their families regarding the hor- then kill themselves afterwards would rific violence at Virginia Tech in Blacks- Mr. Speaker, the headline atop the burg, Virginia, and to the students, faculty, not likely be deterred by any law. front page of yesterday’s edition of the administration and staff and their families Nonetheless, we must work with our Virginia Tech student newspaper cap- who have been deeply affected by the tragic colleges and universities in developing tured what all of us are feeling right events that occurred there; ways to anticipate, identify and pre- now: ‘‘Heartache.’’ On behalf of my col- (2) expresses its hope that losses from the vent any such threats that we can. leagues on the Education and Labor mass shooting will lead to a shared national Some evidence is emerging that indi- Committee, my staff, my family, and commitment to take steps that will help our cates that there may have been signs of communities prevent such tragedies from oc- my constituents, I extend my deepest mental disturbances in the alleged sympathy and offer my prayers to Vir- curring in the future; and shooter, and this may suggest informa- (3) recognizes that Virginia Tech has ginia Tech students, staff, administra- served as an exemplary institution of teach- tion which could lead to things to look tion and families. ing, learning, and research for well over a at to avoid these tragedies in the fu- Our institutions of higher education century, and that the University’s historic ture. are places where students begin to em- and proud traditions will carry on. But, Mr. Speaker, today we stand to- brace adulthood, where they begin to The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- gether to wish a speedy recovery for relish a new found freedom and indeed ant to the rule, the gentleman from the injured and to mourn with the fam- where they begin to realize their Virginia (Mr. SCOTT) and the gen- ilies of the victims who died in this dreams. For that to be cut short for tleman from California (Mr. MCKEON) horrific tragedy. Virginia Tech is and these young men and women by such a each will control 20 minutes. will remain one of the Commonwealth senseless act is beyond anyone’s com- The Chair recognizes the gentleman of Virginia’s finest institutions of high- prehension. So all we can do is mourn, from Virginia. er learning, and its proud traditions comfort one another and pray that the GENERAL LEAVE will carry on beyond this darkest hour. Virginia Tech community and our Na- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, This event will be with the students, tion may begin to heal in the after- I request 5 legislative days during faculty and staff of Virginia Tech for math of this unspeakable tragedy. which Members may insert material the rest of their lives, but we must not The collective feeling inside of this let tragedies like this stop people from relevant to H. Res. 306 into the RECORD. building over the last few days is much The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there living their dreams. I hope that some like the feeling we experienced on Sep- objection to the request of the gen- day all members of the Virginia Tech tember 11 and the days that followed tleman from Virginia? community will be able to celebrate when we cast aside our differences and There was no objection. life and learning on the campus again. united to stand with the victims, their Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to families and their communities. Today, I yield myself such time as I may con- introduce into the RECORD the powerful just as back then, it is a time not for sume. statement presented at the service yes- politics or a time to take advantage of (Mr. SCOTT of Virginia asked and terday at Virginia Tech by Nikki such a horrific turn of events to push a was given permission to revise and ex- Giovanni. That service was attended by partisan agenda. And similarly today, tend his remarks.) nine of the eleven members of the Vir- just as back then, it is not a time to Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, ginia delegation to Congress and both misdirect any blame toward anyone I rise this morning to offer my deepest of our U.S. Senators. So I will insert other than the perpetrator of this mas- sympathies to the victims and their that statement into the RECORD. sacre. In this case, as we currently un- families who suffered the horrific We are Virginia Tech. derstand it, this blame belongs square- We are sad today, and we will be sad for shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech on quite a while. We are not moving on, we are ly to a single gunman who acted self- Monday morning. My thoughts and embracing our mourning. ishly, brutally and without regard for prayers go out to them, the students, We are Virginia Tech. human life. faculty and staff of the university. We are strong enough to stand tall tear- Mr. Speaker, I also believe that we Virginia Tech is one of the largest lessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, owe sincere and heartfelt gratitude to schools in Virginia, providing higher and we are sad enough to know that we must Virginia Tech’s administration, law en- laugh again. education to more than 28,000 students. We are Virginia Tech. forcement officers, faculty and stu- The effects of this tragedy can be felt We do not understand this tragedy. We dents for the way they have handled all across the Commonwealth of Vir- know we did nothing to deserve it, but nei- these last 3 days. Simply put, no one

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.012 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3487 could have imagined this series of The resolution before the House this Blacksburg grew worse as the day pro- crimes that has risen to the level of the morning is sponsored by all of the gressed, and as evening fell the number deadliest in U.S. history. These men Members of the House delegation from of students and faculty killed reached and women have done their very best Virginia. Through the resolution, Con- 33. Included in that number was the ap- to respond to it. And as we witnessed gress offers its heartfelt condolences to parent assassin, a fellow student who at the convocation a day ago in all who have suffered loss, and it recog- came to this country from South Korea Blacksburg, they are doing so with a nizes that Virginia Tech has served as at an early age. The death toll of 33 deep respect and love for the campus an exemplary institution of teaching, makes the tragedy at Virginia Tech they call home. of learning and of research, and that one of the deadliest at educational in- May that spirit carry them through the university’s proud traditions will stitutions in the history of the United the difficult weeks, months and years continue. States. ahead. And may we learn from their ex- Today, we mourn an enormous loss Words cannot express the sorrow and ample as we tackle the challenges that from a violent and senseless act. To- hurt that the families of the victims we face as a Nation in the aftermath of morrow and in the months to come, the are experiencing. We cannot bring this great tragedy. resilience of southwest Virginians and these mostly young men and women Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of the spirit of our region that has helped back to the classroom, to the sidewalks my time. to make Virginia Tech a great institu- of Blacksburg or to their families and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, tion will assure that that university loved ones. But we can always remem- I yield such time as he may consume to has an even stronger future. To that ber and know that their spirit, energy my colleague from Virginia (Mr. BOU- end, we in the House today pledge our and enthusiasm in making Virginia CHER), the representative of the Ninth support. Tech one of the finest institutions of Congressional District, the home of Mr. Speaker, I urge approval of the higher education in the world will Virginia Tech. resolution. never die and will live in our memories (Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 forever. permission to revise and extend his re- minutes to the gentleman from Vir- At yesterday’s convocation at Cassell marks.) ginia (Mr. CANTOR). Auditorium in the heart of the Virginia Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I want Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, having Tech campus, those gathered heard to thank the gentleman from Virginia returned from a heart-wrenching trip President Bush, heard the Governor of (Mr. SCOTT) for yielding this time, and to Virginia Tech yesterday, it is hard Virginia, heard ministers of various re- I thank him for his remarks and also to stand here and find words to express ligions around the globe, and heard express that same appreciation to the the pain and sorrow that has befallen leaders of the Tech community. In a gentleman from California for the elo- that community. As a parent of a stu- quent remarks that he just rendered on dent approaching college age, there is spontaneous happening towards the the floor. It is with a heavy heart that absolutely nothing more upsetting end of the program, one gentleman I offer these comments today. than seeing young people cut down in stood forth and led in the Lord’s Pray- The tragedy on Monday of this week the prime of their lives. er as it was prayed in unison by thou- was of a scale and a senselessness that I will never forget, Mr. Speaker, the sands of students, families, government defies explanation. And it came to a raw emotions that filled that convoca- leaders and others in the Virginia Tech university campus that is known tion arena yesterday as I, along with community. across our Nation for its friendliness, my colleagues from Virginia, mourned May God bless the families of the de- its peacefulness, and the close associa- with some 12,000 friends and family ceased, the students at the institution, tion among the faculty and the stu- members of victims, half of whom at Virginia Tech, and our country in this dents. least were clad in Hokie maroon and time of sorrow. Yesterday afternoon a campus-wide orange. Nor will I forget the sight of a Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, convocation demonstrated to the world bereaved father who, overwhelmed with I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the that Virginia Tech’s unity and sense of grief, simply collapsed. gentlewoman from California (Ms. purpose will be maintained and When an act of random cruelty bewil- PELOSI), the Speaker of the House. strengthened. The convocation was at- ders us and pulls us down, the sort of Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with tended by President Bush; by Vir- love, generosity, courage and heroism deep sadness that Congress today rec- ginia’s Governor, Tim Kaine; and by we have seen in Blacksburg and its re- ognizes the tragedy that indeed struck the members of Virginia’s congres- sponse serves as a counterforce. It re- our country when it befell the commu- sional delegation, both House and Sen- plenishes us and demonstrates, as the nity of Virginia Tech on Monday. We ate. And I want to express my appre- Bible says, that ‘‘love is strong as offer our condolences to the many who ciation to the Members of the House death.’’ now grieve. I want to particularly ex- who traveled yesterday to Blacksburg We Virginians are resilient people, tend my condolences to our colleagues to show support for the Virginia Tech and I already know that under the here for the sorrow that has taken community and to comfort those who strong leadership of President Charlie place in their State. have lost loved ones. Steger, our brothers and sisters at Vir- But the sorrow of parents who lost I also want to take the opportunity ginia Tech will band together and their children, students who lost their in these remarks to offer some personal make it through this tragedy. friends, and a community which lost 33 thoughts. To Virginia Tech President Mr. Speaker, in response to a moving of its own is beyond any comfort we Charles Steger and the professional plea from Virginia Tech’s resident poet can give in words. Words are totally in- staff of the university, thank you for toward the end of the convocation cere- adequate. In the days that follow, the the poise, the dignity and the strength mony, the crowd there erupted into mourning and questioning that has al- that you have demonstrated under the cheers of ‘‘Let’s go Hokies.’’ It was a ready begun will continue. And as it most difficult and challenging of cir- moving call to action. Let the healing does, the thoughts and prayers of this cumstances. begin. Congress and, indeed, this Nation, will Once again, Mr. Speaker, I stand here remain with the students of Virginia b 1050 with a heavy heart, and extend my Tech and their families. To the skilled first responders of deepest sympathies, especially to the Among the victims there was a stu- Blacksburg and Montgomery County, families of those students who lost dent resident adviser known affection- thank you for your dedication and for their lives. ately as ‘‘Stack,’’ a young woman your outstanding service on Monday Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, whose love for horses led her to study that saved lives and prevented our loss I reserve the balance of my time. veterinary science; one of the world’s from being even greater. Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 great researchers on cerebral palsy; To the families and the friends of the minutes to the gentleman from Vir- and a Holocaust survivor who became victims, profound sympathy for your ginia (Mr. GOODE). an expert on aeronautics. loss of young lives full of promise and Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, on April 16, These victims, of different back- mature lives of major contribution. 2007, the news from Virginia Tech and grounds and different ages, are united

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.014 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3488 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 in their love of one of America’s great find the strength to move forward. taken through such senseless violence? learning institutions, Virginia Tech. We’re family. We’ve been deeply However, let us mourn their loss and And today and in the days to come, as wounded. That’s what families do when extend our heartfelt condolences and we grieve their loss, we are all Hokies. they’re hurt. They look to each other sympathy to their families and to their When Robert Kennedy announced to for strength, for inspiration and for friends and to their fellow students. the people of Indianapolis the news of meaning. Mr. Speaker, we hurt for the Today, our thoughts and prayers are the assassination of Rev. Martin Lu- victims and we honor their lives. also with those who have been injured ther King, he offered comfort with the That’s what families do. We close as well as Virginia Tech’s students, words of an ancient Greek playwright, ranks and lend each other support in faculty and staff, alumni and the entire Aeschylus, when he said, ‘‘Today, when our darkest hours. Benjamin Franklin campus community as they endeavor no words can describe our sadness, or said more than 200 years ago that those to cope with this monumental tragedy. heal our grief, these words again give things that hurt instruct. Let us learn Let us remind them they are not alone. our Nation hope. In our sleep, pain from this. Let us hurt. It’s good for the Not only are they in our hearts but which cannot forget falls drop by drop soul. It helps us to heal. It is, sadly, they will be in our prayers. I thank the upon the heart until, in our own de- the only way to move forward. gentleman from Virginia for giving me spair, against our will, comes wisdom Again, I urge my colleagues to sup- this time to join him and the Virginia through the awful grace of God.’’ port the resolution. delegation in recognizing the tragedy Today, on behalf of the students, fac- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, and reflecting our remembrance of ulty, staff and families of Virginia I yield to the gentleman from Mary- those who have been hurt, those who Tech, we pray for that wisdom. land (Mr. HOYER), the majority leader, have lost their lives, and those whom I hope that it is a comfort to all who 1 minute. they left behind. are grieving today that so many people Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I join all Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, may I in- in our country, indeed, in the world, 434 of my colleagues in rising to ex- quire as to the amount of time left. mourn their loss and are praying for press our sorrow, our regret, our sym- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- them at this sad time. pathy, yes, and in some respects our tleman from California has 11 minutes. Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 outrage that this calamity has been The gentleman from Virginia has 12 minutes to the gentleman from Vir- visited on so many of our promising minutes. ginia (Mr. TOM DAVIS). and wonderful young people. Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, at this Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Mr. Speaker, as a grieving Nation time I am happy to yield 4 minutes to Speaker, it is with great sadness that I tries to comprehend the senseless, hor- the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. address this Chamber today. As the rific violence on the campus of Vir- GOODLATTE). parent of four children in college, I ginia Tech University on Monday, the Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gen- share the horror and the rage, the grief full scope of this tragedy is only now tleman. I thank the majority leader and the sorrow of the larger Virginia beginning to come to light. Thirty-two and the Speaker and the other Mem- community. innocent people, 32 young people of bers of our delegation for their com- I rise today to urge my colleagues to promise, some people not so young who ments. support this resolution expressing our were at great risk and survived, 32 peo- The tranquil campus of Virginia Tech sorrow and offering condolences over ple were stolen from their families and and the town of Blacksburg has been the tragic events that took place Mon- friends at the hand of a deeply dis- shattered by the actions of a lone gun- day at Virginia Tech. Our hearts, our turbed young man who ended the car- man. The horror that the Virginia prayers and our thoughts go out to the nage by taking his own life. More than Tech community has experienced this families of those who lost lives, the in- two dozen others were injured during week is something that every parent, jured and their families, and all those this random, murderous rampage. every American hopes they never have affected by this terrible tragedy, in- Today, a profoundly saddened Nation to learn has affected their families and cluding the family of the troubled recognizes that these were not mere friends. young man who perpetrated this crime. strangers, although we may not have I have a great appreciation for Vir- known the victims personally. They ginia Tech, one of America’s pre- b 1100 were members of our national family eminent research institutions, having The coming together of communities, and in so many ways they were a re- advanced from one of the original land the reaching over the fences to lend a flection of us. They were hope for the grant universities. Thousands of people hand of support at this hour of need future. They were brothers, sisters, in my district which neighbors has been touching. From the Wash- mothers and fathers who were so full of Blacksburg have gone to school there, ington Nationals wearing Virginia life, hope and promise for a better fu- have sent their children there, and are Tech caps last night, to the community ture, for themselves, their families, members of Hokie Nation. During my groups that gathered spontaneously their country and indeed the world. time in this body, I have had graduates across the Commonwealth to share Those slain included a 20-year-old po- and students of Virginia Tech work and their sorrow, the picture of the Com- litical science major from Dumont, intern for me. For years I have known monwealth today is one we can, as New Jersey, who attended Virginia what a special place it is, with its af- usual, take great pride in. Yesterday I Tech on an Air Force scholarship; an filiated campuses and offices spread traveled with my colleagues to 18-year-old freshman from Centreville, throughout the Sixth District and Blacksburg for the convocation, and Virginia who distinguished herself in across the great Commonwealth of Vir- last evening over 500 Korean Americans drama and on Virginia Tech’s dance ginia. Yet it is with great sadness that assembled at the Fairfax County Gov- team; a 22-year-old senior from Mar- the rest of the world has come to know ernment Center to express their out- tinez, Georgia who was majoring in the compassion of Virginia Tech only rage, to offer their prayers, to start the psychology, biology and English and through this tragedy. Although this healing process that follows such trag- who served as a role model for many; a horrendous and unspeakable violence ic events. 76-year-old engineering professor and showed the worst of mankind, it also Mr. Speaker, we Virginians are Holocaust survivor who survived one of showed what those of us who have been known for looking out for each other the worst terrorists and despots the a part of the Tech community for years and this has been no different. The out- world has ever seen, Adolf Hitler, to have always known—the students, the pouring of love, sympathy and caring come home and to teach young people, instructors, the administrators, and for each other has been astonishing. to make them better able to meet the the citizens of Blacksburg care deeply The pictures of students comforting future and to have that ability robbed for one another and take great pride in each other, of students and teachers from him by a senseless act. And so their community. Even in the worst helping each other search for answers many others, Mr. Speaker. circumstances, the Virginia Tech com- in these dark hours has been particu- We may never know the answer to munity showed great compassion for larly moving. All of us around the the question ‘‘Why?’’ Why have so their fellow man and did what they Commonwealth must come together to many loving, promising people been could to help each other. Liviu

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:30 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.016 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3489 Librescu, a survivor of the Holocaust, and this exemplifies the deep concern tion came together to present this res- blocked the doorway of his classroom that he has for all of our children. olution under the leadership of Mr. so that his students could climb out Let me commend the Virginia dele- BOUCHER, so we appreciate his leader- the windows to safety. Ryan Clark, a gation for its coming together and ship today. resident adviser in the West Ambler uniting with the Governor of the State Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Johnston Hall, rushed into the hallway of Virginia with the State legislators, my time. to help his fellow students when the with the students to see about a way Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, at this first attack came and became the sec- that healing can start. To the families time I recognize the gentleman from ond victim. And I was deeply saddened and friends of the 32 victims, to the Virginia (Mr. WOLF) for 3 minutes. to learn that one of my constituents, students, to the faculty and the staff, Mr. WOLF. I want to thank Mr. Henry Lee, a graduate of William to the alumni of Virginia Tech, we ex- SCOTT and Mr. BOUCHER for bringing Fleming High School in Roanoke, was press our condolences. this resolution up. Words are inadequate at this time. among those who died in the attack on As a member of the Education and And our community and our State and Norris Hall. Two other of my constitu- Workforce Committee, we are deeply the Nation have been devastated by ents from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Heidi concerned about the future of our Na- tion. We are concerned about our what has taken place. Miller, an undergraduate, and Guil- Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart young people whether they are in pre- lermo Colman, a graduate student, that I rise today in support of this res- school, in elementary or secondary were wounded and thankfully are okay. olution offering the condolences of the education, whether they are in the in- Now, following this brutal action, House to the victims and their families stitutions of higher education. And we throughout the campus and commu- of the horrific violence at Virginia continually learn, and we have to con- nity, students are relying on each Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Mon- tinually change as Toffler said in his other to cope with what has happened, day morning, and to the students, the book, ‘‘Future Shock,’’ 20 or 30 years but they will not let the sorrow and faculty, administration, staff and their ago, that if institutions and agencies pain that has overtaken them this families who have forever been changed week be the lasting legacy to those do not change internally with the same by this tragedy. whose lives were lost. Under the leader- rate of change externally, then those My heart is heavy for the entire ship of President Charles Steger, the institutions or agencies become obso- grieving Virginia Tech community and Virginia Tech community will become lete. And this is, again, another exam- the families in the 10th District of Vir- stronger as a result of this. Their com- ple of how we have to rethink how we ginia who are mourning today because passion will reach far beyond the town operate. New Jersey had 4 students of the young, promising lives of their of Blacksburg, deep into what is affec- the 32 who perished in this senseless children have ended. According to the tionately known as Hokie Nation. act, and so our hearts are heavy, also. morning news we have received, there Their vocal pride in their community I think that we have to see how we are going to be at least five victims will not be silenced by the actions of can assist. Those of us in New Jersey who call the 10th Congressional Dis- one misguided soul. heard little about Virginia Tech 20, 30 trict, my district, home. years ago until they became a part of b 1110 There really are no words that can the Big East, and then we did hear adequately express, and as a father of 5 I was very moved as I witnessed the about Virginia Tech because they had children and a grandfather of 12, words process begun yesterday at the con- overwhelming sports teams, they had you can say, that can express the sor- vocation at Cassell Coliseum. Speaker such tremendous student support. It is row we are feeling for the families after speaker, including the President, a great institution. And we know that today. But with this resolution, it is the Governor, and so many great lead- they left the Big East for the ACC, but my hope that the families in my dis- ers at Tech spoke of not only the grief, we have fond memories of our competi- trict and the families and loved ones of but of overcoming the grief and moving tive competition. all the victims will know that this dis- forward to a brighter and better future. I am a Seton Hall graduate, so we trict, this Commonwealth of Virginia For the families who have lost sons were competing many times. and indeed the entire Nation are with and daughters, fathers and brothers, But I think that we have to use this them in spirit, offering them our heart- mothers and sisters, I grieve for you example to see how we can heal. I felt sympathy and prayers. and your loved ones. You will forever think that we need to take this trag- With my colleagues in the Virginia remain in the prayers of this Nation, edy and see how we can better identify delegation, I attended the very moving and I hope that in time you can come students who have problems, students and emotional convocation yesterday to find peace. who go to elite schools, who are lonely, in Blacksburg. I was impressed with For the Virginia Tech community, students that have situations that need the Tech community, the students and although we grieve today, and what has to be dealt with. staff, administration. President Bush happened will never leave our minds, I We have in our inner cities many did an outstanding job, as did Governor know that you will take this tragedy young people who don’t have the oppor- Kaine, in addressing the students and and use it to build a stronger campus tunity to go to higher learning. We the administration. It was truly a feel- and a more compassionate community need to really, I think, as a former na- ing of family coming together to offer for all. tional president of the YMCAs of the love and support to each other in their Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, United States, I think we need to focus time of grief and loss. I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the more of our attention on the young There is still a numbness and incre- gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. people. A Nation that loses its young is dulity about what happened on the Vir- PAYNE). losing a part of its future. We need to ginia Tech campus just 2 days ago. The (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given really spend more time on our young so wounds in Blacksburg are deep, but permission to revise and extend his re- that we develop them, so that we can with the unity of spirit and the deep marks.) nurture them, so that we can be sure faith I felt yesterday on the Tech cam- Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I join with that our country can be all that it can pus, it is my hope that as the tomor- my colleagues in expressing my deep be as we move through this new millen- rows come, this outstanding institu- condolences to the families of Virginia nium. tion and all those who are associated Tech University. Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, with it will find hope and peace. Let me begin by commending Rep- I yield myself 30 seconds. May God bless all of us at this very, resentative BOBBY SCOTT for intro- I would just like to thank the gen- very difficult time. ducing this very important resolution. tleman from New Jersey who points Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, As you know, Representative SCOTT is out that this is a national incident I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the a member of the Education and Work- with students from all over the coun- gentleman from Colorado (Mr. force Committee and has shown a tre- try. And I would like to thank him for PERLMUTTER). mendous interest in young people recognizing me as one of the sponsors Mr. PERLMUTTER. Thank you, Mr. throughout his State and the Nation, of the resolution. The Virginia delega- SCOTT.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:03 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.018 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3490 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 To the members of the Virginia dele- now from the White House. And the cause of the safe, pleasant community where gation, I am here with a heavy heart, majority of Members of Congress are the university is located. as all of you are. This is the kind of not going to stand up to the NRA. But I cannot begin to understand the pain and tragedy whose ripples will affect the the fact is, Mr. Speaker, I think we confusion that students must feel about the faculty, the staff, law enforcement, have a responsibility, particularly at tragic events that have gripped the quaint Blacksburg and the State of Virginia moments like this when we are so town of Blacksburg. I can only begin to under- for a long time. acutely aware of the carnage that the stand the panic and terror that parents, family Eight years ago tomorrow we had proliferation of weapons throughout members, and friends must have felt won- Columbine in my area. I live about 2 or our society creates. When we are aware dering about the safety of their loved ones. 3 miles from Columbine. The emotions of the tragedy that this laxity causes, In times of tragedy like these, it is important that I feel and the grief that I feel for this lack of courage to stand up to gun for a community to come together to help you bring back a lot of memories. I manufacturers and say it is time, Mr. each other come to terms with the calamity wish I hadn’t seen this play before; I Speaker, no matter how politically dif- that has occurred. I hope and pray that the wish I didn’t know this script. But I ficult it might be, to try to reduce the friends and family members of the victims, the can assure all of you, if you need any- number of weapons in our society. I’m students and faculty at Virginia Tech, and oth- thing, you have friends in Colorado. We not talking about those that are meant ers find solace and comfort as we deal to- have been through this before. for hunting. People in Canada have all gether with this historic and heartbreaking epi- It is a difficult time. There will be kinds of guns, but their rifles are used sode. mourning; there will be finger point- for hunting. They are not used for This tragedy should lead other schools to ing; there will be all sorts of things. stalking and killing other human review and develop their own plans for secu- And I would just say to all of you, we beings. rity, emergency response, and communication. feel your pain. Your sons and daughters It is the proliferation of handguns, Also, Congress and the entire country should are our sons and daughters. the kinds of guns that were used in this reflect on what appears to be a culture of ever-increasing violence, on the psychology b 1120 tragic incident and the ammunition clips that should be banned under the and methods of perpetrators of violence, and We will be there, whatever you need. assault weapon legislation we let ex- on the easy availability of guns. If there is a We have been through this. The dis- pire that have to be brought under con- federal role in dealing with these matters, and belief and the despair that all of us feel trol. And it is we, the people’s rep- I think there is, Congress should act. Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, these words today, we felt 8 years ago. If we can resentatives, who have to stand up and that I speak today do not come easily. They help in any way, you have friends in do something about this so that it flow forth from a deep reservoir of sorrowful Colorado. doesn’t have to occur again. As appro- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, emotions that compel me to take this podium. priate as it is, as I said, now to grieve What we witnessed on the campus of Vir- I am pleased to yield to my colleague with those families and to offer condo- from the Eighth Congressional District ginia Tech was too much. Too much for any- lences, it is more imperative that we one to bear. Too much for a nation to bear. of Virginia (Mr. MORAN) 4 minutes. stand up before the fact, before another Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank my America weeps, Mr. Speaker. such tragedy occurs because of our In my life, I’ve seen the horrors of war. It is good friend and colleague for yielding, lack of political courage. and I appreciate the fact that this reso- something I wish upon no one. To have battle- Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I would field casualties on an American college cam- lution has come to the floor. urge our colleagues to support this res- It is difficult to imagine a more pus, is something I never thought I would see. olution. 33 lives . . . 33 young, bright lives on the heartbreaking moment than to have a Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance cusp of experiencing the greatness that life family receive a call from the univer- of my time. has to offer. sity, where they thought they had sent Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, We must be mindful of everything we do. their child to a secure, nurturing, we would urge passage of the resolu- We must ask ourselves what we are doing learning environment, only to find out tion. I want to thank my delegates that has created a world where this could hap- that their child’s life has been cut off from Virginia. The Virginia delegation pen. As much as it hurts we must reexamine before any of their potential could be came together on this. We were to- what kind of society we want to be. realized. What a horrible loss. And to gether yesterday, and we appreciate I cannot even begin to comprehend how think that more than 30 of those calls the support from across the country. such a terrible tragedy like this came to pass. have had to take place over the last 2 We urge passage of the resolution. It would be too easy to say that this horrific in- days. Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, there are no words cident calls for some type of action by this This is a time for grieving, for trying to describe the sorrow and the pain that we body. to console. But, Mr. Speaker, as impor- feel about the catastrophe that unfolded at Vir- That may become necessary, but that is for tant and appropriate as it is to grieve ginia Tech on Monday, April 16th. The most another day. Today is a day for us to look after the fact, I think it may be even deadly shooting in our nation’s history, it is in- within ourselves. To examine who we are as more appropriate for this body to stand deed a tragedy of monumental proportions. a people and never forget what happened on up before the fact, because we know Among the 33 deaths in the attack at Vir- April 16, 2007. that this type of tragedy, perhaps not ginia Tech were several New Jerseyans: Matt Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in as large a scale, but this type of La Porte of Dumont; Michael Pohle from Rari- I rise to support the resolution. But I do so tragedy will happen again. Whether it tan Township; and Julia Pryde, a biological with a heart still full of sorrow over a loss so is in the workforce or on a college cam- systems engineering graduate student from overwhelming. Two days ago, on Monday, pus or a high school campus or on the Middletown and a resident of the 12th Con- April 15, 2007, at Virginia Tech University, one street, innocent victims will be mowed gressional District. Two other Virginia Tech of the nation’s great land grant colleges, we down. And it happens more often in our students killed in the attack—Mary Read and witnessed senseless acts of violence on a country than in any other civilized na- Caitlin Hammaren—had ties to New Jersey, scale unprecedented in our history. Neither tion, than in any other civilized nation and another—Sean McQuade of Mullica Hill— the mind nor the heart can contemplate a on this planet. And the reason, Mr. remains in critical condition. cause that could lead a human being to inflict Speaker, is because it is simply too Schools, colleges, and universities should such injury and destruction on fellow human easy to obtain a firearm. be a safe refuge for students and faculty. beings. The loss of life and innocence at Vir- If you are a criminal or mentally de- They are environments that are open to new ginia Tech is a tragedy over which all Ameri- ranged or simply emotionally upset, ideas, encourage learning in all aspects of cans mourn and the thoughts and prayers of virtually anyone can go to a store, academics and life, and help young adults to people of goodwill everywhere go out to the even a retail department store, and buy discover themselves and prepare for a career. victims and their families. In the face of such a weapon of mass destruction. That is Like students at colleges all over the country, overwhelming grief, I hope they can take com- what has happened here and will hap- the students at Virginia Tech are ambitious, in- fort in the certain knowledge that unearned pen again. And I know that the Na- telligent, and community-oriented young peo- suffering is redemptive. tional Rifle Association is able to brag ple. They chose Virginia Tech, I presume, be- Mr. Speaker, Virginia Tech is a special that it controls the gun control agenda cause of its high academic quality and be- place to those who claim membership in

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:03 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.020 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3491 ‘‘Hokie Nation.’’ Founded in 1872 as a land- But the carnage at Virginia Tech also com- They reacted well to events that defied un- grant college named Virginia Agricultural and mands that we here in this body take a stand derstanding, and touched our hearts and gave Mechanical College and located in Blacksburg, against senseless acts of violence whether us a glimpse of our future. Our nation is in the 38 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia Poly- here in our own country or elsewhere around hands of these extraordinary young people, all technic Institute and State University, or ‘‘Vir- the world. It is long past time for our national over the nation . . . those almost too young to ginia Tech,’’ is now a comprehensive, innova- community to declare that injuries inflicted on remember Columbine, tempered by their early tive research university with the largest num- any member of the community by another sim- teenage prism of 9–11. This nation should find ber of degree offerings in Virginia, more than ply based on hate or hatred of differences our comfort in the lessons from our children: 100 campus buildings, a 2,600-acre main poses a threat to the peace and security of adversity brings hope and when the worst of campus, off-campus educational facilities in the entire community. For that reason alone, humanity shows itself, the best of humanity six regions, a study-abroad site in Switzerland, such conduct must be condemned and pun- raises up to heal together. and a 1,700-acre agriculture research farm ished severely, if not prevented altogether. near the main campus. Through a combination As the poet Nikki Giovanni stated so elo- Just now, there are thousands of facts still of its three missions of teaching and learning, quently yesterday in her stirring address at the unknown about the Virginia Tech massacre research and discovery, and outreach and en- convocation held by the university yesterday in . . . thousands of second guesses about all gagement, Virginia Tech continually strives to Blacksburg: manner of the university response . . . and accomplish the charge of its motto: Ut Prosim We are Virginia Tech. certainly thousands of questions and many (That I May Serve). We are sad today, and we will be sad for more stories to come. quite a while. We are not moving on, we are Virginia Tech is home to 28,469 students Today, I join parents from South Texas and embracing our mourning. and 1,304 full-time faculty members, who to- around the nation as we pray for the students gether created an environment conducive to We are Virginia Tech. We are strong enough to stand tall tear- that were lost in Blacksburg, for their families learning, discovery, and achievement. Little lessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, . . . and for the millions of students and par- wonder the typical freshman admitted to the and we are sad enough to know that we must ents now psychologically wounded by the re- Class of 2010 had a high school grade point laugh again. ality that students in college are hardly safe average of 3.80, and an average cumulative We are Virginia Tech. from dangerous minds and wounded souls. SAT reasoning test score was 1231. ‘‘Hokie We do not understand this tragedy. We Nation,’’ is comprised of more than 190,000 know we did nothing to deserve it, but nei- To the families of those who lost loved living alumni from every state and more than ther does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, ones, whose loved ones were wounded, and neither do the invisible children walking the 100 countries. for the families of those students at Virginia night away to avoid being captured by the Tech mourning their friends . . . know that Virginia Tech offers bachelor’s degree pro- rogue army, neither does the baby elephant grams through its seven undergraduate aca- watching his community being devastated this House—and the larger American family— demic colleges: Agriculture and Life Sciences, for ivory, neither does the Mexican child are praying for them and standing with them Architecture and Urban Studies, Engineering, looking for fresh water, neither does the Ap- at this most difficult moment. We are also Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Natural Re- palachian infant killed in the middle of the praying for the family of the gunman; and we sources, Pamplin College of Business, and night in his crib in the home his father built urge that there be no retaliation for these hid- Science. with his own hands being run over by a boul- eous acts. The university offers masters and doctoral der because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy. When a parent sends a child to college, we degree programs through the Graduate School We are Virginia Tech. are so proud. We are also worried about the and a professional degree from the Virginia- The Hokie Nation embraces our own and choices they will make as they leave the safe Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medi- reaches out with open heart and hands to harbor of our homes and neighborhoods . . . cine. It is also a research powerhouse. In fis- those who offer their hearts and minds. We but today, there’s a whole new horror to con- cal year 2006, the university generated $321.7 are strong, and brave, and innocent, and tend with. million for research program. Each year, Vir- unafraid. We are better than we think and ginia Tech receives significant external sup- not quite what we want to be. We are alive As we learn more in the coming weeks, my port for research, instruction, Extension, and to the imaginations and the possibilities. We colleagues and I are committed to finding new will continue to invent the future through public service projects. Support for these solutions to the monumental problems our our blood and tears and through all our sad- schools and colleges face in protecting the projects originates from an ever-expanding ness. base of sponsors. Today, nearly 775 sponsors We are the Hokies. safety of our children. And we will remain for- fund more than 3,500 active projects. Re- We will prevail. ever sobered by the fact that nothing can ever searchers pursue new discoveries in agri- We will prevail. completely protect us—or our children—from a culture, biotechnology, information and com- We will prevail. madman intent on killing. munication technology, transportation, energy We are Virginia Tech. Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I too management (including leadership in fuel-cell Mr. Speaker, we will prevail against sense- rise in shock and dismay over the events that technology and power electronics), and a wide less acts of violence. We will prevail against unfolded on the campus of Virginia Technical range of other engineering, scientific, social uncontrolled rage and anger. We will prevail Institute on Monday this week. science, and creative fields. This research led against hatred and intolerance. to 87 disclosures, 17 patents, and 20 licenses Today we are all members of the Hokie Na- My community is fortunate that none of our in calendar year 2005. tion. We are Virginia Tech. students there were injured or killed, but our But that seemed to matter little on Monday, Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a grief remains at the loss of the 31 students which was the last day on earth for more than heavy heart to lament the tragedy that has and teachers who were killed, and the obvi- 30 members of the Virginia Tech family. held our attention and broken our hearts na- ously disturbed young man who orchestrated Among them were future scientists, engineers, tionwide as we hear more and more about the this horrible tragedy. teachers, doctors, soldiers, fathers, mothers, massacre at Virginia Tech this week . . . And When we send our children off to College, friends, and leaders. All of them cut down in I thank my friend the gentleman from Virginia we do so with anxiety just because they are a hail of bullets before they reached the prime for bringing this resolution to the floor today. leaving the ‘‘nest’’. They are growing up and of their lives. So many promising lives inter- Sometimes a child of this nation is patho- the relationship between us is changing. rupted; so many promising lives wasted. logically disturbed beyond control or even Never in our wildest imagination or fears do The New York Times noted in its editorial hope of understanding that murderous pathol- we think that we are sending them into harms that as the investigation of the Virginia Tech ogy . . . but in the events that follow horror— way. All of that changed on Monday! shootings unfolds in coming days, it will be im- Columbine, or 9–11, or the massacre at Vir- portant to ascertain whether there were any ginia Tech . . . or standing on a faraway bat- And so I sadly join my colleagues in support hints of the tragedy to come and what might tlefield . . . or even the spectacle of being the of H. Res. 306 to offer the heartfelt condo- be done to head off such horrors in the future. object of nation ridicule . . . our children have lences on behalf of the people of the U.S. Vir- Campuses are inherently open communities inspired us with their guts and their fast reac- gin Islands to the victims, their families, their and it is not easy to guarantee a safe haven. tions in the face of numbing shock. fellow students and faculty.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.006 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3492 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 In doing so I take this opportunity to also re- The text of the resolution is as fol- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there member the losses suffered at Kent state, I lows: objection to the request of the gen- have a dear friend, Corinne Forbes Plaskett H. RES. 300 tleman from New Jersey? who was a student there at the time. She has Whereas under head coach C. Vivian There was no objection. never forgotten the horror of that experience Stringer the Rutgers University Scarlet Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- and I am sure the events of Monday have re- Knights women’s basketball team finished self such time as I may consume. awakened memories for her and others who their extraordinary 2006–2007 season with a (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given were there at that time in Ohio. 27–9 record; permission to revise and extend his re- May God bless all who were affected by Whereas after losing four of their first six marks.) games the Lady Knights refused to give up Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as a rep- both events, and may He bless us all! and spent their Winter Break in the gym Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I honing their skills and working to become a resentative from New Jersey, I am rise today in support of H. Res. 306, express- better team for the rest the season; pleased to rise here in the United ing our condolences to the victims and the Whereas on March 6, 2007, Rutgers upset States House of Representatives to families involved in the tragedy which occurred top-seeded University of Connecticut for praise the remarkable young women of this week at Virginia Tech University. their first-ever Big East Championship title; Rutgers University, the Rutgers wom- April 16 brought terrible loss to all Ameri- Whereas the young women displayed great en’s basketball team, the Scarlet cans and particularly to those who are part of talent in their run to the Final Four of the Knights, and their inspiration, Coach women’s National Collegiate Athletic Asso- C. Vivian Stringer. They are true a college or university. The nearly 30 years I ciation (NCAA) tournament; spent working on a college campus were Whereas five freshmen played an integral champions, not only for their academic some of the most fulfilling of my life. I know role in the team’s march to the champion- and athletic achievement, but for the how much a campus can become a commu- ship game; dignity, strength and class they have nity and the people within it, a family. In some Whereas the Lady Knights showed enor- shown during this ordeal. ways, a campus is a haven—of learning and mous composure with tournament wins These 10 young women overcame dis- growth—in which students feel safe and free against teams playing in their home States; appointing losses early in the season to to pursue their dreams and aspirations. To Whereas through hard work and deter- advance amazingly to the Final Four. mination this young team fought through They lost four out of their first seven young Americans, a campus is among the last improbable odds to reach the NCAA title places where such horrific fears could be real- game; games. But around the Nation, fans ized. Whereas the team was just the 3d number watched as the Scarlet Knights of Rut- When we look back on what occurred this 4 seed in history to reach the championship; gers, who lost four of their first seven week at Virginia Tech, we will honor those Whereas the Lady Knights made school games, defeated Duke’s Blue Devils in whose lives were taken and those who gave history as the first athletic team from Rut- the last seconds in an exciting 53–52 their lives to protect others. We will remember gers to play for any national championship; upset, the same team that had lost to that we can never safeguard against every Whereas during those 3 weeks, the Scarlet Duke by 20 points earlier in the season. Knights brought excitement to the NCAA This victory followed a lopsided defeat threat. Still, we can take steps to protect the tournament and captured the hearts of bas- precious communities in which we live. We ketball fans throughout New Jersey and of the very strong LSU women’s team must do more to ensure that lethal weapons across the Nation; by a 59–35 score. do not fall into the wrong hands. We must Whereas Rutgers students, alumni, faculty, When the ugly incident with Don equip campuses and cities with adequate and staff, along with countless New Imus on his morning show cast a shad- emergency communication systems, so that Jerseyans are immensely proud of what the ow over their success, these young critical information gets out in time. team accomplished this past season; women showed what they are made of. In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we stand Whereas the members of the team are ex- In standing up for themselves and their with the friends and family members around cellent representatives of Rutgers University school, they also made a stand on be- and of the State of New Jersey; the world who lost loved ones on that tragic Whereas these young women are out- half of all young women who insist on April morning in Virginia. standing individuals who are striving to being treated with respect and refused Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, reach lifetime goals both on and off the bas- to be insulted, as Don Imus did to I yield back the balance of my time. ketball court; them, and stereotyped, as he used these The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Whereas the Lady Knights epitomize the disparaging words to describe these question is on the motion offered by term student-athlete with a combined B+ wonderful young women. the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. grade point average; Whereas by excelling in academics, music, b 1130 SCOTT) that the House suspend the and community service, Katie Adams, Matee Don Imus and those of his ilk vastly rules and agree to the resolution, H. Ajavon, Essence Carson, Dee Dee Jernigan, Res. 306. underestimated New Jersey’s strong Rashidat Junaid, Myia McCurdy, Epiphanny and proud Scarlet Knights. He under- The question was taken. Prince, Judith Brittany Ray, Kia Vaughn, The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the and Heather Zurich are great role models for estimated the pride we in New Jersey opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being young women across the Nation; and feel in the remarkable women of this in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Whereas the Lady Knights embody integ- remarkable team. As a matter of fact, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, rity, leadership and class: Now therefore be during the 13 original States, New Jer- on that I demand the yeas and nays. it sey had a theme, and it just said: Do Resolved, That the House of Representa- The yeas and nays were ordered. not tread on us. And that meant we are tives— a proud, small State, but do not mess The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- (1) commends the amazing performance of ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Rutgers University women’s basketball team with us. Don Imus did not know the Chair’s prior announcement, further in the NCAA tournament; and history of New Jersey. proceedings on this question will be (2) expresses its admiration for the Don Imus may have had a micro- postponed. achievements and character of this team of phone, but he was no match for these remarkable young women; f young women and their coach who so The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- eloquently spoke up for what is right COMMENDING THE ACHIEVEMENTS ant to the rule, the gentleman from and what is fair. I am so proud that OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY New Jersey (Mr. PAYNE) and the gen- through their action they were able to WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM tleman from California (Mr. MCKEON) persuade two major networks, MSNBC Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to each will control 20 minutes. and CBS, as well as numerous adver- suspend the rules and agree to the reso- The Chair recognizes the gentleman tisers that the days of using the public lution (H. Res. 300) commending the from New Jersey. airwaves to ridicule and debase anyone achievements of the Rutgers Univer- GENERAL LEAVE they choose are over. He did not realize sity women’s basketball team and ap- Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask that these women, as I said, at that plauding the character and integrity of unanimous consent that Members may initial press conference, that they had, their student-athletes. have 5 legislative days during which with the 10 of them, all underclass per- The Clerk read the title of the resolu- Members may insert material relevant sons, dressed in their uniforms, sitting tion. to H.R. 300 into the RECORD. up proud, people who will be future

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.024 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3493 lawyers and musicians, all top stu- ening comments by a radio personality. their home States. The team brought dents. As they spoke, as they intro- Throughout all the media coverage excitement to the tournament and cap- duced themselves, it was just a joy, and that followed these comments, these tured the hearts of basketball fans so Don Imus really did a favor to these young women handled themselves with throughout New Jersey and across the young women because it gave America an impressive amount of integrity, Nation. Through hard work and deter- a chance to put a face with a name, to with grace and with strong character. mination, this young team fought listen to what he said and what he As a result, it is their accomplishments through improbable odds to reach their called them and to see just the quality on the court, not the comments off the first ever NCAA title game. of these young people. court, for which they should and will A day after their loss, outrageous Let me add that it is time that the be remembered. comments were made about the team Federal Communications Commission Mr. Speaker, the Rutgers University by Don Imus on his CBS radio and start doing its job by halting the use of women’s basketball team is comprised MSNBC show. Afterwards, the team racial and gender slurs over the public of student athletes in the truest sense. showed great courage in choosing to airwaves. As long as there is weak en- They have an impressive collective meet with him so he could see first- forcement, there will continue to be grade point average, a solid selection hand how wrong his sexist and racist hate language used by the so-called of majors and a record in the classroom comments were. During this emotion- shock jocks. that matches their great work on the ally and mentally exhausting ordeal, As a matter of fact, there was a great hardwood. On the court, these young these remarkable young women main- outcry when at the Super Bowl there women have dedicated themselves to tained enormous composure as they be- was an indecent of exposure, and there improving and honing their skills came media headlines for controversy. were fines levied because there was through many hours of practice both The Scarlet Knights women basket- some equipment failure, and therefore, during the school year and during aca- ball players are excellent representa- there was an outrage of indecency. demic recesses. tives of Rutgers University and of the However, it is allowed for people to Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Scar- State of New Jersey. By striving to say whatever they want to say. As a let Knights on these accomplishments reach lifetime goals, both on and off matter of fact, in countries, radio has and wish them the best of luck in all the basketball court, they are great been used to foster hate. As in Rwanda, they will take on in the future, and role models for student athletes across it was hate radio, Radio Colline, that again, I am pleased to honor these the Nation. Even with a grueling sports went on to say, let us get this genocide young women through this resolution. schedule, the players have managed going; you know what those people I believe they have set an example their priorities well. They have main- look like, go and get them. And it was from which many other collegiate ath- tained academic excellence with a com- the radio that pushed this, and so we letes can learn. bined B-plus grade point average and have to be careful about what we allow Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of are actively involved in the commu- to happen on the airwaves. History has my time. nity. shown us that words matter, and when Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as Mr. Speaker, these women are the fu- society accepts ugly language, ugly in- much time as he may consume to the ture leaders of tomorrow. Last week, cidents will follow. gentleman from New Jersey, from the when faced with adversity, they proved I call on the networks to examine Sixth District (Mr. PALLONE) whose their promise when they stood in front their record of hiring minorities for top district is the New Brunswick Rutgers. of the entire Nation with dignity and on-air and executive positions so that Newark Rutgers is in my district, and grace. African Americans are fairly rep- I know Camden Rutgers is in your dis- I think I can speak for Rutgers stu- resented in the media. One reason that trict, Mr. Speaker. So we yield to the dents, alumni, faculty and staff along the networks made the decision to dis- gentleman. with my colleagues here and countless continue the Imus show was that the Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want New Jerseyans when I say, we are im- network employees let the manage- to thank my friend Donald Payne for mensely proud of this team. They de- ment know how disturbed and offended the introduction and for the comments serve to be honored for their hard and embarrassed they were to work for that he made. work, dedication and heart. I am hopeful that my colleagues will that company. That was the overriding Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be recognize these fine women by passing factor, and then the sponsors said that the sponsor of this resolution honoring this resolution today. they would withdraw their sponsorship. the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights And so we will not allow these de- women’s basketball team, and I ap- b 1140 meaning commentaries to continue. I plaud their character and integrity. Mr. PAYNE. Does the gentleman once again applaud those young women These remarkable young women are a from California have any further and their fine coach from the Scarlet class act, and I am proud to represent speakers? Knights at Rutgers University. them and Rutgers University here in Mr. MCKEON. We have no more Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Congress. speakers. Do you have any? my time. Rutgers had a Cinderella season that Mr. PAYNE. We have no additional Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield saw them come back from some dev- speakers. myself such time as I may consume. astating early season losses, including Let me conclude by thanking the Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this a 40-point loss to Duke University. In gentleman from California and thank- resolution to honor the women’s bas- fact, after losing four of their first six ing my colleague from New Jersey. We ketball team at Rutgers University for games, the Scarlet Knights refused to commend the young Scarlet Knights their incredible accomplishments on give up and spent their winter break in for the outstanding job that they did. the court, as well as their courage and the gym honing their skills and work- Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, integrity off the court. ing to become a better team for the I rise today in support of H.R. 300, which con- Led by head coach Vivian Stringer, rest of the season. gratulates the Rutgers University Women’s the Scarlet Knights won their first Under head coach V. Vivian Stringer, Basketball Team, coached by the incom- ever Big East conference tournament the Scarlet Knights finished their ex- parable C. Vivian Stringer, on their extraor- championship this year and advanced traordinary season with a 27–9 record. dinary basketball achievements and applauds to the national championship in Cleve- To cap it off, Rutgers upset top-seeded their character and integrity as student-ath- land just 2 weeks ago. Though they lost University of Connecticut for their letes. The Rutgers Lady Scarlet Knights wom- that game to the University of Ten- first ever Big East championship title. en’s basketball team embodies all that is great nessee, these young women made the They had lost to UConn twice in the about women’s sports: intelligence, toughness, 2006–2007 season one to remember for regular season. tenacity, leadership and, most of all, class. Rutgers students, alumni and fans. During the NCAA tournament, they The Lady Scarlet Knights also showed the Unfortunately, just hours after the upset top-seeded Duke University in power of athletics in unifying a community, be national championship game, they the second round and remained poised it Rutgers University, the entire state of New were confronted with some disheart- with wins against teams playing in Jersey, or the United States.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:03 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.024 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3494 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 That is why it was so disheartening that cer- saying: our consumers don’t appreciate this, earn a spot playing in a national champion- tain individuals would take this occasion to goodbye. Had they not pulled their ads, Imus ship. Their hard work, perseverance, and ex- utter a few disgusting and divisive comments. would have completed the familiar cycle of traordinary skill have set an excellent example I strongly condemned those words. There is apology and continued ridicule of women and for athletes everywhere: women and men absolutely no excuse for that kind of conduct, minorities in the name of humor. alike. And, as the national media spotlight and Don Imus was right to apologize. The advertisers could not help but be turned on them in the wake of the ugly re- What we must do now is address this situa- moved by the image of these student athletes marks by radio shock jock Don Imus, they tion as a country. We must start a dialogue calmly relating how the words that hurt so maintained the same poise and grace under that not only helps to heal the wounds that much affected them. Their quiet dignity moved pressure that they exhibited on the court. this type of hateful language renews, but also this nation—and was the exact opposite image I would especially like to extend my con- brings us to a better place as a society. of a shock jock trying mightily to hold onto a gratulations to sophomore, Heather Zurich of The Rutgers women’s basketball team has job so he could continue to make fun of them Montvale, New Jersey. Her performance with been a great inspiration to all of us in this and many other minorities. the Lady Knights as forward was an integral country. These young women are some of the I thank these young women—and the lead- component to the team’s success this season. best our country has to offer, and they set an ership of their coach—in teaching all of us a The Rutgers University women’s basketball example for girls all across New Jersey and lesson in how this nation treats all our citizens, team is a great source of pride to their cam- the United States. how we use the public airwaves, and the pus and all of us New Jerseyans. I applaud The Lady Scarlet Knights completed a power of consumers with advertisers in their accomplishments and look forward to dream season, making it all the way to the na- winnowing out that which is hateful entertain- hearing of their future successes. tional championship game where they fell to ment. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the Lady Vols (34–3) of the University of Ten- Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend back the balance of my time. nessee. The Scarlet Knights (27–9) were ap- the Rutgers women’s basketball team for mak- Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I urge pearing in their first-ever championship con- ing all New Jerseyans proud through their ath- passage of this resolution, and I yield test. They made it to the championship game letic and academic achievements, as well as back the balance of my time. by winning eight consecutive games, including through the intelligence, dignity, and class that The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the Big East Conference Tournament and the they showed in response to hateful, racist, and question is on the motion offered by championship of the Greensboro Regional. sexist remarks made about and against them. the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. The Lady Scarlet Knights are champions. As one of two Members of Congress who rep- PAYNE) that the House suspend the Congratulations to C. Vivian Stringer, her resents Rutgers University here in Congress, I rules and agree to the resolution, H. coaching staff and her exceptional basketball would like to pay tribute to them. Res. 300. team. The Scarlet Knights had a remarkable sea- The question was taken. Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join son, winning 27 games on their way to the na- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the the chorus of voices in commending the tional championship game. The Big East opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being achievements of the Rutgers University wom- Champions played hard and displayed all the in the affirmative, the ayes have it. en’s basketball team and applauding the char- attributes of a championship team—hustle, Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on that I acter and integrity of their student-athletes in dedication, skill, and teamwork. But what dis- demand the yeas and nays. the face of unmitigated outrage and public hu- tinguished this team most, in my opinion, is The yeas and nays were ordered. miliation. not what happened during the season, but The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- This is to thank these young women—and after it. ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the their coach—for the life lessons they taught all It is unfortunate that the end of this amazing Chair’s prior announcement, further of us, both on and off the basketball court. season was marked not by a celebration of proceedings on this question will be Their stoic dignity and remarkable grace under their achievements on the basketball court and postponed. tremendous pressure and embarrassment in the classroom, but by ignorant, racist, and f were nothing short of a central moment in our sexist remarks by a radio personality. The HONORING THE 53,000 SOLDIERS, national life. players and coaches were understandably hurt SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES, I may be the only one who didn’t listen to and angry, and their reaction to these hateful AND CIVILIANS THAT COMPRISE Don Imus’ radio show—I’ve never been a fan words shows why all New Jerseyans deserve THE NATION’S SPECIAL OPER- of talk radio, particularly talk radio that exists to be proud. ATIONS FORCES COMMUNITY to exacerbate the pathology of hate speech The players and Coach Vivian Stringer re- among us that pointedly seeks to diminish our acted with restraint, eloquence, and dignity. Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. fellow citizens because of race or gender. They engaged with the person who had in- Speaker, I move to suspend the rules Many people find that funny. I don’t ... sulted them. They told their personal views of and agree to the resolution (H. Res. and submit that if something is truly funny, ev- why his words were so hurtful and inappro- 305) honoring the 53,000 soldiers, sail- erybody laughs. When an audience sucks in priate, and they accepted his apology. I hope ors, airmen, Marines, and civilians that their breath in horror, they are not amused. that this incident will lead to a broader dia- comprise the Nation’s special oper- Free speech? Of course it is, and anybody logue about race relations in this country. I ations forces community. in this country can say anything they want to, look forward to working with community and The Clerk read the title of the resolu- anytime they wish, and they can be as hateful religious leaders, elected officials, and others tion. or mean as they choose to be. But, Imus’ in New Jersey to foster an atmosphere where The text of the resolution is as fol- show went out over the public airwaves— such comments are not only condemned, but lows: owned by all of us—and was supported by ad- do not happen in the first place. H. RES. 305 vertisers at MSNBC and CBS. Free speech We hold up college athletics not for the en- Whereas the failure to organize, train, does not mean you can hurt people over the tertainment of alumni and fans, but because equip, and plan special operations forces public airwaves, and it does not mean adver- we believe athletic participation builds char- (SOF) missions in a joint environment ulti- tisers must continue to support that hateful mately led to the aborted military operation acter. These women of the Rutgers basketball Eagle Claw, more commonly referred to as speech. So let us not blur the issue on that. team showed that they have character. Desert One, where eight servicemembers lost The young ladies of the Rutgers women’s Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, their lives attempting to rescue American basketball team overcame all the odds to get I rise today to congratulate the Rutgers Uni- hostages held in Tehran; to the final game of the NCAA women’s cham- versity women’s basketball team on their out- Whereas this failure led to Congressional pionship, and they came heartbreakingly close standing 2006–2007 season. passage of the Goldwater-Nichols Depart- to winning the national championship. Their As highlighted in this resolution, the Lady ment of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, grace and extraordinary sportsmanship was Knights sacrificed their own personal vaca- which established the United States Special first evident at that game and afterwards . . . tions over winter break to stay at school and Operations Command and the principle legal authority for the United States military to then under the glare of the national spotlight train for their well-deserved victories in 2007. organize, train, equip, and operate jointly; as objects of Imus’ cruel ridicule. It is this dedication that gained them the Big Whereas April 16, 2007, marks the 20th year It is important to note here that it was the East Championship title and a spot in the anniversary of the establishment of United advertisers on Imus’ show that showed the women’s NCAA final four. It also made them States Special Operations Command at most backbone in pulling their ads, essentially the very first athletic team from Rutgers to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida;

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.009 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3495 Whereas United States Special Operations (3) recognizes that the United States mili- in the war on terrorism and in pro- Command is comprised of— tary should seek to replicate the success moting peace and security around the (1) United States Army Special Operations that the special operations forces commu- globe by conducting the full range of Command at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; nity has achieved throughout the War on (2) Naval Special Warfare Command at special operations missions. We are Terror. here today to honor those men and Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Cali- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- fornia; women who operate with little recogni- (3) Air Force Special Operations Command ant to the rule, the gentleman from tion, the ones whose successes remain at Hurlburt Field, Florida; Washington (Mr. SMITH) and the gen- unnoticed by the world at large. (4) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations tlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. DRAKE) Command at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; each will control 20 minutes. b 1150 and The Chair recognizes the gentleman We face an enemy vastly different (5) Joint Special Operations Command at from Washington. from the one 20 years ago. Our enemy Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; GENERAL LEAVE hides in the shadows, within society, Whereas the most visible SOF mission is direct action, but SOF missions also extend Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. and it is no longer bound by conven- across the vast operational spectrum to in- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that tion. clude unconventional warfare, all Members may have 5 legislative As my colleagues know, I have on counterterrorism, counterproliferation, days in which to revise and extend many occasions come to this floor to counterinsurgency, strategic reconnaissance, their remarks on the resolution under talk about the mainstream media and civil-military operations, foreign internal consideration. their seemingly unwillingness to ad- defense, psychological and information oper- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there dress the positives regarding our mili- ations, humanitarian assistance, and theater objection to the request of the gen- tary and their achievements through- search and rescue; tleman from Washington? out the war on terror. As little as the Whereas the President, in the 2004 Unified There was no objection. American people hear about the suc- Command Plan, expanded the role of United Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. cesses of our conventional forces, they States Special Operations Command to serve Speaker, I yield myself as much time as the ‘‘lead combatant commander for plan- hear less about the successes of our as I may consume. special operations forces. ning, synchronizing, and as directed, exe- This resolution is to honor our spe- cuting global operations against terrorist That is why this resolution is timely networks in coordination with other combat- cial forces on their 20th anniversary. I and important. The men and women of ant commanders’’; will have much more to say about this, SOCOM are there, every day, with lit- Whereas special operations forces are but at this point I want to reserve the tle or no logistical support, building re- ideally suited to meet the asymmetric threat balance of my time and thank Con- lationships and providing security in posed by violent Islamists who promote in- gresswoman DRAKE for her leadership some of the most remote places across tolerance, stifle freedom, and destroy peace; on this issue as the prime sponsor of the globe. Whereas the United States has called on the bill and allow her to speak first. Mr. Speaker, we honor all those who the special operations community to pro- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of wear the uniform. But today, I believe mote freedom and democracy around the my time. it is important that we honor those pa- world in places such as— Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield triotic men and women that comprise (1) the Island of Basilan in the Philippines, myself as much time as I might con- where Army Special Forces teams and Navy our special operations community. SEALs continue to successfully develop part- sume. U.S. SOCOM’s vision sums this up: ner nation capacity that has significantly I would like to thank Mr. SMITH, the To be the premier team of special war- improved Philippine security and has chairman of the Terrorism and Uncon- rior, thoroughly prepared, properly furthered America’s national security inter- ventional Threats Subcommittee, and equipped and highly motivated at the ests in the Pacific region; Mr. THORNBERRY, the ranking member, right place, at the right time, facing (2) South America, where SOF personnel for their support and for working in a the right adversary, leading the global continue to train and cooperate with local collaborative way to quickly bring this forces to thwart illicit drug trafficking and war on terrorism, accomplishing the resolution to the floor. strategic objectives of the United terrorist activity; I rise today to honor the brave men (3) the Horn of Africa, where Marine spe- States. cial operations and other SOF personnel and women of the United States Spe- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of work closely with coalition partners to pro- cial Operations Command. The Second my time. mote regional stability; Congressional District of Virginia is Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. (4) Afghanistan, where Air Force combat home to Naval Amphibious Base Little Speaker, I yield myself such time as I controllers and other SOF personnel signifi- Creek and Dam Neck and is home to may consume. cantly contributed to the liberation of a na- Naval Special Warfare Group TWO and As Mrs. DRAKE pointed out, we are tion from an oppressive regime and continue Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR, as honoring the 20th anniversary of the efforts to maintain the peace and promote democracy in that country; and well as Naval Special Warfare Develop- forming of the command on special (5) Iraq, where SOF personnel have admi- ment Group. The fine sailors, airmen, forces, and I think it is important to rably served in support of coalition forces; soldiers, marines and civilians of the remember why Special Operations Whereas the SOF community consists of command hold a special place in my Command was set up. It was in reac- numerous individuals recognized for acts of heart, as they do for many of my col- tion to the failure of the Desert One distinction and valor, including 48 Congres- leagues on the Terrorism and Uncon- rescue attempt of the Iranian hostages, sional Medal of Honor recipients; ventional Threats and Capabilities and there were a lot of lessons learned Whereas the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Re- Subcommittee and on the Armed Serv- from that and a lot of studies that view recognized the importance of SOF and ices Committee. went into it. the critical role that it plays in the War on Two of the biggest ones were, one, we Terror and called for an increase of 15 per- This resolution is both proper and cent in SOF beginning in fiscal year 2007; and timely, as the 20th year anniversary of needed a better joint structure. The Whereas the core principles of the special the establishment of the United States military was too divided in its various operations community, known as the SOF Special Operations Command in Tampa service components, and they did not Truths, hold that— was this past Monday, April 15. Since work together. We had large numbers (1) humans are more important than hard- that time, SOCOM has been involved of assets that could function a lot bet- ware; across the globe as the ‘‘tip of the ter if they could be brought together in (2) SOF cannot be mass produced; (3) quality is better than quantity; and spear,’’ providing for our Nation’s secu- a coordinated fashion, and this is some- (4) competent SOF cannot be created after rity across the continuum of conflict. thing that was embodied in the Gold- emergencies occur: Now, therefore, be it On September 20, 2001, in preparing water-Nichols changes throughout the Resolved, That the House of Representa- this country for the war on terror, services and especially on the Special tives— President Bush said, ‘‘Our response in- Ops Command to try to bring those (1) honors the sacrifices and commitment volves far more than instant retalia- forces together. of the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Ma- tion and isolated strikes. Americans Secondly, we didn’t really have rines, and civilians that comprise the Na- should not expect one battle, but a groups that were trained for that type tion’s special operations forces community of mission, for the ability to go in and and recognizes that it owes each and every lengthy campaign, unlike any other we one of them a debt of gratitude; have seen. It may include dramatic rescue hostages, to do the direct action (2) honors the families of the Nation’s spe- strikes, visible on television, and cov- missions that required very specialized cial operations forces warriors who are there ert operations, secret even in success.’’ training. So the command was formed day-in and day-out while their loved ones are Since the attacks of September 11, to help address those two issues and deployed around the world; and 2001, SOCOM has been leading the way has been a fabulous success.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:47 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.011 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3496 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 As Mrs. DRAKE pointed out, we now ficing quality for the sake of quantity, we keep the soft truths closely in have over 53,000 people who are part of but to grow the force and to set up the mind: Humans are more important Special Operations Command per- training system necessary and the re- than hardware; quality is better than forming some of the most important cruitment system necessary. We are quantity; SOF forces cannot be mass tasks in our military and performing going to need more special operations produced; SOF cannot be easily created them very, very well. Our capabilities forces in the wars we are now fighting. after emergencies occur. have been enormously enhanced be- The second thing is to get that em- The service and sacrifice of the 53,000 cause of the Special Operations Com- phasis on indirect action. We will, I be- members of the special operations com- mand. There are many of them sta- lieve, need to make some restructuring munity and that of their families are a tioned throughout the U.S. and within the Special Operations Com- major part of what creates and main- throughout the world. I am very proud mand to get that emphasis on indirect tains the freedom we all enjoy. at Fort Lewis and in McCord to have action because for so long the emphasis I am honored to be able to work on the first special forces group at Fort has primarily been on direct action. behalf of our special operators. I salute Lewis and the 22nd Special Tactics So those are issues that we want to these quiet professionals in the United Aviation Command at McCord. And I work on. I am very pleased to join with States Special Operations Command on have also had the opportunity to visit Congresswoman DRAKE in honoring our its 20-year contribution to our national many of these units in various places Special Operations Command on the security. I thank Chairman SMITH and throughout the country and through- 20th anniversary of their existence. Ranking Member THORNBERRY. out the world, and they are serving us Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. very, very well. my time. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gen- As we move forward, I think the im- Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, before I tlewoman from Florida (Ms. CASTOR). portant thing we are trying to develop recognize our next speaker, I would Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank on the Terrorism Subcommittee on like to take a moment and extend my the distinguished chair of the ter- Armed Services is to bring into play deepest sympathies and support to the rorism subcommittee, Mr. SMITH. another important piece of what the grieving Virginia Tech family. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the com- special operations forces do. There is a This week we witnessed a tragedy of mitment, dedication and sacrifice of tendency to think of them as the direct overwhelming proportions that has de- the men, women and extended family action guys. They find bad guys and stroyed the lives of many innocent vic- of Special Operations Command. Spe- take them out. If we have hostages tims. While the consequences are dev- cial Operations Command is located in that need to be rescued, they go get astating, I was inspired by the ability Tampa, Florida, at MacDill Air Force them. But there is another very impor- of students, alumni, faculty, family Base in my district, and I am very tant task that they perform, and this is and neighbors to come together, driven proud to use this week, the 20th anni- in the unconventional warfare, indirect by a sense of community and compas- versary of the command’s founding, to action piece. sion, to support others in their time of salute their service. We are now active in well over a need. There is little doubt that a need still dozen countries throughout the world Mr. Speaker, I will submit a further exists for the well-coordinated special where our special forces folks go into statement for the RECORD. forces. the community, work very closely with Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 b 1200 local communities to help stop minutes to the gentleman from North insurgencies before they take root. We Carolina (Mr. HAYES). There are just some things that con- are doing this in the Philippines, and Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank ventional forces are not set up to do. we are doing this in Central Africa. the gentlewoman from Virginia for Special forces have been around for And it is having enormous benefits. yielding me this time. centuries. But SOCOM can directly It is far, far better to get in early, I rise today to salute our Nation’s trace its roots to the Office of Stra- help train the locals in terms of how to special operations forces as a cosponsor tegic Services, the OSS, the intel- protect themselves and then to help honoring the 20th anniversary of ligence agency that was formed during them with their local population on United States Special Operations Com- World War II. the issues that are most important. mand. Tampa resident Art Frizzell, who is We had testimony yesterday from a As we continue to fight the global 87, served as an OSS agent. He former special operations person who war on terror, special operations forces parachuted behind German lines in said when they first went into North- are making incredible contributions France and worked with French par- ern Africa, the best thing they did was and playing a most essential role in tisans to blow up bridges and help or- they brought a dentist with them. The winning this war. They truly are the ganize the resistance during World War locals so desperately needed that help; tip of the spear. II. when we gave it to them, they then As co-chair of the Special Operations In many ways, Frizzell said, special helped us deal with the insurgency Caucus, I am very proud my district is operations were as much about brains problem. home to Fort Bragg, which is home to and unconventional warfare in the Whether it is bad schools or bad Army Special Operations Command 1940s as they are today. We recognized, water supply, our special forces people and Joint Special Operations Command Frizzell said, that we had to be flexible. are getting engaged with the local and the John F. Kennedy Special War- We did the job that nobody else could community, understanding the culture fare School. do. and learning the language and becom- But Fort Bragg is only part of the So at this 20th anniversary, we salute ing helpful. That, I believe, is the fu- amazing force that comprises Special the brave men and women who have ture of our battle against al Qaeda and Operations. Members of the Navy, Air served our country in the special oper- many, many other insurgent move- Force and the new Marine Corps Spe- ations, much of which you will never ments, is to get the population on our cial Operations Commands also play understand or know. But the American side, hearts and minds before we have critical roles in addressing the threats people trust in their service. to engage in the type of military ac- we face as a Nation. So on this day, on behalf of the Flor- tion that is by definition messy and These quiet professionals are pro- ida’s 11th District, proud home of Spe- not always as focused as we would like moting freedom through their service cial Operations Command, we salute it to be. Let’s get the insurgency around the world. During my visits your service and thank you. stopped before it starts, and that is with special operators here, at home Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 what our special forces can do and are and overseas, I have consistently been minutes to the gentleman from Min- very well trained to do. struck by their unwavering dedication, nesota (Mr. KLINE). To move forward with this, to con- commitment and capability. Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speak- tinue moving forward on the mission, I The role of these special operations er, I thank the gentlelady for her think we need to do two things: One, forces is only going to grow, and as thoughtfulness and leadership in bring- we need to grow the force, never sacri- they grow, it is vitally important that ing this resolution to the floor.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:47 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.029 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3497 I rise in strong support of H. Res. 305. To those who perished in Operation Not only did they put themselves in Mr. Speaker, next week will mark the Eagle Claw and the many SOCOM mis- great danger, and not only do they per- 27th anniversary of Operation Eagle sions since then, we offer our sincere form a great duty to our country, but Claw, better known to most Americans appreciation. And to those who carry they do it at great sacrifice for them- as ‘‘Desert One,’’ which the distin- on their noble mission, we pledge our selves and their family. They train guished chairman mentioned moments Nation’s support. constantly. They have deployed very ago. Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 often and they are, indeed, a credit to On April 24, 1980, a task force con- minutes to the gentleman from New themselves, a credit to their families, sisting of Army special forces, Army Jersey (Mr. SAXTON). who pay a sacrifice as well, and a great Rangers, Air Force special operations Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have credit to our Armed Forces. wing personnel and the Navy, Marines the highest regard for every man and So I rise today to commend the and Air Force succeeded in moving woman who serves in the United States gentlelady from Virginia (Mrs. DRAKE) thousands of miles, undetected, until military. Whether they be a member of for offering this resolution. It is cer- reaching a remote location in the Ira- the Air Force or the Army or the Ma- tainly one that is well deserved on this nian desert 200 miles from Tehran in an rine Corps or the Navy or the Coast 20th anniversary of the establishment effort to rescue the American hostages Guard, everyone who volunteers to of the United States Special Operations being held at the American Embassy. serve our country deserves the grati- Command. A combination of helicopters and C– tude of every American citizen. And to Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. 130 aircraft rendezvoused with the in- the extent that they have provided the Speaker, I am pleased to yield 21⁄2 min- tention of rescuing these hostages in great service to our country, we all utes to the gentleman from Georgia Tehran the following evening. Due to thank them, each and every one. (Mr. MARSHALL). mechanical failures and weather prob- Just as people volunteer to be in the Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am lems, only six out of eight helicopters military, some people, various people, pleased to address the House on the oc- successfully arrived at the Desert One in the military volunteer to do dif- casion of the 20th anniversary of the rendezvous. Once the six helicopters ar- ferent things. And those who volunteer creation of SOCOM. And today we not rived, the rescue attempt was dealt a to be members of the Special Oper- only pat ourselves on the back for hav- final blow when it was learned that one ations Command are often referred to ing created SOCOM, but at the same of the helicopters had lost its primary as the ‘‘tip of the spear.’’ This is the in- time, we honor and recognize all of hydraulic system. signia on this plate of the Special Oper- those military personnel for SOCOM As the various aircraft began moving ations Command. It is the tip of the who have done so much for this coun- into position to return to their respec- spear. And we refer to them as mem- try over the years. tive launching points, one of the heli- bers of an organization that is the tip Twenty years seems like a long time, copters, flown by one of my very best of the spear because they volunteer to but in the course of history it is not a friends, collided with a C–130 aircraft put them themselves in great danger on the ground. Flames engulfed the very long time. And if you think about very often. They do it for our country. helicopter and the C–130, which re- all of the engagements that we have They do it for our government. They do sulted in the death of five airmen and had in recent years and the challenges it for their families and their friends three marines. that we likely face as a country over During my 25 years in the Marine and neighbors; and it makes them, in the next few decades, SOCOM is going Corps, I had the good fortune to know my view, a very special cadre of people to be around with us for quite some many of the heroes of that day, and I in the United States military. time. And it brings to the table capac- Today, there are 53,000 soldiers, sail- did, in fact, count many of them as my ities that we vitally need. ors, airmen and marines in the joint best friends. These brave men were b 1210 asked, and all proudly volunteered, to organization made up of members of all four services known as the Special Op- Our experience in Iraq shows us that undertake the challenge of rescuing we simply cannot compel indigenous their fellow Americans in a mission of erations Command. The acronym, of societies to do what we wish them to the utmost secrecy and gravest danger. course, that we use is SOCOM. These do. We have got to persuade them to Members from all branches of our are highly trained individuals who de- armed services came together, bringing vote themselves and commit their lives work with us to bring peace and secu- with them the best of skills and experi- to the very defense of our country. rity, not only for their countries but ence, but it was not enough to do the There are people in the Special Oper- throughout the world. And in order to job. In the end, inadequate equipment, ations Command who take part in do that, our special forces, part of tremendous dust storms, extraordinary something called direct action. The SOCOM, are extraordinarily effective. logistical challenges contributed to the Navy SEALs would be such an organi- We have direct action operators, and mission’s failure. But these cir- zation, Naval Special Warfare Com- then we have indirect action. Direct cumstances in no way diminished the mand actually is the formal name, or action is us, in a very sophisticated skill and bravery of the men who took Navy SEALs as they more generally way, doing what we need to do to af- on this hazardous mission against all are known as people who are often di- firmatively address with military odds. rect actors. force, kinetic force, problems that we Out of the ashes of Operation Eagle And then there are special operations perceive, and SOCOM is very, very ef- Claw arose the organization that we folks who are indirect actors, who try fective at delivering direct action. honor today. In 1986, Congress estab- to manipulate, if you will, the shape of But there is also the indirect action. lished a new unified command for spe- the battlefield or attitudes on the bat- The ability of special forces to work cial operations forces, designated as tlefield among our enemies that would with indigenous populations to get the U.S. Special Operations Command. be beneficial to us. These are civil af- them on our side, if that is the right And today we gratefully honor the 20th fairs people and psychological oper- term, and to persuade them to develop anniversary of SOCOM’s founding and ations people and others who take part their capacity to provide security for the men and women who fill its ranks. in an indirect way rather than in a so- themselves, which in turn provides se- Like their predecessors, the men and called direct way. curity for us. We all recognize that, in women that comprise today’s special Since SOCOM’s inception, the special this new era where there is a growing operations forces have accepted the operators have conducted high-profile lethality of hatred, where one or two or challenge of tackling some of the most missions, including operations to es- a small group of individuals located difficult and dangerous missions as- tablish a democratic government in somewhere in the world can obtain signed to our military. As we have wit- Panama, hunting Scuds during the things that are very, very deadly, dan- nessed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn first Gulf War, providing relief to gerous to the United States and the of Africa, the Philippines and in many Kurds during Operation Provide Com- Western world, and deliver them to us, other locations across the globe, they fort, and the mission to capture Mo- in an era in which individuals can do have handled these missions with hammed Hadid in Somalia, and many this worldwide, we have got to be able honor and skillful professionalism. other operations around the world. to network. We have got to be able to

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.033 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3498 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 create effective Security Forces among Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield SOF forces are truly at the forefront of our indigenous populations, and special back the balance of my time. current military operations, and, it is important forces brings that kind of capability to Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. that we draw our attention to them today and the table. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I recognize their tremendous efforts and sac- So I expect we will grow SOCOM. I may consume just to say one quick rifices, including leaving their families and expect SOCOM will be in the future a thing. friends for deployments to several countries very important part of our Nation’s de- The bipartisan agreement on our sup- throughout the world at months at a time. As fense. I thank all of the men and port for the Special Operations Com- a member of the U.S. House Armed Services women in SOCOM for the great service mand and the support for the mission I Committee Subcommittee on Terrorism and they have provided and congratulate think is something that would surprise Unconventional Threats, which has jurisdiction SOCOM on its 20th anniversary. a great many people and something we over our SOF forces, I am committed to en- Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 need to focus on. suring that we do our part to meet the needs minutes to the gentleman from Texas And I want to thank Mr. THORN- of our special operators and the officials who (Mr. THORNBERRY). BERRY, Mr. SAXTON, Mrs. DRAKE, Mr. are charged with leading them into the battle- Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I KLINE, the subcommittee that is fo- field. It is essential that we recognize and sup- thank the gentlewoman for yielding. cused on this issue. We are very much port their efforts, and I am confident that this Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this in the same place on what we need to resolution and especially in support of resolution does just that! do to be ready to combat the threat we Thank you Mr. Speaker, may God bless you the commitment and dedication that face from al Qaeda and other insurgent and our fine men and women who serve in lies behind it, both the troops that groups, and I think it speaks very well make up the Special Operations Com- our Special Operations Forces. of the committee, both the sub- Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay mand and the Members here in the committee and the broader committee, tribute to the premiere component of today’s House who support them. that there is such bipartisan agree- The gentlewoman from Virginia forces, our Nation’s Special Forces including ment on how to approach this fight. I (Mrs. DRAKE) conceived of this resolu- soldiers, sailors and marines. These are the think a lot of times the national focus tion as a way of recognizing the unique forces we turn to when we must do the impos- is on where we disagree as parties contribution that these forces make to sible, do it quietly, and do it smartly. I am our national security, and she has been when, in fact, there is an enormous proud to commend them on their 20th year of a leader in advocating on their behalf. amount of agreement on critical pieces service to this Nation. The gentleman from North Carolina of how we need to proceed with this. So Our Special Forces were born of necessity I appreciate Mrs. DRAKE’s bringing this (Mr. HAYES) has been one of the strong- in the aftermath of the aborted military oper- est advocates for Special Operations resolution to the floor so we can talk ation attempting to rescue American hostages Command, not only their value to the about that, and I look forward to work- held in Iran. Since that time, they have been country but also what they need to ing with her and all the members of the the very tip of our spear; they are the first carry out their job, and he, along with committee in a bipartisan fashion to forces to go into the dangerous places, and it Mr. MCINTYRE of North Carolina, are move forward on these issues. is upon their resilience and brilliance that rest co-chairs of the Special Operations Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in our success or failure in the early going of any Forces Caucus here in the House. The support of the commitment, dedication and operation to which we have committed our gentleman from Florida (Mr. MILLER) sacrifice of the men, women and the extended military forces. has also been a leading advocate for family of the Special Operations Command The past 25 years have seen a marked shift special operations forces, as has been, (SOCOM). in the operational spectrum of threats, and of course, the gentleman from Georgia This week marks the 20-year anniversary of Special Ops is our answer to unconventional (Mr. MARSHALL), the gentleman from the Command’s establishment, and I am warfare, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, Minnesota (Mr. KLINE), who have pleased to support H. Res. 305, which honors strategic reconnaissance, civil-military oper- unique military backgrounds to con- the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, ations, psychological operations, humanitarian tribute. And I have got to say that the and civilians that comprise the Nation’s special assistance and search and rescue. chairman of this subcommittee, Mr. operations forces community. Special Forces are so important to the cur- SMITH, as well as the previous chair- As one of the founders and Co-Chairman of rent conflicts in which we are engaged, they man, Mr. SAXTON, work not only for the House Special Operations Forces (SOF) are the lead combatant command, covering recognition but also to see that these Caucus, I know firsthand how important these both wars. forces have the resources, the support, warriors are to our military efforts. During my Special Forces is populated with many indi- the organization they need to carry out tenure in Congress, I have represented all or viduals recognized for distinction and valor, in- their job. This is not just a one-time parts of Fort Bragg, which is home to the U.S. cluding 48 Congressional Medals of Honor. recognition. This is something that a Army Special Operations Command and the While bombs and bullets are our blunt force, number of dedicated Members work on Joint Special Operations Command—vital the Special Forces is our scalpel. They are throughout the year to provide the components of the U.S. Special Operations forged in four common truths: Humans are backup support that these folks need. Command. I have also represented Camp more important than hardware; Special Forces Mr. Speaker, warfare is always Lejeune, which is now home to the Marine cannot be mass-produced; quality is better changing. The kinds of skills and mis- Special Operations Command. than quantity; and capable Special Forces sions that our special operations forces As you know, the Special Operations Com- cannot be created after an emergency. bring are absolutely critical to today’s mand, which was established on April 16, Today we honor that mindset, and thank fight but even more critical to the na- 1987, is unique—it ensures joint training, these Special Forces for their leadership and tional security challenges ahead, both equipping, planning and operations of our bravery. We also honor their families, who the direct action and the indirect ac- SOF forces. Before 1987, U.S. Special Oper- offer them tremendous support while they are tion. Bringing precise targeted effects ations Forces operated on an impromptu basis deployed. without a large number of troops, with- and were often used to the point of exhaustion Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, out a big logistical tail, that is very and then disbanded once a specific crisis had I rise in support of H. Res. 305, which honors important. It is also very important to passed. Since then, however, they have par- the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, help train other militaries so that they ticipated in a wide range of global military op- and civilians that comprise the Nation’s Spe- can work with us and we are not de- erations, including peacetime engagement and cial Operations Forces community. This week pendent upon our troops to do all the a major theater war, Operation Desert Storm. marks the 20th anniversary of the Command’s things that need to be done. Today, our SOF forces are embedded in the founding on April 16, 1987, at congressional So this is an important resolution, most important operation since their incep- direction, pursuant to passage of the Gold- but the commitment and dedication of tion—the Global War on Terrorism. Their core water-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of the gentlewoman from Virginia and my tasks include counter-terrorism, counter-pro- 1986. The unique structure of the Command chairman from Washington are the cru- liferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, ensures joint training, equipping, planning, and cial elements that help these folks do special reconnaissance, psychological and in- operations. Special Operations Forces per- their job day in and day out. It de- formation operations, civil-military operations sonnel are currently executing their duties in serves our support. and unconventional warfare. over 50 nations throughout the world.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.035 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3499 The Special Operations Command was cre- around the world, and they are doing a fan- H. RES. 301 ated following a congressional assessment of tastic job. Resolved, That at any time after the adop- the unsuccessful attempt to rescue 53 Amer- Going forward, we need more special oper- tion of this resolution the Speaker may, pur- ican hostages held in Iran in 1980. Among the ations forces to fight the spread of the totali- suant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the major shortcomings identified was the inability tarian ideology pushed by al-Qaeda and re- House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for of the military to operate effectively in a joint lated groups. Consistent with the 2006 Quad- consideration of the bill (H.R. 1257) to amend manner, particularly due to differences in rennial Defense Review, we will seek to grow the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to pro- equipment and lack of coordinated training. SOCOM forces by 15 percent. We will not vide shareholders with an advisory vote on This deficiency was directly addressed by the sacrifice quality for quantity, but we must have executive compensation. The first reading of establishment of the Special Operations Com- the capability to train more special operations the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of mand, which allowed for the creation of a truly forces to face complex national security chal- order against consideration of the bill are joint force with the authority to organize, train, lenges. waived except those arising under clause 9 or and equip for complex national security chal- And, we must ensure proper emphasis on 10 of rule XXI. General debate shall be con- indirect action. Often when people think of fined to the bill and shall not exceed one lenges. hour equally divided and controlled by the The Special Operations Command currently special operations, they think of direct action chairman and ranking minority member of consists of over 53,000 individuals, including against terrorists. But much of SOCOM’s mis- the Committee on Financial Services. After Army Special Forces personnel, Air Force sion involves less dramatic but essential work. general debate the bill shall be considered Special Operations personnel, U.S. Navy Special operations forces are currently work- for amendment under the five-minute rule. It SEALs, and Marine Special Operators. Its ing in well over a dozen countries to prevent shall be in order to consider as an original core tasks include counter-terrorism, counter- al-Qaeda and other organizations from taking bill for the purpose of amendment under the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, root. They train locals to defend themselves five-minute rule the amendment in the na- foreign internal defense, special reconnais- and help local populations improve their living ture of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now print- sance, direct action, psychological and infor- situations so that they are less susceptible to ed in the bill. The committee amendment in mation operations, civil-military operations, un- terrorist recruitment. the nature of a substitute shall be considered conventional warfare, and the ‘‘synchroni- Getting to know local populations, learning as read. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule zation’’ of the war against terrorism. the languages, becoming helpful to them— XVIII, no amendment to the committee I fully support the Command’s ongoing com- these steps are vital to preventing amendment in the nature of a substitute mitment to its primary focus of neutralizing ter- insurgencies and terrorist groups from taking shall be in order except those printed in the rorists and destroying their associated net- hold. We recently heard from a special oper- portion of the Congressional Record des- works. The Command should be encouraged ations veteran who told us that the most help- ignated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII in a daily issue dated April 17, 2007, or and fully resourced to balance its focus be- ful counter-terrorism tool his force brought with earlier and except pro forma amendments for tween ‘‘direct’’ and ‘‘indirect’’ action—or be- them in North Africa was a dentist. The popu- the purpose of debate. Each amendment so tween the ‘‘kinetic’’ mission and the effort to lation needed this service so badly that our printed may be offered only by the Member ‘‘win the hearts and minds.’’ I also believe that providing it led to them working with us to root who caused it to be printed or his designee greater emphasis should be afforded to hu- out terrorists in the area. This kind of work to and shall be considered as read. At the con- manitarian and counter-insurgency missions. win the hearts ana minds of local populations clusion of consideration of the bill for I sincerely appreciate the efforts and sac- is essential if we are to defeat the spread of amendment the Committee shall rise and re- rifices of the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, al-Qaeda’s message across the globe. That’s port the bill to the House with such amend- Marines, and civilians that comprise the Na- ments as may have been adopted. Any Mem- why we in Congress must ensure that ber may demand a separate vote in the tion’s Special Operations Forces community. I SOCOM is resourced and structured properly House on any amendment adopted in the urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting to sufficiently emphasize and effectively carry Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the the 53,000 brave men and women who risk out this critical indirect work. committee amendment in the nature of a their lives in the most dangerous of missions I want to thank the members from both par- substitute. The previous question shall be to preserve our freedom. Vote aye on H. Res. ties on the terrorism subcommittee of the considered as ordered on the bill and amend- 305. House Armed Services Committee for their ments thereto to final passage without inter- Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I’m work to make sure our special operations vening motion except one motion to recom- mit with or without instructions. proud to work with Representative DRAKE to forces have the tools they need to protect our SEC. 2. During consideration in the House mark the 20th anniversary of founding of the country. I want to especially thank Ranking of H.R. 1257 pursuant to this resolution, not- Special Operations Command. Member MAC THORNBERRY and Representa- withstanding the operation of the previous Congress established SOCOM on April 16, tive THELMA DRAKE for their hard work on this question, the Chair may postpone further 1987 in response to the failure of the Desert important resolution. consideration of the bill to such time as may One mission to rescue American hostages in Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. be designated by the Speaker. Iran. We learned two main lessons from Speaker, I yield back the balance of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Desert One. First, we needed a better joint my time. tleman from Massachusetts (Mr. command structure; our military was too di- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. MCGOVERN) is recognized for 1 hour. vided and did not work well together, due to ENGEL). The question is on the motion b 1220 a lack of interoperable equipment and a lack offered by the gentleman from Wash- of familiarity and joint training among the var- ington (Mr. SMITH) that the House sus- GENERAL LEAVE ious branches. Second, we lacked forces pend the rules and agree to the resolu- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask trained for these kinds of missions. The estab- tion, H. Res. 305. unanimous consent that all Members lishment of SOCOM was meant to address The question was taken; and (two- be given 5 legislative days in which to these shortcomings. thirds being in the affirmative) the revise and extend their remarks on SOCOM has been a fabulous success. We rules were suspended and the resolu- House Resolution 301. have roughly 53,000 special operations per- tion was agreed to. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there sonnel operating in more than 50 countries A motion to reconsider was laid on objection to the request of the gen- around the world, taking direct action to the table. tleman from Massachusetts? counter terrorists and working with local popu- f There was no objection. lations to prevent terrorists from taking root. Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield I am especially proud of the three special PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION myself such time as I may consume. operations force components housed in the OF H.R. 1257, SHAREHOLDER Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of de- 9th District of Washington: the Army 1st Spe- VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSA- bate only, I yield the customary 30 cial Forces Group (Airborne) and the Army TION ACT minutes to the gentleman from Texas 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, by di- (Mr. SESSIONS). All time yielded during (SOAR)—4th Batallion at Fort Lewis and the rection of the Committee on Rules, I consideration of the rule is for debate Air Force 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at call up House Resolution 301 and ask only. McChord Air Force Base. I’ve also been able for its immediate consideration. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 301 is an open to visit several other components of our spe- The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- rule with a preprinting requirement cial operations forces across the country and lows: providing for the consideration of H.R.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.027 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3500 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 1257, the Shareholder Vote on Execu- ecutive compensation practices of cor- new fiduciary responsibility for board tive Compensation Act. The rule pro- porations. I hope that my former col- members. Even if a majority of share- vides 1 hour of general debate, con- league from California, Chris Cox, now holders agreed that a company’s execu- trolled by the Committee on Financial the Commissioner of the SEC, feels en- tives were being compensated too gen- Services. The rule waives all points of couraged by this legislation and works erously, there are no provisions in this order against consideration of the bill toward further protecting shareholder legislation to obligate a board to com- except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rights. ply with this decision. rule makes in order the Committee on Over the past year, CEOs of major So if a board does choose to ignore an Financial Services amendment in the corporations have received multi- affirmative vote, again according to nature of a substitute as an original million-dollar severance packages, de- Chairman FRANK’s testimony in the bill for the purpose of amendment, spite falling stocks and market share Rules Committee, since there is no fi- which shall be considered as read. The drops during their tenures. These so- duciary responsibility and no private rule requires that any amendments to called ‘‘golden parachutes’’ highlight right of action created by this new the bill must be preprinted in the CON- the disparity between shareholders’ mandatory shareholder vote, there is GRESSIONAL RECORD on or before Tues- rights and executive compensation no legal recourse provided in this bill day, April 17, 2007. Finally, the rule oversight. for shareholders to force board compli- provides one motion to recommit, with In addition to neglecting share- ance. or without instructions. holders’ interests, current executive So rather than demonstrating the Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support compensation practices actually hurt courage of their convictions that exec- of this open rule. This is a good, appro- the long-term corporate value of a utive pay is wildly out of control in priate rule that allows any germane company. Unprecedented growth in ex- this country and that shareholders amendment to be debated and voted on ecutive compensation over the past should be able to rein it in unilaterally by this body, as long as that amend- two decades has taken money out of through a ballot process, Democrats ment was preprinted in the CONGRES- the pockets of shareholders and com- have chosen to bring legislation to the SIONAL RECORD. This rule is appro- promised the long-term interests of too floor today, forcing private entities to priate because it allows for real debate many companies. take an action that they are already and for up or down votes on matters re- According to the Corporate Library, capable of taking by their very own na- lated to this bill. I believe this is a in 2006, the average CEO of a Standard ture. But this would make this new good process, and I want to commend and Poor’s 500 company received $14.78 mandatory vote little more than a both Chairman FRANK and Ranking million in compensation. It is only fair weak ‘‘sense of the shareholder’’ reso- Member BACHUS for requesting this that the shareholders, the people who lution that can be simply ignored by a rule and for testifying in support of actually foot the bill for severance board with impunity. this rule in the Rules Committee yes- packages, have the opportunity to ex- I am also extremely surprised, Mr. terday. press their support or disapproval of Speaker, by the Democrat leadership’s I also rise in support of the under- their company’s executive compensa- recent conversion to the merits of de- lying legislation. The purpose of this tion. mocracy in determining an organiza- bill is straightforward. H.R. 1257, the H.R. 1257 empowers shareholders and tion’s actions. Less than 2 months ago, Shareholder Vote on Executive Com- complements the SEC’s current regula- this same leadership brought to the pensation Act, allows for shareholders tions regarding executive compensa- floor legislation that strips American of a publicly traded corporation to con- tion. workers of their right to use a secret duct annual nonbinding advisory votes Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to ballot to decide whether or not to on the compensation of the corpora- support the rule and the underlying unionize and provides for unprece- tion’s executives. Basically, this bill bill. dented intimidation of employees by would allow the shareholders, those Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of union bosses under a fundamentally with the most vested interests, to ex- my time. antidemocratic process known as ‘‘card press their approval or disapproval of a Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield check.’’ But I suppose the Democrats’ company’s compensation practices. myself such time as I may consume. new-found selective commitment to Let me be clear. This bill does not Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposi- democratic principles is better late force a company to accede to the vote, tion to this rule and to the underlying than never. nor does it overrule a decision by the legislation, which I think constitutes The reality is that shareholders al- board of directors of a corporation. In- an unnecessary and unwarranted Fed- ready have a democratic option avail- stead, it allows the shareholders to eral intrusion into the free enterprise able to them if they think that a board demonstrate their public approval or system and the private sector. The leg- is shirking its fiduciary responsibil- disapproval of a corporation’s com- islation that the Democrat majority ities to investors. They can sell their pensation practices. The bill does not has brought to the House today would shares and vote with their dollars. This allow shareholders to set caps on the create a new Federal mandate on pub- is a basic principle of how markets size or nature of executive compensa- licly held companies, but does so in a work in a free enterprise system, and it tion. half-hearted way that would have abso- has been the steadfast commitment to By allowing for an annual vote by lutely no practical impact on its pur- principles like these that has made the shareholders, H.R. 1257 goes one step ported goal of improving disclosure and American economy the envy of the beyond the recently enacted regulation addressing ‘‘excessive’’ executive com- world over the last decade, even while by the Securities and Exchange Com- pensation. economies across Europe have stag- mission, which only requires that the The Democrats’ Shareholder Vote on nated and shrunk. amount in executive compensation be Executive Compensation Act would Mr. Speaker, Mr. FRANK has rep- disclosed. force every publicly held company to resented to the House that the real aim Mr. Speaker, this legislation would bear the costs of administering a of this legislation is not to create a require public companies to include toothless, nonbinding shareholder vote new class of lawsuits for the trial bar this nonbinding shareholder vote in on pay packages of its highest com- to exploit, and I take him at his word. their annual proxy statement to share- pensated officials during every proxy But that leaves only one sensible ex- holders. An additional nonbinding advi- vote. It is unclear, however, what the planation for why the Democrat major- sory would also be provided to share- outcome of this vote, which under cur- ity would bring such a toothless bill to holders if the company awards a new rent rules could already happen today the floor of the House today, and that compensation package while simulta- at any publicly held company, would is to provide outsiders, such as Big neously negotiating the purchase or mean for the company, the board of di- Labor bosses, environmentalists and sale of the company. rectors, executives or the shareholders. so-called ‘‘consumer activists,’’ with a By taking this step, H.R. 1257 in- Yesterday in the Rules Committee, new avenue to criticize the manage- creases accountability, and also en- Chairman BARNEY FRANK testified that ment of corporations and to compel ables the SEC to better monitor the ex- this vote was not intended to create a boards to do their bidding.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.040 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3501 b 1230 Having said that, I would like to There have been many examples just in Information about executive com- yield 4 minutes to the distinguished the past month or two of what we pensation is already fully disclosed to gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. CAS- would judge to be outrageous CEO pay investors, who have every opportunity TOR), a member of the Rules Com- packages. There have been many occa- to determine whether or not it is too mittee. sions when our constituents have said generous before becoming an owner of Ms. CASTOR. I thank my distin- to us, isn’t that $200 million going to a listed security. And under this bill, guished colleague from the Rules Com- some executive, isn’t that outrageous? even if they decide that it is too gen- mittee for yielding time. People hear about these pay packages erous, the legislation contains no en- Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. which, quite frankly, I’m not here to forcement mechanism. This legislation 1257 to provide a reality check to the defend. One thing they say is, you simply provides a foot in the door for skyrocketing compensation of CEOs of know, are the shareholders being taken outside organizations to try to bully corporations across America. From advantage of? Are the rank and file boards of directors in hopes of weak- 1995 to 2005, average CEO pay increased being taken advantage of? And in many ening management and gaining conces- five times faster than that of the aver- cases, the answer is probably ‘‘yes.’’ sions down the road. This bill does age worker. The American people un- There is no justification for many of nothing to improve corporate govern- derstand the growing disparities in these pay packages, these executive ance. It does nothing to improve board earnings in our country. The average pay packages. Sometimes they are decision-making or increase share- CEO makes more money before lunch based on performance and value added holder value. That is why I have sub- than the average worker earns all year. to the corporation and to the share- mitted an amendment that would force So today I urge my colleagues to bring holders and to the employees, but any person or organization who spends a measure of accountability to the many times they’re not. Many times a significant sum on trying to influ- boardroom by allowing shareholders to they’re not linked to performance. ence the outcome of this new manda- voice their opinions in a meaningful Now, having said that, why would I tory vote to disclose who they are, how way about the multimillion-dollar pay- have said that and then come down and much they have spent and on what ac- days of their CEOs. oppose this legislation? Because, in tivities so that investors can have a Last week, one of my hometown fact, this is a mandate. This is Con- full picture of who is trying to influ- newspapers, the St. Petersburg Times, gress beginning to intrude on corpora- ence them in this decision-making reported on ‘‘Corporate Paydays That tions. process. Boggle the Mind.’’ They reported that Now, many of my colleagues on the While I think this amendment would in one of the richest corporate paydays other side would say, this is a non- improve a misguided bill, I am not ever, the CEO of oil company Occi- binding resolution. But it is a man- holding my breath at all that the ma- dental Petroleum Corporation received dated resolution. If we pass this resolu- jority party will join me in standing up a total compensation package last year tion, every publicly traded corporation, for increased transparency. But who of $416 million. These record profits both large and small, the shareholders knows? Today we learned that they and paydays at a time when my neigh- in those corporations must take a posi- have radically changed their opinion bors and the American people are pay- tion on corporate executive pay for on the merits of secret ballots, so per- ing record prices at the gas pump high- every top executive. In every case, haps they will stand up for trans- lights the need for a new direction in every shareholder must vote on every parency in proxy vote influence-ped- this country for energy policy. executive and say your compensation dling also. Similarly, record profits and paydays is adequate or it’s not. It’s not justi- Mr. Speaker, I oppose this rule and at HMO and pharmaceutical companies fied. the weak underlying ‘‘sense of the How many times has this Congress raise red flags at a time when patients shareholder’’ legislation. Congress can substituted its judgment for the Amer- and doctors and hospitals have lost do better than this. And rather than ican people? For people in business? control to many of the Bush privatiza- mimicking the interventionist eco- And that is again what we’re doing by tion schemes in our health care sys- nomic policies of Europe, I believe we telling shareholders you must have tem. The new Democratic Congress should reject this legislation and stand this vote. This is a mandate. up for what sets our economy apart and passed legislation fortunately during Now, there is another reason that we has spurred our continued economic the first 100 hours to require the nego- ought to oppose this. Congress should and job growth while others sank, tiation of the Medicare part D drug never rush in and begin to change the which would be a commitment to free price benefit. This is very important. free enterprise system, our system of markets and an understanding that It’s un-American to block the negotia- competition between companies. What when given information, investors can tion of fair prices under Medicare part we have required through the SEC in make good decisions on their own. D. the last year and we just now man- Mr. Speaker, I stand up for the free What I hear from my seniors back dated this and to come back now with enterprise system and the American home is that they want Medicare part something more intrusive until we see way of doing business. D to be simpler so that it works for that it works is our instruction and the Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of them, so that it works for our seniors SEC’s instruction to public corpora- my time. and it works for our taxpayers and not tions that you must publish the pay, Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, again simply benefit the HMOs, the big drug the salary, the compensation, the I would remind my colleagues that this companies and their CEOs for these perks, the benefits that you give your is an open rule that allowed every large corporate paydays. top corporate executives. Member of this House to be able to So, Mr. Speaker, I urge support of offer an amendment if that Member so this rule and this bill to allow share- b 1240 desired. In fact, as the gentleman from holders to send a message about cor- And the reason we did that is, once Texas pointed out, he himself will be porate paydays that boggle the mind that’s published and shareholders know offering an amendment. And so I think and bring a measure of accountability exactly what these top executives are this rule deserves support. to our American boardrooms. doing, shareholders have the right I should point out for the record that Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, at this today. And today they can bring a mo- when the gentleman’s party, the Re- time I would like to yield 5 minutes to tion before the corporation, and if the public Party, was in the majority here, the ranking member of the Committee majority of shareholders agree, they that even though I was on the Rules on Financial Services, the gentleman can take a position on executive com- Committee, routinely Members were from Alabama (Mr. BACHUS). pensation. denied the right to even offer their Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I take Now, that is not something we op- amendments. There were 13 Members this opportunity on the rule to simply pose, and in many cases these corpora- who have decided to offer amendments. clarify what we’re debating here today. tions are doing it. Morgan Stanley, Ten of them are Republican. I think Now, we are not debating executive just last week, the shareholders came this is a fair process and this rule de- compensation, because the Congress forward with a proposal the share- serves support. does not set executive compensation. holders took to do exactly what this

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.042 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3502 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 resolution wants to do. And guess powering the shareholders to voice tion that we are interfering with cor- what? The shareholders at Morgan their opinion. porations is nonsensical. They exist ac- Stanley said ‘‘no’’; the majority of Now, I will acknowledge at the out- cording to positive law. And the law shareholders said ‘‘no,’’ we are not set, if a board of directors sees a vote says, you must do this, you may not do going to get involved in something and the majority of the shareholders that. That is what corporations are. that might affect the excellent per- vote ‘‘no’’ and they decide to vote And now the gentleman will say, oh, formance of this company, of this cor- ‘‘yes,’’ the board has that right. I doubt well, look what the SEC did, we don’t poration. that the board would do that much. In have to get involved. What the Securi- We have had a system of corporate fact, I would not impute to the boards ties and Exchange Commission did was governance that is second to none in of directors what my colleagues impute very intrusive. And the gentleman to them, a contempt for the views of the world. It has made us the leader in said, well, the corporation can do that shareholders. There may be individual the free world. It has evolved over cen- if they want to; they could have pub- cases where shareholders didn’t under- turies. It has involved over decades. It lished the salaries if they wanted to. stand certain things, new events may is part of our statutes. The Securities and Exchange Commis- have intervened. But, no, I do not be- Let me say this. The gentleman from sion said, we mandate you to print lieve that as a general rule people on Mississippi, the gentlelady from Flor- these salaries. ida, you have come up and you have the board of directors will ignore And by the way, to the extent that said, look at some of these outrageous shareholders. there is an expense, it is much more in pay packages. I agree with you, I agree And by the way, we are talking about what the SEC did than in what we did. with you. I have picked up the paper. I the shareholders, and I know the gen- CBO has concurred, there is zero, have said, what is going on here. tleman from Texas said they are out- But let me say, on many occasions I siders, they are activists, as loathsome maybe 8 cents expense here. The SEC have picked up the paper a month later a word as the rules of the House will has already mandated that the cor- and seen where shareholders acted to allow as he would use it. They own porations print in the proxy form all address these issues. But let me say shares. They are the owners of the this information. We mandate that this, how many times have we been ap- companies. What a denigration of the they add a box, ‘‘yes or no.’’ proached by constituents and we have people who are in other contexts the And then my friend from Alabama, said, well, when that law was passed, fountain of all wisdom. We are told the great civil libertarian, but on this one we didn’t intend to do this, it wasn’t market is, after all, the best source of I think he may have gotten a little too our intention to do this. Unintended wisdom. extreme in his civil libertarian zeal, he The former majority leader from consequences. said, we are making the shareholders Let me tell you something. When Texas used to say, governments are vote. It sounded like he said we are dumb; markets are smart, markets Congress becomes a second-guesser and standing over those poor shareholders work well. Well, who is the market? a judge of executive pay for every cor- with a whip and making them vote. The market consists of the people who poration in America, every public cor- Well, in the first place, we are not. Ab- own the shares in this case. How did poration, ladies and gentlemen, we are stention remains an option for share- they become so dumb when it comes to getting on a slippery slope. holders. deciding how to pay for the people that Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, at this work for them? Secondly, the argument is, well, they time I would like to yield 10 minutes to And we are told, okay, if they don’t already have that right, some of them. the gentleman from Massachusetts, the like it, they can sell their shares. What No, they don’t in every case. There are distinguished chairman of the Finan- a concept of ownership. I mean, these corporations that have refused to allow cial Services Committee (Mr. FRANK). are the people, many of them who are it. AT&T was just ordered by the Secu- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I outraged at the eminent domain issue. rities and Exchange Commission to thank the gentleman and the Rules What they are saying is, if you have allow this procedure, but it was a case- Committee for bringing forward an owned shares in a company for a while, by-case issue. It is not a general rule. open rule. you have made your decision that this So the SEC that you defend just or- I often disagree with my colleagues is the best way to diversify your port- dered AT&T to do this, they just on the other side, but I have rarely be- folio, and then some board makes a de- intruded, as is their right; but there is fore been as baffled by the illogic of cision with which you disagree, that not a general principle. their argument as I am today. I do not you think may hurt the company, sell Shareholders do not have a right to recall the last time I heard such a your shares. What kind of a denigra- have this vote on executive compensa- hodgepodge of inconsistency and inac- tion of the notion of ownership is that? tion. And this bill simply says, the peo- curacy. There are, of course, people who will ple who own the company take what This is a bill that has been con- tell you, wait a minute, what if I be- the SEC has mandated they put for- demned for being, A, bullying and in- lieve when Home Depot, for instance, ward, has a right to vote on it. Now we trusive, and B, toothless. The toothless did what it did with Nardelli, it had a are told, and the gentleman from bully is, I guess, a new concept. In fact, very negative effect on people’s percep- Texas, in a stirring peroration, said he let me begin with this denigration of tion of the company. One of the very stood for truth, justice, the American the notion of nonbinding resolution. decisions you disagreed with led to a way, et cetera; and said, let’s reject the The gentleman from Texas kind of drop in the value of the shares because European effort. slipped, I think, when he said ‘‘the the market said, why did they do that. Well, this is not a general European sense of shareholder resolution.’’ In Should you then sell your shares and practice, it is a practice in England, fact, we spend much of our time pass- be forced to take a loss or take correc- what we are talking about. There is a ing nonbinding resolutions. Members tive action and restore the value to committee that is known as the who think nonbinding resolutions are a your shares? That is what we are talk- Paulson Committee, because it was in- waste of time probably should just ing about. It is very simple. show up on Wednesday because that is And then the oddest one of all is, how spired by Secretary of the Treasury all we do generally on Mondays and dare we interfere with corporations? Paulson, chaired by Professor Scott of Tuesdays, although we are doing more Corporations are artificial creations of Harvard. There was the McKenzie re- since we have taken over. positive law. God made no corpora- port, done by Mayor Bloomberg, But let’s get to more of the sub- tions. No corporations evolved. I will strongly supported by the Chamber of stantive mistakes. My friend from Ala- be neutral on that subject. Corpora- Commerce and all the financial groups. bama said we would be second-guessing tions exist because the law of a juris- They have said to us, can’t you guys be every corporate salary. Of course not. diction creates them. It creates them more like England in your regulation That isn’t even remotely close to being to give them certain advantages, cer- of corporations? even partially true. We have delib- tain immunities, et cetera. Listen to the debate going on right erately said it is not our job to say Of course, the government tells cor- now over relations of corporations in what the salary should be. We are em- porations what the rules are. This no- America. We are being told that the

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.044 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3503 model is the British model, the Finan- He denigrated the product of this leg- take place under this new nonbinding cial Services authority. This is Sec- islation because it would produce a resolution that we are attempting to retary Paulson’s committee that said nonbinding resolution. In fact, he pass. it, this is the Chamber of Commerce. sneered at it as a sense of the stock- Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would Yes, the English do do this, it is not holder, sense of the shareholder resolu- yield 5 minutes to the ranking member a big continental thing. But if, in fact, tion. And my point was aimed at his of the Rules Committee, the gentleman you think we should be very careful argument that the notion of a sense of from San Dimas, California (Mr. never to do anything because the the resolution is meaningless would in- DREIER). English are doing it, then where is the validate a lot of what we do. So that is Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank repudiation of the McKenzie report and the issue I was making. my friend from Dallas and thank him the Paulson Committee report which Let me just say in closing, Members for his superb management of this rule have urged the SEC to follow the model on the other side sometimes get sepa- on our side. of Financial Services. ration anxiety when they are forced to As I listen to the arguments pro- differentiate themselves from par- pounded by my colleagues on the other b 1250 ticular corporate abuses. They brought side of the aisle, including the distin- In fact, it is very straightforward. themselves to do it with Sarbanes- guished Chair of the committee, the Here is the problem. Why do normally Oxley, but they are having in various conclusion that I have drawn here is, coherent Members talk in less than co- ways buyer’s remorse there, I think ex- we have here a solution that is really herent form about this, making con- cessive buyer’s remorse. looking for a problem. tradictory arguments, ignoring re- Members say we don’t like corporate I continue to hear great praise for ality? excesses, but we can’t do anything the action that our former colleague Here is the deal. My friend from Ala- about it. Chris Cox, the now chairman of the Se- bama said, I am not here to defend CEO Well, no, Congress should not sub- curities and Exchange Commission, has salaries. But in fact he is, because what stitute its judgment for the market, taken in doing something that we regu- this bill says is, the shareholders, not Congress should not set the salaries. larly called for in this institution when the outsiders, not those evil activists, What Congress can do is to empower it comes to our work here: trans- not those lurking labor agitators, peo- the shareholders who own the compa- parency, disclosure, and account- ple who own shares. And, by the way, nies to express their opinion. It is not ability. this is strongly supported by the lead- a right that the shareholders uniformly Under this regulation that has been ers of institutional shareholders, large have now. It is Congress in exercise of promulgated by the Securities and Ex- pension funds, The Corporate Library. the legislative power to set the rules change Commission, it calls for full Shareholder groups are in favor of this. for corporations, which is inherent in disclosure of the compensation pack- And it says that people who own the the nature of corporations saying that ages for the top five executives. What shares should be able to vote in an ad- on this one issue; and by the way, one it means is, we are empowering share- visory capacity on whether they think reason for singling them out is, there is holders and any other interested party the compensation is too much or too reason to believe that the relationship with more information, with a better little. between the boards of directors and understanding of what it is that we are Now, the fact is that the gentleman CEOs is not sufficiently arm’s length trying to deal with here. from Alabama said there have been for the decision to be left entirely to So why now, after the Securities and outrageous examples of excessive com- the board without input. Exchange Commission has done what pensation. It is going up in general to It doesn’t mean you take the decision the chairman of the Financial Services the point where it is a record problem, away from the board elsewhere. It sim- Committee, Mr. FRANK, has just said is and he says he is not here to defend ply says there have been excesses in actually going beyond what it is that them. He is not here to defend them corporation compensation, we think it we are doing, why do we need to take verbally, he is just here to defend them would be helpful if the shareholders action here in this institution on this parliamentarily, because if this bill could give an advisory vote. issue? dies, then they are totally unimpeded. There is really no good argument Now, while I know that my friend And Members have said, don’t rush in. against it, and that is why we have from Massachusetts and my friend Well, these salaries have been going up heard arguments against that aren’t from Alabama, the distinguished chair- for a long time, and this is a long-time very good, that aren’t very logical, man of the committee and the ranking trend. So if not this, what do you do? It that aren’t based in reality. That is all member, had this exchange on non- is true, the SEC went to the limits of we are voting on. binding resolutions and the impact its power. And in the absence of this bill, Mem- that this might have, I think most Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, will the bers can then take credit for con- have concluded that there is a very del- gentleman yield? tinuing to enable salaries paid to the eterious potential impact that this leg- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I yield top executives to go up and up and up. islation could have; and that is, it to the gentleman from Alabama. And if you are a shareholder of a cor- quite possibly will dramatically en- Mr. BACHUS. Let me clarify some- poration and you think that is a mis- hance the number of potentially frivo- thing. I believe, in addressing the take and you think that is damaging, lous lawsuits being brought forward by Speaker, and I respect the chairman, you have the option, we are told, of shareholders. you have allowed debate on this, you selling your shares at a loss, of being Now, I find that very troubling in have been very gracious. But I believe excluded from an investment decision light of the fact that we have in a bi- that in addressing the Speaker, you that you think is in your interest. That partisan way in the past been able to mentioned that we passed nonbinding is not acceptable. pass legislation which has been trying resolutions all the time. Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I do ap- to focus on the tremendous cost burden Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. In the preciate the gentleman from Massa- that is imposed on the American con- House. Yes, sir. chusetts speaking so clearly about sumers, shareholders, taxpayers, all Mr. BACHUS. And that this was a what is happening. I would clarify my the way across the board, with the nonbinding resolution. words and say to the gentleman, I do number of frivolous lawsuits that we But I believe this actually is not a believe that it would be appropriate to have seen. And, again, we want very nonbinding resolution. have anyone who is attempting to in- much to see the market run its course Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. The fluence an outcome of a vote, that they on this issue. gentleman misunderstands my point, should have a requirement upon them I think that this is bad legislation. I and I will correct it. I am taking back to identify themselves, to state how think it is poorly crafted. And I think, my time. I was not referring to the much money they are spending and the again, based on the action that the Se- gentleman’s de facto defense of the sal- activities that they are engaged in. curities and Exchange Commission has ary; I was referring to the gentleman And I think that that is full disclosure taken, let’s see how that works. Let’s from Texas’ statement. also about the activities that could let it go into place. Let’s let the entity

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.045 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 which has responsibility for this deal to have been printed in the CONGRES- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 with it, see them work and see this in- SIONAL RECORD last night, 3 days before minutes to the gentleman from Geor- formation come forward, and see if we the measure is considered on the floor, gia (Mr. PRICE). still have what is seen by many to be a and they are trying to define that as an Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I problem. open amendment process. thank my good friend from Texas for I also argue that as we look at these Mr. Speaker, if it looks like a duck yielding and for his leadership on this compensation packages that have ex- and walks like a duck and talks like a issue. isted, and there are a heck of a lot duck, it is a duck. And you know what? I would like to just comment about more than any of us in this body make, This is not an open rule. both the rule and the bill; and, Mr. that is for darn sure, but the fact of the I urge my colleagues to oppose the Speaker, I come to the floor today to matter is, these are decisions that rule and to oppose the underlying legis- just tell you that Orwellian democracy boards of directors make. And one of lation. continues to be alive and well here in the precious rights that we have as Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the House Chamber. American citizens is the right not to myself such time as I may consume. Our good friends on the other side of own a stock. There is no one that I Mr. Speaker, let me first of all say the aisle seem to think that, if they that I apologize to the gentleman from know on the face of the Earth who is just say something, that it is, that California, the former distinguished compelled to purchase a share of stock, their action does not make any dif- chairman of the Rules Committee, for and I think that the right not to own a ference. This is the open rule that is this open rule. I guess he is upset that stock is a precious one. not. That is what this is. 13 Members have decided to offer And, you know, if I don’t like the de- Because what we have, as my good amendments. They have known about cision that the CEO of a company that friend from California described, is in this bill, by the way, for close to 3 I own a stock in or that the board of di- fact a modified open rule. What has oc- weeks. So 13 Members, 10 of them Re- rectors of that company makes, you curred with this rule is that there is a publican, have decided to put forward know what, I will sell that stock. And requirement for pre-filing amendments amendments that will be debated and I am happy to sell that stock, and that to this bill, and in fact, the pre-filing considered on this floor, including the is my right to do it. If I don’t like the had to occur about 72 hours before the distinguished gentleman from Texas decision that a board of directors has final portion of the bill will be voted (Mr. SESSIONS). upon. That is not an open rule, Mr. made, a decision that a board of direc- I do not know whether the gentleman Speaker. tors has made when it comes to com- from California wants me to apologize An open rule is when the bill comes pensation for their executives, if that to Mr. SESSIONS and the other Repub- to the floor and anybody who has an really is driving me and I am convinced licans for allowing their amendments idea and wants to offer an amendment that the stock should be much higher, to be made in order, but the bottom is allowed to offer an amendment. Why I will sell it. So I believe that it is a line is, what we are trying to do is is that important? Well, that is impor- real mistake for us to make this kind break the trend that existed in the of overreach. Rules Committee when they were in tant because each of us represents a And, Mr. Speaker, I also have to say charge, which is that nobody would be certain number of constituents around that I am very troubled with what we allowed to offer amendments on the this Nation, and at some point, each of are seeing here now as the new defini- floor. us may have a better idea about how tion for rules that have come forward. One of the things that this leadership the bill ought to progress through the Now, I entered into the RECORD of the has promised is a more open process, a process. Rules Committee last evening back to process that is more fair, and that is But right now, what has happened is, the 103rd Congress when our distin- what we are trying to do today. There unless we had that idea 2 days ago, yes- guished former colleague, Joe Moak- are 13 amendments that have been pre- terday, then it is not able to be enter- ley, was chairman of the committee filed. They will all be considered on the tained. So this is not an open rule. and he had in his survey of activities of floor unless the people who printed I would ask my friends in the major- the Rules Committee the definition of those amendments do not want to offer ity party: What are you afraid of? What rules. This rule that has come forward them. That is a fair process. are you afraid of? What amendment is is defined as an open rule with a As somebody who sat on the Rules it that you are afraid of that might be preprinting requirement, but, Mr. Committee for many years and who brought to the floor that is so dan- Speaker, it is much more than that. routinely saw closed rules reported gerous to the American people that you do not want to even talk about it? b 1300 under that committee with not a peep from anybody on that side, it is a little That is what I would ask. Traditionally, an open rule that has bit hard to digest this whining over an Mr. Speaker, my good friend from a preprinting requirement has been open process. I guess my colleagues on Massachusetts says that he thinks it is known under Democratic and Repub- the other side of the aisle object to the important for people to be able to read lican Congresses as a modified open fact that Members should have a right amendments and read bills. Well, we rule. Our colleagues, in their quest to to read an amendment that they are do, too, but that is provided for in the say that they have had more and more going to vote on. I can understand that rules. That is provided for in the rules. open rules, have redefined what an because they would routinely bring This rule does not address that. The open rule is, but the thing that trou- huge bills, hundreds of pages in length, fact that somebody might bring an bles me is not just that they have done to the floor without giving anybody in amendment to the floor under a truly that. But they, by passage of this rule, this Chamber the opportunity to read open rule would not affect that at all. have actually prevented Members of them. Those practices hopefully are So he also asked whether he should Congress from being able to participate over for good. apologize to the gentleman from Cali- in this under an open amendment proc- This is a fair rule. This is an open fornia for having what he described as ess. rule, and I urge my colleagues to sup- on open rule. No, Mr. Speaker, I would Why? The majority leader has appar- port it. suggest that he apologize to the Amer- ently announced that we are going At this point, let me inquire from the ican people for not carrying out the re- today to begin consideration of this gentleman from Texas whether or not sponsibility of democracy in this shareholder bill, and then we are going he has any additional speakers, be- Chamber. to consider it on Friday. So what it cause at this point, I am the last one So this is not an open rule. This is means is, as we proceed with the on this side. the open rule that was not, and it is amendment process today, Mr. Speak- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank important for the American people to er, unfortunately what we are doing is the gentleman for the inquiry. At this appreciate that. we are saying to Members of the House time, we have one additional speaker. I do want to mention a couple of of Representatives who want to amend Mr. MCGOVERN. I would let the gen- items about the merits of the bill this bill on Friday that any amend- tleman proceed, and I reserve the bal- itself. We all had an opportunity to be ment that they might be offering had ance of my time. home for the past 2 weeks. This was

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.047 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3505 one issue that constituents in my dis- have 3 days to be able to read a report The Administration supports full trans- trict wanted to talk about. They want- before a bill was considered. parency to shareholders regarding executive compensation decisions. Recent enhance- ed to talk about whether or not it was b 1310 appropriate for Washington to insert ments in corporate governance and disclo- I don’t remember a single instance sure have strengthened the executive com- itself into the compensation for CEOs pensation decision-making process of boards in this Nation. when the gentleman from Georgia, or, quite frankly, anybody who we have of directors. Corporate governance changes Many people, I being one of them, are have made boards more independent, includ- confused and concerned about some of heard complain today, ever came on ing through the establishment of compensa- the compensation that major CEOs are the House floor and voted against a tion committees composed solely of inde- getting in this Nation, but everybody closed rule. They ran this place under pendent directors. In addition, as a result of in my district appreciates and under- the most restrictive closed process in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s stands that the place to solve that the history of this Congress. revised disclosure rules on executive com- I think that needs to be said for the pensation, which recently became effective, problem is not Washington, DC. In fact, shareholders are receiving comprehensive in- that is the last place that you want record because it goes to the point that I was making earlier that I don’t un- formation on executive compensation. Be- this problem to be solved because fore additional corporate governance re- Washington, DC, cannot respond in a derstand what all the complaints are quirements are legislated, the Administra- nimble enough fashion to be able to do about. You have every Member who tion believes that recent enhancements so. In fact, there will be significant, wanted to offer an amendment to this should be given time to take effect. unintended consequences, I would sug- bill given the opportunity to do so. The statement of the administration gest, Mr. Speaker. They knew that this bill was coming is quite succinct, and that is at the end As you know, the challenges that all 3 weeks in advance. They could have of this statement it says ‘‘before addi- businesses have across this Nation are thought about it for 3 weeks, they tional corporate governance require- encumbered by the taxation that they could have instructed their staff during ments are legislated, the administra- are required to pay by the exposure to that period of 3 weeks to come up with tion believes that the recent enhance- litigation and, yes, Mr. Speaker, by the something. Obviously, a number of peo- ments should be given time to take ef- regulations that come down from on ple did, including the gentleman from fect. That is in reference to the SEC high, and this will be another regula- Georgia, who has three amendments we and what the SEC had done. tion. So what the majority party is are going to have to listen to. Mr. Speaker, I am asking Members to doing is saying to our businesses across Let me again urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question so that I this Nation, our public companies support this rule. It is a fair rule. It is may amend the rule to make it a true, across this Nation is, you have got an- an open rule. modified open rule. As the distin- other reason to go offshore; you have I am sorry if they don’t like the fact guished chairman of the Committee on got another reason to take American that Members ought to have an oppor- Financial Services pointed out yester- jobs and remove them because we are tunity to read amendments and read day at the Rules Committee, he is ex- going to make it too difficult for you bills before they are voted on, but I pecting that consideration of the bill is to engage in your business here in think that is a fair thing to do. Of likely to continue through the end of America. course, when they were in charge, they the week. In fact, Mr. Speaker, what they are would routinely waive that right. But, But under a normal modified open going to do is to make it so difficult for you know, we will respect that. rule, Members would still be allowed to many businesses with their onerous Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of submit amendments for printing today regulations that not only will individ- my time and would ask the gentleman or tomorrow so that they might be uals take their businesses offshore, from Texas if he has any additional considered tomorrow or Friday. This many of them will say it is just too speakers. restrictive rule severely limits the flu- Mr. SESSIONS. In response to the much of a challenge to comply with all idity which traditional and modified gentleman at this time, I do not have of your ridiculous regulations, so we open rules allow. This rule is not an any additional speakers. I would use will go private so that Americans all open rule as it is currently drafted. It this time for my close. I thank the gen- across this Nation will be precluded would not even be qualified as a modi- tleman for the inquiry. from participating in a greater way in fied open rule. This is a restrictive Mr. Speaker, I think the point that the American Dream. rule. would be taken here would follow those Mr. Speaker, this rule is a bad idea. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- words that DAVID DREIER spoke on, and The bill is a bad idea. Washington can- sent that the text of the amendment that is, we simply call things what not solve this problem. You know that, and extraneous material be printed they are honestly. We don’t try to call and I urge my colleagues to oppose just before the vote on the previous things what they aren’t. We follow the both. question. Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield regular order of this House, as has been The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there myself such time as I may consume. established, going back at least to the objection to the request of the gen- Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from 103rd Congress when Mr. Moakley, the tleman from Texas? Georgia thinks this rule is such a bad chairman of the Rules Committee, There was no objection. idea, I hope that maybe he might re- said, this is what we will call things, Mr. SESSIONS. I also urge Members consider offering the three amend- this is what an open rule is, this is to oppose the previous question. ments that he has pre-filed. what a modified rule is. That is the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Let me just say for the record, be- point we are trying to make today, of my time. cause I think it is important to state that you should call something what it Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, let me this, the gentleman from Georgia just is. urge all my colleagues to support the went on a rant, and in the previous At this time, I would like to include rule and to also support the underlying Congress when his party was in con- a statement of administration policy bill. H.R. 1257 is a good bill. If you want trol, in the entire Congress there was on this bill. to defend the status quo, then vote one open rule that was not an appro- STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY—H.R. against it. But if you want more ac- priation bill, one, and I do not recall a 1257—SHAREHOLDER VOTE ON EXECUTIVE countability, more transparency, then single instance when the gentleman COMPENSATION ACT OF 2007 vote for it. This should not be a par- from Georgia ever came to the floor (REPRESENTATIVE FRANK (D) MASSACHUSETTS tisan issue, and I hope that it would and complained about that. I do not re- AND 27 COSPONSORS) get a strong bipartisan vote on pas- call a single instance when the gen- The Administration opposes H.R. 1257, sage. tleman from Georgia or, quite frankly, which would require public companies to Let me again urge my colleagues to hold a separate advisory shareholder vote to anybody on the other side came to the approve the compensation of executives. The support the rule, and this is a rule that floor and objected when the Repub- Administration does not believe that Con- allows the gentleman from Texas to be lican-controlled Rules Committee gress should mandate the process by which able to offer an amendment. It allows waived the requirement that Members executive compensation is approved. the gentleman from Georgia, whom we

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.049 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3506 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 heard earlier, to offer three amend- (page 56). Here’s how the Rules Committee the bill and shall not exceed one hour equal- ments. It allows for every single Mem- described the rule using information form ly divided and controlled by the chairman ber of this House, Democrat or Repub- Congressional Quarterly’s ‘‘American Con- and ranking minority member of the Com- lican, to be able to offer an amendment gressional Dictionary’’: ‘‘If the previous mittee on Small Business. After general de- question is defeated, control of debate shifts bate the bill shall be considered for amend- to this bill. to the leading opposition member (usually ment under the five-minute rule. The amend- This is something new compared to the minority Floor Manager) who then man- ment in the nature of a substitute rec- the way the Rules Committee was run ages an hour of debate and may offer a ger- ommended by the Committee on Small Busi- under the previous leadership. This is a mane amendment to the pending business.’’ ness now printed in the bill, modified by the rule that allows people to be able to Deschler’s Procedure in the U.S. House of amendment printed in part A of the report of heard, to be able to bring their views to Representatives, the subchapter titled the Committee on Rules accompanying this the floor, and to be able to debate ‘‘Amending Special Rules’’ states: ‘‘a refusal resolution, shall be considered as adopted in them. For the gentleman from Texas or to order the previous question on such a rule the House and in the Committee of the [a special rule reported from the Committee Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be consid- the gentleman from Georgia or any- on Rules] opens the resolution to amend- ered as the original bill for the purpose of body else to complain that somehow ment and further debate.’’ (Chapter 21, sec- further amendment under the five-minute this is a restrictive rule just defies the tion 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: Upon rejec- rule and shall be considered as read. All facts. tion of the motion for the previous question points of order against provisions in the bill, The fact of the matter is that under on a resolution reported from the Committee as amended, are waived. Notwithstanding their leadership, restrictive rules were on Rules, control shifts to the Member lead- clause 11 of rule XVIII, no further amend- the norm. Closed rules were the norm. ing the opposition to the previous question, ment to the bill, as amended, shall be in Not once, not once did I hear anybody who may offer a proper amendment or mo- order except those printed in part B of the tion and who controls the time for debate report of the Committee on Rules. Each such on the other side complain about the thereon.’’ further amendment may be offered only in restrictive rule or closed rule or even Clearly, the vote on the previous question the order printed in the report, may be of- vote against the closed rule. This al- on a rule does have substantive policy impli- fered only by a Member designated in the re- lows every single Member who wanted cations. It is one of the only available tools port, shall be considered as read, shall be de- to offer an amendment to offer an for those who oppose the Democratic major- batable for the time specified in the report amendment. ity’s agenda and allows those with alter- equally divided and controlled by the pro- This is an open rule with a preprinted native views the opportunity to offer an al- ponent and an opponent, shall not be subject requirement. This is a good rule. I ternative plan. to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the would urge all my colleagues to sup- AMENDMENT TO H. RES. 301 OFFERED BY REP. House or in the Committee of the Whole. All port the rule. SESSIONS OF TEXAS points of order against such further amend- The material previously referred to On page 2, lines 18 and 19, strike ‘‘in a daily ments are waived except those arising under by Mr. SESSIONS is as follows: issue dated April 17, 2007, or earlier’’. clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. At the conclusion (The information contained herein was of consideration of the bill for amendment provided by Democratic Minority on mul- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the Committee shall rise and report the bill, tiple occasions throughout the 109th Con- back the balance of my time, and I as amended, to the House with such further gress.) move the previous question on the res- amendments as may have been adopted. The THE VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION: WHAT olution. previous question shall be considered as or- IT REALLY MEANS The SPEAKER pro tempore. The dered on the bill and amendments thereto to This vote, the vote on whether to order the question is on ordering the previous final passage without intervening motion ex- previous question on a special rule, is not question. cept one motion to recommit with or with- out instructions. merely a procedural vote. A vote against or- The question was taken; and the dering the previous question is a vote SEC. 2. During consideration in the House Speaker pro tempore announced that of H.R. 1361 pursuant to this resolution, not- against the Democratic majority agenda and the ayes appeared to have it. a vote to allow the opposition, at least for withstanding the operation of the previous the moment, to offer an alternative plan. It Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, on that question, the Chair may postpone further is a vote about what the House should be de- I demand the yeas and nays. consideration of the bill to such time as may bating. The yeas and nays were ordered. be designated by the Speaker. Mr. Clarence Cannon’s Precedents of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- House of Representatives, (VI, 308–311) de- ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- tleman from Florida (Mr. HASTINGS) is scribes the vote on the previous question on ceedings on this question will be post- recognized for 1 hour. the rule as ‘‘motion to direct or control the poned. Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. consideration of the subject before the House Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I being made by the Member in charge.’’ To f yield the customary 30 minutes to the defeat the previous question is to give the gentleman from Florida, my friend and opposition a chance to decide the subject be- PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION fore the House. Cannon cites the Speaker’s OF H.R. 1361, RELIEF FOR ENTRE- cochair of Florida’s congressional dele- ruling of January 13, 1920, to the effect that PRENEURS: COORDINATION OF gation, Representative LINCOLN DIAZ- ‘‘the refusal of the House to sustain the de- OBJECTIVES AND VALUES FOR BALART. All time yielded during con- mand for the previous question passes the EFFECTIVE RECOVERY ACT OF sideration of the rule is for debate control of the resolution to the opposition’’ 2007 only. in order to offer an amendment. On March Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. 15, 1909, a member of the majority party of- time as I may consume. fered a rule resolution. The House defeated Speaker, by direction of the Com- the previous question and a member of the mittee on Rules, I call up House Reso- b 1320 opposition rose to a parliamentary inquiry, lution 302 and ask for its immediate GENERAL LEAVE asking who was entitled to recognition. consideration. Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said: The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that ‘‘The previous question having been refused, lows: the gentleman from New York, Mr. Fitz- all Members be given 5 legislative days gerald, who had asked the gentleman to H. RES. 302 in which to revise and extend their re- yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to Resolved, That at any time after the adop- marks on House Resolution 302. the first recognition.’’ tion of this resolution the Speaker may, pur- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Because the vote today may look bad for suant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the objection to the request of the gen- the Democratic majority they will say ‘‘the House resolved into the Committee of the tleman from Florida? vote on the previous question is simply a Whole House on the state of the Union for There was no objection. vote on whether to proceed to an immediate consideration of the bill (H.R. 1361) to im- Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. vote on adopting the resolution . . . [and] prove the disaster relief programs of the Speaker, as the Clerk just read, this has no substantive legislative or policy im- Small Business Administration, and for rule provides for consideration of H.R. plications whatsoever.’’ But that is not what other purposes. The first reading of the bill they have always said. Listen to the defini- shall be dispensed with. All points of order 1361, the Relief for Entrepreneurs: Co- tion of the previous question used in the against consideration of the bill are waived ordination of Objectives and Values for Floor Procedures Manual published by the except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of Effective Recovery, or RECOVER, Act Rules Committee in the 109th Congress, rule XXI. General debate shall be confined to of 2007 under a structured rule.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.051 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3507 Continuing our ongoing efforts to The bill also requires improved dis- SBA is the Federal Government’s main provide the minority with opportuni- aster response coordination between source of natural disaster rebuilding ties to amend and improve legislation the SBA and FEMA. This is a critical, assistance and has come under fire for on the House floor, the rule also makes yet unfortunate, requirement of the problems and delays in granting loans in order all three Republican amend- bill. Critical because coordination dur- to homeowners, renters and businesses ments that were submitted to the ing disasters across agency lines is des- affected by the hurricanes. Rules Committee. perately needed; unfortunate, notwith- I think we need to do all that we can Mr. Speaker, as someone who rep- standing of the fact that these things to ensure that the backbone of our resents a district which has been vic- are going to occur, I am dumbfounded country, small businesses, are not crip- tim to countless natural disasters, I that our agencies aren’t already co- pled in a storm’s aftermath and that have known about the Small Business ordinating to the maximum extent pos- those small businesses can play a lead- Administration’s disaster loan program sible during disasters. ing role in the recovery of affected for quite some time. I have participated in the conversa- areas. Businesses in the district I am privi- tions, sat in the meetings where co- This underlying legislation better leged to serve and the district of my ordination between agencies is non- prepares the SBA to handle future dis- good friend Mr. DIAZ-BALART and existent during disasters. Turf battles asters by requiring, among other re- throughout South Florida have relied supersede logic, and coordination is a forms, that the agency develop a com- on this program to sustain themselves distant memory of the past. prehensive disaster response plan, im- during the difficult days, weeks and I ask: Why does it take an act of Con- prove training, streamline information months following natural disasters. gress to get Federal agencies to coordi- tracking systems, follow-up processes Loans provided under SBA’s disaster nate their efforts when authorization and more efficiently distribute disaster loan assistance program have, at for such coordination already exists? loans by partnering with private lend- times, literally kept Florida’s economy The only turf that matters and should ers. going. matter during disasters is the turf of There is at least one point of conten- While I have seen the greatness of the American people. tion in the underlying legislation. Sec- this program, Mr. Speaker, I and my We have to be in the business of pro- tion 211 modifies the subsidy rate as- constituents have also seen its short- viding our citizens with every available signed to SBA disaster loans by pro- comings. Indeed, the problems ad- resource to respond to and recover viding for double compensation under dressed in the underlying legislation, from disasters. The underlying legisla- the provision that a disaster victim and I commend the Chair’s rec- tion does just that. could receive both a grant and a loan ommendations and their efforts in that I am proud to support this rule and for the same damage. This provision re- regard, but the problems are not new, the underlying legislation, and I urge quires a direct appropriation. As such, and they certainly were not created by my colleagues to do the same. it violates PAYGO rules. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma. On Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of The manager’s amendment by the the contrary, they have manifested for my time. distinguished chairman, Ms. ´ quite some time and have been raised Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of VELAZQUEZ, does correct the PAYGO by me and many of my colleagues in Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to problem by making the section subject Florida over the years. thank my good friend, the gentleman to available appropriations. It still In Florida, we saw SBA’s limitations from Florida (Mr. HASTINGS), the co- does not address the underlying issue during the 2004 hurricane season. By no chairman of the Florida congressional in contention, however, Mr. Speaker, fault of its own, SBA was inundated delegation, for the time, and I yield which is, why should someone be com- with loan applications and over- myself such time as I may consume. pensated twice for the same injury? It whelmed by the situation. Long delays Small business, Mr. Speaker, is the is a legitimate point of contention in application processing and slow dis- engine that drives our economic which obviously merits debate. bursements of approved loans led many strength. Small businesses employ over Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of in my part of the country to question half of all private sector workers and my time. why Congress didn’t do anything at the pay approximately 45 percent of U.S. b 1330 time to increase the Small Business private payroll. Administration’s capacity during dis- Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Over the last decade, small busi- asters. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time Although it took the largest disaster nesses have generated 60 to 80 percent to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished of our time for us to open up our eyes, of new jobs. We must not take the gentlewoman from Florida, our col- I am pleased that this Congress under amazing performance of small busi- league on the Rules Committee, Ms. this leadership is giving the SBA the nesses for granted, however, Mr. CASTOR. tools that it needs to keep America’s Speaker. They often don’t have the fi- Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank small businesses in business after a dis- nancial structure and support to help my distinguished colleague from the aster. them quickly recover from major nat- Rules Committee. The RECOVER Act enhances the ural disasters. If small businesses fail Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support SBA’s capacity to provide assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster, of the RECOVER Act and this rule during and after natural disasters. The it only slows the recovery of the area. which charts a new direction for emer- legislation mandates that the SBA es- Storms have often punished the com- gency and hurricane planning, because tablish and maintain a comprehensive munity that I am honored to represent. the Federal Government simply must disaster plan which will be overseen by In 1992, Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 be ready to respond in a crisis. a new associate administrator for dis- storm, devastated much of South Flor- Small Business Committee Chair aster assistance. ida. Until 2005, Hurricane Andrew was NYDIA VELA´ ZQUEZ and her committee Using FEMA’s citizen volunteer pro- the costliest natural disaster in our deserve credit for understanding the gram as its model, the underlying leg- history, causing over $26 billion of expectations of the American people, islation establishes a disaster reserve damage to South Florida. Entire com- who have insisted upon better disaster corps capable of providing the people- munities were totally destroyed. Espe- relief planning. power necessary to respond to an influx cially hard hit were many of the small My colleagues from Florida, and in- of SBA loan applications. businesses that make up a major part deed, our neighbors and citizens across The RECOVER Act improves SBA’s of the South Florida economy. Fifteen the gulf coast, begin to feel a bit appre- customer service operation and in- years later, the effects of that storm hensive this time of year because hur- creases the limit of SBA disaster loans can still be felt. ricane season is only a few weeks away. from $1.5 million to $3 million. It also The SBA was one of the many Fed- Yes, we are all worried about the po- expands the scope of organizations eral agencies that suffered a break- tential landfall of a hurricane, but we which can qualify for such loans and down in operations during the rebuild- are also just as concerned about the ad- makes it easier for businesses to pay ing efforts after the 2005 hurricane sea- ministration’s ability to deal with the back their loans. son. The disaster loan program of the aftermath.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.055 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3508 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 Following the Bush administration’s below sea level; $16.1 billion paid out in Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. poor response to the 2005 gulf coast national flood insurance claims, $1 bil- Speaker, disasters in this country are hurricanes, the new Congress has lion for Health and Human Services to not limited to hurricanes or the South- pledged to strengthen disaster planning cover all of Louisiana’s health care east. As I was saying yesterday in the and response, and we are following costs. And the list, Mr. Speaker, goes Rules Committee, the chairwoman had through here today. The RECOVER Act on and on. storms in her district earlier this week, will improve the Small Business Ad- There are right ways and wrong ways and there is massive drought going on ministration’s disaster response plans to fund redevelopment. This Congress in parts of this country. All of these and assess its technology, tele- has delivered $14 billion in incentives are disasters and all of these have communications and personnel in ad- to spur private business investment major SBA implications. vance. and economic development to create I have lived, and continue to live, in In the event of another hurricane or jobs, another $600 million in Gulf Op- disaster-prone areas, like so many oth- natural disaster, small business owners portunity Zone tax credits to the re- ers in Congress and in this country. If will face costs of starting up again, so gion, with an additional $400 million our failures of the past have taught us this act increases the funds available expected to be awarded this fall to en- anything, it is that we can no longer be for disaster loans from $1.5 to $3 mil- courage more business investment. But response oriented when it comes to dis- lion. And importantly for the hard- today we are debating a bill which asters. working folks like those in my district would harm small business across the Mitigation and planning saves in the Tampa Bay area, small business Nation by giving away money that will money, saves time, and most impor- owners will no longer be required to never, and I repeat, that will never get tantly, saves lives. pledge their homes as collateral for repaid. The RECOVER Act creates a com- business loans less than $100,000. Mr. Speaker, provisions in title II of prehensive and universal plan at the The act also requires the SBA to im- this bill would allow gulf businesses SBA for disaster response. It is the prove coordination with State and whose application for a disaster loan first step on this important path to im- local authorities and establishes a dis- has been denied, to then receive proving the Federal Government’s re- aster relief corps of 1,000 trained indi- $100,000 in grant money. And if a busi- sponse to disasters. viduals. ness has already received a loan, this I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on the rule, the bill will make sure that same business So, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge ap- previous question, and the underlying can also get a grant, and in the proc- proval of this rule and the RECOVER legislation. ess, they will make certain that the Act so that our country is better pre- Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance grant money is not used to repay the pared for hurricane season and the of my time and move the previous loan. swift recovery of our communities and question on the resolution. small businesses. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, you heard right. If the SBA decides your business The previous question was ordered. Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege is not viable enough for a loan, Con- gress is going to come in and just give question is on adoption of the resolu- to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, tion. the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. you the money. What is more, now you can get paid twice for the same dis- The resolution was agreed to. GINGREY. A motion to reconsider was laid on Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I can aster. Mr. Speaker, the sad fact is, this bill the table. certainly understand my former col- will hurt small businesses across the leagues on the Rules Committee, the f country. When the SBA makes a loan gentleman from Florida (Mr. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER and that loan is repaid, the SBA loans HASTINGS), the gentleman from Florida PRO TEMPORE that money to another business, and (Mr. DIAZ-BALART), the gentlelady from the cycle repeats itself. But by remov- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Florida (Ms. CASTOR) being in favor of ing the repayment part of this cycle ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair this rule and this underlying bill. and requiring the SBA to send a will now put each question on which But I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong op- $100,000 grant to those businesses who further proceedings were postponed, in position to the underlying legislation, do not qualify for a disaster loan in the the following order: H.R. 1361, the RECOVER Act. This leg- first place, we are diluting the re- Ordering the previous question on H. islation is bad fiscal policy. It in- sources of the SBA and hindering its Res. 301; creases the cost to America’s taxpayers ability to extend loans to businesses in Adoption of H. Res. 301, if requested; of providing disaster assistance, while other parts of the country, businesses The motion to suspend the rules and increasing the probability that the fully capable of repaying them. adopt H. Res. 306. Federal Government will lose money to Mr. Speaker, my Democratic col- The first electronic vote will be con- default losses. leagues are ignoring any semblance of ducted as a 15-minute vote. Remaining It was Huey Long, the long-time Gov- restraint by treating our Treasury as a electronic votes will be conducted as 5- ernor and Senator from Louisiana, the bottomless pit. In raising the risk of minute votes. gulf coast, the Kingfish, as he was unrecoverable default losses, by giving f known, who said, ‘‘I can frighten or away free money, it would certainly buy 99 out of every 100 men.’’ seem they are doing their level best to b 1340 Mr. Speaker, I am not suggesting prove Huey Long’s words to be true. that my Democratic colleagues are try- PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION I urge my colleagues, vote against OF H.R. 1257, SHAREHOLDER ing to buy votes with this bill. But I do the rule and vote against the under- know that we need to closely examine VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSA- lying bill. TION ACT the money our government spends to Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. ensure that it is spent responsibly. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- We have worked hard to fund the re- gentleman from Florida, Mr. Speaker, finished business is the vote on order- development of the gulf coast, commit- if he has any remaining speakers. I am ing the previous question on House ting more than $110 billion of Federal the last speaker for this side. Resolution 301, on which the yeas and resources. That includes $4.7 billion to Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of nays are ordered. FEMA to remove debris and repair and Florida. I have no more speakers. The Clerk read the title of the resolu- rebuild public infrastructure and build- Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Then I tion. ings; $17 billion from HUD for Commu- will reserve my time until the gen- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The nity Development Block Grants, the tleman has closed for his side and question is on ordering the previous largest housing recovery program in yielded back his time. question. United States history; $6 billion for the Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of The vote was taken by electronic de- Corps of Engineers to rebuild and re- Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have no fur- vice, and there were—yeas 226, nays store levees so that we can rebuild ther speakers and yield back. 199, not voting 8, as follows:

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18AP7.060 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3509 [Roll No. 219] Doolittle Kline (MN) Regula The vote was taken by electronic de- Drake Knollenberg Rehberg vice, and there were—ayes 227, noes 195, YEAS—226 Dreier Kuhl (NY) Reichert Abercrombie Green, Gene Neal (MA) Duncan LaHood Renzi not voting 11, as follows: Ackerman Grijalva Oberstar Ehlers Lamborn Reynolds [Roll No. 220] Allen Gutierrez Obey Emerson Latham Rogers (AL) Altmire Hall (NY) Olver English (PA) LaTourette Rogers (KY) AYES—227 Everett Lewis (CA) Andrews Hare Ortiz Rogers (MI) Abercrombie Green, Gene Napolitano Fallin Lewis (KY) Arcuri Harman Pallone Rohrabacher Ackerman Grijalva Neal (MA) Feeney Linder Baca Hastings (FL) Pascrell Ros-Lehtinen Allen Gutierrez Oberstar Flake LoBiondo Baird Herseth Sandlin Pastor Roskam Altmire Hall (NY) Obey Forbes Lucas Baldwin Hill Payne Royce Andrews Hare Olver Fortenberry Lungren, Daniel Bean Hinchey Perlmutter Ryan (WI) Arcuri Harman Ortiz Fossella E. Becerra Hinojosa Sali Baca Hastings (FL) Pallone Peterson (MN) Foxx Mack Berkley Hirono Baird Herseth Sandlin Pascrell Pomeroy Franks (AZ) Manzullo Saxton Berman Hodes Baldwin Hill Pastor Price (NC) Frelinghuysen Marchant Schmidt Berry Holden Barrow Hinchey Payne Rahall Gallegly Sensenbrenner Bishop (GA) Holt McCarthy (CA) Bean Hinojosa Rangel Garrett (NJ) Sessions Perlmutter Bishop (NY) Honda McCaul (TX) Becerra Hirono Reyes Gerlach Shadegg Peterson (MN) Blumenauer Hooley McCotter Berkley Hodes Rodriguez Gilchrest Shays Pomeroy Boren Hoyer McCrery Berman Holden Ross Gillmor Shimkus Price (NC) Boswell Inslee McHenry Berry Holt Rothman Gingrey Shuster Rahall Boucher Israel McHugh Bishop (GA) Honda Roybal-Allard Gohmert Simpson Rangel Boyd (FL) Jackson (IL) McKeon Bishop (NY) Hooley Ruppersberger Goode Smith (NE) Reyes Boyda (KS) Jackson-Lee McMorris Boren Hoyer Rush Goodlatte Rodriguez Brady (PA) (TX) Rodgers Smith (NJ) Boswell Inslee Ryan (OH) Granger Ross Braley (IA) Jefferson Mica Smith (TX) Boucher Israel Salazar Graves Rothman Brown, Corrine Johnson (GA) Miller (FL) Souder Boyd (FL) Jackson (IL) Sa´ nchez, Linda Hall (TX) Roybal-Allard Butterfield Johnson, E. B. Miller (MI) Stearns Boyda (KS) Jackson-Lee T. Hastert Ruppersberger Capps Kagen Miller, Gary Sullivan Brady (PA) (TX) Hastings (WA) Rush Capuano Kanjorski Sanchez, Loretta Moran (KS) Tancredo Braley (IA) Jefferson Hayes Ryan (OH) Cardoza Kaptur Sarbanes Murphy, Tim Terry Brown, Corrine Johnson (GA) Heller Salazar Carnahan Kennedy Schakowsky Musgrave Thornberry Butterfield Johnson, E. B. Hensarling Sa´ nchez, Linda Carney Kildee Schiff Myrick Tiahrt Capps Jones (NC) Herger T. Carson Kilpatrick Schwartz Neugebauer Tiberi Capuano Kagen Hobson Nunes Sanchez, Loretta Castor Kind Scott (GA) Turner Cardoza Kanjorski Hoekstra Paul Sarbanes Chandler Klein (FL) Scott (VA) Upton Carnahan Kaptur Hulshof Pearce Schakowsky Clarke Kucinich Serrano Walberg Carney Kennedy Hunter Schiff Clay Langevin Sestak Pence Carson Kildee Inglis (SC) Walden (OR) Schwartz Cleaver Lantos Shea-Porter Peterson (PA) Castor Kilpatrick Issa Wamp Scott (GA) Clyburn Larsen (WA) Sherman Petri Chandler Kind Jindal Weldon (FL) Scott (VA) Cohen Larson (CT) Shuler Pickering Clarke Klein (FL) Johnson (IL) Weller Serrano Conyers Lee Sires Pitts Clay Kucinich Johnson, Sam Westmoreland Sestak Cooper Levin Skelton Platts Cleaver Langevin Jones (NC) Whitfield Shea-Porter Costa Lewis (GA) Slaughter Poe Clyburn Lantos Jordan Porter Wicker Sherman Costello Lipinski Smith (WA) Cohen Larsen (WA) Keller Price (GA) Wilson (NM) Shuler Courtney Loebsack Snyder Conyers Larson (CT) King (IA) Pryce (OH) Wilson (SC) Sires Cramer Lofgren, Zoe Solis Cooper Lee King (NY) Putnam Wolf Skelton Crowley Lowey Space Costa Levin Kingston Radanovich Young (AK) Slaughter Cuellar Lynch Spratt Costello Lewis (GA) Kirk Ramstad Young (FL) Smith (WA) Cummings Mahoney (FL) Stark Courtney Lipinski Snyder Davis (AL) Maloney (NY) Sutton Cramer Loebsack NOT VOTING—8 Solis Davis (CA) Markey Tanner Crowley Lofgren, Zoe Conaway Lampson Walsh (NY) Space Davis (IL) Marshall Tauscher Cuellar Lowey Ferguson Millender- Spratt Davis, Lincoln Matheson Taylor Cummings Lynch DeFazio Matsui Higgins McDonald Stark Thompson (CA) Davis (AL) Mahoney (FL) DeGette McCarthy (NY) Jones (OH) Stupak Sutton Thompson (MS) Davis (CA) Maloney (NY) Delahunt McCollum (MN) Tanner Tierney Davis (IL) Markey DeLauro McDermott Tauscher Towns Davis, Lincoln Marshall Dicks McGovern b 1405 Taylor Udall (CO) DeFazio Matheson Dingell McIntyre DeGette Matsui Thompson (CA) Udall (NM) Mr. HASTERT and Mr. TOM DAVIS Doggett McNerney Delahunt McCarthy (NY) Thompson (MS) Van Hollen Donnelly McNulty of Virginia changed their vote from DeLauro McCollum (MN) Tierney Vela´ zquez Doyle Meehan ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Dicks McDermott Towns Visclosky Edwards Meek (FL) Dingell McGovern Udall (CO) Walz (MN) Mr. GORDON of Tennessee and Mr. Ellison Meeks (NY) Doggett McIntyre Udall (NM) Ellsworth Melancon Wasserman MITCHELL changed their vote from Donnelly McNerney Van Hollen Emanuel Michaud Schultz ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Doyle McNulty Vela´ zquez Engel Miller (NC) Waters Edwards Meehan Visclosky Watson So the previous question was ordered. Eshoo Miller, George The result of the vote was announced Ellison Meek (FL) Walz (MN) Etheridge Mitchell Watt Ellsworth Meeks (NY) Wasserman Farr Mollohan Waxman as above recorded. Emanuel Melancon Schultz Fattah Moore (KS) Weiner Stated against: Engel Michaud Waters Welch (VT) Filner Moore (WI) Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, because I Eshoo Miller (NC) Watson Frank (MA) Moran (VA) Wexler Etheridge Miller, George Watt Giffords Murphy (CT) Wilson (OH) was attending a funeral at West Point this Farr Mitchell Waxman Gillibrand Murphy, Patrick Woolsey morning, I missed rollcall No. 219, adoption of Fattah Mollohan Weiner Gonzalez Murtha Wu previous question for H. Res. 301: Providing Filner Moore (KS) Welch (VT) Gordon Nadler Wynn Frank (MA) Moore (WI) Wexler Green, Al Napolitano Yarmuth for consideration of H.R. 1257, to amend the Giffords Moran (VA) Wilson (OH) Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide Gillibrand Murphy (CT) Woolsey NAYS—199 shareholders with an advisory vote on execu- Gonzalez Murphy, Patrick Wu Aderholt Bonner Capito tive compensation. Had I been present, I Gordon Murtha Wynn Green, Al Nadler Yarmuth Akin Bono Carter would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ Alexander Boozman Castle Bachmann Boustany Chabot The SPEAKER pro tempore. The NOES—195 Bachus Brady (TX) Coble question is on the resolution. Aderholt Blackburn Calvert Baker Brown (SC) Cole (OK) The question was taken; and the Akin Bonner Camp (MI) Barrett (SC) Brown-Waite, Crenshaw Alexander Bono Campbell (CA) Barrow Ginny Cubin Speaker pro tempore announced that Bachmann Boozman Cannon Bartlett (MD) Buchanan Culberson the ayes appeared to have it. Bachus Boustany Cantor Barton (TX) Burgess Davis (KY) RECORDED VOTE Baker Brady (TX) Capito Biggert Burton (IN) Davis, David Barrett (SC) Brown (SC) Carter Bilbray Buyer Davis, Jo Ann Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I de- Bartlett (MD) Brown-Waite, Castle Bilirakis Calvert Davis, Tom mand a recorded vote. Barton (TX) Ginny Chabot Bishop (UT) Camp (MI) Deal (GA) A recorded vote was ordered. Biggert Buchanan Coble Blackburn Campbell (CA) Dent Bilbray Burgess Cole (OK) Blunt Cannon Diaz-Balart, L. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This Bilirakis Burton (IN) Crenshaw Boehner Cantor Diaz-Balart, M. will be a 5-minute vote. Bishop (UT) Buyer Cubin

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:15 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.015 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H3510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 18, 2007 Culberson Jordan Pryce (OH) OFFERING HEARTFELT CONDO- Jackson-Lee Miller (FL) Schmidt Davis (KY) Keller Putnam LENCES TO THE VICTIMS AND (TX) Miller (MI) Schwartz Davis, David King (IA) Radanovich Jefferson Miller (NC) Scott (GA) Davis, Jo Ann King (NY) Ramstad THEIR FAMILIES REGARDING Jindal Miller, Gary Scott (VA) Davis, Tom Kingston Regula THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AT Johnson (GA) Miller, George Sensenbrenner Deal (GA) Kirk Rehberg VIRGINIA TECH AND TO STU- Johnson (IL) Mitchell Serrano Johnson, E. B. Mollohan Dent Kline (MN) Reichert DENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRA- Sessions Diaz-Balart, L. Knollenberg Renzi Johnson, Sam Moore (KS) Sestak Jones (NC) Moore (WI) Diaz-Balart, M. Kuhl (NY) Reynolds TION AND STAFF AND THEIR Shadegg Jordan Moran (KS) Doolittle LaHood Rogers (AL) FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN AF- Shays Kagen Moran (VA) Drake Lamborn Rogers (KY) Shea-Porter FECTED Kanjorski Murphy (CT) Dreier Latham Rogers (MI) Sherman The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Kaptur Murphy, Patrick Shimkus Duncan LaTourette Rohrabacher Keller Murphy, Tim Ehlers Lewis (CA) Ros-Lehtinen finished business is the vote on the mo- Shuler Kennedy Murtha Shuster Emerson Lewis (KY) Roskam tion to suspend the rules and agree to Kildee Musgrave Simpson English (PA) Linder Royce Kilpatrick Myrick the resolution, H. Res. 306, on which Sires Everett LoBiondo Ryan (WI) Kind Nadler the yeas and nays were ordered. Skelton Fallin Lucas Sali King (IA) Napolitano Slaughter Feeney Lungren, Daniel Saxton The Clerk read the title of the resolu- King (NY) Neal (MA) Smith (NJ) Flake E. Schmidt Kingston Neugebauer tion. Smith (TX) Forbes Mack Sensenbrenner Kirk Nunes The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Smith (WA) Fortenberry Manzullo Sessions Klein (FL) Oberstar question is on the motion offered by Kline (MN) Obey Snyder Fossella Marchant Shadegg Solis Foxx McCarthy (CA) Shays the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Knollenberg Olver Kucinich Ortiz Souder Franks (AZ) McCaul (TX) Shimkus SCOTT) that the House suspend the Space Frelinghuysen McCotter Shuster Kuhl (NY) Pallone rules and agree to the resolution, H. LaHood Pascrell Spratt Gallegly McCrery Simpson Res. 306. Lamborn Pastor Stark Garrett (NJ) McHenry Smith (NE) This will be a 5-minute vote. Langevin Paul Stearns Gerlach McHugh Smith (NJ) Lantos Payne Stupak Gilchrest McKeon Smith (TX) The vote was taken by electronic de- Larsen (WA) Pearce Sullivan Gillmor McMorris Souder vice, and there were—yeas 421, nays 0, Larson (CT) Pence Sutton Gingrey Rodgers Stearns not voting 12, as follows: Latham Perlmutter Tancredo Gohmert Mica Sullivan LaTourette Peterson (MN) Tanner Goode Miller (FL) Tancredo [Roll No. 221] Lee Peterson (PA) Tauscher Goodlatte Miller (MI) Terry YEAS—421 Levin Petri Taylor Granger Miller, Gary Thornberry Lewis (CA) Pickering Terry Graves Moran (KS) Tiahrt Abercrombie Carnahan Fallin Lewis (GA) Pitts Thompson (CA) Hall (TX) Murphy, Tim Tiberi Ackerman Carney Farr Lewis (KY) Platts Thompson (MS) Aderholt Carson Fattah Hastert Musgrave Turner Linder Poe Thornberry Akin Carter Feeney Hastings (WA) Myrick Upton Lipinski Pomeroy Tiahrt Alexander Castle Filner Hayes Neugebauer Walberg LoBiondo Porter Tiberi Allen Castor Flake Loebsack Price (GA) Tierney Heller Nunes Walden (OR) Altmire Chabot Forbes Hensarling Paul Wamp Lofgren, Zoe Price (NC) Towns Andrews Chandler Fortenberry Lowey Pryce (OH) Herger Pearce Weldon (FL) Turner Arcuri Clarke Fossella Lucas Putnam Hobson Pence Weller Udall (CO) Baca Clay Foxx Lungren, Daniel Radanovich Hoekstra Peterson (PA) Westmoreland Bachmann Cleaver Frank (MA) Udall (NM) E. Rahall Upton Hulshof Petri Whitfield Bachus Clyburn Franks (AZ) Lynch Ramstad Hunter Pickering Wicker Baird Coble Frelinghuysen Van Hollen Mack Rangel Vela´ zquez Inglis (SC) Pitts Wilson (NM) Baker Cohen Gallegly Mahoney (FL) Regula Visclosky Issa Platts Wilson (SC) Baldwin Cole (OK) Garrett (NJ) Maloney (NY) Rehberg Walberg Jindal Poe Wolf Barrett (SC) Conyers Gerlach Manzullo Reichert Walden (OR) Johnson (IL) Porter Young (AK) Barrow Cooper Giffords Marchant Renzi Walz (MN) Johnson, Sam Price (GA) Young (FL) Bartlett (MD) Costa Gilchrest Markey Reyes Wamp Barton (TX) Costello Gillibrand Marshall Reynolds Wasserman NOT VOTING—11 Bean Courtney Gillmor Matheson Rodriguez Becerra Cramer Gingrey Matsui Rogers (AL) Schultz Blumenauer Ferguson Millender- Berkley Crenshaw Gonzalez McCarthy (CA) Rogers (KY) Waters Blunt Higgins McDonald Berman Crowley Goode McCarthy (NY) Rogers (MI) Watson Boehner Jones (OH) Stupak Berry Cubin Goodlatte McCaul (TX) Rohrabacher Watt Conaway Lampson Walsh (NY) Biggert Cuellar Gordon McCollum (MN) Ros-Lehtinen Waxman Bilbray Culberson Granger McCotter Roskam Weiner ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Bilirakis Cummings Graves McCrery Ross Welch (VT) Bishop (GA) Davis (AL) Green, Al McDermott Rothman Weldon (FL) The SPEAKER pro tempore (during Bishop (NY) Davis (CA) Green, Gene McGovern Roybal-Allard Weller the vote). Members are advised there Bishop (UT) Davis (IL) Grijalva McHenry Royce Westmoreland Blackburn Davis (KY) Gutierrez McHugh Ruppersberger Wexler are 2 minutes remaining on this vote. Blumenauer Davis, David Hall (NY) McIntyre Rush Whitfield Bonner Davis, Jo Ann Hall (TX) McKeon Ryan (OH) Wicker Bono Davis, Lincoln Hare McMorris Ryan (WI) Wilson (NM) b 1415 Boozman Davis, Tom Harman Rodgers Salazar Wilson (OH) Boren Deal (GA) Hastert McNerney Sali Wilson (SC) So the resolution was agreed to. Boswell DeFazio Hastings (FL) McNulty Sa´ nchez, Linda Wolf Boucher DeGette Hastings (WA) The result of the vote was announced Meehan T. Woolsey Boustany Delahunt Hayes Meek (FL) Sanchez, Loretta Wu as above recorded. Boyd (FL) DeLauro Heller Meeks (NY) Sarbanes Wynn Boyda (KS) Dent Hensarling Melancon Saxton Yarmuth A motion to reconsider was laid on Brady (PA) Diaz-Balart, M. Herger Mica Schakowsky Young (AK) the table. Brady (TX) Dicks Herseth Sandlin Michaud Schiff Young (FL) Braley (IA) Dingell Hill Stated against: Brown (SC) Doggett Hinchey NOT VOTING—12 Brown, Corrine Donnelly Hinojosa Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, because I Blunt Gohmert Millender- Brown-Waite, Doolittle Hirono Boehner Higgins McDonald Ginny Doyle Hobson was attending a funeral at West Point this Conaway Jones (OH) Smith (NE) Buchanan Drake Hodes morning, I missed rollcall No. 220, adoption of Diaz-Balart, L. Lampson Walsh (NY) Burgess Dreier Hoekstra Ferguson H. Res. 301: Providing for consideration of Burton (IN) Duncan Holden H.R. 1257, to amend the Securities Exchange Butterfield Edwards Holt ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Buyer Ehlers Honda The SPEAKER pro tempore (during Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an Calvert Ellison Hooley advisory vote on executive compensation. Had Camp (MI) Ellsworth Hoyer the vote). Members are advised that 2 Campbell (CA) Emanuel Hulshof minutes remain in this vote. I been present, I would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ Cannon Emerson Hunter Cantor Engel Inglis (SC) b 1425 Capito English (PA) Inslee So (two-thirds being in the affirma- Capps Eshoo Israel Capuano Etheridge Issa tive) the rules were suspended and the Cardoza Everett Jackson (IL) resolution was agreed to.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:51 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18AP7.017 H18APPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE April 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3511 The result of the vote was announced to ensure they are prepared for a wide H.R. 1361 has the support of Amer- as above recorded. range of disasters. ica’s Community Bankers, Independent A motion to reconsider was laid on This legislation will streamline Community Bankers of America, the table. SBA’s loan processing and disburse- American Veterans, Veterans of For- Stated for: ment, as well as establish a bridge fi- eign Wars of the United States, the Mr. SMITH of Nebraska Mr. Speaker, on nancing program. After the gulf coast Black Chamber of Commerce and the rollcall No. 221, due to a meeting with con- storms, we saw entrepreneurs not only U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce. stituents on issues relating to my district, I was getting declined for loans but having to I strongly urge my colleagues to vote unable to cast the vote. Had I been present, wait far too long for relief. This bill re- for the RECOVER Act of 2007. I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ quires that within 36 hours of a dis- Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, because I aster, qualified small businesses are of my time. was attending a funeral at West Point this provided with emergency small dollar Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I yield morning, I missed rollcall No. 221, adoption of financing, allowing them to stay in myself such time as I might consume. H. Res. 306: Offering heartfelt condolences to business and spur economic growth. Today, Mr. Chairman, I rise in oppo- the victims and their families regarding the For small businesses, success and sition to H.R. 1361, the RECOVER Act. horrific violence at Virginia Tech in failure often come down to adequate fi- While there are many important things Blacksburg, Virginia. Had I been present, I nancing. Nowhere is that more true that this bill does, there are two provi- would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ than following a disaster. The changes sions in particular, I believe, that un- made in this bill will ensure we avoid f fortunately undermine the good work the mistakes in the gulf where 62 per- that has been done by the chairwoman RELIEF FOR ENTREPRENEURS: CO- cent of small businesses who applied in drafting the legislation. ORDINATION OF OBJECTIVES for assistance were not approved. I want to make clear, I think she has AND VALUES FOR EFFECTIVE We cannot leave entrepreneurs with worked very hard. I think the staff has RECOVERY ACT OF 2007 nothing to help them salvage their en- worked very hard to craft what they The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- terprises. For those that did get ap- thought was a good bill, and I think it ant to House Resolution 302 and rule proved, the average wait time to re- still has the potential. There are two XVIII, the Chair declares the House in ceive their loan was 74 days, much amendments that we are going to offer the Committee of the Whole House on longer than the SBA’s goal of 21 days. subsequent to the general debate argu- H.R. 1361 also provides for gulf coast the state of the Union for the consider- ment here, and if those amendments entrepreneurs who still need assist- ation of the bill, H.R. 1361. are adopted, I think they fix the bill ance. The committee just came back sufficiently that we can support it be- b 1425 from New Orleans, and there is no cause, as I indicated, I think there are IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE doubt that this community has a long many good things in this bill. But way to go to get where it was before Accordingly, the House resolved without those two provisions being the hurricanes hit. By helping affected itself into the Committee of the Whole passed, we unfortunately have to op- small businesses, we are also signifi- House on the state of the Union for the pose it in its current form. consideration of the bill (H.R. 1361) to cantly aiding in the revitalization of These two provisions, as I indicated, the gulf coast. improve the disaster relief programs of unfortunately make it impossible for The RECOVER Act of 2007 will estab- the Small Business Administration, me to support it as drafted, and the lish a grant program that allows the and for other purposes, with Mr. DAVIS SBA to help the most significantly manager’s amendment offered by the of Alabama in the chair. damaged small businesses that have chairwoman, while making one of the The Clerk read the title of the bill. been rejected for a conventional SBA provisions less problematic, does not The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the loan. These grants are intended to spur assuage our underlying concerns about rule, the bill is considered read the redevelopment in communities directly the two provisions that I just men- first time. affected by the 2005 gulf coast storms tioned. The gentlewoman from New York where ordinary market forces are sim- I think everyone can agree that all (Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ) and the gentleman ply not enough. They will be granted branches of government failed to re- from Ohio (Mr. CHABOT) each will con- under limited circumstances to provide spond adequately to the devastation trol 30 minutes. aid to only the neediest of entre- that was Hurricane Katrina, and one of The Chair recognizes the gentle- preneurs that meet a number of quali- those agencies that did not measure up woman from New York. is the Small Business Administration ´ fications. Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I The legislation also fixes SBA’s one- unfortunately. This is not the conclu- will yield myself such time as I may size-fits-all approach to the disaster sion of Democrats or Republicans, or consume. loan process that has failed businesses Louisiana or Mississippi Members of After the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, in the gulf coast. To be more respon- Congress. It is a conclusion reached by we witnessed a number of problems sive to individual disaster victims, the GAO, small business owners in the with the Small Business Administra- H.R. 1361 provides the SBA adminis- region and even the SBA itself. tion’s preparation and ability to assist trator with the authority to waive the While much of the focus on the re- entrepreneurs following a disaster. As prohibition on duplication of benefits sponse to Katrina has focused on the the agency responsible for handling the for the 2005 hurricane victims. Taking immediate aftermath and the failures disaster loan program, it was clear state-administered grant assistance of FEMA, the SBA plays a key role in they were not adequately prepared. and replacing it with loans that are not the response to disasters by issuing During that time, there were signifi- disbursed efficiently or in adequate loans to both homeowners and small cant application backlogs, with the amounts have left entrepreneurs with- businesses affected by the disaster. number ballooning to 204,000 unproc- out assistance to build their homes. Thus, an inadequate response by the essed applications by December 2005. Small businesses should not have to SBA undermines the recovery of com- Those that were lucky enough to get choose between their home and their munities devastated by natural disas- approved for assistance often waited business. This bill makes sure they are ters. It is vital that the SBA be pre- months to receive any funds. It reached not faced with that choice. pared to handle future disasters, in- the point where entrepreneurs were Eighteen months has passed since cluding some worst-case possible sce- simply avoiding the SBA, believing it this Nation