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, JANUARY 10, 2007 No. 5 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was Mr. STEARNS led the Pledge of Alle- stillness of the vast night, a speeding called to order by the Speaker pro tem- giance as follows: Suburban runs a red light. Deputy Her- pore (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida). I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the nandez, 25, stops the vehicle, but sud- f United States of America, and to the Repub- denly, without warning, the vehicle lic for which it stands, one nation under God, takes off. Deputy Hernandez says the DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. vehicle tried to run him down. The law- PRO TEMPORE f man fires several shots, one of which The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- IRAQI SURGE shoots out the rear tire, just like in the fore the House the following commu- movies. nication from the Speaker: (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and The vehicle stops, and eight or nine WASHINGTON, DC. was given permission to address the illegals jump out and take off running January 10, 2007. House for 1 minute and to revise and into the sagebrush. One illegal had a I hereby appoint the Honorable ALCEE L. extend his remarks.) minor injury from a bullet. The U.S. HASTINGS to act as Speaker pro tempore on Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speak- Government rounds up six or seven of this day. er, the President’s proposal that he the illegals and, guess what, prosecutes NANCY PELOSI, will announce tonight to increase rath- Speaker of the House of Representatives. Deputy Hernandez, claiming he reck- er than decrease the number of troops lessly discharged his firearm and uses f in Iraq defies the reality on the ground the illegals as witnesses against the PRAYER and the advice of our wisest military lawman during a trial. The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. commanders. This decision will only Citizens of his town are mad. One Coughlin, offered the following prayer: serve to put more forces in the cross- said, ‘‘Our deputy’s in jail for doing his ‘‘Let us sing a new song to the Lord. fire of a growing civil war. If there ever job.’’ Let us praise the Lord in all the was a justifiable mission to depose a Mr. Speaker, another example of how works of justice.’’ ruthless dictator, that mission has the Federal Government is more con- Lord, may the Nation be strength- been accomplished. The Congress never cerned about people illegally invading ened in hope and be inspired to think authorized this military occupation. It America than it is about the men who through things anew. With new Mem- is irresponsible and, in fact, immoral protect America. Once again, our gov- bers and experienced Members working to allow more innocent American lives ernment is on the wrong side of the together in Congress, may new tactics to be lost in vain. border war. and decisions be revealed as the will of Iraq is an artificial nation that was And that’s just the way it is. the people and in accord with Your created by Winston Churchill and Ger- f trude Bell in 1922 to promote their con- provident plan. CONGRATULATING BULGARIA ON In You, O Lord, we find creativity, cept of British imperialism. The re- ality is that this was never a winnable BEING ADMITTED INTO THE EU- wisdom and faithful love, now and for- ROPEAN UNION ever. Amen. war for the United States of America nor in my view is it a sustainable civil (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina f society, and adding more troops is not asked and was given permission to ad- THE JOURNAL going to change that reality. dress the House for 1 minute and to re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The f vise and extend his remarks.) Chair has examined the Journal of the Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. DEPUTY GILMER HERNANDEZ— last day’s proceedings and announces Speaker, this has been a joyous new BORDER LAWMAN to the House his approval thereof. year for the people of Bulgaria. On Jan- Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- (Mr. POE asked and was given per- uary 1, Bulgaria and Romania were ad- nal stands approved. mission to address the House for 1 mitted into the European Union. In f minute.) less than 16 years Bulgaria has success- Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, in the small fully transitioned from a Communist PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE border town of Rocksprings, Texas, totalitarian regime into a free market The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the where drug smugglers and human democracy. gentleman from Florida (Mr. STEARNS) smugglers sneak across the Rio Grande Three years ago, I was honored to be come forward and lead the House in the into America, lone Deputy Sheriff at the White House with former Prime Pledge of Allegiance. Gilmer Hernandez was on patrol. In the Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha as 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. H255 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:39 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD07\H10JA7.REC H10JA7 hmoore on PRODPC68 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 10, 2007 Bulgaria was admitted into NATO. Bul- ity, spirit and, of course, their desire to curing diseases and the potential for garia has proven to be a true ally in succeed. I take great pride in rep- regenerative tissue growth are possible the global war on terrorism and there resenting the University of Florida and in a moral and ethical way. are currently plans for three U.S. bases congratulate Coach Urban Meyer and I am proud to recognize the truly to be located within Bulgaria. Bulgaria the entire university on this great ac- amazing work of Wake Forest Univer- has one of the fastest-growing Euro- complishment. sity’s Institute of Regenerative Medi- pean economies, and membership in The SPEAKER pro tempore. I wanted cine and look forward to the promise of the EU will accelerate its pace. to ask my colleague to continue for an- its continued research. Congratulations to President Georgi other minute since I am from Florida. f Parvanov, Prime Minister Sergey f Stanishev, Ambassador to Washington b 1015 IRAQI SURGE Elena Poptodorova, and my longtime RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE friend and former ambassador to Ath- (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given ens, Stefan Stoyanov. I am grateful to permission to address the House for 1 permission to address the House for 1 serve with Congresswoman ELLEN minute.) minute and to revise and extend his re- TAUSCHER as co-chair of the Bulgaria Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, we need a marks.) Caucus. surge of congressional action to stop Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today we In conclusion, God bless our troops, George Bush’s disastrous policy in have the opportunity to raise the and we will never forget September 11. Iraq. The country needs and is des- wages of 13 million Americans, and we f perate for a change in policy in Iraq, and tonight President George Bush will should take it. IT’S TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM continue his policy of failure, of giving Why raise the minimum wage in WAGE us just more of the same. America? For the simple reason that (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and It is clear that we need to insist on a men and women in the richest Nation was given permission to address the political solution in Iraq rather than to on Earth should not work full time and House for 1 minute and to revise and insist on Americans continuing to pour still be relegated to living in poverty. extend his remarks.) billions of dollars and thousands of What does it mean for the father or Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. It’s time to lives into this political chaos in Iraq. mother in a family of three to live on raise the minimum wage. The President has refused to listen to the current minimum wage? It means Mr. Speaker, I love America, and I the bipartisan panel calling for a an income of $10,000 a year. want to make real the ideal expressed change in Iraq. He has refused to listen Imagine living in Glendale, Burbank in the Pledge of Allegiance, liberty and to the American people. But he cannot or Pasadena, or any city in America, justice for all. Justice not just for refuse to listen to a Congress that ful- and trying to get by on $10,000 a year. those who make more in a day than a fills its obligation under the Constitu- A raise in the minimum wage will be minimum wage worker makes in a tion to exercise the power of the purse an additional $4,000 for that family of year, not just for those who are in, to stop this misguided escalation. three. It will mean more groceries on those who are in charge, in control, in- The U.S. House should vote in clear the table and a greater opportunity to cluded, but justice also for those who and no uncertain terms to fund the get health care.