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, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 No. 26 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was Lord God, Divine Architect of his- ness to human rights and dignity for called to order by the Speaker pro tem- tory, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln all Your people. Amen. pore (Mr. INSLEE). is a moment to not only hear his voice f f echoed in countless prayers of people the world over, now is the time for this DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Nation to touch his spirit, for we are THE JOURNAL TEMPORE caught up again in the lingering debate The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- of war and peace. Chair has examined the Journal of the fore the House the following commu- Perhaps, Lord, the wordsmith Carl last day’s proceedings and announces nication from the Speaker: Sandburg best describes our debility to the House his approval thereof. WASHINGTON, DC, and Lincoln’s vision for us when he Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- February 12, 2007. writes: nal stands approved. I hereby appoint the Honorable JAY INSLEE ‘‘Decreed beyond any but far imag- to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. ining of its going asunder was Lin- f NANCY PELOSI, coln’s mystic dream of the Union of Speaker of the House of Repesentatives. States achieved. Beyond all the hate or PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE f corruption or mocking fantasies of de- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the MORNING HOUR DEBATES mocracy that might live as an after- gentleman from Texas (Mr. POE) come math of the war were assurances of forward and lead the House in the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- long-time conditions for healing, for Pledge of Allegiance. ant to the order of the House of Janu- rebuilding, for new growth. Mr. POE led the Pledge of Allegiance ary 4, 2007, the Chair will now recog- ‘‘As a result flowing from the war, as follows: nize Members from lists submitted by the United States was to take its place I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the the majority and minority leaders for among nations counted world powers United States of America, and to the Repub- morning hour debates. The Chair will . and as a world power, the expecta- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, alternate recognition between the par- tion was it would be a voice of the indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ties, with each party limited to not to teachings of Washington, Jefferson, exceed 30 minutes, and each Member, Jackson, and Lincoln speaking for a re- f except the majority leader, the minor- publican government, for democracy, THE SIGN MUST STAY ity leader, or the minority whip, lim- for institutions ‘of the people, by the ited to not to exceed 5 minutes. people, for the people.’ (Mr. POE asked and was given per- f ‘‘Though there might come betrayals mission to address the House for 1 and false pretenses, the war had put minute.) RECESS some manner of seal on human rights Mr. POE. ‘‘This Is America. When Or- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- and dignity in contrast with property dering, Please Speak English.’’ This ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair rights, and even the very definition of sign is located in the window of Geno’s declares the House in recess until 2 property . Restaurant, tourist landmark for the p.m. today. ‘‘Out of the smoke and stench, out of famous Philly cheese steak. Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 31 the music and violet dreams of the war, Philadelphia’s Commission on minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- Lincoln stood perhaps taller than any Human Relations has been ordering its cess until 2 p.m. other of the many great heroes. None owner, Joe Vento, to take down the f threw a longer shadow than he. And to sign, however. They have even sug- gested that he hire Spanish-speaking b 1400 him the great hero was the People. He could not say too often that he was employees to help communicate. But AFTER RECESS merely their instrument.’’ Joe is not giving in to the bureaucrats. The recess having expired, the House Lord God, in our own day, take us be- Vento says that Geno’s will serve and was called to order by the Speaker pro yond the hate and mocking fantasies. his staff will help out customers who tempore (Mr. SIRES) at 2 p.m. Hammer out renewed commitments for don’t speak English, but the sign is f healing, for rebuilding and for new staying. growth. Make today’s government an Joe Vento is of Italian descent. His PRAYER instrument of Your people, that we grandparents came from Italy. They The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. may take our rightful place among the were proud of their American citizen- Coughlin, offered the following prayer: nations as a world power, which is wit- ship and quickly learned English. But 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. H1425 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 13, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A12FE7.000 H12FEPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with HOUSE H1426 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 12, 2007 now the Commission on Human Rela- would result in pervasive instability Democrats should not do that as they tions is taking legal action against and embolden radical Islamist terror- hold the Speaker’s gavel. Vento, charging him with discrimina- ists and rogue regimes to expand new The right to amend and the right to tion simply for asking his customers to areas in the region. debate that leads to a better bill is a speak English. Mr. Speaker, the stakes are real and right of this democracy, and this body No business owner should be forced they are high. And the American peo- has been reduced by the taking of that to hire a whole gauntlet of foreign- ple deserve leadership, not partisan right. speaking translators because of indi- politics. I will continue to support our f viduals who feel they won’t learn our troops by continuing to support their ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER language. Individuals who come here mission. PRO TEMPORE need to understand that this country is f not Mexico, France, Korea or the Mid- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- WE MUST WIN THE BATTLE OF dle East. This is America, and English ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair IDEAS is spoken here. will postpone further proceedings And that’s just the way it is. (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was today on motions to suspend the rules f given permission to address the House on which a recorded vote or the yeas for 1 minute and to revise and extend and nays are ordered, or on which the PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL FROM her remarks.) vote is objected to under clause 6 of IRAQ WILL ENDANGER U.S. Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, as a rule XX. (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina member of the Victory in Iraq Caucus, Record votes on postponed questions asked and was given permission to ad- I continue to stand and support our will be taken after 6:30 p.m. today. dress the House for 1 minute and to re- troops. I feel it is imperative that we f vise and extend his remarks.) continue to strongly speak out in favor RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. of the efforts that our troops are car- EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPART- Speaker, sadly, many people try to sep- rying out against terrorism, not only MENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY arate the current Iraq conflict from the in Iraq, but in 30 different countries attacks of September 11 and the Global around the globe. Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to War on Terrorism; it is impossible to The terrorists tell us, just as my col- suspend the rules and agree to the reso- do so. The attacks of September 11 league said, that Iraq is the central lution (H. Res. 134) recognizing and were not isolated, random events. Al battle in the war on terror. War is not honoring the employees of the Depart- Qaeda has openly stated Iraq is the quick, and it is not painless. It is up to ment of Homeland Security for their central front in the war on terror. And us here in the people’s House to con- efforts and contributions to protect our enemy is highly intelligent, well fi- tinue to support the troops and to be and secure the Nation. nanced and committed to the destruc- behind their efforts, funding them 100 The Clerk read as follows: tion of freedoms. percent of the way. H. RES. 134 The concept that America’s retreat In order to win, Mr. Speaker, we Whereas the United States must remain in Iraq will bring an end to sectarian must not only succeed on the battle- vigilant against all threats to the homeland, violence and terrorist activity in the field; we must win in the battle of including acts of terrorism, natural disas- region ignores history.