Recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq and under the threat of terrorism at home.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 153) recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq and under the threat of terrorism at home.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Resolution 153, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin), recognizes the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and their Armed Forces abroad due to the armed conflict in Iraq and the threat of terrorism here at home.

Mr. Speaker, our great Nation is at battle overseas with the vicious regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The mission Operation Iraqi Freedom aims to dislodge Hussein and his top advisers from power, eliminate weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi military's arsenal, and free the Iraqi people from Hussein's awful dictatorship. This conflict can lead to a wonderful improvement in the lives of all Iraqi people. The risks of this conflict, however, are terribly significant to all American citizens.

In Iraq, the threats to our remarkable servicemen and women are many. The Iraqi soldiers' resistance may include the deployment of chemical and biological weapons, not to mention the lethality of Iraq's military's conventional weapons. Here at home, the Federal Government has launched Operation Liberty Shield to increase domestic security due to the danger of terrorist attacks within our borders.

This combination of threats to Americans across the globe make passage of this resolution essential and meaningful. Since the birth of our Nation, Americans of all backgrounds, faiths and creeds have especially recognized the value earned from prayer, reflection, sacrifice and humility during times of national crisis.

Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 153. I thank my colleague from Missouri for introducing this extremely relevant and valuable measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to read this resolution, and I think it is pretty clear what it says:

Recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq and under the threat of terrorism at home.

Whereas the United States is currently engaged in a war on terrorism in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001;

Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States are currently engaged in a campaign to disarm the regime of Saddam Hussein and liberate the people of Iraq;

Whereas, on June 1, 1774, the Virginia House of Burgesses called for a day of fasting and prayer as an expression of solidarity with the people of Boston who were under siege by the enemy;

Whereas, on March 16, 1776, the Continental Congress, recognizing that the ``Liberties of America are imminently endangered'' and the need ``to acknowledge the overruling Providence of God'', called for a day of ``Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer'';

Whereas, on June 28, 1787, during the debate of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin, convinced of God's intimate involvement in human affairs, implored the Congress to seek the assistance of Heaven in all its dealings;

Whereas, on March 30, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, at the behest of the Senate, and himself recognizing the need of the Nation to humble itself before God in repentance for its national sins, proclaimed a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation;

Whereas all of the various faiths of the people of the United States have recognized, in our religious traditions, the need for fasting and humble supplication before Providence;

Whereas humility, fasting, and prayer in times of danger have long been rooted in our essential national convictions and have been a means of producing unity and solidarity among all the diverse people of this Nation as well as procuring the enduring grace and benevolence of God;

Whereas, through prayer, fasting, and self-reflection, we may better recognize our own faults and shortcomings and submit to the wisdom and love of God in order that we may have guidance and strength in those daily actions and decisions we must take; and

Whereas dangers and threats to our Nation persist and, in this time of peril, it is appropriate that the people of the United States, leaders and citizens alike, seek guidance, strength, and resolve through prayer and fasting: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should issue a proclamation--

(1) designating a day for humility, prayer, and fasting for all people of the United States; and

(2) calling on all people of the United States--

(A) to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting;

(B) to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities; and

(C) to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I think the resolution speaks for itself. It is a resolution that I think all of us can support with humility and grace and a love for our great Nation.

I would just remind the Members of this Chamber that the medallion that is directly facing the Speaker is the medallion of Moses. We have been guided by his laws for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his very thoughtful words and comments, and just to remind Members again that the most operative words in this resolution are what we resolve, that we designate a day for humility, prayer, and fasting for all people of the United States and call on all people of the United States to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting, to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities, and to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation.

I believe that resolve is so in line with the spirit of what our Founding Fathers did in years before.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin), who was the presenter of this resolution. I thank him for that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I have no other speakers, and I want to thank, before returning the balance of my time, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) again for introducing this important resolution and also the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his thoughtful comments and support.

I urge all Members to support the adoption of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), the cosponsor of this, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for all the work that their committees did in bringing this to the floor today.

I am wearing, Mr. Speaker, a patch of the Third Infantry Division. This particular emblem, and we all get many lapel buttons in Congress, but it means probably more to me than any that I have ever received. It was given to me by retired Lieutenant Colonel Robin Webber, whose husband is General-promotable Joe Webber. He is over in the theater right now from the Third Infantry Division.

In communities like Fort Stewart, Georgia, which I have the honor of representing where the Third Infantry is headquartered, and Fort Bliss, Texas, and other military communities around the country, we see these young soldiers and some of the older soldiers and all the soldiers and the support personnel as friends and neighbors. When we have an international conflict, we look at it both on a personal level and, of course, on an international level.

I was there at the dockside when the Mendonza ship was loading up the equipment from Fort Stewart, 500,000 square feet worth of tanks and personnel movers and helicopters.

I was there at the DAG at Hunter Air Base when we were shaking hands with the soldiers and standing by the USO as they put the deodorant and the Bibles and sometimes the pocketbooks and other items in bags for them, shaking hands with these soldiers as they went off to mission.

I was at the luncheon meeting with the military wives' organization when Ms. Webber gave this patch to me. They were talking about their own personal struggles and how this conflict affects their lives. Yet to a person and to an experience, everybody who was

involved in this great human chain of activity was very proud of the work of the Third Infantry Division; and indeed now, as they sit on the banks of the Euphrates River, our hearts and thoughts remain with them more than ever.

The men and women who make up the Third Infantry Division, of course, come from all over the country. They come from Mission, Texas; Alamogordo, New Mexico; Park City, Kansas; Pennsauken, New Jersey; Lithia Springs, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; and all over. In that way they are so much members of the American fabric that we all are with them, even the people who did not see the horrible film which Members of Congress saw today, which Members of Congress saw some of our bravest and finest young men dead in apparent execution. We saw other soldiers, men and one woman, who were detained as prisoners of war.

It is with this outrage that we all come together on a bipartisan basis and support H. Con. Res. 118. We believe it is very important to send a signal not just to the soldiers and the members of the Iraqi military but the international community that we believe in the Geneva Convention and we expect any nation that we are at war with to abide by the Geneva Convention.

The four Geneva Conventions, Mr. Speaker, were agreed upon in August, 1949, and they were signed by 164 different nations, including Iraq. The International Committee of the Red Cross oversees the implementation of the conventions. The conventions include the following:

Article 13 states that prisoners of war must at all times be treated humanely, they must be protected against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

Article 14 states that prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honor.

Article 17 states, in part, every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first name and rank, date of birth, and army, regimental or personnel serial number or equivalent information. No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatsoever.

Article 19 states that POWs shall be evacuated as soon as possible after their capture to camps situated in an area far enough from the combat zone for them to be out of danger.

And article 23 says no POW may be sent to, or detailed in, areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone.

These articles, Mr. Speaker, seem to be totally ignored. We have soldiers over there now that are captured, seven that we know of, that we have confirmed. Yet we have 4,000 Iraqi soldiers, and we are abiding by the Geneva Convention. How easy it would be to manage for the care of seven prisoners compared to 4,000. Yet the United States, just like Iraq in 1949, signed these conventions; and we intend to stick by them.

By passing this resolution today, which we will, I hope, on a bipartisan and unanimous basis, we are sending a strong signal, three of them, Mr. Speaker, one to the troops, to say that you are foremost on our minds, so are your families and so are the other soldiers who are fighting to regain your freedom. Number two, we are sending a signal to the government and the military of Iraq that if you do ignore the Geneva Convention, then we intend to give you a criminal trial as a war criminal when this conflict is over with or as soon as possible.

And, number three, we are sending a signal to the international community because we know there are many who have opposed this action. We know there are many nations who do not like the United States of America, and yet since there are 164 nations that have signed the Geneva Conventions, we hope that all 162 others, excluding the United States and Iraq, would join us and say this is an outrage, we insist that Iraq abide by the Geneva Conventions. And this is an opportunity for France, for Russia, for China, for Germany, or any other critics that we have in this action to come together, as have Members of Congress, to say this is not right, we want these conventions followed.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield the floor and close with the remarks of so many other colleagues. God bless these prisoners, God bless our troops, and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friends, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), for introducing this most important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the seventh day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a valiant campaign by the United States, the United Kingdom, and our partners to rid the world of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the regime that wields them.

We have achieved much in this war so far. Iraq's southern oil fields have been saved, its western deserts have been secured, and its gulf ports have been opened. Our Air Forces have meticulously degraded Iraq's defenses while minimizing civilian casualties, and our Third Infantry Division is poised at Saddam Hussein's doorstep.

We owe these successes to America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have performed bravely and brilliantly in this fight. The courage and skill they have displayed on the battlefield comes as no shock. Their training and leadership has prepared them well, but it does continue to inspire awe.

I know I speak for all Americans, Mr. Speaker, in expressing my deepest admiration and strongest support for all of our military men and women fighting in Iraq. We admire especially the service of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in this war to date, and those who may do so in the days ahead. Our deepest condolences go to the families who have lost their loved ones. The brave men and women who have laid down their lives in Iraq are true American heroes whose debt our thankful Nation can never repay.

America's Armed Forces, Mr. Speaker, represent the best our democracy has to offer. Their conduct reflects the values we cherish. We respect international law and uphold the highest human virtues in this fight.

The enemy we face does not share these values. The Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein has waged this war in total violation of all norms of civilized behavior. Its armed forces use innocents as human shields, execute deserters on sight, hide in hospitals, fire from behind white flags, and deny their own people access to humanitarian assistance. They deliberately position their tanks and artillery next to mosques, schools, and hospitals, putting innocent Iraqi civilians at great risk.

In a futile attempt to build support for his doomed regime, Saddam Hussein has waged a relentless and reckless disinformation campaign. To this end, he has utilized American prisoners of war as propaganda props, abusing, humiliating, and intimidating them, in clear violation of the Geneva Convention.

The resolution before us delivers a stern warning to the Iraqi regime to end such atrocities and to comply with

the terms of the Third Geneva Convention relating to the treatment of prisoners of war. It places the full weight and power of the American people behind the enforcement of this code of conduct.

We should not delude ourselves, Mr. Speaker. Saddam Hussein has utter contempt for the Geneva Convention and all international agreements. He feels no obligation to abide by the norms of civilized behavior, as he showed in his reprehensible conduct towards coalition soldiers in the first Gulf War.

Our vote today is not likely to deter him, although we hope that it does. It will set the standard for the swift and certain justice we shall deliver to those who have perpetrated war crimes after Saddam's rotten regime collapses. It will show the entire world that the United States, the United Kingdom, and all of our partners are committed to the lawful, humane conduct of this war, despite the evil and cowardly tactics the enemy employs.

I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this resolution and to the American prisoners of war currently in captivity.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), the original author of this legislation and a distinguished member of our Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each side be given an additional 10 minutes so that Members who choose to speak on this important resolution may have the opportunity to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) to pay special tribute to women soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Before yielding back my time, I would like to make one observation. We have paid tributes to our military who have been captured. We have expressed our determination that they be treated with dignity and within the confines of the Geneva Convention, and we have expressed our commitment that those who do not will be punished however long it takes us to find them and to bring them to justice.

There is only one item that has not yet been mentioned in this debate. The Arab television network Al Jazeera has become part and parcel of Saddam Hussein's propaganda machine. I call on the government of Qatar and others who are capable of doing so of rectifying the outrageous policies of this television network which is being used to humiliate and intimidate our military. It is unacceptable that an international television network be used as part of Saddam Hussein's propaganda machine, and we expect action to be taken on that issue.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me on this very important issue.

Let me first begin by thanking my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), for allowing me to work with him to draft this resolution in support of our POWs.

Also, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) sitting here; the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton); the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde); and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their work to bring this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today before the House not only as a Member of Congress but as a former member of the United States Armed Forces, and also as a proud citizen of this great country of ours.

As we all know too well, our country is currently facing very difficult times. We have all heard the unfortunate news concerning the captured members of the 507th Maintenance Company by Iraqi military. Fort Bliss, home of the 507th Maintenance Company, is located in my district. This disturbing news truly hit home for me and for all my constituents in El Paso, Texas. Over the past few months, nearly 4,000 of Fort Bliss's troops have been deployed to the Middle East. On February 17, 2003, the 507th Maintenance Company was also deployed.

Mr. Speaker, I can personally vividly remember that windy day back in 1967 when I was getting ready to deploy overseas. I remember then how proud I was wearing the uniform of our military, and how proud I was to be a soldier representing this great country. I also remember the concern that I had for my family.

I was leaving behind my mom and my dad, my nine brothers and sisters and my then girlfriend Carolina, who today has been my wife for 34 years. I was being sent away to a country unknown to me, away from my family and my friends; and I can assure my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, war is the most difficult of experiences one can experience.

Thirty-six years ago, I served my country proudly. I was fortunate enough to be one of those that returned. I will not even begin today to compare my experiences with those that are facing our courageous men and women being held captive in Iraq. I do strongly commend these troops for their unwavering bravery and pledge my support that they are returned safely.

Mr. Speaker, among those troops are the 507th Maintenance Company. Being held captive is a constituent of mine from El Paso. She is an honorable patriot, and now she is an inspiration not only to the people of El Paso but to all of us all across this country. We stand behind her and her brothers and her sisters in arms.

I would also like to recognize the courage of our other captive troops, including the Apache pilots from Fort Hood, Texas. My deepest and most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with their families, as well as with all families affected by this tragedy.

I know the people of Fort Bliss and the city of El Paso will continue to keep our brothers and sisters in their prayers. I have the utmost confidence in our armed services so that they will very soon reunite the captive soldiers with their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I decided this afternoon that in my remarks I would not mention any names of any of the troops that are currently held prisoner out of respect for their privacy and the privacy of their families, as well as deferring to the request from the Department of Defense. It was recently this afternoon brought to my attention that two more of our soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

I am proud to be able to stand before this House and express my support for our troops. As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, I have had the privilege and the honor of visiting our troops on many occasions, not only at Fort Bliss but around this country and around the Middle East. I am very proud and honored to be able to represent such brave and professional soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of this resolution before us today. I want to assure the American people and the families and the friends of our captive troops that the Congress of the United States stands behind our brave men and women, and we will do everything in our power to see that our prisoners are treated with dignity and humanity and that they are recovered as quickly and as safely as possible.

I strongly encourage all my colleagues to vote for this resolution.

I also in the strongest terms wish to condemn the Iraqi government and the media that has sought to degrade and humiliate our soldiers in violation of the Geneva Convention, as some of my colleagues have already previously mentioned.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by commending all the members of our armed services that are serving us so valiantly in Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as the troops that are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom for their patriotism, their bravery and their professionalism will never be forgotten.

I also wish to express my appreciation to the British and Australian troops and other members of the coalition who are fighting alongside Americans in combat and to all the personnel from other allied countries who are providing support to our troops. I support our government's effort to prosecute this war swiftly and successfully with a minimum of military and civilian casualties. Our soldiers deserve our fullest support, and they can count on all of us for that, no matter how long it takes.

Mr. Speaker, may God bless our troops and God bless America. I thank my good friend for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 118) concerning the treatment of members of the Armed Forces held as prisoner of war by Iraqi authorities, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today to speak on behalf of those brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have been taken prisoner of war by the Iraqi regime, and for those who are missing in action.

All Members were appalled by the reports and images of the barbaric treatment of our soldiers by the Iraqi regime captors. This resolution will send a clear message of resolve that this Congress will stand by and insist on the rights of its military sons and daughters in their time of peril. We will spare no effort to bring them home alive and in good health, and to hold to account anybody who would dare mistreat them.

All of us join families, comrades in arms and friends in prayer for their safe return, the safe return of all members of our armed services. I note with pride that the American military is already carrying out its obligations under the Geneva Conventions. We have invited the Red Cross or Red Crescent to visit our prisoners, and we demand the same access for the Red Cross to coalition prisoners held by Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) the majority whip.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), a senior member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

(Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

(Mr. COLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy.)

(Mr. MURPHY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

(Mr. PEARCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the Committee on Rules.

(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of our colleagues for their insightful and heartfelt comments. I am pleased to yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the author of the resolution, a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.