Congratulating the Detroit Shock for winning the 2003 Women's National Basketball Association championship.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month I was not present for several recorded votes because pressing business required me to remain in Colorado. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 42--H. Res. 519--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the earthquake that occurred in San Luis Obispo County, California, on December 22, 2003, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 43--H. Res. 392--Congratulating the Detroit Shock for winning the 2003 Women's National Basketball Association championship, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 44--H. Res. 475--Congratulating the San Jose Earthquake for winning the 2003 Major League Soccer Cup, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 45--On approving the Journal, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 46--S. 1881: to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make technical corrections relating to the amendments by the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 47--H. Con. Res. 373: expressing the sense of Congress that Kids Love a Mystery is a program that promotes literacy and should be encouraged, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 48--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Mr. Scott (VA) to add a new section which provides that the bill does not apply to an action brought by a State agency to enforce a State consumer protection law concerning mislabeling or other unfair and deceptive trade practices, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 49--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Mr. Watt to limit the provisions of the bill only to cases brought in Federal court, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 50--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Mr. Andrews to permit civil liability suits to be brought in cases related to a food that contains a genetically engineered material unless the labeling for such food bears a statement providing that the food contains such material and the labeling indicates which of the ingredients of the food are or contain such material, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 51--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Mr. Ackerman to expand the definitions in the act to exclude any establishment that manufactures or sells meat from downed animals for human consumption from the protections of the bill, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 52--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee (TX) to provide that the bill would not apply to civil actions that allege a product claiming to assist in weight loss caused heart disease, heart damage, primary pulmonary hypertension, neuropsychological damage, or any other complication which may be generally associated with a person's weight gain or obesity, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 53--Amendment to H.R. 339 offered by Mr. Watt to strike section 3(b) of the bill which provides that a qualified civil liability action that is pending on the date of the enactment of the bill shall be dismissed immediately by the court in which the action was brought or is currently pending, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 54--Final passage of H.R. 339, to prevent legislative and regulatory functions from being usurped by civil liability actions brought or continued against food manufacturers, marketers, distributors, advertisers, sellers, and trade associations for claims of injury relating to a person's weight gain, obesity, or any health condition associated with weight gain or obesity, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 55--Final passage of H.R. 3717, to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmissions of obscene, indecent, and profane material, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 56--Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Con. Res. 15, Commending India on its celebration of Republic Day, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall No. 57--Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 540, as amended, expressing the condolences and deepest sympathies of the House of Representatives for the untimely death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, the administration's war in Iraq has failed. It has failed to make the world a safer place. In fact, I fear that we are actually less safe from terrorism than we were. The world has actually been made less safe and more susceptible to acts of terror.

Who should be held accountable for this mess? The war is not going too well. Nearly 900 brave American soldiers have already lost their lives as a result of this deadly conflict, not to mention the thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians that have been killed. Worse, as many as 25,000 American troops have been evacuated from Iraq for medical reasons, 25,000. That is one-sixth of the number of troops currently stationed in Iraq.

This speaks to a systematic failure of leadership, and, sadly, examples of this failure are widespread and easily recalled: the failure to secure Iraq's borders, the failure to prevent postwar looting, and the failure to provide the security necessary for reconstruction. In fact, the abuse of POWs at the Abu Ghraib prison is yet another example of failed leadership by the Bush administration. And it is also an example of failed leadership in planning for the war and postwar reconstruction in Iraq.

But the most shameful aspect of our involvement in Iraq, our greatest failure of all, is our failure to provide adequately for our soldiers when it comes to equipment, the guidance, and the leadership they need to ensure their survival in Iraq and the success that they need to complete their stay in that country.

We failed to immediately provide our soldiers with the essential tools for their survival, body armor capable of stopping bullets, armor for tanks that would help prevent the destruction of U.S. military convoys, and the necessary water equipment to keep them hydrated in the desert heat. This issue is one that should have been accounted for during the planning phases of the war, not as an afterthought when our troops were stationed halfway across the world.

I ask my colleagues again who should be held accountable for this mess? Should it be Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, whom President Bush claimed was doing a ``superb job,'' and whom Vice President Cheney, in an absurd statement, called the best Secretary of Defense in our Nation's history? If Rumsfeld is doing a superb job, if he is the best Defense Secretary in history, then I really want to know who is the worst and what is a bad job.

Rumsfeld's consistent failure to adequately plan for the war in Iraq and the postwar phase, during which the lives of far more American soldiers have been lost than during the war itself, Donald Rumsfeld should resign his post with the best interests of the Nation in mind.

But we must also take heed of the quote made famous by President Harry S. Truman: ``The buck stops here.'' President Bush would be well served to embrace this policy, a policy that served President Truman and our Nation well during an earlier wartime. Secretary Rumsfeld must not be used as a scapegoat for the President's failures.

I have introduced legislation to create a SMART security platform for the 21st century, H. Con. Res. 392. SMART stands for Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism. Three wonderful organizations, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and Women's Action for New Directions, helped in writing this legislation.

SMART treats war as an absolute last resort. It fights terrorism with stronger intelligence and multilateral partnerships. It controls the spread of weapons of mass destruction with a renewed commitment to nonproliferation. And it aggressively invests in the development of impoverished nations with an emphasis on women's health and women's education.

The Bush doctrine of unilateralism has been tried, and it has failed. It is time for a new national security strategy based on our commitment to peace, our commitment to freedom, our compassion for the people of the world, and our capacity for multilateral leadership. Let us be smart about our future. SMART security, H. Res. 392, is tough, is pragmatic, is patriotic, and it will keep America safe.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 392) congratulating the Detroit Shock for winning the 2003 Women's National Basketball Association championship.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 392, the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 392 congratulates the Detroit Shock for winning the 2003 Women's National Basketball Association championship; and first of all, I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for introducing this resolution, and I also want to thank all of my fellow colleagues from the Michigan delegation who have joined me in cosponsoring H. Res. 392.

Mr. Speaker, on September 16, 2003, the Detroit Shock defeated the 2- time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks to win their first WNBA championship. The Shock team is comprised of a wonderful group of women who continue the strong tradition of professional basketball in Michigan. In fact, the Shock are coached by one of the leaders of the 2-time NBA champion Detroit Pistons, the ultimate bad boy, the baddest of the bad boys, Bill Laimbeer.

Under the leadership of Coach Bill Laimbeer and of his staff of Laurie Byrd, Pamela McGee, and Korie Hlede, the Detroit Shocks made an unbelievable turnaround during the 2003 season to become champions. The team won 25 games last summer, after winning only nine games the year previously.

In an era where some athletes are embroiled in steroid scandals, salary contract negotiations, and legal battles, the women of the Detroit Shocks, and I think the entire WNBA serve as a valuable role model to millions of young girls. I applaud every member of the Shock roster for their dedication and for their hard work, and I thank them for their commitment to our community. Even though they are champions on the court, each member of the team is a champion in her own right off the court as well.

Mr. Speaker, the Detroit Shocks have made the metropolitan Detroit area and the great State of Michigan proud. In fact, 22,076 fans attended the final game of the season, which was a new attendance record for the WNBA. Three of their players, Cheryl Ford, Swin Cash, and Deanna Nolan were named to the all-WNBA second team; and Ruth Riley 2003 WNBA finals MVP. But unlike many professional teams in sports today, there are no individuals on this team. They are simply the Detroit Shocks, and they are champions.

Mr. Speaker, I support House Resolution 392.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the women of the Detroit Shock Women's National Basketball Association team. On September 16, 2003, the ladies of the Detroit Shock made history with their first ever Women's National Basketball Association championship, defeating the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks. Through the leadership of Rookie of the Year Cheryl Ford, Playoff MVP Ruth Riley, and Coach Bill Laimbeer, the Shocks displayed strength, resolve and the highest standard of sportsmanship.

It is fitting that H. Res. 392 will be passed today, just one day after International Women's Day and during National Women's Month. This month we are celebrating the great strides women have made in society, and must recognize and highlight the advancements women have made in professional sports. Since the passage of Title IX, which mandates gender equity in school sports, we have seen women's athletics flourish as a tool for empowering young girls. College basketball programs across the country have produced some of the most dynamic athletes of our time--including Cheryl Ford and Ruth Riley of the Shock, as well as Diana Taurasi of the University of Connecticut. These young women are clear examples to the younger generation of girls that the pursuit of athletic excellence can produce the highest rewards for women and men alike.

The Detroit Shock team has made metropolitan Detroit and greater Michigan proud by displaying the trademark Michigan values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. We honor these women for their strength and resolve, and for being leaders of the next generation of women in sports. We look forward to another win this year!

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

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

The Detroit Shocks proved they were the best team in the league last September when they came from behind and knocked out the two-time defending champions the Los Angeles Sparks before the league's largest crowd in history, with a score of 83 to 78.

The Shocks started the game with a 14-point lead, but the Sparks kept coming back. With less than a minute left in the game, Deanna Nolan nailed a three-pointer from the corner and gave the Shocks a 75-73 lead. Then Cheryl Ford hit three free throws and it was a four-point lead with 43 seconds left.

Just when you thought the Shocks had it all wrapped up, the Sparks made a comeback, twice. But the Shocks pulled out a win, and a franchise that was down and out a year before was accepting the Women's National Basketball Association championship.

Head Coach Bill Laimbeer and his staff of Laurie Byrd, Pamela McGee, and Korie Hlede provided strong leadership and solid coaching. This has resulted in a basketball team that is hard working and dominates on the basketball court.

The Women's National Basketball Association and the Detroit Shocks exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship and success, and as such, have encouraged girls and women across the country to participate in professional sports. I congratulate them on a well-deserved win and urge the passage of this resolution.