Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

While this resolution may be nonbinding, we will all be bound by its consequences: the immediate and long-lasting consequences, those here and in the combat zone.

Democrats continue to put forward an inherently contradictory message with dire consequences, on one hand offering rhetorical support for the troops and on the other, advancing a slow-bleed strategy that methodically constricts those troops' ability to succeed.

From the testimonials we have heard, it is clear our troops believe their mission is winnable. And the message they are routinely delivering to us could not be more clear. They want a chance to get the job done.

Ladies and gentlemen, our troops are not speaking off of a slickly produced focus group-tested set of talking points. They are vocalizing the overwhelming sentiments that exist on the front lines. We do a disservice to the very troops we claim to support when we advance a slow-bleed strategy that cuts off their lifeline of support.

We don't support them when we choke off the funding they need to succeed. We don't support them when we erect political roadblocks designed to deny them the equipment that they need to carry out their mission. We don't support them when we tie their hands behind their back. And we certainly don't support our troops when we attach strings to the funding needed to ensure that when they need help, it is on the way.

Yesterday the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee unveiled this dangerous slow-bleed doctrine on a Web site, movecongress.org, that is directly affiliated with some of the most extreme elements of the antiwar left. This is a political machine designed to elect and defeat politicians by using our troops as pawns, and now they seek to deprive those same troops of the resources they need to succeed in their mission. According to news reports, these groups are prepared to spend $8.5 million on a national ad campaign to target lawmakers who did not adhere to their extremist, defeatist views.

This resolution is not an earnest expression of congressional sentiment. It is phase one of the far left's plan to elect more of their own. And all of this is for what? To send a message or settle a score with our Commander in Chief? To raise campaign cash?

It turns out our worse fears are true; that this resolution is, in fact, a first, dangerous step to cutting off the funds our troops so desperately need. The remarks of the Defense Appropriations chairman, the remarks of the Speaker with major national reporters lending support to the slow-bleed doctrine; and next week senior House leaders will convene to map out their strategy for maximizing their ability to defund the troops while minimizing the political fallout.

Before you cast your vote today, you should see this resolution for what it is: phase one of a political campaign to strip our troops of the funds they need.

Right now, in some cave in Iraq or Afghanistan, information is being located on a hard drive that talks about a plan for a new attack in America. Right now, somewhere in the Middle East, teenage boys are being groomed to be human bombs to further the aims of these Islamic extremists. Right now, money is being transferred across a global finance network to fund the attacks here on our soil or on other allies' soil who believe in the types of freedom and open society we enjoy, in Madrid, in London, in Hamburg, in New York, in Washington.

Regardless of how many Republicans cross the aisle and vote with the Democrats or how many Democrats cross the aisle and vote with the Republicans, tomorrow morning the terrorists will still wake up with hate on their hearts, plotting the next scheme to bring down our economy, to bring down our system of government, to bring down the lives of innocents.

As recently as last August, as if we didn't learn from the events of 9/11, as recently as last August, there was still an attempt to blow up 10 more airliners using baby food as the means for bringing on the explosive device.

Resolutions like this do nothing to stop that type of hate. They only send the wrong signals to the men and women on the front lines for all of us.

I thank my friend from Florida for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this resolution because, unfortunately, it is anything but resolute. In one legislative breath it offers support for our troops, but then expresses disdain for the mission they have been asked to carry out. And then, I must admit I am surprised, after all the tough talk we heard from the other side, this is a rather toothless 97 words. The resolution does nothing to help win the war, but it doesn't do anything to help stop it either, which allows the majority to offer its support and withdraw it too.

Now, the majority has surely studied its constitutional law, and knows that the most direct way that it can affect current strategy is to cut off the funds necessary for winning this war. So why are we not having this week a real vote, a real up-or-down vote on funding our men and women in harm's way? Actually, the Congress has had one up-or-down vote, it was up only, when the Senate unanimously confirmed General David Petraeus as our commanding officer in Iraq. General Petraeus, who took over just last Saturday, literally wrote the book for the Army on counterinsurgency strategies. And now, after unanimous Senate approval and just days into his command, the House is prepared to pull the rug out from under him. If that is not a mixed message, then what is it, Mr. Speaker?

Indeed, it is a shame that the majority has brought to the floor such a narrow, nonbinding resolution that misses the bigger picture, because this is so much larger than what is going on in any given neighborhood in Baghdad.

It is easy enough to go back and list all the disappointments we have had in Iraq; it is easy enough to wring our hands about any one particular tactic. But it is like focusing on one jungle, on one atoll on the march to Tokyo over 60 years ago. The very nature of our enemy requires us to look at the bigger picture. The harsh reality we have encountered in 5\1/2\ years since militants attacked us on American soil is that its intricate web of terror is utterly global.

Today, al Qaeda operates in over 60 countries, with members in the hundreds and supporters in the hundreds of thousands and perhaps even millions. This is the case even after the tangible successes that we have had.

More than three-quarters of al Qaeda's known pre-9/11 leaders have been captured or killed, more than 4,000 suspected al Qaeda members arrested, and more than $140 million of its assets seized from over 1,400 different bank accounts worldwide. And after having accomplished all that, the majority would have us consider a resolution that puts us one day closer to handing militant Islamists a safe haven the size of California. And when ideological militants achieve their objectives, history tells us that they don't settle, that they only attempt to expand their reach even further. And that means following us home.

The consequences of failure in Iraq read like a far-fetched war game, but I assure you they are quite real: the inevitable incursion of Iranian and Syrian combatants into the country, the threat to peaceful Arab states, and the further emboldening of Hamas and Hezbollah.

So we have arrived at one of those muddy historical crossroads. Will we continue to take the fight to the enemy, or will we fall back and hope that the enemy does not follow us home? That question is one that we must continue to ask ourselves, even if it is much larger than the narrow scope of this resolution, this resolution that was born of what has become an overly politicized debate.

Time was, politics stopped at the water's edge; but no longer, it seems. A discussion of this nature should be about more than political labels and single tactical issues. It should be about the consequences for future generations.

The history of free peoples divides itself as neatly as it can into generations for a reason: because it aspires to celebrate the contributions made by that group of people who consciously join together to vanquish a common enemy. If we do not join together now to defeat this insidious foe, then it will almost certainly fall to our posterity do so. And they will have a much larger concern than any one troop deployment in any one city. They will be tasked with rebuilding the lasting damage that was done to America's resolve this week. They will look back upon this discussion and seek to understand what we were thinking when, with just 97 words, we considered shrinking from this critical moment.

The poet Robert Frost once wrote that, ``The best way out is always

through.'' We doggedly seek the way through. Success in Iraq, security for our allies, and everlasting victory for freedom. This week's discussion should be about the way through, not the way back

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution H. Res. 153) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Robert B. Gilbertson, Jr., the innovative leader of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. After more than 20 years with the Tampa YMCA, Bob is leaving Florida for Seattle in order to serve as the CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

During his tenure, Bob, led an effort to greatly expand the Tampa YMCA by the creation of 12 new branches throughout Hillsborough County. The expansion effort has resulted in the YMCA membership growing from 5,000 to 130,000 members and their yearly budget has grown from around $1,000,000 to over $33,000,000. More importantly, this expansion has provided the opportunity for the YMCA to expand its charitable mission of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. No child or family is turned away from the YMCA due to their inability to pay. Today, scholarships are provided to over 30,000 children and families so they can enjoy one of the largest social service charitable organizations operating in Hillsborough County.

I met with Bob recently at the Brandon Family YMCA where he introduced me to some very special children who were involved in the foster care system. I was proud to play a role in ensuring that the U.S. Department of Labor provided the Tampa YMCA with funding to create a job training program for youth aging-out of the foster system. This extremely important program will be one of Bob's lasting legacies in Tampa.

Bob Gilbertson has certainly made his mark in Tampa and I am grateful for the leadership he has provided. I wish him great success as he moves to Seattle.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 74) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Clerk, I am pleased to put forward the name of a man who represents the best of honesty, integrity, decency, uncanny wisdom and understanding.

As chairman of the Republican Conference, I am directed by the unanimous vote of that conference to present for election to the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress the name of the Honorable John A. Boehner from the State of Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 8) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 9) and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Parliamentary inquiry, Madam Speaker.

Am I correct, Madam Speaker, that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan) has been certified by the Secretary of State as duly elected from the 13th District of Florida?

I thank the Speaker.

Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Republican Conference, I am directed by that conference to notify the House officially that the Republican Members have selected as minority leader the gentleman from Ohio, the Honorable John A. Boehner.

Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Republican conference, I am directed by that conference to notify the House officially that the Republican Members have selected as minority whip the gentleman from Missouri, the Honorable Roy Blunt.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment to the resolution, but before offering the amendment, I request that there be a division of the question on the resolution so that we may have a separate vote on the Chaplain.

Madam Speaker, I offer an amendment to the remainder of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1105 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues. I realize that as we wind down this session, Congress, Members are still attempting to move last-minute suspensions and items of importance for their district.

This resolution, Madam Speaker, is a rule that provides for consideration of House Joint Resolution 102, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2007. This rule provides for 1 hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the majority and minority chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of orders against consideration of the joint resolution and provides for one motion to recommit.

I want to commend both Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Obey and the entire House Appropriations Committee for sticking to the timetable that they laid out at the beginning of this legislative session. In an impressive display of bipartisanship and great labor, the House passed 10 of the 11 appropriations bills prior to the July 4 district work period this year. Since July the Senate has returned to us the defense and homeland security appropriations bills, each of which has been signed by our President. Only the military quality of life appropriations bill has been passed by the Senate and is being conferenced. The remaining seven remain floundering in the Senate.

The House of Representatives, Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Obey, and this body, have done their work. We must institute the continuing resolution in order to allow the government to continue functioning through February 15, 2007. This allows the new Congress ample time to organize and consider the outstanding appropriations bills. The rule allows consideration of this imperative continuing resolution funding measure.

While disappointed that we must resort to a CR, I am pleased that the appropriators have ensured that we have a clean bill without extraneous projects or funds and we have avoided the temptation often driven by the other body to package bills together in an omnibus.

Throughout the appropriations process, the committee has shown its commitment to the budget resolution and to fiscal accountability. The committee has funded programs and activities at the lowest of the House-passed level, the Senate-passed level, or the fiscal year 2006 rate. For agencies for which the Senate has not passed the bill, the funding rate is at the lower of the House-passed level or the fiscal 2006 current rate. For agencies for which neither the House nor the Senate have passed the bill, the funding rate is at the current 2006 number.

And in order to ensure quality health care for our veterans, we have included substantial additional transfer authority for Veterans Administration medical care. As the entire Federal Government is facing a plateaued budget, the CR includes a provision that prohibits the automatic implementation of the cost of living adjustment for Members of Congress also until February 16.

Again, I want to congratulate Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Obey on their hard work. I urge Members to support the rule and the underlying continuing resolution so that we can finish the appropriations process and move down the road toward meeting the needs of this country.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my Rules Committee colleague, the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).

I thank the lady for her inquiry. I am advised that we have no other Members wishing to speak on the rule.

Madam Speaker, before I yield back the balance of my time I, first and foremost, want to urge my colleagues to adopt the rule and adopt the continuing resolution, and express my highest regards and best wishes to the gentlewoman from New York as she prepares to take the leadership of the Rules Committee. And I wish her all the very best. And I regret that I will not be serving on the committee under her leadership, but certainly wish she and her colleagues all the opportunity and hope and advantages that come with that responsibility.

With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 540, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise with great pride to call attention to a very special and noteworthy group--the Air War College Class of 2006. This class graduated on May 25, 2006. These men and women, not only from our own Armed Forces, but those of 46 other countries have distinguished themselves, their school, their communities, and their nations.

The Air War College Class of 2006 had a remarkable year and I believe these men and women deserve formal recognition for their accomplishments. By any measure, the class of 2006 has not only blazed new trails, but established new standards of excellence.

This was the first class to execute the Professional Military Education (PME) phase II curriculum, thus producing joint service qualified officers. It was the first class to have mid-year students join the class and complete the demanding academic curriculum. It was also the first class to have 46 international fellows, and the first class to send students, as part of its premiere regional studies, to the country of Turkmenistan. More importantly, it was the first class to have State Week, a full week dedicated to the interaction between DOS/DOD that will facilitate future cooperation and more efficient interaction between these future leaders.

Established in 1946, this is the 60th year of the Air War College. The Air War College mission is to be ``the foremost center for air and space education and thought--preparing the world's best strategic leaders.'' Students must meet rigorous academic requirements, take responsibility for academic progress, behavior, and attendance, and they are expected to participate in school and community activities. They have not only met those rigorous demands but far exceeded them. The class of 2006 and their faculty have consistently shown not only leadership, but generosity. Together they donated 67 pints of blood, raised almost $100,000 for several charities; and members of the class generously gave their time to travel to Biloxi, MS, to aid in the recovery after Hurricane Katrina. Notably, other members opened their homes to displaced military personnel during that tragic time.

I would like to extend my enthusiastic congratulations to the Air War College Class of 2006, ``Warriors, Leaders, and Statesmen'' upon their graduation. I wish them Godspeed as they move to their next assignments, some directly into harm's way, as they become tomorrow's strategic leaders in the global war on terror.