Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Tennessee for yielding, for his leadership and support to end the genocide in Darfur, and also let me just thank our chairman, Congressman Lantos; our ranking member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Chairman Payne and the ranking member of the Africa subcommittee, Mr. Smith, for their leadership on the issue of Darfur and for working together to make sure that all of our efforts here continue to be bipartisan. We have over 128 cosponsors of this resolution today.

Again, thank you to Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas and also Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and to all of our staff.

This is a mission that we are all on. Many of us have visited on several occasions, and each time we visit Darfur we come back recommitted and rededicated to do what we can each and every day to end this horrific genocide.

Thirteen years ago, the world stood by as nearly 1 million people, 1 million people, were slaughtered in the genocide in Rwanda. The best our country could do then, unfortunately, was to apologize for our failure to act, and that was after the fact. Many of us swore that another Rwanda would never happen again on our watch. But today, Mr. Speaker, it is happening again.

Nearly 3 years ago, under the bold leadership of our good friend, Chairman Donald Payne, on July 22, 2004, Congress formally declared that genocide was taking place in Darfur. Estimates indicate that nearly 450,000 people have been killed, and 2.5 million innocent civilians have been displaced to date.

I witnessed this ongoing tragedy for the first time in 2005 when I visited the refugee camps in Chad and Darfur with two great humanitarian leaders, Don Cheadle and Paul Rusesabagina, this delegation led, again bipartisan, by Chairman Ed Royce. In February, 2006, under the leadership of our great Speaker, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, I had the opportunity once again to visit the refugee camps in another region of Darfur. This again was a bipartisan delegation. And just this past April, along with my colleague Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, we visited another region in Darfur as part of this visit organized by our majority leader, Steny Hoyer.

As Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has said, what we saw in Darfur, of course, is continuing to deteriorate. More and more people are dying, and even humanitarian aid workers are at risk. The day before our delegation arrived, five soldiers from Senegal were killed in Darfur, African Union soldiers there to protect innocent civilians.

Unfortunately, for many Darfurians the situation remains grim. Last week, many of us expressed our support for the President's announcement of additional sanctions on businesses controlled by the government of Sudan and on individuals in the Sudanese government. Today, we take another step forward by calling on the Chinese to use their unique influence with Sudan to end the genocide.

Mr. Speaker, there is no way to sugarcoat this. China is the principal trading partner of a genocidal regime that has thumbed its nose at the international community. China reportedly purchases as much as 70 percent of Sudan's oil and has cancelled over $100 million in debt and has provided $20 million in funding to build a palace for General Bashir. China unquestionably has the unique ability to influence Khartoum in a positive manner, but they cannot do so by simply following a policy of appeasement. They must put real pressure on General Bashir to comply with all U.N. resolutions and fully, unconditionally accept the U.N.-AU peacekeeping mission. And they must urge Sudan to pursue a renewed peace process with all parties, and they must insist that humanitarian organizations have unfettered access to the 2.5 million people who have been displaced.

Most importantly, they should deny Bashir the tools to continue perpetrating the genocide by cutting off, and I mean cutting off, all military arms sales and suspending economic opportunities and cooperation with the government of Sudan.

The economic costs to China for taking these steps today is minimal compared to the benefit they would achieve if they would provide to the people of Darfur an end to the genocide and the international acclaim that China could win by helping to end the genocide.

I urge our Chinese friends not to view this resolution as a condemnation but to view it as an opportunity to take action to end an urgent moral and humanitarian crisis. So we are urging the Chinese government to act, and our own steps must increase to stop this horrific and unbelievable tragedy occurring on our watch.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the Members here who are speaking in support of this resolution.

Let me thank the gentleman once again for yielding and would like to thank so many of our young people from around the country who have been nonstop in their work to end the genocide. Also, I would like to thank and recognize and salute the faith community, because this has been a movement to save Darfur by young people in the faith community. I would just like to mention a few of the organizations that have been unbelievable and unrelenting in their commitment. The Save Darfur Coalition, and my colleague from California referred to our arm bands, Not on Our Watch, Save Darfur. The Sudan Divestment Task Force. The American Jewish World Service. STAND, which is the Student Anti- Genocide Coalition. Dream for Darfur. Genocide Intervention Network. ENOUGH: The Project to End Genocide and Mass Atrocities. These are examples of the type of organizations at the grassroots level that have been working day and night to help us here in the House of Representatives understand our focus and what we need to do as a country to join hands to end this horrible massacre that is taking place.

I just want to once again thank Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman Lantos, Mr. Tanner from Tennessee and especially once again Congressman Don Payne for beating the drum, oftentime being a lone voice in the wilderness, but making sure that the rest of the world knew that it is incumbent upon the United States Government to lead to end this genocide and to say again to our country, to the world, not on our watch will this take place. And today we are taking one more step closer to bringing the world together to ask China to join with us, as Congressman George Miller said, to stop underwriting this genocide that is taking place and to come together now with people and countries of good conscience who stand together to say to General Bashir and the Sudanese government to stop this carnage, to allow the people of Darfur to return home to their villages. They want to go home. They want to go live their lives and raise their children. We want the international forces, the U.N. forces, to go in and to help protect the refugees and to help the AU forces to make sure that people are protected until they can go home. And, of course, finally to find a long-term political solution.

A month ago we called upon the League of Arab Nations to do the same thing. And so it's time that the world stand together and say, no more. It's time that we stand together and say to the people of Darfur that hope is coming and that 450,000 people should not have been tolerated, but we don't want to see another single death occur as a result. China has got to help us do this. And so today we are asking the Chinese government in the spirit of cooperation to help stop this genocide that is taking place.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and career of Ed Lewis. Today Ed is being honored by the Greater New Haven, Connecticut Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for his many decades of leadership in the fight for civil rights, equality and social justice in our country.

Ed is currently the Vice President of Franchise Relations for the Charlotte Bobcats in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In that role he develops relationships with state and local governments on behalf of that organization, and also ensures diversity in the Bobcats' business partnerships.

Ed brings a wealth of professional experience to his current position, having served as a leader in the cable television industry for many years. Before joining the Bobcats' organization, he was the Vice President of Corporate Affairs for BET (Black Entertainment Television) on Jazz: The Jazz Channel. Ed also served with distinction at Telecommunications, Inc. (TCI); District Cablevision, Inc.; and District Cable Advertising. His service with BET networks goes back to 1993, when he served in roles related to network operations, consumer affairs and marketing. Ed received his B.A. from Howard University, and his M.A. from Occidental College. He was a National Urban Fellow, Ford Foundation Fellow and Associate Administrator for procurement for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Throughout his career, Ed has been active in professional and community groups, and maintains various leadership roles within those organizations. He is on the Board of Directors at Theater Charlotte; WTVI Public Television; and the Bobby Phills Foundation. Ed serves on the advisory boards of the Mint Museum as well as the Mint Museum of Craft and Design. Furthermore, he is a member of the Charlotte Rotary, as well as 100 Black Men of Charlotte.

I have known Ed for many years and I salute his unwavering commitment to young people. He is an inspirational role model to young African American boys and teenagers, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

Ed's dedication to creating a more just and equitable society has had a positive impact on countless lives within and beyond the African American community. On this very special day, I join the friends, family and colleagues of Ed Lewis in thanking and saluting him for his profound contributions to his community, our country and our world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), a faith-based community organizing network in Oakland, California. Today, OCO celebrates 30 years of advocacy and invaluable service to the community.

In 1972, OCO was established as an organizing project of Fathers John Baumann, S.J. and Jerry Helfrich S.J., the founders of the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) network. PICO is a national network with faith-based organizations at work in over 45 cities in 12 states across the United States, pursuing initiatives in areas such as healthcare access, education reform and affordable housing.

From 1972-1977, Baumann and Helfrich focused on building neighborhood organizations in West Oakland, San Antonio, Fruitvale, Central East Oakland from 50th to 80th Streets, and Elmhurst area. Neighborhood after neighborhood worked on issues like junkyards, stray dogs, prostitution, zoning, crime and vacant housing. On May 14, 1977 over 1,000 people gathered at Merritt College to officially give birth to OCO, articulating the faith values that today are the foundation of OCO's organizing principles.

For the next 8 years, OCO operated successfully as a neighborhood based organization, bringing people together around local and citywide issues. During this period, OCO achieved major victories in areas such as affordable housing, local hiring, and I the rehabilitation of once- vacant houses.

In 1985, with the support of PICO, OCO began the transition from a neighborhood-organizing model to a congregation community-based model. Using this method, OCO developed strong local organizations in seven congregations. During the 1980's OCO received national accolades in many areas, but in particular for its groundbreaking work in partnership with the City of Oakland to combat drug use.

In the 1990s, OCO leaders turned their attention on the root causes of poverty in Oakland and focused on developing sustainable solutions for complex problems. During that time, OCO organized thousands of people for major citywide action that resulted in the creation of Aviation High School, a pilot school-to-work transition program; the Hope Campaign, which created smaller kindergarten class sizes; and the opening of a grocery store in West Oakland.

OCO has continued this proud tradition of advocacy and innovation through the present day. Over the past several years, OCO has again charted new territory in several areas through initiatives such as the Restructuring of two Oakland High Schools, Castlemont High School and Fremont High School, into separate but interconnected schools within their respective schools. Furthermore, OCO continues its extraordinary advocacy work in the areas of healthcare access, immigrants' rights and affordable housing.

On May 11, 2007, OCO will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to mark this occasion by commending the organization for the exceptional service it has provided to the community not only in its capacity as an institution of faith and worship, but also as a leader in working to provide services and advocacy to the people of Oakland. By remaining committed to the areas of leadership and service throughout its 30 years of community organizing and action, OCO has contributed enormously not only to the Oakland community, but also to our State, our country and our world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and career of James J. Kelly, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW. Dr. Kelly is the Provost and Executive Vice President of Menlo College in Atherton, California. He recenntly retired from the California State University system, having been a professor and Associate Vice President within the Division of Continuing and International Education for California State University, East Bay, CSUEB as well as former Interim Provost. Today Dr. Kelly celebrates his retirement from CSUEB after decades of outstanding service to our educational system, our community and our country.

Dr. Kelly's extensive academic and clinical credentials include a post-doctoral clinical fellowship in Psychiatry at UCLA Sepulveda Veterans Administration; a Ph.D. from Brandeis University; an M.S.S.W. from the University of Tennessee; and a B.S. from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Prior to working at CSUEB, Dr. Kelly was a professor and the Dean of Health and Human Services at Cal State Los Angeles, (CSULA), and a professor and the Director of the Department of Social Work at Cal State Long Beach. While at CSULA, he headed a coalition that brought in $96 million to CSULA for a collaborative criminalistics laboratory for use by the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and CSULA.

At CSUEB, Dr. Kelly was responsible for eliminating an inherited $3.7 million estimated debt in the Division of Continuing and International Education, and returning the division to profitability. Also among his outstanding accomplishment at CBUEB was Dr. Kelly's work to establish and oversee the East Bay Small Business Development Center in Oakland California, which he initiated with a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and in cooperation with San Jose State. Dr. Kelly also established three free-standing training and professional facilities: (1) the CSUEB Oakland Professional Development and Conference Center, (2) the CSULA Center for Child Welfare, and (3) the CSULB Child Welfare Training Center.

Both at CSULA and CSUEB, Dr. Kelly was responsible for overseeing significant faculty hiring, and his work was notable for the high level of diversity, including women and minorities, he brought into both institutions. He was also a pioneer in the use of distance technology, having spearheaded distance education programs from Cal State Long Beach to CSU Humboldt, Channel Islands, Bakersfield, and Chico.

Dr. Kelly has been active for many years in professional and community organizations, and has received numerous accolades for his work. He is the immediate past President of the California Institute of Mental Health, and founding editorial board member of the Journal of Women and Aging. He is also a former consultant to the United Nations. Dr. Kelly has 38 publications, 109 presentations, and has garnered $40 million in grants, contracts, endowments, and gifts to his credit. In 1987, he was named NASW National Social Worker of the Year.

Dr. Kelly's commitment to the students and faculty of the CSU System, as well as the community at large, has had a positive impact on countless lives.

On this very special day, I join the friends, family and colleagues of Dr. Jim Kelly in thanking and saluting him for his profound contributions to California's 9th Congressional District, our country and our world.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding, and for your leadership.

In 2003, Congress approved a $78 billion supplemental. In 2004, it was $87 billion. In 2005, it was $82 billion. In 2006, it was $72 billion, and now the administration wants almost $100 billion more.

Over 3,400 of our brave troops and countless Iraqis have died in this occupation. The President has dug us deep in a hole in Iraq, and it boggles my mind, boggles my mind that Congress wants to give him another blank check to buy more shovels.

This occupation and civil war cannot be won militarily. Mr. Speaker, how many will have to die before this House stops writing blank checks?

The American people are looking to Congress to end this failed policy and to bring our troops home.

Two months ago, we went to the Rules Committee to try to get an amendment to fully fund the safe and timely withdrawal of the United States forces from Iraq. That is what we should be voting on today, not to give the President another blank check. So I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Mr. Chairman, let me first of all thank our Chair, Congressman Frank, for his leadership and for yielding; also, Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her very diligent and hard work in crafting this bill.

The American dream of home ownership is quickly turning into a nightmare for many, and this bill really does begin to turn this around. And yes, as a former member of the Financial Services Committee, I had the opportunity to work with our Chair. This was when I was first elected, probably in my first or second term, to really craft a housing trust fund, along with our former colleague, now- Senator, Bernie Sanders, and this bill incorporates and would authorize and create a new Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

For many years, housing has been a big issue for many of us here. Many of our districts are unaffordable, and this American dream of home ownership is turning into a nightmare.

This bill, the Federal Housing Reform Act of 2007, will really help accomplish the objective of our first national housing trust fund. It increases home ownership for extremely low and very low income families. It provides for increasing investment in housing in low income areas; for increasing and preserving the supply of rental and owner-occupied housing for extremely low and very low income families. It also increases investments in our public infrastructure and development in connection with housing assistance. And it also leverages investments from other sources in affordable housing and in public infrastructure development.

I want to commend our colleagues again for engaging with our 5,200 national, State and local organizations and leaders that worked for many, many years to create a national housing trust fund. Just yesterday, I met with my board of realtors from Oakland, California.

I just want to say thank you again to Mr. Frank for making sure that this is real.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and offer my personal congratulations to Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD. The American Thoracic Society has awarded Dr. King the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal to recognize Dr. King's lifelong contribution to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease. Dr. King, throughout his career, has made significant contributions to pulmonary medicine, in-patient care, research, specialty organization, and academic medicine.

As a scientist Dr. King has contributed greatly to the fundamental understanding of interstitial lung diseases. His contributions have served to bridge the gap between basic investigations and clinical science and have guided both research and clinical care. He has been instrumental in developing and leading rigorous clinical research in interstitial lung diseases. The studies, many of which involved multiple centers and were led by Dr King, have served to define specific diagnostic criteria and to determine the role of various tests in establishing a diagnosis. Dr. King has played a major role in creating the international classification system now used to make sense of the different interstitial lung diseases and also to define histological-radiographic correlations that now enable many diagnoses to be established without biopsy. Currently, Dr. King is involved in a reassessment of the histopathologic basis of classification that will permit even further refinements of therapeutic trials.

Dr. King has made great strides in clinical and academic medicine. He has been a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Subspecialty Board on Pulmonary Disease and is currently on the board of directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine, as well as serving as the ABIM representative to the American Board of Medical Specialties. He either has served or is currently serving on several NIH-wide advisory and/or governing groups, including the board of governors of the Clinical Center at NIH, the board of external advisors, and the advisory board for clinical research. Dr. King has received numerous awards and was recently named to the Institute of Medicine.

In all of these roles, Dr. King has not only excelled as a clinician and academic, but has taken a leading role in calling attention to the inequality of health care and lack of diversity in its own ranks. We expect Dr. King will have a significant and far-reaching impact. He has written about disparities in health care as, for example, with his editorial in the American Journal of Medicine, ``Inequality in health care: Unjust, inhumane, and unattended!'' More recently, Dr. King led a group of faculty at San Francisco General Hospital in writing a textbook devoted to diseases of vulnerable and underserved populations.

Dr. King continues to serve as a mentor to young enthusiastic investigators, obtaining funding and building a clinical base of operations and he continues to publish prodigiously.

Dr. King is recognized in the scientific community for his teaching and lecturing skills. He is prized as a lecturer all over the world. He is equally impressive when teaching students one-on-one as when lecturing to a packed crowd in the largest auditorium at an international meeting. During his career, he has trained many pulmonologists, a number of whom now have assumed leadership roles in academic pulmonary medicine and in the field of interstitial lung disease.

As a clinician, Dr. King is truly exceptional. He has incredible experience and clinical judgment honed by years of caring for patients with interstitial lung disease. In his interactions with patients, he demonstrates intelligence, skill and respect and, in so doing, inspires countless students to aspire to the role of clinician. His calm demeanor and straight-forward approach fosters near immediate rapport. He maintains the highest standards of excellence in patient care and expects that from all his colleagues and trainees. His professional competence has been recognized at all levels. He is on multiple lists of the finest doctors, such as the Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. Above all, he is sought after for his opinions by pulmonary specialists all over the world. Dr. King is the epitome of the clinician's clinician.

It is truly my pleasure to join the American Thoracic Society in recognizing my constituent, Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD for his receipt of the prestigious Trudeau Award.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding me this time, and also for your effective leadership on the House Rules Committee.

Also, let me just acknowledge and thank our chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Skelton, for his dedication to the brave men and women who are serving in the Armed Forces and also to our national security.

I believe in this bill, Madam Speaker, that we should be taking meaningful steps to end the occupation of Iraq and to bring our troops home. Iraq is in a civil war, and our occupation only inflames the insurgency and puts our troops in harm's way. The facts on the ground betray the administration's empty rhetoric.

A majority of the American people support withdrawal from Iraq, and here we have a chance to press the issue further. We need enforceable timetables for withdrawal from Iraq, and we must hold this administration accountable.

Also, I am disappointed that the amendment which Congresswoman Woolsey and I offered was not made in order. Our amendment basically would have just simply required the President to present a plan for withdrawal and execute complete withdrawal within 6 months. It recognizes that there is no military solution to this civil war.

The bottom line is that we must continue to demand that the President end the occupation and bring our troops home, and we must do so at every opportunity.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for yielding, and also for your leadership on this issue.

I am very concerned with Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons, like I am concerned about any country's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. Preventing this, though, will not happen through military action.

Unfortunately, the President's saber rattling against Iran is only increasing and is eerily similar to the march to war with Iraq. We must act to prevent another war of preemption, this time against Iran.

That is why this amendment is so important. It would clarify that no previous authorization constitutes an authorization to use force against Iran.

Secondly, this amendment would make certain that no funds would be used to take military action against Iran in the absence of specific congressional authority or a direct attack as defined by the War Powers Act.

Beyond this, we must make certain that the United States is not funding covert action intended to cause regime change in Iran. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee did not rule in order an amendment that I would have that allowed for this sort of debate.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and also to recognize that this is a critical first step this body can take in preventing war with Iran.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank my friend and colleague, a great leader, Congresswoman Woolsey, for her leadership once again on a very, very important issue.

It has been 16 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yet I find it mind-boggling that in the last decade-and-a-half the Pentagon has continued to waste tens of millions, and billions really, of dollars buying outdated Cold War-era weaponry for a national security threat that does not exist.

Mr. Chairman, our spending on security should address the current threat that we face. That's why this amendment is so important.

By identifying and evaluating the usefulness of Cold War weapons systems, the report from the Pentagon that this amendment would require will give us a good starting point for eliminating wasteful programs. Contrary to what has been said, this is not arbitrary. In fact, military experts have identified at least $60 million in these weapons systems.

By getting rid of these outdated programs, we'd not only make the much-needed investment in ensuring health care for all of our children, improving our public schools, ending our dependence on foreign oil, but also improving our homeland security.

When you think about it, really, domestic security is national security. We don't need to sacrifice our domestic needs to ensure that our Nation remains safe. This amendment will take steps towards making this balance possible.

So I urge my colleagues to look at this amendment. It is very practical. It is very rational. It is very reasonable. And I want to thank my colleague from California for bringing this forward again so that we can really begin to have a full debate with regard to the taxpayer dollars.

We need to look at where our tax dollars are going in terms of the real threat that exists now in this 21st century. Certainly it has nothing to do with the Soviet Union. Certainly it has nothing to do with the Cold War era.

Mr. Chairman, first, I want to thank the gentleman from New York for your leadership and for your commitment to ending this horrific genocide.

This is an issue that we have worked on together for a while. This issue has been bipartisan, and once again, this is one step forward to hopefully end the carnage that's taking place in Darfur. So I thank Mr. Israel again for your commitment to end this.

This amendment is really very simple. It seeks to expand the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to speed the deployment of peacekeepers to the Darfur region of Sudan by exploring the possibility of upgrading a nearby airfield in Abeche, Chad.

The amendment expresses the sense of Congress that we should work with the Government of Chad to upgrade this airfield. It also requests that the Pentagon provide Congress with a report on the current operational status of the airfield, including recommendations and cost estimates for upgrading it to accommodate the enhanced operations and increased air traffic.

We have spoken out repeatedly on this floor in condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Darfur, but it bears repeating that nearly 3 years ago, on July 22, 2004, under the leadership of a great leader, Congressman Don Payne, Congress declared that genocide was taking place in Darfur. To date, estimates indicate that nearly 450,000 people have been killed, and 2.5 million innocent civilians have been displaced.

Quite simply, genocide is happening on our watch, and we have a responsibility to utilize every tool at our disposal to put a stop to it. This is another effort in that direction, and so I want to thank Mr. Israel for your leadership.

Not only must we do this. We must pursue divestment for companies doing business in Khartoum. We must lean on China to leverage their influence with Sudan to help stop the violence, and we must continue to urge all parties, the rebels and the government, to lay down their arms and come to the table to negotiate a political situation, but we cannot and we should not hold a cease-fire declaration hostage to a peace agreement or vice versa.

So please support this amendment. I thank Mr. Israel again for your leadership.

I want to thank the gentleman for his stellar leadership as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and thank my colleague, Congressman Weiner from New York, for your determination to make our country safer by the introduction of this bill.

The reauthorization of the COPS Program really does come at a very important time in our entire country. As an example, COPS has provided since 1994 in my district alone $45.5 million in grants. These funds have allowed law enforcement agencies in my district to hire 552 additional police officers and 45 new school resource officers. COPS has also provided technology grants totaling $2.9 million in my district.

If passed, this bill will allow COPS to hire more necessary officers. The people of Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, the entire Ninth Congressional District, could see 236 new officers, $13 million in grants, 19 school resource officers and $2.8 million in technology funding over the next 6 years.

Our communities throughout the country need the COPS Program. This is about public safety and violence prevention. Community policing does work.

Mr. Speaker, more than 4 years ago the House of Representatives authorized a war in Iraq based on misrepresentations that were false, $2 billion a week and climbing. Today, we have an opportunity to support our troops and bring them home when the House will vote to fully fund the safe and timely withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Last November, the American people gave Congress an overwhelming mandate to end the occupation of Iraq.

On this day, Mr. Speaker, we can decide whether we stand with the President to continue to support a failed policy with no end, or stand with the American people and our generals, who understand there is no military solution to this civil war and occupation in Iraq.

H.R. 2237 reflects the goal of the Lee amendment to fully fund the safe and timely withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. It is responsible, it is practical, it does not cut the funding. But it designates what the supplemental can be used for, and that is to fully fund a safe withdrawal and redeployment and help the Iraqis stabilize their country with a diplomatic, social, and reconstruction effort.

This occupation cannot be won militarily. I urge my colleagues to support

the goals of H.R. 2237 and to vote for it, because those of us who worked so hard on the Lee amendment prior to today support this and want to see a strong vote for it.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank Chairman Obey, first of all, for his strong and determined effort and his diligent effort to end this war. And, also, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for offering this bill.

H.R. 2237 does reflect the goals of what we call the Lee amendment, which was sponsored by Congresswomen Waters, Woolsey, Watson, and Clarke. But let me tell you the goal of this bill, as the goal of the Lee amendment really is an effort to fully fund the safe and timely redeployment of our troops from Iraq. It is responsible. It is practical. It does not cut the funding. But it designates what the supplemental can be used for, and that is to fully fund a safe withdrawal and redeployment and help the Iraqis stabilize their country with a diplomatic, social, and reconstruction effort.

Members of Congress now can choose between standing with the President or the American people who want an end to this occupation, or the President, as I said, who wants an open-ended commitment to this failed policy.

History will record that this war was a deadly mistake. History will document the damage that it has already done to our security and the security of the world, just as it already records the case for the war as fraudulent, something that we all would have known had the House approved my amendment in 2002 that would have allowed the United Nations inspectors to finish their job.

One day history will record that this unnecessary occupation ended. What remains to be seen is when it will end and at what cost in lives and treasure and what cost to our security and the security of the world.

For those Members who recognize that the President's policy is a failure but are concerned about voting to end this failed policy and to redeploy our troops, I have a question for you: At what point will you be comfortable with that vote? When the death toll hits 5,000 or 10,000?

Please vote for this. Please vote to end this occupation and bring our young men and women home. Please stop the deaths.

We have already paid close to half a trillion dollars pursuing this failed policy.

Mr. Speaker, you cannot ``win'' an occupation, just as the United States cannot ``win'' an Iraqi civil war.

We know that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq. Our generals have told us that. The fact is that, the presence of our troops, who are seen as an occupying force, enflames the very insurgency that they are asked to deal with.

In listening to this desperate rhetoric about ``surrender,'' and about ``defeat'' I am confident that history will look upon such remarks with the same ridicule that it reserves for the Vietnam war supporters discredited ``domino theory'' or the President's ``mission accomplished'' speech on the decks of the USS Abraham Lincoln, more than 4 years ago.

Today, members of Congress will decide what side of history they will be on. I urge them to stand with the American people and all those who recognize that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq, and to vote for H.R. 2237, legislation to fully fund the safe and timely withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chair, first let me thank the Chair of the Intelligence Committee and my friend from my hometown of El Paso, Texas (Mr. Reyes) for his support of this amendment and also for his tremendous leadership as Chair of this committee. And I know the hour is late, so I will keep this short.

Madam Chair, this amendment is simple and noncontroversial. It merely requires the President to submit a report to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees describing any authorization granted over the last 10 years to engage in intelligence activities related to the overthrow of democratically elected governments.

We all recognize that democracy promotion is at the top of this administration's agenda; and I believe that there is no question that supporting democracy is and should be a nonpartisan issue that we all can agree on. It is, quite simply, fundamental to who we are as a people and what we stand for as a Nation.

But we must be vigilant and safeguard against any actions that would undermine or threaten our abilities to really practice what we preach, and it is clear that actions that undermine democracies also undermine our credibility in the world. Furthermore, it affects our ability to be viewed as a serious and legitimate agent of democracy.

So if the support of people seeking democratic governance and democracy is to really remain a critical pillar of our foreign policy, we must ensure that we do not interfere with democratically elected governments. Who will believe us if our actions are inconsistent with our words? And how successful will we be as a Nation in achieving our goals?

So tonight I offer this amendment to support and protect our efforts in upholding democracy and to help ensure that our actions are really consistent with our values.

Madam Chair, I want to conclude by thanking you again for your support, and I want to strongly urge all of my colleagues here today to continue to stand up for democracy and for transparency by supporting this amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

Madam Chair, if there are no additional speakers, I close by once again thanking all of our leadership on both sides of the aisle. And I want to especially thank Congresswoman Harman for her past leadership and support of these efforts to make sure that we were able to get to this point today.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and work of Reverend Antonio Valdivia, Pastor of St. Louis Bertrand Parish in Oakland, California. Known affectionately to his parishioners, and throughout his community, simply as Father Tony, he has served as a priest in the Catholic Church for over 44 years. Today, the St. Louis Bertrand Parish and the Oakland community come together to thank him for his leadership and service on the occasion of his retirement.

The son of first-generation immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, Father Tony was born in Oakland. Growing up in West Oakland, he attended St. Joseph Parish, which later merged with St. Andrew Parish and is now part of the Catholic Parish of Christ the Light. During his childhood, Father Tony spent every Sunday at the parish church, attending morning Mass and then returning in the evening for Benediction. One day a priest picked him to be an altar server, and this began his journey into the religious vocation.

Father Tony attended elementary school at Old St. Mary's Parish and was taught by the Holy Names Sisters. Later he studied at St. Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park where he was one of the few Hispanic seminarians on campus, and the only student from West Oakland. He enjoyed his experience in the seminary, particularly his studies in English literature and philosophy.

Father Tony was especially drawn to studies that presented a model of Church as being present in the life of the people. While in school he worked to put those teachings into practice, guiding people as they struggled through the changes in the liturgy, the birth of parish councils, and the development of lay leadership. He also walked with them through the pain of the civil rights era, the Vietnam War, the advent of widespread drug use, the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the continuing and often tumultuous dialogue over the issue of immigration.

During his 44 years as a priest, Father Valdivia served as pastor of five parishes: St. Anthony in Oakland, St. Leonard (now Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Fremont, St. Cornelius in Richmond, St. Catherine in Martinez, and at St. Louis Bertrand since 2003. In addition to serving as vicar of the diocesan Hispanic community, he also served as an associate pastor, as well as a member of the diocesan Pastoral Leadership Placement Board.

Father Tony holds a master's degree in counseling and has used those skills to counsel at-risk youth at public schools throughout the Bay Area. He also put that training to use as a missionary in the Archdiocese of San Salvador from 1991-93, serving as an advocate for peace and justice in a community that was being ravaged by civil war.

I have known Father Tony for many years, and it has always been a pleasure to work with him in the service of my constituents. He is an unwavering advocate for human rights, labor rights, immigration reform, peace and social justice. His commitment to his parishioners and to the people of Oakland has had a positive impact on countless lives. Today I join the St. Louis Bertrand Parish, along with our entire community, in thanking and saluting Reverend Antonio Valdivia for his profound contributions to California's 9th Congressional District, our country and our world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, one of the oldest and most highly regarded churches in Oakland, California. Today, the Oakland community comes together to celebrate Saint John's 60 years of ministry and invaluable service to the community.

Saint John Missionary Baptist Church was founded by the late Dr. Carl J. Anderson on July 7, 1947. For 54 years, Dr. Anderson led an extensive outreach effort to thousands of sick, disadvantaged and imprisoned persons.

His love for God and humanity impacted the lives of many from Washington, DC, to the West Coast and Alaska as he led his membership in feeding and clothing those in need, and assisting in the employment of thousands.

During the Vietnam War, church members even received testimony from soldiers stationed abroad whose loved ones has sent them tapes of Dr. Anderson's famous Gospel Call Hour radio broadcast. They expressed gratitude for the encouragement they gotten from those broadcasts, during which Dr. Anderson and the members of the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church would pray for anyone requesting prayer, regardless of race, ethnicity or creed.

On September 1, 2000, Dr. Anderson was called home after his many years of service and ministry. Today Saint John Missionary Baptist Church continues this proud tradition of under the spirited and inspired leadership of Reverend Gregory B. Payton.

Saint John Missionary Baptist Church continues to play a leading role in initiating and expanding a wide range of charitable and community- building activities. In addition to ministering and counseling countless members of the congregation, the church regularly hosts a variety of community gospel events and seeks to promote the development and education of our young people.

On July 7, 2007, Saint John Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its 60th anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to mark this occasion by commending the church for the exceptional service it has provided to the community not only in its capacity as an institution of faith and worship, but also as a leader in working to provide invaluable social and charitable services to the people of Oakland. By remaining committed to the areas of leadership and service throughout its 60 years of ministry, the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church has contributed enormously not only to the Oakland community, but also to our shared goal of world peace.