Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the 13,500 teachers in California who will get to keep their jobs this fall as result of the education funding we provide today.

I rise in support of the over $1.8 billion that will come back to California to help pay for Medicaid assistance for low income people.

Without this crucial funding California would be forced into even more painful budget cuts that would have cascaded down to our local cities and counties--forcing layoffs for police, fire, EMT's and other critical personnel.

While I support this aid to the states to keep people at work--I am disappointed that the other body would choose to pay for this assistance on the backs of poor people who receive food stamps. I ask for unanimous consent to insert into the Record an August 6 editorial in the New York Times--Congress's Serial Hits on Food Stamps.

We spend trillions in support of two wars--funneling hundreds of billions of dollars into a black hole over at the Pentagon--yet we can't find another way to fund a good education for our kids or help States provide healthcare to the poor?

Have we lost our moral compass?

The Congress continues to throw away our children's inheritance in Afghanistan to pursue the longest war in American history, yet finds it okay to cut food stamps.

That doesn't make any sense! We should not have to choose between forcing people to go hungry and our children's education.

Madam Speaker, I will vote for this bill because the States are desperate for this money--but the other body should have done better.

In addition to these funds we should have been approving money to pay our debt to Black farmers and the Native American community, to fund youth employment programs, and to extend the TANF emergency contingency fund.

As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I can say with certainty that we will not relent and will fight to get these priorities done. We should not have to choose between forcing people to go hungry and our children's education.

[From the New York Times, Aug. 6, 2010]

Congress's Serial Hits on Food Stamps

With some shabby sleight of hand, Congress has begun

tapping into the food stamp program for the hungriest

Americans to help pay for lawmakers' higher election-year

priorities. The Senate approved two important measures this

week--the $26 billion state-aid bill and the $4.5 billion

school nutrition program--in part by shaving food stamp funds

as a target of least resistance.

There is no denying that both of the programs are badly

needed. The state aid package, regrettably compromised as it

was, helps protect jobs for teachers and other workers facing

layoffs. The school nutrition program provides the first

improvements in a generation, including an increase in meal

reimbursements and the power to set federal nutrition

standards for schools.

But treating food stamps as the fungible means to worthy

ends is a cowardly blight on Congress. After the Bush years

of guilt-free tax cutting and deficit budgeting, lawmakers

are self-righteously embracing pay-as-you-go legislation lest

they be demagogued at the ballot box. So they resort to

fiscal triage.

Originally, school nutrition was slated to be paid for by

cuts in a farm conservation program. But Republicans rated

this a high priority for the livestock industry. A deal was

struck with Democrats to cut back on the scheduled boost in

future food stamp benefits that was part of last year's

economic stimulus. Food stamps took a second hit as lawmakers

turned to it like an all-purpose A.T.M. to help cover the

cost of state aid.

Senator Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat of Arkansas who fought

hard to get the school nutrition improvements, told

Politico.com that the food stamp increase was doomed in any

case: ``You saw the teachers grab for it.'' Her comfort was

those dollars would feed children. But this is a pale

rationalization that downgrades the hunger of entire

families. A companion bill in the House, yet to be paid for,

is an opportunity to right this wrong.

In the crunch of the recession. if Congress lacks the guts

to meet vital needs with deficit financing, it should have

the decency to chisel some less-humane program than food

stamps.

Madam Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 458 on H. Res. 1537. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, and commemorate the signing of the Armistice which brought an end to three years of brutal fighting.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, and the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the fighting on July 27th, 1953. We must reflect not only upon the enduring strength of the U.S.-Korea relationship, but also on the past and present suffering of millions of Korean and Korean-American families caused by the hostilities on the Korean Peninsula.

I have long stood against the scourge of pre-emptive and endless war and advocated in support of constructive diplomacy and engagement.

The Armistice was only intended as a temporary measure to stop open hostilities until a permanent accord could be reached. It is my sincere hope that, in light of the continuing conflict between North and South Korea, this somber milestone will serve as a call to action in working toward a proactive and peaceful resolution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. 60 years is enough.

Madam Speaker, less than a month ago, Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that really should have been held 9 years ago, but the fact remains Congress cannot continue to write a blank check for a war in Afghanistan that has ultimately made our country less safe. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put in an impossible situation in Afghanistan where there is no military solution. We should use this money to bring them home.

The Congressional Black Caucus included in the previous supplemental that the House passed the black farmer settlement and youth employment provisions, and in the supplemental it was passed several times. It was paid for, yet the Senate took these provisions out.

Let's support jobs and justice for the black farmers who have waited so long

for our government to act. Let's support our teachers. Let's not spend another dime to escalate America's longest war.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this supplemental that we will be considering later in the day.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership.

Madam Speaker, less than a month ago Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that should have really been held 9 years ago.

While evidence continues to mount that our military engagement in Afghanistan has become a quagmire of corruption and ill-defined objectives, the bill under consideration will provide, if you can believe this, another $37 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have already cost this Nation more than $1 trillion.

Congress cannot continue to write a blank check for a war in Afghanistan that has ultimately made our country less safe. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put in an impossible situation in Afghanistan where there is no military solution.

It is time to provide funding for only their safe and orderly withdrawal. No more funding for combat operations.

It's a shame and disgrace that we cannot support justice long overdue for black farmers, or youth employment programs, or teachers, firefighters and police officers who need their jobs, or temporary assistance for needed families.

The Congressional Black Caucus continues to fight for jobs here in our own country. Let's not spend another dollar to escalate America's longest war. The costs of this war are too enormous in blood and treasure.

I urge my colleagues to stand in opposition to a policy of war without end, and vote against this bill, and really begin to look at our priorities and our own country.

Yes, we need to help continue to stabilize, actually, regionally, in terms of Afghanistan and the Middle East and the wars that our young men and women have served in so well. But, no, we cannot continue to do it in the way that we have done it. And so I respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote.

It's time to change direction in Afghanistan. It's time to vote for jobs in our own country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and musical trailblazer, Bishop Walter L. Hawkins. With his passing on July 11, 2010, at the age of 61, we look to Bishop Hawkins' personal legacy of spiritual service, the joy he inspired, and the outstanding quality of his life's work.

A Bay Area native, Walter Hawkins began an unanticipated career in gospel music when, at the age of 19, he sang with the Berkeley-based Ephesians Church of God in Christ's youth choir. The choir, directed by older brother Edwin Hawkins, recorded an album to sell locally as a fundraising effort. It exceeded expectations when the track, ``Oh Happy Day,'' sold over a million copies as an instant pop hit. The Hawkins' enjoyed success as they toured nationally and internationally with the legendary Edwin Hawkins Singers. And in the early 1970s, Walter Hawkins decided to forge another path by entering the ministry.

In 1973, Bishop Hawkins founded the Love Center Church in Oakland where he directed the Love Center Choir. The choir's live album, ``Going Up Yonder,'' became one of the decade's highest selling gospel albums and stayed on Billboard's Gospel Top 40 Chart for three consecutive years. The church's ``Love Alive'' series of recordings sold over a million copies from the 1970s through the 1990s, with ``Love Alive IV'' spending an astounding 39 weeks at the top of Billboard's Gospel Chart.

Throughout his prolific career of composition, collaboration, directing, producing, recording and performance, Bishop Hawkins earned myriad accolades, including a Grammy Award, eight Grammy nominations, three Dove Awards and Gospel Music's Lifetime Heritage Award. Even with Bishop Hawkins' musical success, he remained committed to his spirit- filled ministry throughout the Bay Area and the nation.

In Oakland, Bishop Hawkins' ministry enriched and touched the lives of many residents throughout the 9th Congressional District. The musical component of his teachings inspired both spiritual and artistic communities alike with its profound messages of love and hope. Bishop Hawkins was a spiritual leader, an American icon, a gospel music innovator--and he was also a close friend. It was a great joy for me when Bishop Hawkins accepted my invitation a few years ago to perform at the prayer breakfast during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. We all sat transfixed as Bishop Hawkins moved us by performing old gospel classics. It is a memory that I will forever cherish.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Bishop Walter L. Hawkins. We celebrate his amazing life as we mourn his passing. He was a friend and a great man who will be remembered as one of the most beloved figures in contemporary gospel music. Although we will miss Bishop Hawkins tremendously, his musical genius, his ministry and his abounding spirit will live on with his legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with Bishop Hawkins' brother Edwin, his children, grandchildren, and an extended group of loved ones. It is my hope that they find comfort in their deep and abiding faith during this time of loss. Bishop Hawkins will be deeply missed. May his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bruce Kern for a long career of public service and leadership on the occasion of his retirement. As Executive Director of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), Mr. Kern led a local public/ private partnership responsible for the retention and attraction of business and the promotion of sustainable development.

Native to California and born in the Bay Area, Bruce Kern has enjoyed a multi-faceted career for the State of California as an Economic Analyst, as well as for Alameda County as Director of Research and Planning for its Criminal Justice Planning Board and Director of Planning for the Alameda County Social Services Agency. Between 1982 and 1986, Mr. Kern also lectured part-time on social planning and public policy for the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley.

As a county employee in 1990, Mr. Kern was assigned with coordinating a County taskforce comprising 14 of its cities and private and nonprofit community leaders in response to the significant impact of military base closures in the region. This taskforce became a committee of the County commissioned by the Mayors' Council of Alameda County, which eventually evolved into the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) and later expanded to include Contra Costa County.

Now with a membership of over 700, including leaders in business, local government, education, labor and community service, the East Bay Economic Development Alliance strives to maintain the East Bay as a world-recognized location attracting revenue, business growth and the creation of quality jobs. Under Mr. Kern's vision and leadership, the East Bay EDA has been a driving force for collaborative leadership in the region to strengthen local infrastructure and promote economic prosperity.

Additionally, Mr. Kern has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex), the Technology Venture Corporation, the California Association for Local Economic Development (CalEd) and the Alameda County Work Force Investment Board. His many accolades include the 1998 Golden Bear Award from the California Association for Local Economic Development rewarding his vision, drive, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to CALED and the economic development profession.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, Mr. Bruce Kern, we salute you. Thank you for your many contributions to our community, which will continue to influence local business leaders, economic development and working men and women for years to come. I am confident that the East Bay Economic Development Alliance will continue in your legacy of excellence and success. Once again, congratulations on your many achievements. We wish you and your loved ones all the best in this next chapter of life.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Let me thank the gentlelady, Congresswoman Fudge of Ohio, for yielding and also for, once again, anchoring the Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order tonight. We are talking about job creation and how to turn this economy around, and I want to thank her for her consistent leadership and for her really taking so many issues she knows so well and for bringing them to the forefront so that the country can recognize and realize the work that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to do. I thank her for the way she represents her district, which has been hard hit by the economy, by the foreclosure crisis and by all of the issues that we all know so well. So thank you very much, Congresswoman Fudge, for once again, on Monday night, anchoring this Special Order.

We are trying to again bring some attention to some of the most pressing issues confronting our country that often don't make headlines. As the chair of the 42-Member-strong Congressional Black Caucus, I rise this evening to continue sounding the alarm about the urgent and vital need to create jobs in America, especially in those communities that have been disproportionately hit, which are suffering the brunt of this economic crisis and which, as a result, are in desperate need of targeted, concrete and meaningful opportunities.

The statistics are staggering. While the national unemployment rate is about 9.5 percent, way too high, it is close to 16, 17 percent in the black and Latino communities. For young people, the national average is about 25 percent. Yet for black and Latino youth, it is nearly 40 percent; unacceptable for anyone.

For many months now, the Congressional Black Caucus has been and continues to be laser focused on stimulating the economy and creating jobs, especially for the chronically unemployed. We have sought to engage the Obama administration, House and Senate leaderships, committee chairs and our coalition partners to develop a legislative strategy to address the needs of millions of Americans who are struggling in this tough economic environment.

During this period, the House of Representatives has passed a series of bills that would move our economy from recession to recovery. However, Senate Republicans have consistently and flagrantly stymied passing similar measures. Just last week, 40 out of 41 Republican Senators voted to block extending unemployment benefits for 1.2 million Americans. Fortunately, there were enough votes in the United States Senate to pass this measure, which was followed the next day by the House of Representatives approving a similar measure once again.

But for several weeks, Republican Senators prevented Congress from providing necessary relief for the unemployed. The nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute recently released a report on the economic benefits of unemployment insurance. The report concluded that expanded unemployment benefits have added 1.15 million American jobs since 2007, promoted spending resulting in longer work hours for the employed, and resulted in a 1.7 percent boost in GDP. Economists have pointed to the economic value of unemployment insurance benefits. For every dollar we invest in unemployment insurance, there is a $1.60 return in economic output.

But people can't survive forever on unemployment. That is why the goal, of course, is to create jobs, workforce training programs, so that people who don't have the skills for the jobs of the new industries that we are creating these jobs for have the requisite skills and experience to get these jobs.

Fortunately, though, during the unemployment debate, we were really able to break the impasse and develop a proposal and extend unemployment so that many Americans now are receiving some relief. But let me just say, Republican Senators continue to block the $1 billion summer jobs program. Now, of course, it's the youth employment program because summer is almost over. These kids need to work for the rest of the year. We have $2.5 billion in emergency assistance for needy families working in the public and private sectors. Also, we want the Senate Republicans to really look at how to fund--and we found the pay- fors for $1 billion--for the National Housing Trust Fund, which will provide communities with funds to build, preserve and rehab rental homes that are affordable for low-income families.

I can't tell you how shocked and disappointed I am that so many Republican Senators with high rates of unemployment in their States are blocking legislation that will create jobs. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus went to the Senate several weeks ago to deliver letters laying it out. We wondered if they knew how many people in their States were unemployed, so we broke it down by unemployment rates. We told them where the unemployment rates were in their States, and we tried to convince them that these bills that are in the Senate now, which are languishing, will put their constituents back to work. We weren't sure if they really got that and so we wanted to make sure it was documented. We took it over to them. We don't know if they read the letters or not. We don't know if they really believe it or not, but it's really crucial that the United States Senate act swiftly and pass this legislation. It's appalling that they are opposed to providing jobs for their constituents, for millions of Americans, in these tough economic times.

The Congressional Black Caucus continues to fight for summer jobs and employment programs for young people. We want to keep teachers in classrooms. Of course the House passed in the emergency supplemental bill to keep 140,000 teachers in classrooms throughout the country. That still hasn't been voted on in the Senate. We want to increase lending to small businesses. We passed a bill that would make $30 billion, mind you, available to loans for community banks at a 5 percent rate which allows community banks to lend to small minority- owned, women-owned businesses that create jobs. We still can't get any movement in the Senate on that.

There are many pieces of good legislation that are really just sitting there. Madam Speaker, it's really shameful. It's really a shame and disgrace. It's hard to even explain why the Senate won't move when there are so many Americans who are hurting and need our help and we can do something and we can do it now.

I am urging everyone to call their Senators and to tell them to pass these bills so that we can get America back

to work. It's clear that we have a lot of work to do to get the economy revived again. The legislation and many other bills that are sitting over there need to be passed. Of course, this week local officials are here, thank goodness, advocating for the Local Jobs for America Act, the Miller bill, a comprehensive approach to creating jobs which the Congressional Black Caucus has worked on in a big way. Local government investment in transportation, water, sewer, and communications infrastructure provides excellent vehicles and ways to create jobs as well as helping to leverage the private sector by reducing private sector costs and creating opportunities for additional investment.

Madam Speaker, as I close, I just want to say thank you again to Congresswoman Fudge and to the Congressional Black Caucus and to all of our colleagues and allies for staying vigilant on this, because it's going to be a hard road ahead of us if we don't figure out now how to create jobs for people who are unemployed. We're talking about opportunities. We're not talking about welfare or public assistance. We're talking about creating jobs. If you don't create jobs in this country, then what are we doing in terms of shattering really the American Dream for millions of Americans?

I think every member of the Congressional Black Caucus wants to see every member of our society live the American Dream, and you have to do that by creating jobs.

Let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for his steady and undying support for people

who really have had a very tough time and who have not had any opportunities for many years now.

Thank you, Mr. McDermott, for your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I've been listening to the debate here about jobs. We, too, are asking, Where are the jobs?

From what I remember, there were very few Republican votes for the many job creation bills which Democrats have passed. So, if you are not going to support a real jobs initiative, I can't understand, for the life of me, why in the world you won't support just the basics for people, just a bit of help for those who have no jobs and for those who you won't help get jobs.

Support for unemployment compensation speaks, really, to who we are as a country. This is a moral and an ethical issue of which those who really care about the least of these should support. People have lost their jobs for a variety of reasons--primarily, yes, due to the economic policies of the previous administration. We know many people who have lost their jobs due to their not being able to find work in this new economy. People have lost their jobs because their communities have been shut down as a result of the foreclosure crisis. They have lost their homes. They have lost their jobs. They have no health care.

What in the world is going on in our country?

Some of us really get it in terms of the economic policies and what we need to do, but until we make the case in a way that Republicans get it, the least we could do is just help people pay their rent and, for those who still have mortgages, help pay their mortgages and, for those who don't have enough food, basically buy food for their kids.

We can't even get the Republicans to support a youth jobs initiative. My goodness. You know, we have over 40 percent minority youth--African American and Latino youth--who are unemployed. These young people need jobs. They need jobs not only to develop their work skills and work experience, but they have to help their families put food on the table and pay the rent.

So for goodness sakes, just help these people survive and weather these storms right now, because they need something to get through this. Otherwise, we're going to see a country that we all don't want to see, one that we don't recognize, one that does not care about the common good. And this is about the common good. We all have a duty and responsibility to make sure everyone at least is able to survive through these very terrible times.

Madam Speaker, yesterday I missed rollcall vote No. 448 on H. Res. 1472, rollcall vote No. 449 on H. Con. Res. 126, and rollcall vote No. 450 on H. Res. 1219. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Madam Speaker, yesterday I missed rollcall vote No. 434 on H.R. 4514, rollcall vote No. 435 on H.R. 4438, and rollcall vote No. 436 on H. Res. 4773. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank Chairman Obey for his incredible leadership on this supplemental. It was a very difficult job to put this together, but you have done a phenomenal job.

Let me also thank the Chair of the Rules Committee, Congresswoman Slaughter, and Speaker Pelosi, for their leadership and for allowing this important discussion and amendment.

Also I would like to applaud Congressman McGovern for his thoughtful and important amendment. He and Mr. Obey set forth this amendment that we will vote on today. I strongly support it and their efforts to get an exit strategy to end this war.

My amendment is very straightforward. It would prevent any escalation or any ongoing combat operation in Afghanistan and limit the funding to the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops and military contractors from Afghanistan.

It is critical to understand that this amendment would provide for the safety of our troops, civilian personnel, and contractors while troop withdrawal takes place. It does not allow funding for ongoing combat operations or for this escalation. It is not a cut-and-run amendment. It would not leave our troops stranded in harm's way.

Simply put, this amendment provides for the safe and orderly withdrawal of

our troops from Afghanistan, and we need it because the reality is that there is no military solution to Afghanistan. In fact, the occupation of Afghanistan is making us less safe. Our occupation is a prime recruiting tool for the insurgency and for al Qaeda.

If we remember, nearly 9 years ago the reason the authorization was granted, which I could not support, was to provide authorization to go after al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Well, nearly a decade later, what are we doing there? We need to redefine this mission. We need to begin the safe, timely withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors, and we should do so by adopting this amendment today which stops this funding.

A few months from now, the war from Afghanistan will enter, as I said, its tenth year. It is already the longest war in our Nation's history, longer than Vietnam and the Civil War, and there is really no end in sight. In fact, this concern of ``war without end'' again is why I opposed the resolution authorizing military force on September 14, 2001. It was a blank check then, and it remains a blank check now.

I think it is important to take a moment and put the evolution of this war in context, because we have to remember that, again, there was no discussion about the potential consequences of invading Afghanistan. The debate we are having today should have happened 10 years ago.

Few people imagined that we would have nearly 100,000 troops there a decade later, despite the fact that the CIA estimates that there may be only 50 to 100 al Qaeda in Afghanistan. So we have to be honest; the war is not working. The Afghan government is plagued by incompetence and corruption, The Afghan Security Forces are in shambles, and, tragically, just over 1,000 servicemen and -women have lost their lives.

It is clear that our servicemen and -women have performed with incredible courage and commitment. They have done everything we have asked them to do. As the daughter of a 25-year military officer, my dad was a lieutenant colonel in the Army, I understand and know the sacrifices these families are making. But the truth is, they have been put in an impossible situation. The Afghan government is anything but a reliable partner, and conditions on the ground make winning over the Afghan people extremely difficult, if not nearly an impossible task.

Sadly, this war has no end in sight. We are bound to see the generals come back to us and ask us for more money, more time, and more troops if they say it is going well. If it is not going well, I expect to see the generals come back and ask for more money, more time, and more troops.

So regardless of the situation, unless Congress does something, and we have to face this, if Congress allows this, it will be an endless war. So enough is enough. The U.S. has no choice but to pursue and support a political and diplomatic solution in Afghanistan. We must be about that hard work now.

So please join me in supporting the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops. We can and we must responsibly bring them home and end this war now.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California, Chairman George Miller.

(Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California, Congresswoman Waters.

Just for clarification, let me make sure that the opposition understands that this bill did not leave here as a military spending bill. It left here as a government-wide spending bill. It is very legitimate to deal with domestic issues because it was a disaster-relief bill. The military spending was actually added in the Senate. So what we are doing today is very credible, very legitimate. We want to begin to end this war, and we want to do it by stopping the funding.

I yield 1 minute to Congressman Rohrabacher, the gentleman from California.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Maryland, Congresswoman Donna Edwards.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kagen).

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

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Grayson).

How much time do I have now, Mr. Speaker?

I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

(Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

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

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 10-year mark in this war, which is the longest war in U.S. history, we need to ask when is enough enough? How many of our brave men and women must be sacrificed in this never- ending war? How much blood, how much treasure do we have to spend in Afghanistan? And, also, we have to ask ourselves do we need another 10 years to figure it out. I suggest that we don't.

It's time to change course. It's time for Congress to assert itself in our responsibilities, in our role. We control the purse strings, and enough is enough. We need to say today that we must begin to safely withdraw our young men and women from Afghanistan. No more funds for combat operations.

Mr. Speaker, it's really no secret that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created a massive deficit that, if left to Republicans, will burden our children and grandchildren with the debt that Republicans created. The wars have cost over $1 trillion. And it's mind-boggling to hear that the minority leader wants senior citizens to pay for these wars. He wants to increase the Social Security retirement age to 70 for people who have at least 20 years until retirement, and wants actually to tie the cost of retirement to the Consumer Price Index--what an idea, boy, I tell you--instead of the wage inflation index. And he wants it only for those who need them.

Several years ago, the Republicans, let me remind you, they wanted to privatize Social Security. Democrats said, ``no.'' Can you imagine what would have happened to seniors had their retirements been given to Wall Street given Wall Street's greed and given their irresponsibility? Their lives would be shattered.

So Democrats will say ``no'' to Republican ideas to slash Social Security to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me thank Congresswoman Fudge for once again being on the mark in terms of the Special Order tonight. She has taken the leadership on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus to really bring the message of the Congressional Black Caucus to the country. Tonight, Congresswoman Fudge will be talking about the urgent need to enact regulatory reform of America's financial markets.

So thank you for your leadership. I know your district is going to benefit tremendously from this. Oftentimes we forget that regulatory reform also has a direct impact on the huge foreclosure crisis that I know your district is facing. So thank you again for your leadership.

Let me just thank, first of all, all Members who were on that Financial Services Committee for such a major effort to take this important step in protecting Americans from another financial crisis. While many provisions in the bill could be much stronger, I believe that H.R. 4713 is a critical step forward in bringing some reasonable regulations and oversight back to an out of control financial services sector.

I actually was on the Banking Committee during much of the deregulation process and could not support it then. And unfortunately, what those of us on the committee saw happening and said would happen has happened. But now this important legislation will finally make our banks and financial services institutions much more transparent, put consumer rights before corporate profits, and allow shareholders more of a say on skyrocketing CEO pay packages.

While I would have preferred a stand-alone Consumer Financial Protection Agency, this bill will create an independent agency that remains independent and puts consumers first. I am pleased that more transparency on CEO pay is included in these reforms. While I might have preferred some reasonable constraints, like my bill that would limit tax deductibility of executive pay, allowing shareholders to have a say on pay is a good step forward.

I remain concerned that rules on risky derivatives trading, limits on proprietary trading by our biggest banks, and controls over the operations of ratings agencies may not be strong enough to prevent continued risk to our markets and taxpayers. I had hoped that more could be done to ensure that banks pay for their failures. But I know that we must pass these reforms and we must pass them now.

So I hope that my colleagues across the aisle will join us in the effort to protect consumers, shareholders, and the open and honest functioning of the financial markets that are so critical to our continued prosperity. I hope that we have all come to understand how ridiculous it is to claim that the markets can regulate themselves, and that we can agree that the government has a critical role in ensuring that our financial services sector functions fairly, with transparency, and allows equal opportunity for all Americans.

I look forward to working with the regulators as they begin to implement these new protections for investors and consumers. I hope that we can work together to make sure that we are never again, never again held hostage to out of control greed on Wall Street and regulators who really were asleep at the switch.

Thank you again. Thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, for your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in acknowledging the real and serious threat posed by a nuclear Iran to the United States, our allies in the Middle East, and the global nuclear nonproliferation regime that is vital to securing a safer and more prosperous world.

I would also like to acknowledge the Obama Administration, which has rightly pursued and kept open a dual-track approach of concerted diplomatic engagement and pressure with Iran.

The President's resolve proved successful in securing a coordinated and forceful international response, and I am pleased to see that this Conference agreement provides the Administration improved flexibility to ensure we do not undermine the very international partnerships that are necessary to prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapons capability.

As this package of unilateral U.S. sanctions moves forward for the President's signature, let us not lose sight of our ultimate goal--a long-term diplomatic solution to bring Iran into compliance with international nonproliferation standards and commitments.

Mr. Speaker, although I support this Conference agreement, I must reiterate my deeply held belief that sanctions should never be viewed as a checkmark on the path to war.

I remain deeply concerned by counterproductive rhetoric with regard to Iran that echoes the drumbeat to war we heard in Iraq.

The prospect of a military strike in Iran carries devastating and unacceptable consequences for United States foreign policy and security interests in the region that cannot be ignored.

Further, I believe our words and resources are better served in support of the Iranian people, their resilient civil society and determination to seek the protection of basic human rights and meaningful democratic reform despite the intransigence of the ruling regime.

We must closely scrutinize the implementation of these sanctions, which I believe could be better targeted, in order to avoid punishing the Iranian people at the expense of moderate voices and to the benefit of hardliner elements within Iran.

With that in mind, I urge my colleagues to invest as much energy in support of a coordinated and cooperative diplomatic process in Iran as they have in finalizing these punitive measures aimed at bringing them to the table.

It is this course of action that will be necessary to erase once and for all our fears of a nuclear-armed Iran and the destabilizing impact this might have in an already volatile region.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, as a passionate advocate throughout my career for the cause of nuclear non-proliferation, I hope we can also take this opportunity to recognize and act upon our own commitments as a nuclear power to take meaningful steps toward nuclear disarmament and the realization of world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.