Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Mr. Tim Russert, devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose brilliant legacy as a journalist served to inform the lives of all who knew him well.

Since 1991, Mr. Russert's piercing assessment of our Nation's political scene graced America's television screens on NBC's ``Meet the Press,'' enlightening viewers with tough questions posed to political candidates, elected leaders and influential people of our time. In his relentless search for the truth, Tim Russert served to provide the checks and balances critical to maintaining the integrity of our national freedoms. In every interview, with every question posed, Mr. Russert created an atmosphere of respect, fairness and integrity--an atmosphere in which his ultimate goal as a journalist was sought-- discovering the truth.

Tim Russert grew up in working-class Buffalo, NY, where the lessons of hard work, faith and family remained at the core of his being. He and three sisters, Betty, Kathleen, and Patricia were raised by their dedicated parents, Tim and Elizabeth (``Betty''). A sanitation worker and truck driver, his father worked two jobs to provide for his four children. He carried the lessons of his parents every day and within every interview. One of the most engaging and effective journalists of our time, his passion and commitment to his profession was

eclipsed only by his devotion to his family and friends. Mr. Russert shared his joy for life with everyone he met, and he treated everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of their social standing. Tim Russert never forgot where he came from, and his street-smart common sense, infused with a brilliant mind and kind heart, endeared everyone to him--even his toughest competitors.

Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Mr. Tim Russert, whose professional legacy raised critical and complex societal issues into the clear light of day. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Maureen; to his son, Luke; to his parents and sisters, and to his extended family members and numerous friends. Tim Russert lived his life with passion and joy, and although he will be greatly missed, the love he shared with family and friends will live on forever, and he will be remembered always.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Marvin Hirschberg, and in recognition of a life dedicated to his country, community and family.

Marvin Hisrchberg, a resident of Olmsted Falls since 1969, has a multifaceted and rich history of public service. He earned both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York in 1951 and from Case Institute of Technology in 1958. Marvin worked as a research scientist at NASA for forty-two years until his retirement in 1994. Despite his retirement from full-time work, he continued to be an active volunteer at NASA and in the Greater Cleveland Area. His dedication to the environment and to the Olmsted Falls community earned him recognition as Olmsted Falls Citizen of the Year in 1998. Marvin was imperative in initiating the city's recycling program and served on the Environmental Protection Board. He and his wife, Ann, worked together mentoring students through the American Field Service (AFS), a program which enables resident high school seniors to study abroad and students from around the world to study in Olmsted Falls.

Marvin was also a key member of the Olmsted Falls Airport Committee. He applied his knowledge as a NASA engineer to the civic efforts of Olmsted Falls residents to exercise oversight of the City of Cleveland's airport planning. As a result of his knowledge and research on sound, his dogged pursuit of a better way of planning airport expansions, and his dedication to citizenship as a resident and leader in his community, Marvin helped make Olmsted Falls a quieter place and helped make the City of Cleveland and Hopkins International Airport a better neighbor.

Mr. Hirschberg is survived by his loving wife, Ann, his children, Leslie Vickery, Eric and Lora Hirschberg, and his nine grandchildren; Daniel and Emily Olah, Benjamin and Samuel Vickery, Adam, Claire, and Valerie Hirschberg, and Eva and Alice Nowell.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of Marvin Hirschberg, who committed his life to serving his country, community and family.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of the manager's amendment and the underlying bill that reauthorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I want to thank the chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee for working with me on three critical provisions that are included in this amendment. I also want to thank the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee and the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee for putting together yet another bill that protects NASA and for working with me on this amendment.

The most important provision in this amendment is an extension of the ban on layoffs until at least 2011. Since announcing the ambitious vision for space exploration, the administration underfunded NASA. But Congress has consistently, and I might point out, in a bipartisan way, rejected these destructive cuts and layoffs. I am particularly proud of the way our own Ohio delegation has worked together on this.

Layoffs undermine not only workers' lives and the mission of the agency but also the regional economy. According to the researchers at Cleveland State University, NASA Glenn in Brook Park generated a demand for products and services of $955 million and was responsible for over 6,000 jobs in northeast Ohio in 2006.

Over the last few years, NASA has hired nearly three-quarters of its new science and engineering employees as short-term employees, thereby denying them full Civil Service protections. The 10 percent cap on short-term positions in this amendment will help NASA compete for the best and brightest in the field.

The third provision would temporarily extend health care benefits for employees in transition. The sudden loss of health care coverage is a major factor currently discouraging employees from taking a buy-out. The provision would be helpful in fostering a respectful workforce transition plan during this time of change for NASA.

This amendment and the underlying bill keep NASA healthy by supporting its employees. All across this country,

from one end of the country to the other, there are NASA employees who are performing a valuable service, who are helping us to create the jobs of the future and enabling America to fulfill its vision to keep reaching.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ameriska Domovina, one of the oldest Slovenian papers in the world and Northeast Ohio's oldest ethnic newspaper, as it ceases publication this August after one-hundred and ten years in circulation.

Ameriska Domovina was first published in Cleveland, Ohio in 1898, making it the Ohio's oldest ethnic newspaper. James V. Debevec inherited the newspaper from his father, James E. Debevec, who assumed responsibility of the paper in the 1930's with the intention of preparing new immigrants from Slovenia for their citizenship tests. James V. changed the content of the newspaper with the changing needs of the community, using it as a forum to teach and preserve Slovenian culture and traditions to the growing community of Slovenian-Americans. The paper, like all ethnic newspapers, has been vital in connecting the Slovenian community with their roots and as well as with other Slovenian communities in North America. Debevec printed news from Slovenian communities in the United States and Canada in the newspaper.

Ameriska Domovina has over two-thousand subscribers; each newspaper is printed using Debevec's own printing press, at an office located on St. Claire Avenue in Downtown Cleveland. The last issue of Ameriska Domovina will be distributed to its subscribers on August 21, 2008, following the retirement of Debevec, his wife, and their colleague.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognition of Ameriska Domovina, Northeast Ohio's oldest ethnic newspaper, and in recognition of the contributions of the Slovenian-American community in the Greater Cleveland area.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Reverend Dr. Otis Moss Jr. A profoundly respected and influential member of the Greater Cleveland community and a leader of greater Cleveland's civic culture, Dr. Otis Moss Jr. is this year's recipient of Cleveland's NAACP's Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award is the highest form of recognition awarded by Cleveland's NAACP and is awarded to members of the community who have dedicated their lives to fostering social change and building a society based on the ideals of equality and justice. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., a resident of the Cleveland area for over thirty years, carries with him a rich history of public service and advocacy, especially in the African-American community. Born in rural Georgia and a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, he worked along side Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leading sit-ins and advocating for desegregation during the civil rights era.

He became a pastor in 1954, serving in various Baptist Churches throughout Georgia until 1961, when he moved to Mount Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati. In this capacity, he continued fighting for equality locally by challenging discrimination in the workplace. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. left his position at Mount Zion Baptist Church to march once again alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama and Washington and to serve as Co-Pastor with Martin Luther King Sr. at Alabama's Ebenezer Baptist Church. He later returned to Ohio in 1974, to lead one of Cleveland's largest and most prominent churches, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. He has served as Senior Pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church for over thirty years, working closely with the greater Cleveland community in continuing the fight for civil rights and access to quality medical care. In the late 1990's, he worked with University Hospitals to create the Otis Moss Jr. Medical Center in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland, bringing desperately needed resources and access to quality health care to its residents.

Dr. Otis Moss Jr's ability to mobilize the community and to advocate for the social welfare of others has been manifested in the various leadership roles he has played. His leadership has served as an undeniable source of inspiration to many who want social justice.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognition of Reverend Dr. Otis Moss Jr., who has dedicated his life to serving his Church and the Greater Cleveland community. Let his advocacy on behalf of the welfare of others serve as inspiration for all those in pursuit of social justice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located in the heart of historic downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and in recognition of the site's significant contributions to preserving American culture.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors in 1995 and attracts visitors from all over the country and the world. The Museum provides educational programs and opportunities for visitors to fully experience the history and impact that music has had on our culture. Artists and musicians from all over the world perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and teach their audiences about the social significance of making music.

With carefully preserved artifacts from many of our country's favorite artists and the history behind some of the most beloved songs, the Hall of Fame and Museum showcases the significant impact that music has had in so many of our nation's social, cultural and political historical events. Throughout history, musicians have used their music as a vehicle to give voice to the voiceless, to challenge many social, cultural and political norms, and to celebrate that most human of emotions, love. This year, on June 13, 2008, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, along with the Joint Veterans Commission of Cuyahoga County, is commemorating Flag Day, the 233rd Birthday of the U.S. Army, and hosting a naturalization ceremony. I join the Hall of Fame and Museum and the JVCOCC of Cleveland in their celebration of these important events.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum and in recognition of its unique and significant contributions to preserving American Culture and of its outstanding educational outreach programs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mary Lou Nixon, a profoundly respected and familiar figure to many in Cleveland, as she retires following a thirty-two year career dedicated to guiding students across the Greater Cleveland Area to college.

For over thirty years, Mary Lou Nixon has served as the Cleveland Scholarship Programs Advisor, where she worked with many low income families and other struggling students with securing financial aid for a college education. With her guidance and outstanding specialized service, she has helped an innumerous amount of students in the Greater Cleveland Area attend college. Her ``fact sheets'' and inspiring attitude gave students and families the tools and confidence to send themselves or their children to college, despite the many challenges that many face. If a family was unable to fill out student-aid application forms on line, she walked them through it. If a student was unable to come up with the finances to attend college, she helped them secure the resources they needed.

Mrs. Nixon is the local expert and has unlocked countless college opportunities for students in the Greater Cleveland Area. She made attending college accessible to everybody and guided members of the community who would have otherwise been unable to attend college realize their dream of earning a bachelors degree. Recognized for her patience and personal demeanor, Mrs. Nixon served as a mother figure to many in more ways than one; she and her husband opened their house numerous times to children in need of a place to stay. As an active member of the community, Mary Lou Nixon will dedicate her post- retirement time working with the Lakewood Public Library, where she sits on the board of trustees.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Mary Lou Nixon, who dedicated her life to helping students across the Greater Cleveland Area attend college and in recognition of the invaluable guidance she provided to so many.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the impeachment resolution noticed last evening.

Madam Speaker, I move that the House refer the impeachment resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 12 minutes a.m.), the House adjourned until today, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 10 a.m.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Resolved, That President George W. Bush be impeached for

high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles

of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate:

Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of

Representatives of the United States of America in the name

of itself and of the people of the United States of America,

in maintenance and support of its impeachment against

President George W. Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors.

In his conduct while President of the United States, George

W. Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath to

faithfully execute the office of President of the United

States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect,

and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in

violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the

laws be faithfully executed, has committed the following

abuses of power.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 55 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the FY2009 budget resolution. This budget includes nearly $179 billion to fund the war.

Congress should not in good conscience vote to continue the Administration's illegal occupation of Iraq. The greatest tragedy of this war is the staggering loss of life, starting with the 4,091 brave men and women in U.S. military uniform. Tens of thousands more have been injured. Both of these numbers will continue to rise.

The U.S. policies in Iraq have failed as is evidenced by the fact that close to half of the population is struggling in extreme poverty. Estimates are that 1,000,000 innocent Iraqis have died as a result of the U.S. invasion. A reported 70 percent of Iraqis--nearly three quarters of the population--are without clean water; 80 percent lack effective sanitation; and 90 percent of hospitals lack essential surgical and medical supplies needed for Iraqi health and wellbeing.

Iraq's ability to meet the basic needs of its people is in shambles and our beloved troops remain in harms way. This body should act on the mandate of the American public given last November and bring our troops home now. Instead we continue to forfeit the public's trust with this unrelenting commitment to keep the war going when we have the power to end it. All it requires is a refusal to consider any legislation that contains or implies continued funding for this war.

The grand total for all defense related spending, including war funds and nuclear activities, is $607.8 billion. This is 56% of all discretionary spending in the budget for FY09. In other words, this budget continues the same failed policies that dedicate the majority of tax payer funds to defense spending while hard working Americans continue to struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, health care, homes and good schools for their kids.

The money in this budget that will go to fund war could be used to provide 39,912,404 people with healthcare; it could be used to offer an additional 1,053,429 affordable housing units; it could be used to provide 20,937,104 college level scholarships to the young minds of America. The budget should be reflective of America's priorities, but this budget falls far short of reflecting the priorities of the majority of Americans, so I oppose it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Marianne Vittardi, as her friends and family gather in celebration of her 80th birthday.

Mrs. Vittardi was born in 1928 in Cleveland Ohio to Regina and Jack Zuccola. Marianne's mother and second dad, Ed Krumheuer, raised Marianne, her brother Larry and their beloved sister Carol Jean in Parma on Maplecrest Ave.

Marianne is the loving wife of over 50 years to her husband Jerry, devoted mother to her children, Richard, Renee, Gerianne, Marty, Mickey and Ed. Marianne is the grandmother of thirteen and great-grandmother of eleven. She is awaiting the arrival of her twelfth great-grandchild this year and prays for many more in the future. Great Grandma Vittardi and her family hold a very special place in their hearts for baby Jack and baby Blake.

Parma would remain the city in which Jerry and Marianne would raise their own family. It is also where they became interested in local government. In 1961, Marianne stood by her husband's side during his successful bid for city council. It was the beginning of a lifetime of civic duty for the Vittardi family. It was also where Marianne's reputation for being hard working, knowledgeable and dependable was gained for organizing political campaigns. Marianne was called upon to be the chairperson of campaigns by Governor Richard Celeste, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Congressman Ron Mottl, Attorney General Lee Fisher, Parma Mayor Michael Ries and for her son Councilman Martin Vittardi.

Marianne served as the President of the Parma Women's Democratic Club, Parma Women's Democratic City Leader and Treasurer of the Parma Democratic Party. Throughout her life, Marianne volunteered on committees for club picnics, dances and steak roasts. Marianne was recognized for her service and volunteerism when she was named 1989's Parma Democratic of the Year.

Jerry and Marianne took their family on vacations to Florida, Ruggles Beach, and Washington, DC. Their summers were spent with family and friends at Country Club Camp Grounds. In the 1980s, Jerry and Marianne went on a three-week trip of a lifetime to Italy. Keeping their Italian heritage alive through each new generation, the Vittardis celebrate their Italian heritage on Christmas Eve with a traditional Italian dinner of Marianne's homemade spaghetti sauce and seven courses of fish. Her mother's recipe for German potato salad, a family favorite, has been passed down to each new generation. Jerry and Marianne became Snowbirds traveling to Cape Coral and Fort Myers where they spent fifteen Cleveland winters in the Florida sun. They attended their children and grandchildren's school and sporting events. Marianne was always one of the most spirited cheerleaders in the crowd, whose voice could be heard on Byers Field or on the court! Their shared commitment to family, faith, and community is reflected throughout the Parma community and also within their parish, St. Bridget Church.

Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of my dear friend, Marianne Vittardi. I wish Mrs. Vittardi a joyous birthday and many blessings of peace, health and happiness today and always.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and in recognition of the individual and collective dedication and service of the Cuyahoga County Bar Association (CCBA) and the Cleveland Bar Association (CBA).

The CBA and the CCBA joined this year to create the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, which has a collective membership of over six thousand attorneys. The Cleveland Bar Association, founded in 1873, was one of the oldest bar associations in the country and was the largest provider of legal seminars in Ohio. The CCBA was founded in 1928 in protest of the exclusionary practices in Cleveland's legal profession at that time. The breakaway CCBA drew its members from smaller firms and solo practices and reflected a diverse ethnic mix which included Jewish attorneys and others from the influx of attorneys from the Irish, Italian, Eastern European, and African-American southern migrations to Cleveland.

The unification of the CBA and CCBA in 2008 was a historic event which reflects the breaking down of ethnic, religious, racial, and socio-economic barriers which were so prevalent in Cleveland 80 years ago. The merger was made possible under the leadership of each bar association after 80 years of operating separately. Together the leadership of the former CBA and CCBA will ensure that the new Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association will be one of the largest and most successful bar associations in the country, providing the Greater Cleveland area with an even greater variety of services and community work.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and appreciation of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and in recognition of the collective and individual efforts of the former CBA and CCBA, for their dedication and service to the Greater Cleveland community.