Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of SGT Bruce Horner, United States Army, and to celebrate his service to our country.

Sergeant Horner served in the United States Army for 18 years. His dedication and leadership skills made him an invaluable member of the 127th Military Police Academy out of Fliegerhorst, Germany. He was killed on June 1, 2007, in Baghdad, while serving his first tour in Iraq. He fulfilled his duty with honor and distinction.

Sergeant Horner had a strong relationship with his church and with God. His faith played an important part in his life and guided him. It is my sincere hope that the Horner family is strengthened by the strong faith that sustained him in life. He leaves behind his wife, Erin, and mother and father, who reside in Cleveland, Ohio. Everyone Sergeant Horner touched will be forever changed because of his influence.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring SGT Bruce Horner for his service in the defense of the nation. May his dedication to country, faith and family serve as a model for us all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Transitional Housing Incorporated for more than 20 years of dedicated service to the homeless women in the Cleveland area.

Transitional Housing Incorporated was formed in 1986 by three nuns who had been working in Cleveland's homeless shelters. Today, it provides a variety of programs based on personal development plans reflecting each individual's need and unique potential for a better life.

The committed employees of Transitional House Incorporated have reached out to more than 1,400 women in Cleveland, providing them with a safe environment and services such as education and training, in order to help them gain self-sufficiency and independence.

Transitional Housing is a shining example of what a community can accomplish when we all offer a hand to help our fellow citizens in need. Their care and dedication is a testament to the ethic of solidarity that holds our community together.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Transitional Housing Incorporated for their outstanding efforts to end the cycle of homelessness for many women in the Cleveland area, and for giving hope to those in need.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in remembering Robert Shawn Joslin, a young man whom I knew well as a volunteer on my political campaigns. I am deeply saddened to learn of his untimely death at the age of 26. Last Saturday, Shawn was murdered at the McDonald's restaurant where he worked.

Shawn was a 2000 Lakewood High School graduate. He played the tuba in the Lakewood High School marching band. He loved sports, especially the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and the Cleveland Indians baseball teams. He ushered at Indians games at Jacobs Field and got his 2 nieces, Ashley and Alexianna, interested in baseball.

For the last 4 years, he worked at McDonald's. For 2 years he worked at the restaurant in Westlake and for the last 2 years, he worked at the Lakewood McDonald's, closer to his home. He was up for a promotion before he was killed there.

Since his high school years, Shawn was active in civic affairs. He was a tireless campaigner on behalf of myself and other candidates for public office in the Cleveland area. Shawn was always friendly and quick to greet people he knew from the campaigns or from his other activities in sports, music, school, or work. He had a positive attitude and an infectious smile. He had many friends and family members who loved him deeply.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me and Shawn's parents, family members, and many friends in mourning the loss of this positive young man.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Congressman Robert E. Sweeney, whose tenacious pursuit of peace, justice and equality reached not only Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, but around the world.

As a Member of Congress, Robert supported the Voting Rights Act and fought to eliminate the social problems that plagued our country. As a county commissioner, he was instrumental in creating Cuyahoga County's public defender office, and helped to develop Playhouse Square into one of the largest entertainment districts in the Nation.

As a litigator, Robert fiercely defended the public health and safety, and ensured that all people were treated equally. He was one of the first lawyers in the Nation to uncover the asbestos problem. He also became an outspoken advocate for peace in Northern Ireland, and was responsible for pushing the issue into the national spotlight.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering Congressman Robert E. Sweeney for his career in public service. Robert was a dear friend whose humor and personality touched thousands of lives. May his dedication to creating a more vibrant Northeast Ohio and a more peaceful world serve as an example to us all.

I rise in opposition to the bill.

We've lost over 3,600 of our brave service men and women; 1 million innocent Iraqis have perished in the war. We're now telling Iraqis, whose country the U.S. destroyed, whose reconstruction funds the U.S. mishandled, whose social networks have been shredded, stand on your own feet, while we try to steal their oil under the cover of occupation.

This bill will not end the war. This bill will not end the occupation. It doesn't take a vote to end this war. We must inform the administration that the $97 billion appropriated last month is the end of the financing for the war. Use the money that is in the pipeline through October 1st to bring the troops home. Compel the President to put together an international peacekeeping security force which would move in as our troops leave.

We could have our troops home by October 1. The question is whether we're ready to take a stand to do that, or whether or not we're going to vote on resolutions that give the American people the appearance that we want to end the war, without actually addressing the central issue that will end the war: Stop the funding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize First Cleveland Mosque on the occasion of its 70th Anniversary, and to celebrate all their contributions toward creating a more diverse and inclusive Northeast Ohio.

Founded in 1937 by Imam Al Hajj Wali Akram, First Cleveland Mosque is one of the oldest Muslim institutions in America. The Mosque has faithfully guided Cleveland Muslims, holding fast to the ideals of peace, equality and social harmony central to their faith.

As our world struggles to understand its beautiful religious diversity, the First Cleveland Mosque, since its inception, has been a force for ecumenism, encouraging dialogue between faiths and reaching out to their non-Muslim neighbors. The result has been a Cleveland faith community rooted in understanding and mutual respect.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the First Cleveland Mosque on the occasion of its 70th Anniversary. May all their efforts toward ecumenism continue to create a more peaceful Northeast Ohio and world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Clara Belle Lacey, on the occasion of her 80th birthday, and to celebrate her lifetime of contributions to Northeast Ohio.

Clara is fiercely dedicated to her family and her community. She helped her parents raise her siblings, and as a young working woman, she always ensured that they had extra presents and candy on the holidays. Clara's affection for and loyalty to her family and friends never wavers. She has boundless energy. Indeed, just being around her, one cannot help but be uplifted and touched by her radiance.

Clara has never been one to restrain her affection and concern for others. For decades she has been an outspoken community activist, committed to making Northeast Ohio a more peaceful, more equal, and more just community. She has been an invaluable asset to literally hundreds of organizations, grassroots movements, and city ward clubs. Her contributions to our community have been immeasurable.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, I have known Clara for decades, and I have been consistently blessed by her presence in my life. Please join me in honoring Clara Belle Lacey on the occasion of her 80th birthday. May we all aspire to be as caring and as loyal as she.

I agree with my colleague from Wisconsin that this debate is a red herring, that it is an effort to perpetuate the abuse of the public trust by holing up the usual straw man to divert attention from the fact that our airwaves are being abused and our democracy is being eroded. It's an effort to fire up a base.

An informed electorate is essential to a strong democracy. One of the things that I would like to say to my colleagues, there is a conflation here where they are talking about freedom of the press. In the Constitution, freedom of the press relates to freedom that newspapers have.

The electronic media is governed by the FCC, and the 1934 act says that electronic media has to serve in the public interest, convenience and necessity. Just for the sake of keeping the record straight, you can talk about the freedom of the press and you may mean newspapers, radio and TV.

But it is a fact that the electronic media is governed by the FCC. Under the laws of the FCC, 1934, we are supposed to be operating a public interest, convenience and necessity.

Now, the proponents of this amendment and of right-wing corporate radio and TV are saying that they are threatened by this fairness doctrine because they think, incorrectly, it will require corporate radio and TV to be actually fair and balanced. I think they are probably threatened by such a prospect because they know that this particular type of radio and TV communication is not.

Now, any proposal to address the real issue here, restoring genuinely productive public debate, would need to restore accountability to those who use the publicly owned airwaves. The first step would be to reverse the extreme concentration of media ownership. Let's have this debate out in the open, not when some are trying to use a red herring to try to prevent reinstatement of a rule that this administration would never reinstate, never, not a way.

As Mr. Obey said, what's this debate about? It's a debate about something that's not going to happen under this administration, but it may happen under a future administration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize ``Big Chuck'' Schodowski for over 40 years of laughter, and to celebrate his considerable contributions to Northeast Ohio.

In 1960, Chuck Schodowski joined the staff of WJW as an engineer, passing up an appointment to the Cleveland Police Department. Shortly thereafter, Chuck befriended Ernie Anderson and began making appearances on his late night show, Ghoulardi. In 1966, when he teamed up with ``Hoolihan'' Wells, ``Big Chuck'' found his true calling-- making people laugh.

Through the next ten years, the Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show entertained Cleveland with an array of characters and skits. In 1979, ``Lil' John'' Rinaldi took over for Hoolihan and ushered in a new era of hilarity.

For the last 28 years, the Big Chuck and Lil' John Show has celebrated the rich cultural history of Cleveland with its unique brand of humor and fabulous cast of characters. As the Kielbasa Kid, Cuyahoga Jones, or any other of his many characters, Big Chuck has never failed to delight Clevelanders.

Big Chuck is an Emmy winner, a member of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the recipient of countless awards. He truly is a living legend.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring ``Big Chuck'' Schodowski for a lifetime spent entertaining Northeast Ohio and celebrating our rich cultural diversity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Rinaldi, for the gift of over twenty-five years of laughter and community service to Northeast Ohio.

After graduating from Ohio State University, John moved back to Cleveland and began working at Cowell and Hubbard Jewelers. He soon met Dick Blake who, recognizing John's comic talents, introduced him to ``Big Chuck'' Schodowski. ``Big Chuck'' invited John to do guest spots on his late-night Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show. In 1979, the Big Chuck and Lil' John Show was born when Hoolihan moved on, and a local legend was born. For the ensuing twenty-eight years ``Lil' John'' has delighted Northeast Ohio with his unique wit.

Hardly one to contain his exuberance, ``Lil' John has volunteered countless hours of community service to and has helped raised funds for local organizations. John has won numerous accolades for his commitment to Northeast Ohio's success.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Emmy Award winner and Broadcaster Hall of Fame inductee ``Lil' John'' Rinaldi. His humor has been an invaluable gift to Northeast Ohio, and his efforts to create a healthier and more vibrant Northeast Ohio are appreciated by all.

Mr. Chairman, it is pretty clear from the record of their activities that the Department of Energy has been in cahoots with the electric utilities and they are running roughshod over Americans everywhere.

My subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, held a hearing on this exact matter, and we heard about concerns about the law and about the Department of Energy's implementation.

These concerns include whether the Department of Energy would take into account the protection of national parks, State parks, conservation easements, and historical sites like battlefields when determining where an electric transmission corridor should be designated. The answer is they don't.

Whether the Department of Energy is considering the effects of a corridor designation on the private property rights of landowners. They did not.

Whether the Department is considering the environmental impact of corridor designations. The answer is they did not.

Whether the Department of Energy is considering alternatives to constructing new electric transmission lines, like demand-side management, distributed generation, and energy efficiency. They did not.

Whether the Department has adequately considered the actual benefit utility consumers would receive. They did not.

Support the Hinchey amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from California (Ms. Watson) and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.

And I want to begin by stating that the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Rothman, is a person of great heart and compassion, someone who I admire and am proud to serve with in this Congress. His dedication to peace and to justice is something that is admirable. I share his dedication to the survival and the security of the State of Israel.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask unanimous consent to include a New York Times translation of the text of President Ahmadinejad's speech, a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute of his speech, articles relating to an analysis of the speech, and the words that were used by Virginia Tilley of Johannesburg, South Africa and by Erash Narsi written on the 18th of January 2007.

If the gentlewoman will yield, as part of this debate, that is correct.

Yes. The text from the New York Times, a translation.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this insertion, which is from the New York Times, printed in a newspaper of general circulation, is to be able to clarify that the quotes that are cited in the resolution are either mistranslated or out of context, and I think that should be something that would be of interest.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, this is not my translation. This is a translation from the New York Times Tehran Bureau of this speech, and that is what I wanted to submit in the Record, because this debate, even if unintentional, could be used as still another cause for a U.S. attack on Iran, and because the International Atomic Energy Agency has not established that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and because we went to war against Iraq on the basis of misinformation, disinformation, and because I stand for peaceful resolution of all international disputes in the Middle East, in the region, and because I do share the concern that Israel would be in peril, which is why I did the research. I did the research. That is the basis of my wanting to submit a translation.

Now, there is an old saying ``much is lost in translation,'' and if there is so much riding on this resolution, it would appear to me that the prudent approach to take would be to read a translation from Farsi to English. And I have two such translations to offer this Congress if anyone is interested.

Of course, I will yield to my friend from New Jersey.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I have pretty thorough translations that I would like to proceed to speak to.

I am going to proceed specifically with the comments, if I may. Everything that I have relates to this resolution, my good friend. And I am going to proceed now, and then I will yield again, certainly. I just want to make sure we can continue this.

I want to proceed with quotes from this resolution. I am just going to stay very closely to this resolution because this is what we are debating, a resolution before the House that calls on the Security Council to charge Iranian President Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the United Nations Charter because of his calls for the destruction of the State of Israel, something that I obviously would find abhorrent and repugnant if he said that. And I started to do research on this, and I am just calling it to your attention.

With respect to the quote that he said that Israel should be wiped off the map, that is what the quote was, I have seen, from translations in the New York Times and the Middle East Research Institute that this speech that Ahmadinejad gave on October 26, 2005, does not call for Israel to be wiped off the map.

Now, H. Con. Res. 21 states that he has called for Israel to be wiped off the map. But according to the Middle East Research Institute, it is more correctly

translated as ``eliminated from the pages of history.'' And when taken in full context, here is what the quote says: ``This regime that is occupying Qods,'' or Jerusalem, ``must be eliminated from the pages of history.'' He is talking about the regime.

Now, H. Con. Resolution 21 accuses President Ahmadinejad of saying that Israel, and these are awful quotes if he said it, it is horrible, that Israel is a ``disgraceful blot on the face of the Islamic world.'' However, the New York Times translates this section of the speech as saying, ``Our dear Imam targeted the heart of the world oppressor in his struggle, meaning the occupying regime. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world.''

Now, I object to anyone's putting the word ``disgraceful'' in connection with Israel. However, he did not say, he wasn't talking about the people of Israel, the nation, he was talking about the regime.

Here again is the quote that is included in this resolution: ``Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury.''

Look, I recognize Israel and I am not interested in that kind of condemnation. But H. Con. Res. 21 accuses President Ahmadinejad of declaring that anybody who recognized Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nations' fury. However, in two separate translations, it is clear that Ahmadinejad is referring to the Israeli regime.

The New York Times translation: ``Anyone who recognizes this regime because of the pressure of the world oppressor, or because of naivete or selfishness, will be eternally disgraced and will burn in the fury of the Islamic nations.''

The Middle East Media Research Institute translation reads: If someone is under the pressure of hegemonic power,'' the West, ``and understands that something is wrong, or he is naive, or he is an egotist and his hedonism leads him to recognize the Zionist regime, he should know that he will burn in the fire of Islamic Ummah,'' nation . . .

So what he is calling for is regime change, according to these translations. According to these translations, he is calling for regime change. He is not calling for the destruction of Israel. Now, I am just going on the basis of a New York Times translation.

I will yield to my friend.

Mr. Speaker, to respond to my friend, if that is what he meant, then we have cause for great concern. However, in one of the articles I wanted to submit so that Congress could see it, it says, and I quote, ``What did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in Farsi,'' and then they give the quote, ``that passage will mean nothing to most people but one word might ring a bell: `regime.' It is the word `regime' pronounced just like the English word with an extra e-h sound at the end. Ahmadinejad did not refer to Israel the country or Israel the land mass but the Israeli regime. That is a vastly significant distinction as one cannot wipe a regime off the map.''

I would be glad to have my friend respond and also for Mr. Rothman to respond.

Yes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for an additional 3 minutes to be divided equally between Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Rothman and myself, and I would yield to Mr. Rothman, then Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, then I will close.

What I had said in my unanimous consent was Ms. Ros- Lehtinen and Mr. Rothman, then I was going to be last. That was the UC.

Then I yield 30 seconds to my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman).

If, in fact, that's what he said, then of course the U.N. should look into it. But I think we should look into whether or not he said that. And again, I offered to submit, but was denied a unanimous consent, the text of his speech, and a translation by Nazila Fathi in the New York Times Tehran Bureau of the speech. This is from the New York Times. And they certainly have never been accused of any kind of propaganda against Israel.

So I would say that it is important for us to look at this. And I don't think it is an unreasonable request that we should look at exactly what this person said so we will know what the appropriate course of action is to take.

I stand for peace. I stood before this Congress and challenged the war against Iraq when very few people were willing to do that because I questioned whether or not Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction. I am questioning whether or not this person is trying to destroy Israel. If he is, then I certainly support my friend's concerns.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Saint Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church of Northeast Ohio, and to acknowledge the vibrant spirit of its parishioners.

Since its 1967 dedication to the late Reverend Mitred Dmytro Gresko, Saint Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church has been an active community institution in Northeastern Ohio. At a time when communities struggle to maintain their connections, Saint Andrew has sponsored social gatherings that have brought neighborhoods and families together. Saint Andrew's commitment to community involvement has created many valuable relationships between the church and local organizations.

Saint Andrew's has been the backbone of the people and has cultivated kinship amongst strangers. It has shared the joys of our family and friends, and has lifted our sorrows. Saint Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church has provided a sanctuary for the vulnerable and displaced among us. It has been a political and spiritual leader during an unpredictable time in our nation's history. The clergy of Saint Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church are admirable religious leaders who strive to grow with the community and continuously offer guidance that fulfills the needs of their parishioners.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Saint Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church, for the many years it has brought us together and the countless services it has offered to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Tyler ``Molly'' Ivins, for her outstanding career in and contribution to American journalism as a columnist, political commentator and bestselling author.

Molly earned her master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and an honorary doctorate from Haverford College. She worked for several newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, the Texas Observer, the New York Times, and the Dallas-Times Herald, and received a number of awards, especially for her efforts in defense of the First Amendment.

Molly's independence and courage marked everything she did. She had the guts to speak her mind, no matter the opposition. She repeatedly defended the powerless and the downtrodden, and she did so with wit and humor, grabbing us by our hearts and minds.

Even as she battled cancer, her concern for others did not wane. She continued to invite people with needs into her home, educating them and teaching them the habits and values that have characterized her own life.

Molly is survived by her brother, Andy, and her sister, Sara Ivins Maley. She will be missed by family, friends, colleges, and thousands of readers.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Mary Tyler ``Molly'' Ivins, for her love of America. May her indomitable spirit live on in the voices of all who speak out for justice.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

I want to thank the gentleman. I want to thank him for sponsoring this. I think it is a very humane and proper thing to do, and I appreciate that you offered it.

Mr. Chairman, as my colleague Mr. LaTourette points out, our offices are getting deluged with requests and complaints from constituents who are suffering under this backlog that has been created, and some of the action that has been taken by our Federal Government is only going to compound it. So the amendment is aimed at being constituent-sensitive and also sensible with respect to the border crossings, particularly at Canada.

I think that Members realize, and all of us are here as legislators, but another important part of our responsibility is constituent service. And every one of us knows that we have been swamped.

So this amendment that I am proud to work with Mr. LaTourette on is aimed at not just deferring a problem, but at really taking a sound and sensible approach to what has become a nightmare in terms of our constituents not being able to get the kind of responsiveness they have the right to expect on these issues that relate to visas and passports.

So thank you very much, Mr. LaTourette, for your work on this, and I am very grateful that I have a chance to work with you on it.