Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert R. Rice, for his lifelong commitment to educating our youth and for sharing his many talents with our community.

Since his days with the United States Armed Service Forces Band, Robert has been graciously sharing his musical talent. In the Band, he played trumpet and sang lead vocals. After leaving the service, Robert dedicated himself to educating children and introducing them to the wonders of music. As a result of his commitment, thousands of children have cultivated an appreciation for music. Harding School has been the fortunate benefactor of Robert's musical talents for 25 years, culminating in his composition of ``The Harding March.''

Hardly one to hold back his love of music, Robert has also volunteered thousands of hours with community organizations and numerous churches.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Robert R. Rice for a life spent bringing the gift of music to the youth of Northeast Ohio. May all his students who have cultivated a love of music pass it along to future generations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the East End Neighborhood House, EENH, whose leaders, staff and volunteers have uplifted and energized all aspects of Cleveland's urban neighborhoods for 100 years.

In 1907, Miss Hedwig Kosbab formed the EENH in her mother's home as a place that offered sewing classes for immigrant women. As the classes quickly began expanding to include others, the location of EENH changed several times but found its final home on the Van Sweringen estate in 1916.

Beyond providing services to residents on an individual level and six major programs for those young and old, the EENH nurtures community pride and identity while assisting individuals in uniting to identify and resolve its issues collectively. As public needs change, EENH redirects its efforts to focus on the eroding areas of community influence and life such as church, family and schools. Their efforts and services help to maintain stability in those areas and provide the lacking influence that is necessary for neighborhood prosperity, especially for children. One program provided by the EENH is the Cleveland Foster Grandparent Program, which brings neighborhood seniors and youth together. The unification of these two generations allows elders to continue to contribute by leading and sharing wisdom with the young people of the community, while providing the youth with the support and guidance that they need to become active members of the community as well.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the volunteers, staff and leaders, past and present, of the East End Neighborhood House. Their collective dedication, vision, volunteerism and work on behalf of all residents has served to preserve the historic integrity and pride of the neighborhood, promote community accord and maintain a healthy sense of neighborhood unity fo residents, young and old.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Thomas P. Corrigan, the 2007 Fairview Park Citizen of the Year. Tom has been a tireless advocate for Fairview Park, and has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours in service to his neighbors.

Tom has been an active leader in the community for many years, and has been a fantastic influence in the lives of hundreds of Fairview Park youth. He has provided valuable leadership to St. Angela Cub Scout Pack 401, sponsored School to Work programs for Fairview Park High School and Ohio Boys Town, has coordinated numerous fundraising programs for Fairview Park students, and chaired levy campaigns to ensure that the schools have adequate resources to educate Fairview Park children.

Hardly a person to temper his enthusiasm for his community, Tom has also contributed significant time and resources to Fairview Park's economic prosperity and social growth. For many years Tom served as a board member for the Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the board of the Fairview Municipal Foundation. He has been active with the Business Advisory Council, and has been instrumental in the growth and success of Summerfest. He builds benches and playgrounds, chairs golf outings, and even plays the bagpipes.

His dedication to Northeastern Ohio has been an inspiration to all that know him. In addition to being an invaluable asset to Fairview Park, Tom is a doting father to Elisabeth, Rebecca, and Christopher, as well as a loving husband to Jeanne Ann.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Thomas P. Corrigan as the 2007 Fairview Park Citizen of the Year. His reliability, thoughtfulness and selflessness have been integral to the success of Fairview Park and the development of the city's vibrant personality. May Fairview Park continue to thrive from his efforts.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following for the Record:

Read the Iraqi Parliament's Hydrocarbon Law: The Iraqi ``Hydrocarbon Law'' Contains Three Sentences on Oil Revenue Sharing and 33 Pages on

Privatization

Dear Colleague: An issue of critical importance, the Iraqi

``Hydrocarbon Law'', was again broached yesterday for the

third time in the Democratic Caucus and I want to provide you

the facts and evidence to support the concerns I have

expressed.

As you know, the Administration set several benchmarks for

the Iraqi government, including passage of the ``Hydrocarbon

Law'' by the Iraqi Parliament. The Administration misled

Congress by emphasizing only a small part of this law, the

``fair'' distribution of oil revenues. Consider the fact that

the Iraqi ``Hydrocarbon Law'' contains a mere three sentences

that generally discuss the ``fair'' distribution of oil.

Except for three scant lines, the entire 33 page

``Hydrocarbon Law'' is about creating a complex legal

structure to facilitate the privatization of Iraqi oil. As

such, it is imperative that all of us carefully read the

Iraqi Parliament's bill because the FY07 Iraq Supplemental

puts Congress on the record in promoting oil privatization.

The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery,

and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007, released

yesterday, contains Sec. 1330(2)(A) requiring a report by the

President on ``whether the Government of Iraq has enacted a

broadly accepted hydro-carbon law that equitably shares oil

revenues among all Iraqis.'' The Iraqi ``Hydrocarbon Law'' is

not broadly accepted and does far more than share revenues.

The final 3 months of war funding are tied to the favorable

completion of this report and a favorable vote by Congress.

It is also important to highlight Sec. 1311(2) of the

Supplemental bill, which prohibits funds ``to exercise United

States control over any oil resource of Iraq.'' The crucial

issue is not the U.S. government control of Iraqi oil

resources. Rather the issue is Congress passing a measure

that pressures Iraq to pass their ``Hydrocarbon Act'' so

that multinational oil corporations (many based in the

U.S.) will exercise control over Iraqi oil resources.

Here are the annotated facts, according to reliable media

sources:

Foreign Oil Company Control

``The law, if passed, is expected to open the country's

billions of barrels of proven oil reserves, the world's third

largest, to foreign investors.''

``Under the new law, the Iraq National Oil Company would

have exclusive control of only about 17 of Iraq's

approximately 80 known oil fields.''

``The law would also allow the government to negotiate

different kinds of exploration and production contracts with

foreign oil companies, including Production Sharing

Agreements, or PSAs. Energy lawyers favor these because they

allow oil companies to secure long-term deals and book oil

reserves as assets on their company balance sheets.''

``The proposal would provide for production sharing

agreements that would give international firms 70 per cent of

the oil revenues to recover their initial investments and

subsequently allow them 20 per cent of the profits without

any tax or restrictions on the transferring of funds abroad.

``Energy lawyers agree. ``Pretty much all the major oil

companies are taking a very close interest in the future

potential in Iraq,'' says Mathew Kidwell, a partner in the

Dubai office of Fulbright & Jaworski. ``We have certainly had

discussions with a number of our oil industry clients about

the legal framework.'' ''

Iraqi Self Governance Threatened

The unions were kept in the dark, as were most members of

Iraq's parliament, until the draft law was leaked to the

media. Even then it was still out of the reach of most of

Iraq's citizens.

``Iraq will not be capable of controlling the levels--the

limits of production, which means that Iraq cannot be a part

of OPEC anymore. And Iraq will have this very complicated

institution called the Federal Oil and Gas Council, that will

have representatives from the foreign oil companies on the

board of it, so representatives from, let's say, ExxonMobil

and Shell and British Petroleum will be on the federal

board of Iraq approving their own contracts.''

``Under the proposed law, foreign companies would not have

to invest their earnings in Iraq, hire Iraqi workers, or

partner with Iraqi companies.''

``Iraq's oil unions have threatened to shutdown production

if foreign companies are allowed too much control.''

``The Iraq National Oil Co. would restart but compete with

foreign oil companies, who could win contracts giving them

partial ownership of the respective fields.''

Persuasion by Foreign Occupiers

``The British Government intervened to help UK and US

energy giants in their attempts to secure lucrative contracts

to exploit Iraq's ruined oilfields.''

``The Foreign Office delivered a report by the

International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC)--a Washington-

based think-tank backed by a host of multinationals,

including oil companies such as Shell and BP--to Iraqi

officials in Baghdad, it has emerged.''

``The British ambassador to Iraq formally sent the `road-

map' study on the Iraqi oil industry to the then Iraqi

minister of finance, according to documents seen by The

Independent on Sunday. The study recommended the Iraqi

government sign long-term production-sharing agreements with

foreign oil companies.''

``The ITIC hosted a conference in Beirut in January 2005 to

give a formal presentation to Iraqi ministers. Executives

from BP, Shell, ChevronTexaco, the Italian oil company ENI

and its French rival Total attended.''

If the above quotes are not persuasive, then I highly

encourage you to read the Iraqi ``Hydrocarbon Law'' yourself.

It is available, not because the Iraqi government released

it, but because the Kurds released it. This version passed

the Iraq Cabinet, and was referred to the Parliament. http:// web.krg.org/uploads/documents/Draft%20Iraq%20 Oil%20 and

The administration sets several benchmarks for the Iraqi Government, including the passage of the hydrocarbon law by the parliament. The administration misled this Congress by emphasizing only a small part of this law, the so-called ``fair'' distribution of oil revenues.

Consider the fact that the Iraqi hydrocarbon law contains a mere three sentences that generally discuss the ``fair'' distribution of oil. Except for these three scant lines, the entire 33-page hydrocarbon bill is about creating a complex legal structure to facilitate the privatization of Iraqi oil. As a matter of fact, yesterday, Vice President Cheney was in Baghdad specifically to tell the Iraqi legislature they must stay in session to pass this hydrocarbon bill which hands Iraqi oil over to foreign oil companies.

It is imperative that all of us look at this carefully before we cast our vote today.

Mr. Speaker, this war will never end if the Iraqi people believe the U.S. government is trying to deliver its oil over to U.S. oil companies.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Day 2007, and to celebrate the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community to the growth and prosperity of Northeast Ohio.

Held May 15 and May 19, Heritage Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the many contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the well-being of Northeast Ohio. I marvel at the beautiful ethnic and cultural diversity that has developed over the years, and I am grateful for the generations of immigrants who have brought to Cleveland the customs and rich heritage from every corner of Asia.

As Clevelanders forge ahead, building new institutions, relationships and bridges, it is my hope that future generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will continue their invaluable contributions to our social, economic and cultural health.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Day, and honoring the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the rich cultural tapestry of Northeast Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has the power to end the war in Iraq simply by refusing to pass any legislation to continue to fund it. The money is in the pipeline there right now to bring the troops home.

H.R. 1234 provides a plan for bringing the troops home, ending the occupation and stabilizing Iraq. This war will never end if Congress advances administration plans to privatize Iraq's oil through insisting on the passage of a so-called hydrocarbon act by the Iraqi legislature.

Today I will be distributing to Members of Congress a detailed report that explains how the legislation that we are advancing moves to privatize Iraq's oil.

Ford Motor Company has announced the closing of a casting plant in Cleveland where they're going to be outsourcing their engine casting business, and idling production at another engine plant for a year.

We are seeing all these blue collar jobs outsourced in this country, and many white collar jobs as well. We're losing millions of manufacturing jobs. And it's not enough to just let this slide by without trying to challenge it.

We have to have a new manufacturing policy in America where the maintenance of steel, automotive and aerospace is considered to be vital to our national economic security.

We have to have a new not-for-profit health care system which covers all workers, so American businesses are not collapsed by the high cost of health insurance.

And we have to have a new trade policy, which means the end of NAFTA and the WTO, and the beginning of trade based on workers rights, human rights and environmental quality principles.

Our community in Cleveland is going to rally behind our auto workers. We're going to do everything we can to see if it's possible to save those plants and to make it possible to find ways of using those plants. But all across this country, we have to rise to meet this challenge.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Robert P. Binkley for his unyielding dedication to the Social Security Administration of Northeastern Ohio.

Robert Binkley has been a devoted member of the SSA for over 40 years. He worked at the first social security teleclaims taking center in Cleveland, where he provided all the agency's beneficiaries with the prompt and courteous service they deserve. He continued his personal commitment to help those in vulnerable positions as a field representative in Michigan.

Robert later returned to the Cleveland area as a supervisor in the Akron office. It was no surprise to his peers when he was promoted the Manager of the Teleservice Center in Cincinnati, and then Cleveland. While manager of the Cleveland Teleservice Center, Robert spent time at the SSA's headquarters in Baltimore, where he was instrumental in developing a national 800 number service guide for the nation's teleservice centers. Because of his ingenuity, many telecommunication services across the country are able to better serve their clients. Robert's continued dedication to improving the customer experience led to the development of a nonreceipt method so that SSA beneficiaries could receive replacement checks seven to ten days sooner.

With the same enthusiasm Robert demonstrated when assisting the public, he encouraged his staff to attain higher positions within the agency. He continuously offered advice and expertise and many careers have been cultivated under Robert's tutelage.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Robert P. Binkley for his exceptional public service. His selfless devotion to the Social Security Administration and his staff has left an indelible mark on the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the reunion of the Bolzan, Milluzzi and Venier families, and to acknowledge their indestructible family bond that has spanned numerous decades and generations.

All too often, as technology makes communication with loved ones easier, it also drives us farther from the ones we care about. As families drift apart, we must take time to recognize those among us who, having dedicated themselves to preserving those ties that bind, remind us all of the enduring power of family love. It is with much admiration that I recognize the Bolzan, Milluzzi and Venier Families on the occasion of their reunion in Esch sur Alzette, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

As the Bolzan, Milluzzi and Venier families share their fondest memories and exchange news and other current events, I would like to recognize in a special way Amelie Haan-Bolzan, Fernand Bolzan, Clemy Berg-Bolzan, Aldo Bolzan, Sylvia Kieffer-Milluzzi, and Robert Wengler, whose efforts were instrumental in coordinating this intercontinental gala and ensuring a memorable time for all.

The Bolzan Family now spans the Atlantic Ocean and can be found across the United States and Europe; their heritage could not be richer and their lineage could not be stronger. As they enter a new era, I wish that their family continues to flourish as they honor their traditions and create new ones.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating the Bolzan Family on the occasion of their reunion. May their dedication, love and commitment to each other endure for generations to come and act as a model for us all.

Madam Speaker, today's news indicates the Iraqis are beginning to be upset that the Bush administration, with the unfortunate help of this Congress, is trying to force the sovereign Government of Iraq to pass a hydrocarbon act which will give the U.S. oil companies control of $6 trillion worth of Iraqi oil assets.

Now, the wealth of Iraq, the oil wells, ought to be decided by an Iraq Government not under U.S. occupation. But yet, in the bill that was vetoed yesterday, there was a provision that would have forced Iraq to have privatized its oil assets or the U.S. would pull our troops without having an international security and peacekeeping force in its place. That is nothing but extortion.

As Congress comes together to put a plan to get us out of Iraq, let's stop trying to steal Iraq's oil. Let's bring our troops home. Let's have an international peacekeeping and security force that can come in as our troops leave. It is time to take a new direction, and that is exactly what H.R. 1234 is about.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, because our Nation is one.

I rise today in support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Crime, violent crime in particular, has repercussions beyond the individual perpetrator and victim. It impacts family and friends and the surrounding community.

Hate crimes, whether motivated by the race, creed, or sexual orientation of an individual, terrorize a community. In 2005, 7,163 hate crimes were reported to the FBI. Over half of those hate crimes were motivated by race-related bias. Seventeen percent were crimes based on religion. One in six hate crimes is motivated by the victim's sexual orientation. The purpose and intention of these crimes extends beyond the crime itself. They serve to instill fear in others sharing that trait.

This legislation does not punish thoughts or speech; it punishes crimes motivated by bias against the race, religion, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation of the victim. It gives law enforcement additional tools to punish violent crimes.

Hate crimes are inherently divisive. Regardless of the group targeted, hate crimes undermine our collective ability to look past our differences and find common ground. If we as a Nation seek the eradication of acts of violence, we must address the underlying causes of that violence. We must uncover and address the hatred and discrimination that motivates these crimes.

This legislation is step towards that goal. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1592.

The President's veto will stand, but now what will we stand for?

We say we want the war to end, but will we give the President the money to continue the war? We say we want our troops home, but will we continue to support the occupation? We know that U.S. contractors have been stealing from U.S. taxpayers and the Iraqi

government, but will we leave our troops in Iraq to protect them? We know oil has had a lot to do with this war, but will we let this President get away with attempting to privatize Iraq's oil wealth in the name of reconciliation?

We can still change course. We can deny the administration funds to continue the war. We can bring our troops home. We can stabilize Iraq with an international security force once we end the occupation. That is exactly what H.R. 1234 is about, and it is time that we started to look for alternatives which reflect this Nation's highest aspirations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory and honor of Lance Corporal Daniel R. Scherry. He served our country courageously until his death on April 16, 2007. His brief but passionate career is an inspiration to the community and the brave Marines who continue to fight.

Daniel, born in Cleveland, was a graduate of Rocky River High School. He was an invaluable member of the varsity football team, where his determination and leadership helped the Pirates transform into a dominant football team. Daniel's presence extended off the playing field as he continued to mentor the students of his alma mater before he was deployed to Iraq.

After his graduation in 2005, Daniel continued to be an active member of the community and enrolled himself as a student at the Tri-C Fire Academy. He received hands-on training and underwent intensive classes that fueled his desire to serve our country. In April 2006, Daniel fulfilled his dream and enlisted in the Marine Corps.

In September, Daniel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 of the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, NC. Daniel served as an infantry mortar man and his diligence and hard work did not go unnoticed. Within his first year of duty, Daniel was quickly promoted twice to the level of Lance Corporal.

Lance Corporal Daniel Scherry is survived, but greatly missed by his parents, siblings, and extended family.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring serviceman Lance Corporal Daniel Scherry. He is an American hero and his sacrifice will always be remembered by the lives he touched.

Madam Speaker, 4 years ago, the President declared: ``Mission Accomplished.'' I would ask the President, Madam Speaker, whose mission was accomplished by the invasion and occupation of Iraq? Was Halliburton's mission accomplished? Was the oil companies' mission accomplished? Was the defense contractors' mission accomplished?

I was at Arlington Cemetery this morning where so many of our brave young men and women responded to the call of duty. Their mission was to put their lives on the line for America. They accomplished their mission. This Congress has not accomplished its mission.

We must stop funding the war. We must end the occupation. We must use the money in the pipeline to bring our troops home. We must reach out to the nations of the region to create an international peacekeeping and security force to stabilize Iraq. And we must bring to justice under our Constitution and under the laws of this Nation those in high office who took us into a war based on lies. Then we will have accomplished our mission. Then we will have restored America's honor, America's greatness.