Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of my good friend Senator Eugene McCarthy, former member of the United States Congress, presidential candidate, political activist and author.

Senator McCarthy is a well-known and respected anti-war activist. His voice rose above the crowd against the Vietnam War due to his power and influence in politics. In 1968, Mr. McCarthy garnered an unprecedented number of college students opposed to the Vietnam War to campaign for the Presidency against the incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson. College students supported Mr. McCarthy because he believed that America should end its involvement in Vietnam. Students from around the country campaigned door to door promoting the slogan ``get clean for Gene,'' referring to the students shaving off their beards and cutting their long hair. While his views sparked many to campaign for him, he still had a disappointing defeat in the Democratic primary. Although he lost this race, he won a much bigger one. He stood up for what he believed in and would not back down, even in the face of adversity.

Senator McCarthy left politics in 1971 after a distinguished career as United States Congressman and Senator from Minnesota. He spent time writing his memoirs and other books and poems on politics. Senator McCarthy remained active in politics throughout the rest of his life, including running for different offices and supporting other campaigns. Keeping involved in politics, Senator McCarthy stated his opposition for campaign finance laws argued in the Buckley v. Valeo case. In 1980, he wrote the introduction to the campaign book of Libertarian Presidential candidate Ed Clark. Senator McCarthy continued participation in progressive politics with the Consumer party in Pennsylvania and the Minnesota Progressive party. He returned to the Democratic Party in 1992 as a Presidential candidate in the New Hampshire primary. More recently he was a strong and influential supporter of Ralph Nader's 2000 Presidential campaign. After his political career ended, Senator McCarthy became a prolific writer and poet. He authored 30 books and multiple poems about the decline of American politics.

Senator Eugene McCarthy passed away on December 10, 2005, at the age of 89. He will be remembered as an influential and respected politician. More importantly, his contributions to the anti-war movement and influence on college students' political activism will live on in future campaigns and protests. His service as a Representative of Minnesota in Congress will not soon be forgotten.

Wake up, America. In addition to giving away the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to the oil companies, the Defense appropriations bill is rumored to contain a massive holiday gift to the pharmaceutical industry in the form of liability immunity for pandemic vaccines. The liability is not the reason for vaccine shortages, especially in the case of avian flu.

This giveaway will not result in increased vaccine production. Why does Big Pharma want these liability exemptions? Because there is reason to doubt the safety of at least one of these vaccines. Chiron, the same company which allowed contamination of half of last year's flu vaccine supply, is hoping to use MF59 in an avian flu vaccine. MF59 is a compound that contains squalene, which is on the short list of potential causes for the chronic debilitating illnesses experienced by our veterans of the first Persian Gulf war.

At a minimum, this issue must be debated in front of the American people, not slipped in behind closed doors into this large bill. I urge my colleagues to reject this liability immunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the NASA reauthorization act. I would like to begin by thanking those colleagues who worked so hard to create a bill that is beneficial to the Nation. Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Udall deserve thanks for their leadership in ensuring NASA remains well balanced and healthy. I want to thank Chairman Frank Wolf for his support in this endeavor, and also Congresswoman Davis.

I also want to thank Mr. DeLay for his support in our efforts to maintain NASA in Cleveland. I would like to thank members of the Ohio delegation who worked with me to ensure the bill's success.

I want to stress that there is a lot that happens here where we have partisan conflict, but on this bill we had tremendous bipartisan support in the Ohio delegation, which included Steve LaTourette, Sherrod Brown, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Michael Turner, Jean Schmidt, Paul Gillmor, Ted Strickland, David Hobson, Michael Oxley, Steve Chabot, Marcy Kaptur, John Boehner, Pat Tiberi, Bob Ney, Tim Ryan, Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula, Senator DeWine and Senator Voinovich, and in addition, Rob Portman. We all worked together on this. Every one of us made an effort.

This is a landmark bill because it affirms that so much depends on a healthy NASA. A healthy NASA, in turn, depends on an emphasis in aeronautics in addition to an emphasis on space. This is critical to the economy.

Aeronautics contributes more to the U.S. balance of trade than any other U.S. manufacturing industry. NASA's aeronautics research is also critical to national security. It has spawned technologies from surveillance systems that monitor aircraft flight paths, to the development of secure communications systems. NASA's aeronautics research has contributed to aircraft safety, reducing wind sheer and icing as major risks in airline travel.

In order to maintain their unparalleled track record, NASA first needs a road map for aeronautics, just as it had one for the Vision for Space Exploration. This bill provides that road map.

While the map is being drawn, NASA's aeronautics infrastructure must be preserved, starting with the world-class, award-winning workforce at NASA's field centers like NASA Glenn in Cleveland. This bill prevents involuntary reductions in force until at least March of 2007 and calls for a workforce shaping plan. It also provides necessary funding.

This bill further prevents reckless and semipermanent elimination of testing facilities, like wind tunnels and propulsion testing facilities, and encourages long-term basic research in areas like low- emissions and zero-emissions aircraft, microgravity, engine efficiency, and noise reduction. These are all tremendously beneficial to Ohio and the Nation.

This bill makes NASA more sustainable. It strikes a balance between space and aeronautics and ensures that NASA will continue to contribute to our economy, national security, airline safety, and the environment. It is a significant step forward for Ohio, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support and their leadership on this matter.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

I just want to, for the record, state that I am a vegan. I do not consume pork.

Today, the U.S. House will debate a so-called Victory in Iraq resolution, and vote on whether or not the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is desirable by the U.S. Government.

Today, Congressman Ron Paul and I have a resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the new permanent Council of Representatives of Iraq should debate and vote on whether the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is desired by the Government of Iraq.

According to the Iraq constitution, the Iraq federal government has exclusive power over foreign policy and negotiation, national defense policy, and the Council of Representatives specifically has the responsibility of creating new law and certifying treaties and international agreements.

The continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is a matter for the elected Government of Iraq, a sovereign nation, to decide. If we define victory as Iraq's self-determination, then we ought to encourage Iraq to make its own decision about further U.S. occupation. But if victory is just a cover for endless U.S. occupation of Iraq, then that is just not going to be acceptable to the American people or to people of the world.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution mentions the word victory six times, but victory is not defined. We are assured this administration will know victory when they see it, just like they knew WMDs when they did not see them.

Supporters of this bill point to yesterday's election as victory, but many were drawn to the polls by their overwhelming dislike of U.S. occupation. They like us all right; they would like us to get out of their country.

This fantasy victory resolution means more occupation, more war, more civil war, more deaths of our troops and innocent civilians, more waste of taxpayer money, while this House is reduced to a bunch of cheerleaders in a bloody ``Baghdad Bowl'' sponsored by Halliburton.

Congressman Paul and I have a resolution which will let Iraqis, through their new representatives, decide whether the occupation ends or not. Do you want sovereignty, do you want self-determination, or do you just want occupation, deception, fake news, fake policy and next year's fakeout, partial troop withdrawals while a permanent U.S. presence is being built?

These fake resolutions keep this Congress in a stupor, almost a trance-like denial of conditions in Iraq and how we got there. Wake up, Congress. Wake up America. Get out of Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Alex Humel McCann, cherished son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and friend to many, whose unexpected passing has saddened our entire community. Although he will be greatly missed, Alex's young life had a profound impact upon the lives of countless individuals, in Cleveland, Ohio and around the world, and his inner light will shine on forever.

When Alex was in kindergarten, he journeyed with his parents and brothers to Botswana, Africa, to participate in a three-year mission with Habitat for Humanity International. In his 17 young years, Alex traveled to 17 countries and 5 continents. With an open heart, Alex absorbed the colorful offerings of every new culture and developed a profound sensitivity to human injustices and struggles that exist around the world.

An independent thinker and adventurous soul, Alex's passion and joy for life paralleled his passion for helping others. As a student at St. Edward High School, Alex was an active member with the Council on Human Relations, the Free Thought Society and his most cherished activity, the St. Edward Wilderness Retreat Program. His diagnosis of epilepsy at age thirteen did not lessen his enthusiasm and energy for living. He was an avid cyclist, golfer, hiker, and camper. He was a talented young actor who graced the stages of the Beck Center, St. Ed's and St. Joseph Academy. His energy and talent were consistently matched by his unique sense of humor, quick smile and kind heart.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Alex Humel McCann. I extend my deepest condolences to his mother and father, Joyce Humel and Michael McCann; his brothers, Nick and Aaron; his extended family members and many friends. Alex Humel McCann's young life reflected limitless joy and love and he will live forever in the hearts and memories of those who loved him most--his family and friends--from Cleveland, Ohio to Botswana, Africa, and he will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask my friend if he would yield to a question, because I am looking here at the motion that he has, and it basically refers to the majority's bill and instructs them, according to their bill, and it is within our jurisdiction to do that. And it gives them the jurisdiction to follow up, does it not?

Taking back my time, Mr. Speaker, you see, we have a right as a Nation to defend ourselves, but we do not have any right to shred the Constitution or to nullify the role

that Congress has as a coequal branch of government or to nullify the right we have to give motions to instruct. We have an absolute right to do that.

Now, this all goes back to 9/11, where all the fear has been created; and we have people now more concerned about leaks and more concerned about open discussion exposing secret prisons than they are in exposing those prisons. People want to deny congressional oversight and deny the power of coequality.

I mean, the facts are that there is a real body of evidence suggesting that secret prisons do exist; that there has been rendition; that people have been basically taken off the streets, moved to countries that use torture, and violations of human rights. I mean, what is happening to our country?

Let us look at our Constitution. We have habeas corpus, people have a right to be told what crime they have committed, they have a right to an attorney and to a fair and speedy trial. Now, why do we have those things? Because in America we stand for something.

So we are, in effect, permitting the shredding of our Constitution. The violation of international law. What has become of our Nation when we do not challenge that or at least have the opportunity to support Mr. Skeleton's motion to instruct, which is our right to do, to go along with what has already been approved in the Senate, and to say, look, we think that there ought to be a role for the Director of National Intelligence to give a report to the Intelligence Committee setting forth the nature and cost and otherwise providing a full accounting on any clandestine prison or detention facility currently or formerly operated by the United States Government regardless of location.

Look, let us remember what we stand for as a Nation. We are losing sight of that here. We are becoming something that could be called in another era un-American. Let us stand for our American values here and support the Skeleton motion.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert for the Record the following articles relating to my comments:

[From the Free Republic, June 6, 2005]

U.S. Running `Archipelago' of Secret Prisons: Amnesty International

Washington.--The U.S. government is operating an

``archipelago'' of prisons around the world, many of them

secret camps into which people are being ``literally

disappeared,'' a top Amnesty International official said

Sunday.

Amnesty International executive director William Schulz

criticized the administration of U.S. President George W.

Bush for holding alleged battlefield combatants in

``indefinite incommunicado detention'' without access to

lawyers in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

Schulz was pressed to substantiate Amnesty's claim in a May

25 report that the U.S. prison camp at the Guantanamo Bay,

Cuba naval base--where hundreds of foreign terror suspects

are being held indefinitely--represents the ``gulag of our

times.''

The gulag claim, referring to the notorious prison camp

system of the Soviet Union, has drawn withering criticism

from the U.S. president, who called it ``absurd.'' Vice

President Richard Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald

Rumsfeld have also slammed the rights group's claim.

Russian 1970 Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

described the Soviet prison camp system in his best-selling

book ``The Gulag Archipelago.''

Schulz said the gulag reference was not ``an exact or a

literal analogy.''

``But there are some similarities. The United States is

maintaining an archipelago of prisons around the world, many

of them secret prisons into which people are being literally

disappeared--held in indefinite incommunicado detention

without access to lawyers,'' Schulz told Fox.

Asked how AI could compare the detentions of millions of

Soviet citizens in the gulag system to purported anti-U.S.

combatants captured on the battlefield, Schulz said some of

those held in Guantanamo ``happened to be in the wrong place

at the wrong time.

``We do know that at least some of the 200 some prisoners

who have been released from Guantanamo Bay have made pretty

persuasive cases that they were imprisoned there, not because

they were involved in military conflict but simply because

they were enemies of the Northern Alliance,'' he said.

Schulz called for an official probe into the alleged rights

abuses at U.S. detention centers around the globe.

Amnesty refers in the May 25 report to Rumsfeld and U.S.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as alleged ``torture

architects.''

The United States ``should be the one that should

investigate those who are alleged at least to be architects

of torture, not just the foot soldiers who may have inflicted

the torture directly, but those who authorized it or

encouraged it or provided rationales for it,'' Schulz said.

According to Amnesty, Rumsfeld provided ``the exact rules,

27 of them in fact, for interrogations, some of which do

constitute torture or cruel, inhumane treatment,'' Schulz

said.

The Guantanamo Bay camp and U.S. detention practices have

been the subject of renewed debate in recent weeks, sparked

by a Newsweek magazine report--since retracted--that

Guantanamo interrogators flushed a Koran in a toilet to

rattle Muslim prisoners.

Amnesty is not the only rights group to have called on

Washington to investigate alleged abuses at the camp--Schulz

pointed to released FBI documents that also raised concerns

about Guantanamo interrogations.

U.S. officials insist such concerns are unfounded, and that

the ``war on terror'' detainees are treated as humanely as

possible.

U.S. soldiers have been tried and punished for abusing

detainees--notably at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, where at

least one captive died--but U.S. officials say those are

isolated incidents.

The furor sparked by Amnesty's claims shows no signs of

abating.

The New York Times said Sunday that the Guantanamo Bay

prison should be closed down, saying it had become ``a

national shame'' and a ``propaganda gift to America's

enemies.''

``What makes Amnesty's gulag metaphor apt is that

Guantanamo is merely one of a chain of shadowy detention

camps that also includes Abu Ghraib in Iraq, the military

prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and other, secret

locations run by the intelligence agencies,'' the Times said.

The Washington Post, whose editorial page has been more

critical of Amnesty's gulag claim, reported Sunday--citing

Schulz--that Amnesty's donations have quintupled and new

memberships have doubled in the past week since it released

its report. (Wire reports)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the 59th Anniversary of the day that the civil rights movement was ignited. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, tired of following societal laws steeped in racism and degradation, became a reluctant hero of the civil rights movement when she refused to surrender her seat and her dignity to a white man on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Rosa Parks, a soft spoken, private and hardworking seamstress, was immediately arrested and convicted of violating segregation laws. The incident drew an immediate and passionate response. With the support of the NAACP and civil rights leaders, including Rev. Ralph Abernathy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., African Americans in Montgomery boycotted the city buses and declared their refusal to ride the buses until the U.S. Supreme Court denounced the Jim Crow laws that continued to strangle the soul of America. Thirteen months later, the boycott ended when, in November 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

The humiliation experienced by Rosa Parks was reflective of a long line of human injustices directed upon African Americans by the white ruling class since the dawn of our nation. Rosa Parks' simple refusal was a monumental act of courage and dignity that cast centuries of injustice, ingrained in the foundation of American culture, into the clear light of day. She knowingly sacrificed her own safety, the safety of her family and her privacy for the greater good. Rosa Parks' historic refusal to give up her seat on a city bus set the civil rights movement on fire and the power of her simple gesture is as significant and relevant today as it was 50 years ago. She remained dedicated to the civil rights movement and humanitarian causes until her recent death at age 92.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and memory of Rosa Parks, whose singular life forever changed the world by raising the human race into the promise of justice for all. Her quiet refusal to surrender represented a million acts of resistance that came before her and set a path for those who would follow. Rosa Parks became an icon of human rights and her voice joined with a chorus of millions demanding freedom from oppression, echoing from the isle of a city bus to the hallowed halls of the United States Supreme Court. Rosa Parks' quiet act of defiance awoke America from its centuries old slumber of ignorance and oppression and her journey will continue to bring hope and inspiration to those still fighting to walk in the light of human dignity and justice--in Montgomery, Alabama, across our country and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Rita D. Lynch, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, dedicated public servant, community activist, and dear friend to many, including myself.

Mrs. Lynch's passing marks a great loss for her family and friends, and also for the people of Cleveland's west side neighborhood, whom she served with the highest level of commitment and integrity. For nearly 30 years, Mrs. Lynch volunteered her time and talents as a member of the board of the directors with Cudell Improvement, Inc., a non-profit neighborhood organization, working on projects and implementing programs focused on uplifting all aspects of the community. Her dedication to the organization and to her neighborhood is reflected throughout Ward 18 in the City of Cleveland.

Family, friends, faith and community were central to her life. Mrs. Lynch and her late husband, Robert, often worked together on issues of neighborhood concern. Her grown children, John and Maryann, were instilled with the values of hard work, kindness and giving to others. Mrs. Lynch's service to others continues to illuminate the hope and promise of a better day for the people of this diverse Cleveland community.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Rita D. Lynch. Mrs. Lynch lived life with a generous heart and great energy for life. Her legacy of activism and spirit of volunteerism will be remembered always, forever reflecting along Detroit Avenue, Edgewater Road and Clifton Boulevard, and she will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Julian M. Earls, upon his retirement as Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Earls' service at NASA Glenn reflects 4 decades of leadership, accomplishment and discovery.

Dr. Earls' exemplary service and expertise within the ever- transforming frontier of space aeronautics began at NASA Glenn in 1965 and is a legacy that spiraled from a brilliant academic foundation. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Norfolk State University, a master's degree in radiation biology from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a doctorate degree in radiation physics from the University of Michigan.

His exceptional standing at NASA Glenn was framed by integrity, vision, innovation and accomplishment. His incredible intellect was equally matched by his congenial nature and his ability to form vital bonds with staff members and with local, national and international leaders in the field of aeronautics. Dr. Earls' work included the development and direction of programs necessary to accomplish the missions of the Center. His work spanned the scope of research, technology, and systems development programs in aeronautical propulsion, space propulsion, space power, space communications, and micro-gravity sciences in combustion and fluid physics. Dr. Earls has written for 28 educational and technological journals and he wrote the first health physics guides for NASA Glenn.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Dr. Julian M. Earls, whose integrity, expertise, commitment and leadership has infused energy and possibility throughout all operations at NASA Glenn Research Center. His 40-year legacy of achievement and leadership will continue to exist as a foundation of learning and exploration, where the promise of dreams, discovery and hope take flight. I wish Dr. Earls and his family an abundance of good health and happiness, today and always.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mrs. Lucille Crisafi, devoted wife to her late husband, Ralph Crisafi, devoted aunt and great aunt, and dear friend to many. Let us celebrate her life as her friends and loved ones gather in tribute to her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Crisafi grew up in Cleveland's Clark-Fulton neighborhood and later moved to Parma. In 1927, she married Ralph Crisafi. Their shared values of work, faith, family and community were reflected throughout this Westside neighborhood. For many years, Mr. and Mrs. Crisafi owned and operated an appliance store, located on the corner of Clark and Fulton Roads. Although they never had children, they were devoted to their nieces, nephews and the children of the neighborhood, all

of whom affectionately referred to them as `Aunt Lu' and `Uncle Ralph.'

Mrs. Crisafi remained in her home 25 years after her husband passed away. Her life-long spirit of activism and volunteerism with St. Rocco's Catholic Church continues to uplift all aspects of the parish. She has been an active member of the Holy Family Sodality of St. Rocco's for 72 years and served as the Financial Secretary for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Mrs. Lucille ``Aunt Lu'' Crisafi, as we join her in celebration of her 100th birthday on December 13. At 100 years young, Mrs. Crisafi's sharp intellect, quick wit, kind smile and spirit of love and generosity for others shine brighter than ever and continues to illuminate the hearts of friends and family along Clark Avenue, throughout St. Rocco's parish, in Parma, Ohio and far beyond. I wish Mrs. Crisafi a joyous birthday and many blessings of peace, health and happiness today and always. Cent' Anni, Aunt Lu.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Tim Taylor, award-winning television journalist, devoted family man, community volunteer and friend and mentor to many, including me, upon the occasion of his retirement that follows more than forty years of excellence in broadcast journalism in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Taylor worked for ten years in radio. For seven of those years, he worked as the News Director at WHK Radio, where he covered stories ranging from everyday events to pivotal moments in history, including the Hough Riots, the Kent State shootings and live coverage of the splashdown of the aborted Apollo 13 mission. Mr. Taylor also conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. His career in TV journalism began in the early 1970s at WEWS TV-5, when he became northeast Ohio's first TV consumer advocate as ``Action Reporter.''

For nearly thirty years, Mr. Taylor has led the news team every weekday at Fox 8 News. His tenure as Chief News Anchor reflects twenty- five years of talent, grace and professional integrity. His kind and humble nature consistently belied his sharp intellect and keen ability to extract reason, truth and a balanced perspective from news ranging from heartfelt human interest stories to complex national issues. Mr. Taylor was awarded three Emmys and was selected by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a member of the prestigious Silver Circle. He is only the second news anchorperson ever honored with the Cleveland Association of Broadcaster's ``Excellence in Broadcasting'' award.

Mr. Taylor's unwavering dedication to his profession parallels his steadfast commitment to giving back to the community. Among his numerous volunteer efforts, Mr. Taylor's thirteen-year involvement with the annual Tim Taylor Golf Tournament to Benefit the Epilepsy Foundation has raised awareness and millions of dollars to assist families and individuals who suffer the devastating effects of epilepsy.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and gratitude of my friend, Tim Taylor, whose unwavering integrity and talent has permanently raised the bar on broadcast excellence in Northeast Ohio and whose genuine concern for others has uplifted our entire community. I wish Mr. Taylor, his wife Cathy, children and grandchildren much health and happiness today and throughout all days to come.

Mr. Speaker, 3,124 innocent civilians died in the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center, on the airliners and at the Pentagon; 2,151 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action; 15,881 U.S. soldiers have been wounded; 30,000 Iraqi civilian non-combatants, according to the White House, have been killed in Iraq; 500,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Iraq by just one U.S. air wing. That is equivalent to 1 billion pounds of explosives, 2 million 500-pound bombs, nearly 400 pounds of explosives for every Iraqi man, woman, and child. Zero is the number of weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, and I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for pointing out to this House that the across-the-board cut which he speaks about is going to only exacerbate the underfunding, which already exists in this particular bill. And I thank the gentleman for that point.

I also want to state that this House, at the request of the administration, over the last few years has passed massive tax cuts that have helped to accelerate the wealth of this country upward, while when it comes to social programs, we are looking at cuts.

I want to speak to education. The education cuts brought before us today in this new conference report are not any better for students than those that were voted down by the House on November 17. Like that conference agreement, the bill before us today demonstrates that education is not a priority for this House's majority. This conference agreement provides a mere $11 million increase for Head Start.

I will bet, Mr. Speaker, that there are some of our wealthiest citizens who are achieving tax breaks in the millions, who together, pooling their tax breaks, would exceed the amount of money being given to Head Start that they call an increase. The fact of the matter is that Head Start is a pivotal program for preschool age children in low- income families across this country. And at current funding levels, it, unfortunately, serves about only half of the children eligible for its services. Now, this is not adequate, and it is not right. This program, which has been repeatedly found to have dramatically increased the academic performance of students, deserves more than a piddling $11 million when you compare it to where the money is going in this budget and in the fiscal policies of this administration.

This conference agreement cuts school improvement funding by 6 percent and flat funds teacher quality grants. These grants, which are used to recruit qualified teachers and support teacher development, are critically important to efforts to improve student achievement.

Rather than strengthening the Pell Grant program and increasing access to higher education for low-income students, the conference agreement maintains the current maximum Pell Grant at $4,050. At this level, the maximum Pell Grant only covers 39 percent of the tuition of the average 4-year public college, making a mockery of its status as the foundation of student aid for the poorest students.

What are our priorities? The votes Members cast today on this conference agreement will show our priorities. Our priorities ought to be education, and they ought to be doing something about adult training grants which, unfortunately, have been cut in this conference report, and youth training grants, which, unfortunately, have been cut in this conference report.

What are our priorities? To continue the acceleration of wealth upwards in this country, or to make sure that all Americans get a chance to be recognized in this budget?

It is time to say no to this policy.

Mr. Speaker, in response to my good friend from California who said there must be sacrifices and sacrifices have been made, I would remind Members of the words of Benjamin Franklin who once said that those who would give up their essential liberties to achieve a measure of security deserve neither.

The tragedy of 9/11 led to the PATRIOT Act, and then it led to a war against Iraq. Fear and suspicion led the U.S. to roll back our civil liberties and attack a nation that did not attack us.

We have become a Nation of leaders, some of whom who have condoned torture and illegal detentions. Fear and suspicion have driven us to that. We need a different type of leadership so the American people could have been spared the effects of 9/11. It could have been different. But, no. We are here today trying to appeal to people to let go of their fear and suspicion because an open, honest review of the FBI's use of the PATRIOT Act would surely find many areas in need of reform.

A careful balance between national security needs and protecting American rights must be struck, but that is not what we have here. Today we are set to pass a whole new round of democracy rollbacks. American citizens are losing more of their free speech rights and privacy rights. The authors of today's bill inserted a very weak and loophole-ridden right to judicial review of government actions. The American public is not served by such minimal accommodation.

Today, the House will ignore more than 400 local communities and seven States that have passed resolutions asking for PATRIOT Act reform. This legislation fails to provide reasonable sunset provisions that guarantee future congressional review. The bill retains 4-year sunsets for only two of the 16 PATRIOT Act provisions and only one of two expiring provisions in the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act. All other intrusive powers are either made permanent or remain permanent.

This bill continues to allow roving wiretaps that permit Federal agents to tap communications of a target where neither the target nor the phone is identified. Criminal wiretaps require one or the other, and the 10-day after-the-fact notice requirement is no substitute for privacy safeguards in the criminal wiretaps.

The bill continues to permit sneak-and-peak searches of a person's home or business to remain secret indefinitely. It drops a Senate provision supported by the Chamber of Commerce, conservatives, libraries, civil liberties organizations that set limits on secret court orders for library, medical, and other personal records. Instead, the bill establishes a false right to judicial review. A recipient must challenge before a preselected group of three court judges and go to the expense of hiring a lawyer with a security clearance who the FISA court agrees can appear before it.

So people have to essentially fight for their rights to be free of the scourge of wiretaps and to be free of the scourge of having the FBI reach into their library records, their reading records, their medical records.

Where are we going with this country? It is not the America it used to be. It has become something that is hard to recognize for many Americans.

Vote against this bill.