Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important artistic contributions and community value of America's 1,800 orchestras.

This country's symphony, chamber, youth, and collegiate orchestras are among our Nation's most important cultural resources, which provide inspiration and enjoyment to more than 30 million individuals annually in cities, towns, and rural areas throughout the United States. They have shown a commitment to reaching all segments of their communities through education and community engagement programs.

In particular, I would like to honor and recognize the Cleveland Youth Orchestra. This orchestra, comprised of musically gifted middle and high school students, provides young people with a rare opportunity to work directly with musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra and conductors to further develop their musical skills. Each year, members of the orchestra perform various concerts throughout the northern Ohio region, helping to enrich our community's artistic experiences. The youth and diversity of the musicians in these programs provide a compelling model of what young musicians of all backgrounds can achieve when they are given such a wonderful opportunity. I can personally attest to the amazing talents of these gifted young musicians. I have

several CDs of the orchestras music, which I enjoy very much.

I am pleased to join with a bipartisan coalition of members in co- sponsoring House Concurrent Resolution 157, which recognizes the invaluable contributions orchestras have made to our Nation.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the wonderful talents brought forth by this country's orchestras, including the amazing young musicians of the Cleveland Youth Orchestra.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the parish community of St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church, as members and leaders celebrate 100 years of faith and hope throughout Cleveland's southwest side. Throughout the past century, St. Barbara's Parish has served as a spiritual refuge, opening its doors to individuals and families in search of guidance and peace.

The ministry of St. Barbara's began in 1905, serving Polish immigrant families who settled near Henninger and Denison Roads. Father Albert Migdalski was appointed as the first pastor. Pastor Migdalski and a small yet dedicated group of parishioners led the effort to construct St. Barbara's first permanent home. On Christmas Day in 1907, Pastor Migdalski celebrated the first mass at the new church building, constructed on the corner of Valley Road and Elston Avenue. A church hall and pastoral residence were also built on the grounds.

Since that time, a number of pastors and parishioners have served as critical guides in the journey of the faithful at St. Barbara's Church. Over the years, the parish community of St. Barbara's has evolved and grown, and has also survived numerous struggles and hardships. Tragedy struck St. Barbara's in 1916, when a fire completely destroyed the church. Eventually, because of its committed members and leaders, St. Barbara's Church and School were built near West 15th and Denison Avenue. The school operated for more than 40 years, until financial struggles forced its closure in 1969.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of every past and current member and spiritual leader of St. Barbara's Church. Despite hardship and adversity, St. Barbara's parish continues to provide a haven of faith, guidance, renewal and support for more than 350 families, along Cleveland's southwest side and far beyond.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment to protect hard working Federal employees in my district from having their jobs transferred to the private sector and ultimately lost.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded to Lockheed Martin to run the Flight Service option of air traffic controller. The AFSS facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, will be closed down in the next year or 2, and approximately 32 jobs will be lost.

The only winner here is the contractor, Lockheed Martin, who will certainly profit handsomely. From my past experiences with the A76 process, I can predict with certainty that the Federal Government will lose money, many jobs will be lost, and the essential services of air traffic control will suffer. Privatization of essential government jobs is dangerous and unnecessary.

The FAA has steadfastly refused to answer several questions I and several other Members of Congress have asked about this privatization effort. We asked questions about the process of this privatization effort, employee transfers, the retirement options, opportunities to challenge the privatization, and future health care benefits. These are the sort of questions that employees should have had answers to months ago but still lack today.

We raised concerns as Members of Congress about how the vendor bids were evaluated, how risk was assigned to these bids and how the priority of the relationship between the FAA and the winning vendor was justified. We asked for copies of various vendor bids to make sure the process was fair. To date, the FAA has not responded to any letters that Members of Congress who are concerned about this have sent. This is outrageous and evidence that FAA privatization is faulty.

If the FAA cannot even respond to simple Congressional inquires, I question their ability to perform a fair process. Employees deserve better. Support the Sanders amendment and stand up for Federal employees.

Mr. Chairman, is the administration manipulating information to benefit the pharmaceutical industry? Is the economic report of the President? And in that economic report, the administration parrots Big Pharmaceuticals' claims that drug prices need to be so high because of the costs of continuing to develop innovative life-saving drugs.

But this assumption is directly at odds with the assumption the administration made in its cost estimate of the new Medicare drug benefit. CMS assumed that escalating drug costs would slow because drug companies will be churning out fewer innovative drugs. Which is it?

If the drug industry is spending big on the next generation of innovative drugs, then projected costs of the Medicare drug benefit will be higher than the administration estimates. Then again, if the drug industry is not, in fact, spending big on innovative research, then the high prices charged by Big PhRMA amount to price gouging, plain and simple. I urge support for the Brown amendment.

Madam Speaker, the President will address the Nation tonight on Iraq.

At some point in the future, Members of a future Congress will look back at the war in Iraq and ask how we could have let it happen. They will ask why did our leaders try hard to convince the American people that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 when it did not. They will ask why did our government use awesome destructive power against the people of Iraq who posed no imminent threat to our Nation, and did not attack us.

They will ask how our leaders were able to convince us to stay in Iraq for so many years at the cost of so many lives. They will ask why there was no discussion about the countless deaths of innocent Iraqi civilians. They will ask why our leaders talked us into spending money for an unnecessary war when so many real needs for education and health care were unmet. They will ask how did we let fear so penetrate our hearts and our psyches that we forgot who we were, that we forgot our duty to justice, that we forgot our duty to liberty, that we forgot our duty to truth.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Vermont for yielding me time.

Why should the American taxpayers underwrite a British company to build nuclear power plants in China? That is exactly the transaction the Export-Import Bank has already given preliminary approval for. British Nuclear Fuel's U.S. division would receive loans of about $5 billion to build four nuclear power plants in China. Why should American taxpayers underwrite a British company to build nuclear power plants in China? According to the Export-Import Bank, ``The nuclear power plants are being purchased to meet the increased demand for power in the heavy industrialized region of the country.''

This is not the sort of transaction the Export-Import Bank, read American taxpayers, should be funding. First, the purpose of Export- Import Bank financing is to enable manufacturing sales to countries that are too poor to afford those U.S. goods without financing. But China has no shortage of U.S. dollars that they have earned mounting the largest trade deficit the United States has with any single country.

In the last 4 years alone, China added net $472 billion to its bank holding of U.S. dollars. Poor China. According to

the International Trade Agency, that is the amount by which Chinese exports to the U.S. exceeded Chinese imports from the U.S.

Mr. Chairman, when I was growing up in Cleveland, there was a myth that, if you dug a hole deep enough, you could get to China. Well, you know what, we have succeeded in doing that with our trade deficit; and we will keep digging this hole with this proposal unless the Sanders amendment passes.

China does not lack access to substantial amounts of U.S. currency to enable it to buy U.S.-manufactured nuclear power plants without a taxpayer subsidy. Yet the Export-Import Bank is subsidizing China to buy nuclear power plants.

Now, if anyone here doubts China's wealth and thinks that we have to help China further, consider that just this last week a Chinese oil company offered $16.5 billion to buy Unocal. If they have that kind of wealth to spend on energy, do my colleagues not think they can afford nuclear power plants without a taxpayer subsidy?

Some might say that the sale of nuclear power plants to China would improve the trade imbalance with China and is therefore, beneficial; but do not believe it. If U.S. taxpayers have to buy the nuclear power plant, that is what the Export-Import Bank financing is, then we give it to China, and that will not make a difference in the fundamental imbalance of trade.

Unless the Sanders amendment passes, American taxpayers will be giving a gift of at least $5 billion for nuclear power plants in China.

The applicant for the Ex-Im Bank funding is a wholly-owned division of a British conglomerate. For those watching the trade deficit, the U.S. is already in hock to Britain as well as China. In the last 4 years, the U.K. has accrued $27 billion in surpluses. The profits from the sale of the nuclear power plants to China will flow to Britain, not to the U.S.

If my colleagues think the American taxpayers should not be buying nuclear power plants for China, then vote for the Sanders amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the women veterans of the 10th Congressional District of Ohio--for their service, bravery, and dedication on behalf of our country. Most significantly, we

stand in tribute and remembrance of those veterans, women and men, who have made the ultimate sacrifice when they answered the call to duty.

For the past three years, the service, sacrifice and courage of women veterans of the United States Armed Forces have been honored and celebrated in Cleveland at the ``Women Veterans Banquet.'' The idea was brought to life by U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Cindy Campbell, Desert Storm Veteran, and her husband, John Campbell.

The organizers of the Women Veterans Banquet provide a significant opportunity for the Cleveland community to honor and recognize the unwavering dedication and bravery exhibited by women who have been on the front lines of combat throughout America's history--from women soldiers on the battleground, to women piloting F-14's, to women doctors and nurses working in makeshift medical units administering to the wounded. Beyond recognizing the immense contribution and sacrifice of women soldiers and veterans, the members of the Women Veterans Banquet have also work to raise funds for the upkeep and maintenance of the Women in Military Service Memorial in Washington, DC.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of the women of our United States Armed Forces. Let us forever remember their service, courage and steadfast commitment, and keep especially close in our hearts those soldiers, women and men, who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country, when they heeded the call to serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of United States Marine Lance Corporal Thomas Oliver Keeling, who courageously and selflessly heeded the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country.

Corporal Keeling's life was defined by his family, friends, love for his country and an unbridled energy and joy that he freely extended to others. He received inner strength and faith from those who knew him best and loved him most, especially his parents, Sherry Berry and Thomas Keeling, step-parents, Robert Berry and Diane Palos, and siblings, Erin, Kristen and Rebecca.

Corporal Keeling was a dedicated family member, student and Marine. After graduating from Strongsville High School in 2000, he enrolled at Kent State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 2004. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his family, friends, and for those with whom he served beside, with the highest level of honor and integrity, the men and women of Weapons Company--3rd Battalion, 25th U.S. Marine Regiment in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Lance Corporal Thomas Oliver Keeling. I extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, extended family, and to his many friends. The immeasurable sacrifice, significant service, and unwavering bravery that framed his young life will be forever held within the hearts of all who knew and loved him well. Corporal Keeling's life is testament to all that is good in humanity, and his legacy will be honored and remembered by the people of Strongsville, the Cleveland community, and the entire Nation, for all time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the leaders and members of St. Matthias Parish, of Parma, Ohio, as they celebrate twenty-five years of faith, guidance and hope for parishioners, and for the greater good of the community.

Twenty-five years ago, St. Matthias was established by the late Bishop James A. Hickey. Bishop Hickey was later appointed to serve as Cardinal James A. Hickey. He announced that St. Matthias, a former mission parish, would now evolve into a full-fledged parish. Father Vincent Moraghan became the first Pastor of the church. On June 28, 1980, the first Mass was held at Green Valley School in Parma. The friendly and warm atmosphere of St. Matthias Parish has remained constant through the years. This spirit of cooperation and unity brought forth the planning and construction of a new church and rectory, completed by 1987. Following Pastor Moraghan's retirement, Father Raymond Sutter was appointed as Pastor, and continues his service to St. Matthias to this day.

The leadership and members of St. Matthias are a unified force of strength and assistance for many within the parish, and also for those in need, outside the parish. Volunteers continue to plan and implement programs such as the Volunteer Visitors Program, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Red Cross Drives, and the ``Manna'' Fundraiser, all of which serve to provide assistance and lift the spirit of individuals and families throughout our community.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of every leader and member of St. Matthias Parish, as they celebrate twenty-five years of offering spiritual guidance for countless families and individuals. Since 1980, the parish has evolved in structure and location, yet it remains a steady beacon of light, faith and hope, that embraces the spiritual needs and everyday struggles of all parishioners.

Offered By: Mr. Kucinich

Amendment No. 3: Page 132, after line 13, insert the

following:

limitation on International Military Education and Training assistance

for Guatemala

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Steven H. Steinglass for his years of service to the students of Cleveland Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, to the legal community for his scholarship and service, and to the Greater Cleveland community at large. After 9 years as dean of the law school, Dean Steinglass is stepping down from that position and returning to the law school faculty to continue his illustrious career as professor and legal scholar.

Since joining the faculty at Cleveland Marshall in 1980, Dean Steinglass has made presentations at continuing judicial and legal education programs in more than 20 states for such organizations as the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Federal Judicial Center, the National Judicial College, the Ohio Judicial Conference, and the Practicing Law Institute. Dean Steinglass has also twice argued before the United States Supreme Court.

Equally important to the people of Ohio's 10th Congressional District and its surrounding communities is his commitment to the local community. Currently, Dean Steinglass is serving as a Trustee for the Cleveland Bar Association, as a member of the Ohio State Bar Association Council of Delegates, on the Board of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, as a member of the Advisory Board of the Greater Cleveland Drug Court, and on the Program Committee of the City Club, the nation's oldest continuing free speech organization. Dean Steinglass is one of those rare academics who is equally comfortable as a teacher, a scholar, and a practicing attorney. Although he leaves the deanship, I am pleased that he will remain on faculty.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the invaluable service Dean Steinglass has provided to the Greater Cleveland community as dean, and to wish him the best in his continued service to Cleveland

Marshall School of Law and the people of Northeast Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of United States Marine Corporal Brad D. Squires, who bravely and selflessly heeded the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country.

Corporal Squires' life was framed by his family, friends and his community. He gained personal strength and faith from those who knew him best and loved him most, especially from his wife, Julie Squires. A kind and understanding soul, Corporal Squires was always willing to go the extra mile for an individual in need. His commitment to helping others was reflected in his studies to become a firefighter.

Corporal Squires was blessed with physical strength, a high level of intelligence and a courageous heart. His humble nature prevented him from reveling in the many honors and commendations that he received throughout his years in the service.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Corporal Brad D. Squires. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Julie; his parents, Donna Squires and Bruce Squires; his brother Chad and sister Jodie; his grandmother, Jackie Squires; his sister-in- law, Sharon Squires; his brothers-in-law, Mike Bogdan and Mike Brandyberry; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy and Rev. Simeon Brandyberry; his nephew Chad; his nieces, Cassidy and Alexis; and his extended family and many friends.

The significant sacrifice, service, and bravery that characterized the life of Corporal Brad D. Squires will be a legacy and testament to all that is good in humanity, and his life will be forever honored and remembered by the Cleveland community, and the entire nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of filmmaker Brenda Brkusic. Brenda is a courageous and hard working young woman who has been identified as a visionary in the Croatian community. At the age of twenty-one, Brenda started working on the film Freedom From Despair as her student thesis at Chapman University in Los Angeles, California.

Freedom From Despair explores one man's arduous journey from his homeland of Yugoslavia to the United States, and his fight for human rights and Croatian independence. It also scrutinizes the relationship between ruthless dictators, the slaughter of 250,000 people, and the silence of the mainstream media. It creatively portrays the power of the human spirit and the tenets of democracy, without preaching or the use of propaganda.

Her film has been met with critical acclaim, and has garnered countless awards, including the CINE Golden Eagle award, which has previously been awarded to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Her peers have recognized her as an emerging talent in the film industry, and a remarkable human being.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Ms. Brenda Brkusic, the writer, producer and editor of Freedom From Despair for her hard work encouraging human rights and personal triumph over evil.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula).

As the gentleman knows, HHS at one time conducted a program on Gulf War illnesses research. And the gentleman also knows that, according to the congressionally chartered Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, there has never been a better time to invest in this research. The potential causes have been narrowed, more diseases are being discovered, parallel benefits to national security are more urgently needed, and there is still no treatment for our ill veterans.

Would the gentleman agree to work with the agency and me to encourage NIH to establish its research portfolio in this area?

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, and also express my appreciation to the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding.

Mr.Chairman, I rise today to join my colleagues in urging full funding of the National Children's Study.

Two of the most important health studies ever conducted were large, ambitious epidemiological studies. The Framingham Study followed the health and risk factors of thousands of men and women for fifty years. The result has been a major change in the way we view, treat and prevent heart diseases. The Nurse's Study has monitored the health of over one hundred thousand women for decades. It, too, has resulted in unprecedented leaps forward in public health.

Now, we must turn our attention to one of the biggest sources of public health threats of our time: our own environment. The National Children's study will follow 100,000 children from before birth until age 21. Similar to the Framingham study and the Nurse's study, it could yield giant steps forward in our efforts to solve some of the most complex and pervasive health problems of our time: obesity, asthma, and autism are just a few. And we could start to see results within a few years of data collection.

Yet the study has been left in a holding pattern. In order to begin recruiting participants in the study, 69 million dollars is required for this year. Only 12 million dollars is provided in the FY 06 Labor HHS bill.

I hope that the conference committee allocates 69 million dollars in the conference report for the FY 06 Labor HHS Appropriations bill to the National Children's Study. We are not doing our future children any favors by postponing this study until it is financially convenient. The need is here. The possibilities are here.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained yesterday on official business.

Had I been here, I would have cast the following votes: Roll Call 297, no. Roll Call 298, no. Roll Call 299, aye. Roll Call 300, no. Roll Call 301, no. Roll Call 302, aye. Roll Call 303, no. Roll Call 304, no.