Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me and want to say what a pleasure and honor it is to work with her and with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) as well in our effort to save over 1,000 jobs at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Cleveland, Ohio.

This is a center which is important for the entire Nation because this is a center which processes payroll for a total of 5.7 million Department of Defense employees, military, civilian, and retired, including 2 million Armed Forces members, Navy Active Reserve, Air Force Reserve and Guard, and Army Reserve; 2.4 million military retirees and annuitants. They also do work for the Department of Energy and the Office of Health and Human Services and for various armed service headquarters' elements.

I want to say that this center has been recognized and acknowledged across this country for the tremendous work which the people there do. They do the best accounting work; and now, despite the fact that they have been doing great work for decades, they are finding that the rug is being pulled out from them by a BRAC that does not even save any money.

Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman is correct. Unfortunately, in the city whose responsibilities we share as Members of the Congress to represent the people here in the Federal Government, our city has had one of the highest poverty rates in America, and one of the criteria which must be taken into account during a BRAC are the economic conditions within the community. And it is clear that the economic conditions in the city of Cleveland were not taken into account, and that is one of the bases of the appeal that we are making to the BRAC Commission in Buffalo on Monday.

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) for the tremendous leadership that she has shown in rallying the community. She really has performed a powerful service, as well as the work of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), in building the case.

Keep in mind the BRAC Commission has the authority to change the Department's recommendations if it determines that the Secretary deviated substantially from the force structure and/or selection criteria, and I believe that the Department of Defense has clearly deviated from the selection criteria in two areas: the Secretary is required to consider, among several things, the military value and the economic impact on existing communities in the vicinity of the military installations, and the Department of Defense has erroneously ranked the military value for DFAS Cleveland low and states that a .01 percent within the Cleveland metropolitan statistical area has minimal economic impact.

We look forward to taking our case to Buffalo.

Mr. Speaker, two reports from today's New York Times which prove why we need to continue to move in the direction of bringing our troops home from Iraq: The first, a new classified assessment by the Central Intelligence Agency says Iraq may prove to be an even more effective training ground for Islamic extremists than Afghanistan was in al Qaeda's early days, because it is serving as a real-world laboratory for urban combat. The report goes on to say that officials have said Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and other countries would soon have to contend with militants who leave Iraq equipped with considerable experience and training.

The next report says the following: that Iraqi rebels are refining bomb skills and pushing the G.I. toll even higher. Improvised explosive devices are now sufficiently sophisticated to destroy armored Humvees. That means our soldiers are more vulnerable and that casualty rates will go higher than ever.

It is time to bring our troops home. Support House Joint Resolution 55, a bipartisan bill to bring our troops home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal and the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Cleveland Chapter. The accomplished life and works of Dr. Rizal remains a great source of inspiration for the people of the beautiful island of the Philippines. His heroic and poignant writings and efforts continue to inspire and energize the people of the Philippines, and Filipino Americans as well.

During the 1800's Filiplinos began expressing their anger and frustration over colonial rule. Intellectuals,' poets, artists and writers became the spiritual leaders in the Filipino quest for freedom and independence from Spain. It was the vital works by an unknown, young doctor from Lugana Province, Jose Rizal, which set fire to the independence movement. Dr. Rizal's explosive first novel, ``Noli Me Tanere,'' (Touch Me Not), shattered the facade of colonial rule and shed light on the destructive limitations forced upon the Filipino people. The novel, though immediately banned by the Spanish rulers, was disseminated underground with other highly charged passages by Dr. Rizal and others.

In Manila, 1892, Rizal founded the independence movement, Luga Filipina. By 1898, an armed struggle for independence had begun, and government officials accused Dr. Rizal of leading the charge. Following the circus-like spectacle of an unjust trial, Rizal was found guilty. On the evening of December 30, 1896, Dr. Rizal was executed by firing squad in what is now known in Manila as Rizal Park. The night before his scheduled execution, he wrote `Mi Ultimo Adios,' a heartrending and poignant poem as a last offering to the country and people he so loved.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of the influential life of Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. Dr. Rizal rose from the quiet life of a village doctor to become a beloved and courageous national hero of the Philippines--a man whose words blazed a trail of freedom throughout the Philippines. I also want to honor and recognize the leaders and members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Cleveland Chapter, for keeping the significant spirit of Dr. Jose Rizal alive for each new generation to know and understand. The life of Dr. Jose Rizal reflects an innate quest for freedom for all people, and highlights the ideology that despite the seemingly endless struggle, justice and liberty will rise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of United States Marine Sergeant Dan Priestly of Parma, Ohio, as we unite as a community to offer him our deepest gratitude for his dedicated service, and extend to him a warm welcome home.

Sergeant Priestly bravely and selflessly heeded the call to duty in Iraq, where he endured immense personal sacrifice on behalf of our country. On May 7, 2005, he was severely wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. Sergeant Priestly sustained major injuries to both legs, and has undergone weeks of intensive medical treatment and physical therapy.

As he journeys forward in his medical recovery, Sergeant Priestly consistently displays an unwavering resolve to heal--a determination energized and strengthened by the love of his family and friends. Sergeant Priestly lives his life with great joy and a deep sense of giving. His courageous spirit has bolstered his well-being and continues to be a source of inspiration for all.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of United States Marine Sergeant Dan Priestly, and join me in offering him a warm welcome home. Sergeant Priestly's steadfast courage, immense sacrifice, and dedicated service to our country will be remembered always by our community and our Nation. I wish Sergeant Dan Priestly, his wife Lisa Priestly and their children Garrett and Tyler, an abundance of health, happiness and peace, today and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, depending on whom you listen to, the insurgents in Iraq are either in their last throes or they are growing in size and strength. But both the administration and critics seem to agree that the U.S. military will be deployed to Iraq for a long time to come. It is our quagmire.

Every day our forces wake up in Iraq, more die and are wounded, and more families on the home front are strained and suffer losses. At some terrible point in the future, the Nation's leaders will say, Enough is enough. Whether the number of casualties at that point will be 5,000 or 10,000 or 50,000, I do not know. Whether the cost at that point will be $250 billion, $350 billion, or $500 billion, I do not know. At some point, the terrible arithmetic of the war will add up to overwhelm everybody.

But this war can end another way. It can end if enough Members of Congress consider and cosponsor House Joint Resolution 55, a bipartisan bill introduced last week to require the President to initiate troop withdrawal no later than October 1, 2006. Thank the troops, and bring them home.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) very much and thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) as well, and just to say briefly that this budget neutral amendment will improve the health of veterans past, present and future, by funding research on Gulf War Illnesses.

I am proud to do so with my colleagues, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders). I want to thank both of the cosponsors for their commitment to veterans health.

Mr. Chairman, I would include for the Record my entire statement, along with statements of support from veterans groups.

Mr. Chairman, this budget-neutral amendment will improve the health of veterans past, present and future by funding research on Gulf War illnesses. I am proud to do so with my colleagues, Mr. Shays, and Mr. Sanders. I thank both of the cosponsors for their commitment to veterans' health.

I would also like to point out that this amendment is endorsed by the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Gulf War Resource Center, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Chairman, fourteen years after the 1990-1991 Gulf War, between 26 and 32 percent of those who served in that war continue to suffer from serious and persistent health problems--typically multiple symptoms that include severe headaches, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, severe gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, skin disorders and other problems. These conditions are often called ``Gulf War illnesses'' or Gulf War syndrome.

In the early years after the war, little was understood about this problem. In fact, many attributed the problems to stress or psychological trauma incurred on the battlefield. So in the late 1990's, Congress authorized a scientific research program and created a committee to advise the VA on how to prioritize that research. That committee, the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' illnesses, released their report last November. It had several landmark findings.

First, they determined that the existence of these serious and often debilitating problems could not be scientifically explained by stress or psychiatric illness.

Second, they noticed that we are starting to find that the veteran's are having problems with their neurological and immunological systems. For example, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, which is a rapidly progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease, occurs in Persian Gulf veterans with twice the frequency of peer veterans that were not deployed.

Third, they found that there are several possible causes of these diseases. A list of potential exposures demonstrates the complexity of what we are dealing with. A short list includes chemical weapons, biological weapons, drugs to protect from biological and chemical weapons, oil-well-fire smoke, pesticides, insect repellants, individual or multiple vaccines, and many, many more.

Fourth, the Committee found that this type of research is important not only for ill veterans, but for current military personnel and for homeland security. This research can prepare us to counter or treat chemical weapons exposures and tell us whether our existing countermeasures may do long term harm.

Finally, they found that there is still no effective treatment for those suffering from Gulf War illnesses.

The result of the collective findings of the VA report is this: Significant scientific progress has been made and more research is needed.

Our amendment earmarks $10 million out of the account called Army Research, Development, Test and Evaluation. The money would go to a research program administered by the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in the DoD, for identifying the biological mechanisms behind the illnesses--particularly the neurological and immunological ones; the chronic disease effects; better diagnostic criteria for the illnesses; and identification of treatments. The MRMC will design a research plan for that purpose, relying heavily on the expertise outside DoD and the VA. It will be subject to peer review by experts, a significant number of which will be independent of DoD.

$10 million will have a large impact on veterans who rely on the government to take care of them after they have taken care of us.

I urge my colleagues to support the Kucinich-Shays-Sanders amendment. Vote ``yes'' to restore research funding for Gulf War Illnesses.

I wish to insert letters of support from Veteran's groups into the Record.

The American Legion,

Washington, DC, June 13, 2005

Hon. Dennis J. Kucinich,

U.S. House of Representatives, Longworth House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Kucinich: On behalf of the 2.8 million

members of The American Legion, I would like to offer full

support of your proposed amendment to the Department of

Defense (DOD) Appropriations Act for FY 2006, specifically

designating $15 million for research on chronic illnesses

affecting thousands of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

More than fourteen years have passed since the end of the

first Gulf War and we have failed to identify effective

treatments for ill Gulf War veterans. Lack of solid research

identifying causes for these illnesses has also prevented a

large number of ill veterans from receiving the service-

related compensation they deserve.

Historically, DOD has provided over 75 percent of the

funding for Gulf war-related research. Just as there is a

real opportunity for breakthroughs, as highlighted in the

September 2004 report of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' illnesses,

your colleagues plan to eliminate funding for Gulf War

illness research. Clearly, DOD has more expertise in this

area and is able to fund the most promising researchers.

Without question, this research has major national security

implications against future threats to military forces and

civilians. Recently, your colleagues cut $9 million from

medical and prosthetics research in the Department of

Veterans Affairs' FY 2006 appropriations--another fiscal blow

to America's veterans.

Again, we appreciate your efforts on behalf of this

nation's ill Gulf War veterans. Your amendment acknowledges,

that while we are at war in the Middle East once again, there

are still thousands of ill veterans from the first Gulf War

waiting for answers, treatment, and cures--that must not be

forgotten or simply ignored.

Sincerely,

Steve Robertson,

Director,

National Legislative Commission.

Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, we are in title 8 right now; is that correct?

I had an amendment, Mr. Chairman, at the desk I believe under title 8. I just wanted to make sure that that will not be lost in this UC.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to make sure that there is the amendment at the desk regarding space-based weapons under title 8.

Mr. Chairman, I have just been informed by the Parliamentarian that if the UC goes through, I can still seek recognition, so I will withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment to the defense appropriations bill would make a policy statement regarding the preservation of peace in space. It would ban the research, testing, development, and deployment of space-based weapons. It would ban the targeting of objects in orbit in space, that is, satellites, by any weapon, whether land, sea, air or space-based and would call on the President to negotiate an international treaty banning space-based weapons.

The policy of preserving peace in space was first established by law in 1958 with the National Aeronautics and Space Act. Specifically, this law stated: ``It is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind.''

Yet despite any amendment to law or consideration by Congress, this policy has changed significantly behind closed doors. The Air Force is moving forward with a plan to weaponize space. At an Air Force conference last September, Air Force General Lance Lord, who leads the Air Force Space Command, said, ``Space superiority is not our birthright, but it is our destiny. Space superiority is our day-to-day mission. Space supremacy is our vision for the future.''

With little public debate, the Pentagon has already spent billions of dollars through appropriations bills such as this one to developing space weapons and preparing plans to deploy them. The Air Force has recently sought President Bush's approval of a national security directive that could move the United States closer to fielding offensive and defensive space weapons. This new policy would be opposed by our friends and our potential enemies.

Our largest possible adversaries, China and Russia, have agreed for a global ban on space weapons. Yet moving forward with plans to weaponize space would most certainly create an arms race in space, and it would certainly be counterproductive to the national security of the United States to give potential adversaries reason to accelerate development of space weapons technology.

Again, I ask this Congress to remember that in 1958 when the National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed, it stated that: ``It is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind.''

That was a good act in 1958, and it would be good for this Congress to preserve that policy, and that is the intention of this amendment.

At this point, understanding the rules, I will concede to the gentleman from Florida the point of order that he raised.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman. I will concede the point of order, and I thank the gentleman and the ranking member for this opportunity to make this statement regarding my concern about peaceful uses in space.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG), as volunteers from participating agencies gather on June 20 and June 21 for the 4th Annual Hate Crimes Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The mission of the HCWG has been constant since its creation in 1998--to provide programs of prevention and education regarding hate crimes; to build avenues of human rights and civil rights through community outreach, education and awareness programs; to create and strengthen bonds of communication, solutions and action between community leaders, elected officials, educators and law enforcement teams.

The HCWG is comprised of more than fifty organizations from Cleveland and Northern Ohio. The all-volunteer leadership and membership of HCWG reflects a rich palette of cultural diversity--a representation as diverse as the cultural fabric of Northern Ohio. The three-day conference serves to underscore the significant work of the individuals in our community who work with unwavering diligence to address and prevent hate crimes in our community--our police officers, teachers, social workers, business owners and leaders, community leaders and neighborhood volunteers.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, ``Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.''

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of every leader and member of the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their vigilant dedication to stand united against hate crimes serves as a light of possibility for the attainment of peace and civil justice within our homes, schools and along our streets. This conference offers the Cleveland community a critical forum to gauge our collective and ongoing efforts, and presents the promise of unwavering protection of civil and human rights for every one of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Dr. John Yankey, the Leonard W. Mayo Professor of Family and Child Welfare at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, upon his retirement. His dedication, articulation, and energy toward the education of his students, social and organizational research, and the advancement of social justice touch all who come in contact with him and his work.

Dr. Yankey is a nationally renowned researcher and scholar in multiple areas, including the public human services sector, development of strategic alliances and fundraising among nonprofit organizations, and the related field of strategic planning. During his past 32 years as a professor, he has directed local and national studies in these and other areas. Dr. Yankey was instrumental in founding the Mandel School's Center for Public Sector Leadership, Fundraising Academy, and the Mandel Center for Non-Profit Organizations.

Professor Yankey taught diverse groups of students and consistently received the highest levels of student feedback and appreciation as evidenced by multiple Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards. Though he primarily taught graduate social work students, he also worked with many public officials through the Ohio Executive Institute, an organization he helped to create and direct, as well as the leadership of many non-profit organizations.

Dr. Yankey has held several leadership and advisory positions with organizations such as the American Public Welfare Association and the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. He has authored numerous publications and several popular text books including Skills for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations, which has become an important text for social work and nonprofit education programs.

Prior to his service at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Yankey advanced through the West Virginia Department of Welfare from a part- time caseworker to the Assistant Commissioner for Welt Virginia's Child Welfare program. He has an undergraduate background in both secondary education and in the Baptist faith.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Dr. John Yankey for his immeasurable contribution to the public and private human services sectors, the body of academic research and insight which he formed, and his drive to and success in shaping future leaders and professionals in human service-related fields.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Bishop Richard R. Williams and Bishop Elaine Williams, as they are honored by their congregation for founding the Mt. Calvary III Deliverance Outreach Ministries International, Inc., a spiritual haven of assistance, support and services focused on the most vulnerable citizens of our Cleveland community.

Bishop Richard Williams and Bishop Elaine Williams, united in marriage for nearly twenty years, are also unified in their unwavering advocacy and service on behalf of at-risk children, and are united in their outreach work that includes offering educational programs and counseling services to youth and adults who are suffering from HIV and AIDS. Bishop Richard Williams has initiated and supported numerous HIV and AIDS prevention programs throughout our community. He is a certified instructor in the African-American HIV/Aids Program through the American Red Cross, and is state certified in Communicable Disease Management/First Aid.

His remarkable rise from the darkness of his own personal suffering, is an unending source of inspiration and strength for children and adults who are lost in a cycle of pain, struggle and uncertainty. The community outreach and ministry that exists at the heart of Mt. Calvary Ministries begins at home. Over the past eighteen years, Bishop Richard Williams and Bishop Elaine Williams have opened their hearts and homes as foster parents. The Williams' have welcomed the most vulnerable and at-risk children into their lives, from babies, to children, to high- risk teens, offering an abundance of love, guidance, security and hope, where none existed before.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Bishop Richard R. Williams and Bishop Elaine Williams, co-founders of the Mt. Calvary III Deliverance Outreach Ministries International, for nearly twenty years of compassionate service as teachers, mentors, foster parents and healers. Their unified commitment, kindness and caring for the children of our community has served to lift the spirits of countless individuals, and will forever reflect faith, hope and light throughout our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mrs. Mardelle Retzloff, upon the occasion of her retirement following forty-five years of outstanding service and ministry to others, in and out of the classroom.

Inspired by a true calling of spiritual and humanitarian duty, Mrs. Retzloff initiated her journey as an educator in 1954, when she began working at Jack and Jill Nursery School in her native city of Aurora, IL. In 1960, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Education. That same year, she accepted a position at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, where she taught English and history. She taught there, and within the Milwaukee Public School District, for nearly twenty years before moving to Cleveland.

In 1979, Mrs. Retzloff joined the staff at St. Paul Lutheran School in Westlake. Her devoted service at St. Paul's has enhanced the lives of two generations of children in her kindergarten classroom. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Retzloff, her husband, Richard, and her children, Barbara and John, have offered their strength and hope to the most vulnerable children of our community. As foster parents to thirty-six children, Mr. and Mrs. Retzloff have given these children a loving, stable home, offering light and hope where none existed before.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Mardelle Retzloff, for her years of dedicated service as teacher, mentor, foster parent and friend. Her commitment, kindness and caring for the children of our community has served to lift the spirits of countless individuals, and will forever reflect faith, hope and light throughout our entire community. I wish Mrs. Retzloff and her family an abundance of peace, health and happiness, today, and in all the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Polish Veterans Committee of Cleveland, Ohio, as they commemorate the 85th Anniversary of The Battle of the Vistula River.

The people and leaders of Poland, determined to protect their newly reacquired independence, were poised and committed to defend their borders from foreign invaders. The invasion of Poland was a key component in Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin's strategy of forcing the spread of communism throughout central and western Europe. On August 13, 1920, the Soviet Red Army descended just outside the Polish capital of Warsaw. The Battle of Warsaw had begun, and raged on for the next fifteen days. Polish forces, commanded by Jozef Pilsudski, counter- attacked from the south, forcing Russian troops to withdraw east.

This unexpected Polish victory, known as ``The Miracle at the Vistula'' severely crippled the Soviet army. Both Polish and Soviet forces sustained tens of thousands of casualties, and thousands more were injured or missing. The Polish triumph stunned political leaders around the world, as most expected the Red Army to secure a swift collapse of Warsaw, and a complete communist takeover of Poland.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in tribute of the Polish Veterans Committee, as they honor the sacrifice, courage and heart of Polish veterans who bravely defended their homeland during the Battle of the Vistula River, 85 years ago. The Miracle at the Vistula continues to serve as a striking reminder that humankind's fundamental quest for freedom and justice is far stronger than a formidable army. The Miracle at the Vistula reflects our modern day hope of liberty, peace and justice rising for all veterans and civilians, in Cleveland, Ohio, in Warsaw, Poland, and throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Jack Kashubeck, U.S. Veteran, internationally known author, poet, artist and lecturer, whose inspiring work rises beyond the borders of Cleveland, bridging our community with the great poets, writers and artists throughout the world.

His extensive body of work reflects a personal passage of exploration, a journey of experience, as he explores the cultures, history and people of distant lands. Mr. Kashubeck's introspective and poignant observations serve to highlight the human spirit, revealing the common elements of humanity that connect every one of us.

From Egypt, to South America, to Cleveland, Mr. Kashubeck's poetry and prose reflects upon the confining boundaries and soaring possibilities dually inherent within the human condition, offering us an introspective look back, and a hopeful vision rising on the horizon.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Jack Kashubeck, whose evolving life's work reflects the core of our existence--the tragedy and the triumph. The heart and soul of any society is held aloft by the artists who flourish within it, and the poetic works of Jack Kashubeck, words that pierce the darkness and carry critical social issues into the rational light of day, serve to elevate the Cleveland community, and far beyond.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress introduced H.J. Res. 55, which is a binding congressional resolution calling on President Bush to begin withdrawing the United States Armed Forces from Iraq on or before October 1, 2006.

This bipartisan binding resolution is entitled Homeward Bound, and it is about bringing our troops home. I would like to cite some provisions of the statement of policy which is in H.J. Res. 55. It says that it is the policy of the United States to announce, not later than December 31, 2005, a plan for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq.

And, second, it is our policy to turn over all military operations in Iraq to the elected Government of Iraq, and provide for the prompt and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq; and, finally, to initiate such a withdrawal as soon as possible, but not later than October 1, 2006.

Support H.J. Res. 55. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Kucinich amendment would add another requirement for U.N. reform, that the International Labor Organization must be strengthened and expanded; specifically, the social protection sector. It is not the intention of this amendment to limit the U.S. contribution to the U.N. The intention of my amendment is to make it the policy of the United States at the U.N. to place the highest priority on the improvement of international labor rights. Therefore, it is necessary that this amendment has the same certification requirement for the strengthening of the International Labor Organization as the other reform criteria have. Labor rights, which are the same as human rights, should not be treated with any less importance.

The ILO does an important job, and they do it well. My amendment would urge the U.S. representative to the U.N. to use the voice, vote and influence of the United States to encourage the International Labor Organization to do even more. I believe the most important work of the ILO is in the social protection sector, which is responsible for coming up with the tools, instruments and policies to ensure that men and women have working conditions that are as safe as possible, that respect human dignity, take into account family and social values, allow for adequate compensation in the case of lost or reduced income, permit access to adequate social and medical services, and respect the right to free time and rest. In a global economic context of sweatshops, child labor, exploitative labor practices and unfettered capitalism, the work of the ILO social protection sector is vastly important.

The social protection sector sends on-site inspectors to investigate labor conditions around the globe. The hard evidence gathered by these inspectors is published in highly regarded in-depth reports for consumption by policymakers, decisionmakers, journalists and various labor and human rights groups throughout the international community. These reports have served as a basis for labor rights campaigns. They have served as a basis for government reforms. They have served as a basis for campaigns against unfair trade agreements with exploitative labor provisions.

The following are examples of recent reports in paper published by the ILO: Global Report 2005, a global alliance against slave labor; an economic study of the costs and benefits of eliminating child labor; a report by the Director General, A Fair Globalization, the Role of the ILO; Towards a Fair Deal for Migrant Workers in a Global Economy; Eleventh Synthesis Report on the Working Condition Situation in Cambodia's Garment Sector.

The ILO is responsible for gathering evidence for and disseminating the following facts: that there are 48,000 children working in floriculture in Cayambe and Cotopaxi in Ecuador. Conditions in Cotopaxi are worse than in Cayambe. In Cotopaxi all employees are involved in all stages of production, including fumigation, and younger children fumigate most frequently. In medical exams of 105 children between the ages of 9 and 18, 27 percent had experienced migraines, 50 percent blackouts; 32 percent experienced shaking.

It is estimated that in Brazil as many as 25,000 persons are subjected to slave labor conditions, mostly in the Amazonian States of Para and Mato Grosso.

In a number of countries freer trade has replaced or undercut domestic industrial and agricultural industries displacing workers, while structural adjustment programs have restricted government spending to cushion unemployment.

Job creation in some countries under Structure Adjustment Programs has lagged behind the increased number of unemployed, and the net result of these job losses due to trade and structural change has been a large number of people without opportunities for decent work in their homelands.

It was estimated at the end of 1998 that some 1 billion workers, or one-third of the world's labor force, were either unemployed or underemployed.

It is essential that we know about preexisting labor and living conditions in different regions around the world as steps are taken towards a globalized economy. It is essential that the world learn about the negative consequences that accompany this economic model. The ILO is the foremost international

institution responsible for gathering information and making recommendations amid this context.

The only thing wrong with the ILO is that while its recommendations and conventions are important, they are not enforceable. Nevertheless, the ILO's work is significant, influential and does make a difference.

Mr. Chairman, we should be encouraging and expanding the important work of the ILO so that we will make better informed decisions and develop more sound policies to eradicate the worst labor abuses around the world. With the expansion of the social protection sector, more field and regional units would be established, which would allow more on-site inspections to occur and more reports to be published. A strengthened ILO would have a civilizing effect on corporate behavior.

Mr. Speaker, Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural said: ``We shall care for him who has borne the battle.'' Today, men and women who have served this country in the Gulf War are waiting for this Congress to respond affirmatively to their medical needs.

Congress took steps in the 1990s by authorizing a scientific research program that looked into Gulf War Syndrome, and that report from the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf Veterans Illness found out that the illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans, these often debilitating problems, could not be scientifically explained by stress or psychiatric illnesses; that veterans were having problems with their neurological and immunological systems, and they were having it with a frequency that was twice those of peer veterans not deployed.

They cited a list of possible exposures, which included chemical weapons, biological weapons, drugs to protect them from biological and chemical weapons, depleted uranium, oil well fire smoke, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and on and on and on.

Today, Congress will have before it a budget-neutral amendment that will give us a chance to do something about funding a program to help deal with the problems that Gulf War veterans are experiencing.