Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, the idea behind environmental justice is simple. People of color and people of limited means bear more than their fair share of environmental problems--like exposure to pollution--and are denied more than their fair share of environmental benefits--like access to natural areas or clean water.

It is also important to point out that if you were to look at both race and poverty to see which one would best predict locations of environmental contaminants in the air or water, you would find race to be the better predictor, according to studies dating back to 1987.

Here's another way to look at it: Many studies have found that middle-income people of color live near more contamination than low- income white people. Enforcement of environmental laws is also less prevalent and weaker in communities of color. Penalties for hazardous waste violations were found to be roughly 500 percent higher when those violations happened in mostly white communities than when they happened in communities of color.

In 1992, then President Bush created an Office of Environmental Justice in the EPA precisely to begin to deal with this problem. In 1994, President Clinton expanded the directive's scope and applicability, again, in recognition of the seriousness of the problem.

But now, the Executive Order and the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice are being ignored to death by the Administration. The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council is withering away. The EPA Inspector General in 2004 found that the EPA failed to comply with the Executive Order and changed their interpretation of the order to avoid an emphasis on people of color and low-income people. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found in 2002 that federal agencies did not incorporate environmental justice into their core missions as directed by the Executive Order. Congress must step in to restore these efforts and take them to the next level.

The Hastings amendment would do exactly that. Every community, every person deserves equal access to clean air, clean water, natural areas, and healthy food. I urge my colleagues to support the Hastings amendment.

Mr. Chairman, more than ever before, our wastewater treatment systems are failing. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants is contaminating our rivers with chemicals like Triclosan--a germ toxin added to countless consumer products; hormones such as the active ingredient in estrogen therapy; the insect repellant DEET; and an anti-epileptic drug (Environmental Science and Technology, 36 (6), 1202-1211, 2002 http://pubs.acs.org/cgibin/jtextd?esthag/36/6/html/ es011055j.html).

As these chemicals are released from treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and oceans, they are finding their way into the natural resources on which we heavily depend. New studies show that they are starting to show up in our drinking water (``Pollutants in New Jersey's Drinking Water,'' Environmental Science and Technology, December 8, 2004 (http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2004/dec/ science/pt_nj.html); ``Pharmaceutical Data Eludes Environmental Researchers,'' Environmental Science and Technology, March 16, 2005). A Baylor University study in Texas found a prescription drug in fish tissues (``Frogs, fish and pharmaceuticals a troubling brew'' November 14, 2003 (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/11/14coolsc.frogs.fish/ ).

At the same time that these new challenges are emerging, we are still trying to overcome the well-established wastewater contaminants from aging and broken sewer systems that continue to contaminate water with E. coli and other water borne diseases. By EPA's 2003 estimate, the need for sewer upgrades alone is so great and so widespread that the funding required to alleviate it is $181 billion (``Wastewater Treatment: Overview and Background,'' Congressional Research Service, February 7, 2005). In fact, the infrastructure is so old in many places that when it rains, wastewater treatment plants can't handle the increased volume. The result is that untreated or poorly treated sewage flows into our waters, causing our beaches to be closed in order to protect public health. Forty three percent of the communities dealing with this are on the Great Lakes, which holds 20% of the world's fresh water supply.

So what is the solution proposed by this Administration and Republican leadership in Congress? Reduce funding for wastewater infrastructure by $350 million. Ohio alone would lose $20 million in revenue and roughly 650 jobs from FY 05 if the proposed cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund come to pass.

While the need to upgrade our wastewater infrastructure to deal with emerging problems increases, the proposed cuts in this bill take us in the opposite direction. Lets improve our health and the environment, not make it

worse. I urge my colleagues to support the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Obey amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, for her many lifetime achievements as a Representative from Ohio's Ninth Congressional District.

Kaptur was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982. She struggled forcefully to gain a seat on the prestigious Appropriations Committee. As the senior Democratic woman on the Appropriations committee she has always been a fighter for Ohio's farmers--protecting one of the state's most important resources.

She is also the first Democratic woman to serve on the House Defense Appropriations Committee. Congresswoman Kaptur has had the opportunity to work on many committees while in Congress, including Budget; Banking Finance and Urban Affairs; and Veterans Affairs. Her array of experience on many different committees and subcommittees has allowed her to pursue her keen interests in economic growth, seniors issues, the environment and the economy.

Kaptur's accomplishments include introducing legislation for Washington, D.C.'s World War II Memorial. Although it was a 17-year process, her hard work finally paid off in the spring of 2004 with the opening of the new memorial. The World War II Memorial honors the more than 400,000 people who died in the war as well as the 16 million people who served in the armed forces. Kaptur's dedication to seeing this memorial built shows her commitment to all veterans. Because of her work on the memorial, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selected her as the first woman in history to receive the organization's Americanism Award.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to serve in the House of Representatives with Congresswoman Kaptur. She is an inspiration to the people of Northwest Ohio who are lucky to have her as their representative for more than 20 years. Please join with me today to honor the many achievements of my friend and colleague Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur--the longest serving Democratic woman currently in Congress--a woman with a dedicated mission to her constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Central Ohio Singers' 36th Song Festival, to be held this year at the World View Community Church, and later at the German Central Foundation in Olmsted Township, Ohio.

Since 1803, when Ohio was officially instated into the union, groups of German singers have journeyed throughout the State, offering melodies that connect the new world with the old, and preserving culture and history of their German homeland along the way.

Organizations such as the World View Community Church and the Donauschwaben German American Cultural Center serve a vital role in promoting and preserving German traditions for each new American generation.

Americans of German heritage have been, and continue to be, a vital component of the diverse cultural fabric that adorns the entire State of Ohio. Places like the German American Cultural Center are havens of memories and tangible bridges extending to every corner of the world, and are also places of real support and services for newly settled immigrants.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and tribute of every member of the Central Ohio Singers Association, past and present. These talented and dedicated singers have culled a legacy of cultural and historical preservation through melody and song, warmly reflecting their German heritage. This music of the heart adds color and depth to the American landscape, and serves to uplift our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Milton Wolf, a friend and a great leader in the Greater Cleveland community and around the world. Ambassador Wolf led a multifaceted life that included time as a soldier, meteorologist, educator, real estate developer, fund-raiser, philanthropist, humanitarian, peacemaker, and family man. He grew up in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, the son of Cleveland policeman Sam Wolf and his wife Sylvia. His father worked for a time as a vice detective under Eliot Ness, then the Cleveland safety director.

The outbreak of World War II coincided with Milton's graduation from Glenville High School. Young Milton enlisted right away into the Army Air Corps where he served as a meteorologist. Upon his return from the war, he resumed his studies, ultimately earning his doctorate in economics from Case Western Reserve University. His early career focused on real estate development, but he also became interested in politics and raised money for political campaigns, including Jimmy Carter's successful presidential race in 1976. In 1977, President Carter appointed him as ambassador to Austria, a post he kept until 1980. During his service there, he received Austria's Great Gold Medal of Honor with Sash for ``most distinguished and successful contribution toward the enrichment of Austro-American relations.'' Ambassador Wolf played a key role in arranging details of the meeting in Vienna between President Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, for the signing of the Salt II Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. Ambassador Wolf was decorated in 1997 with the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art First Class in recognition of his scholarly work in economics, his strong ties to the diplomatic community and his philanthropic activities.

Ambassador Wolf was strongly committed to local and international institutions. He recently made major endowments to Cleveland Clinic's heart center and to a faculty chair at Cleveland State University. He served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University where he oversaw the university's $500 million investment program in the early 1990s. He served on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Ambassador Wolf also served as chairman of the Council of American Ambassadors, governor of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, and member of the board of directors of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. He served as president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, overseeing $70 million in assistance for needy Jews and others in more than 50 countries. In 1994, the committee honored him with its Raoul Wallenberg International Humanitarian Award.

Ambassador Milton A. Wolf will be greatly missed in Greater Cleveland and around the world. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Roslyn. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring and remembering Ambassador Wolf. Please also join me as I offer my deep condolences to his son, Leslie, his daughters Caryn, Nancy, and Sherri, his brother Sanford, his five grandchildren, and his extended family and many friends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Congressman Sherrod Brown, for his distinctive service to the people of Ohio's Thirteenth Congressional District.

Having served in the House for 13 years, Brown has continually been an advocate for laborers and manufacturers. He has battled for America's working families by protecting overtime pay, advocating for an increase in the minimum wage, and extending long-term unemployment benefits.

Brown has constantly been a leader in fighting against trade agreements. We have worked together in opposing the Central America Free Trade Agreement. He has shown dedication in opposing this legislation and has made his stance very clear until provisions are added to protect workers, the economy, and the environment. He is persistent on protecting the rights of all workers, not just in northeast Ohio.

Beyond his outstanding service to his constituents, Brown has formed solid bonds with community leaders and agencies in his district. It is easy to see why Brown is so popular in Northeast Ohio. He has hosted press conferences covering a range of issues--from prescription drugs and the healthcare bill of rights to unemployment compensation extension. In 2002 my colleague received the Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year award from the American Public Health Association, the Nation's largest public health organization.

Brown's commitment to his constituents is evident in everything he does. He travels to Ohio every weekend to host town hall meetings on social security, attend community events and speak with both college and high school students. He also donated all the proceeds of his latest book, ``Myths of Free Trade,'' to RESULTS and Cleveland Jobs with Justice, two organizations committed to social and economic justice.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of one of Ohio's hardest working and most dedicated Congressmen. His exceptional work on behalf of the people of Northeast Ohio should be an inspiration for all of us. His integrity and expertise has helped him to be a successful Congressman for Ohio's 13th District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mayor Norman Musial, upon his retirement as Mayor of the City of North Olmsted. His years of leadership and public service, first as council member and then mayor, are framed by integrity, vision and concern for every resident within this community.

Born in Toledo into a blue collar family, Mayor Musial cultivated a deep appreciation for family, community and hard work. Reflecting personal values of integrity and public service, Mayor Musial's commitment to the betterment of his community reflects across all levels of government within the City of North Olmsted. As a longtime resident and civic leader in North Olmsted, Mayor Musial has successfully led the effort to improve, uplift, and renew all facets of the community, including vital areas of safety, residential services, recreation, streets and sidewalks, transportation, and senior citizen programs.

Mayor Musial worked his way through the University of Toledo, and graduated with a degree in engineering in 1954. He transferred from NACA to NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, in 1955. While working at NASA, Mayor Musial attended Cleveland-Marshall Law School and graduated with a law degree. Equipped with an innovative mind and energetic spirit, Mayor Musial worked in the NASA Patent Office, and soon became the Chief Patent Counsel. He became an inventor himself, and holds a patent on the Heat Flux Measuring Device.

Beyond his roles as public servant and beyond a profession that extended from the sciences to law, Mayor Musial continues to hold his family and community closest to his heart. In 1953, he married his wife, Patricia. Together they raised four children: Mark, Jon, Lisa and Todd. Besides inventor, lawyer and elected official, Mayor Musial can list Boy Scout Leader, Indian Guide Leader and Webelos Leader as titles of supreme importance, reflecting the caring and dedication he has for his family.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering my good friend, Mayor Norman Musial, our appreciation and admiration on his significant accomplishments within the City of North Olmsted. Moreover, his kind nature and compassion for others has allowed the true spirit of community to flourish within the city limits and beyond its borders. I wish Mayor Musial, his wife Patricia and their children and grandchildren, blessing of peace, strength and happiness, today and throughout the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Air Traffic Manager, Gary M. Klingler, upon the occasion of his retirement after nearly forty years of outstanding federal service with the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center.

In 1970, Mr. Klingler began his career as an air traffic controller at the Youngstown, Ohio Control Tower. He also served as a Navy flight instructor at the Advanced Jet Training Command. Mr. Klingler's federal service is framed by expertise, integrity and unwavering focus on safety, and has improved standards and procedures in all areas of flight operations in many Airport Control Towers throughout our country, including Flint, Michigan; Jackson, Michigan; Springfield, Ohio; Washington, DC and here in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Klingler is the recipient of numerous commendations and awards from the FAA, including the ``Manager of the Year'' award, ``Above and Beyond'' award, and the ``Wings of Excellence'' award. His efforts in enhancing the overall safety at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport were recognized by the White House with a ``Hammer Award.'' Beyond his professional excellence, Mr. Klingler is an exemplary role model, citizen and friend. His many years of community involvement has enhanced the foundations of our Cleveland community, as well as the communities of Detroit and Saline, Michigan. He has served on many civic boards and organizations, including the Far West Detroit Civic Association and the Cleveland Federal Executive Board, and continues to lend his assistance to others in need.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering my friend, Gary M. Klingler, our appreciation and admiration on his significant service and accomplishments with the FAA--an exemplary career that spans nearly forty years. His vision, expertise and focus on air safety has served to enhance the security in our travels across the skies above Cleveland, Ohio, and across the country. Additionally, his concern for the people of his community continues to have a positive impact within many levels of our society. I wish Mr. Klingler and his entire family many blessings of peace, health and happiness, today and throughout the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Howard W. Broadbent, dedicated family man, friend and mentor to many, talented attorney and United States veteran.

Mr. Broadbent was born in Cleveland and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. His studies at Ohio State University were interrupted for the call to duty during WWII, where he served as a Lieutenant and Amphibious Boat Officer in the United States Navy. After the war, he completed his studies at OSU, and ultimately earned a law degree with honors from Case Western Reserve University Law School.

Mr. Broadbent began working at the law firm of James M. and John J. Carney, and specialized in zoning and real estate. He eventually formed the Carney & Broadbent Law Firm, specializing again in real estate and corporate matters. As an expert regarding zoning issues, Mr. Broadbent was consistently sought out for his advice and opinion by mayors, council representatives and planning and zoning board members from across the county. He also served as law director for Middleburg Heights, and served as substitute judge for the Rocky River Municipal Court. Additionally, Mr. Broadbent served on the Board of the Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Howard W. Broadbent. He was married for fifty-five years to his beloved wife, Dorothy, who passed away in 2003. His friendship, commitment to his family, and his dedicated service to our country will be remembered always. I offer my condolences to his daughters, Diane and Kitty, and son Jack; his grandson, Douglas; his brother, John, and his many extended family members and friends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Emerson Batdorff, a friend and colleague from my early career in journalism at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ``Bat'' was a reporter, columnist, and entertainment editor who started the Plain Dealer's Friday magazine.

Fellow Plain Dealer reporter Bill Hickey called him ``the ultimate newspaperman. `` And he was right. Batdorff, who was inducted into the Cleveland Hall of Fame Press Club, covered police, courts, and other city beats before becoming a fixture in the features department. Bat started his career in journalism before serving in World War II. After the war, he started with the Plain Dealer's Akron bureau in 1946 before transferring to the Cleveland newsroom in the 1950s.

Computers came easily to him. He was known for waving a red flag to alert editors and reporters when the system was about to crash so that they could save their work. When he became entertainment editor, he had a lot of young writers working for him. He always made the effort to point out their mistakes in a friendly and constructive way. Bat retired from the Plain Dealer in 1984.

Emerson Batdorff served in the Army in World War II where he was a platoon leader with the Third Infantry Division, a liaison officer in the 30th Infantry Regiment, and historian with the XV Corps Headquarters in Europe. He received the Bronze Star Medal for valor and a Purple Heart. Bat remained in the Army Reserve and was recalled for duty as a military historian during the Korean War.

In 1977, while in his late 50s, a would-be robber mistook Bat for an easy mark one late night after work. But Bat, who held a black belt in karate, scared off the attacker with a few deftly executed self defense moves.

Bat was a past president of the local chapter of the Newspaper Guild. He was also a past president of the Mensa Cleveland chapter.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering condolence to Bat's wife Judith, his son Lee, his daughter Ilo, his brother, and his grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, on May 12, 2005, I made the following statement during a hearing in the House Committee on Government Reform on ``Securing Our Borders: What We Have Learned from Government Initiatives and Citizen Patrols'':

Good afternoon. Thank you, Chairman Davis, for holding this

important hearing and thank you to the witnesses. We can all

agree on the tremendous importance of securing our border.

But frankly, I am not confident in how our government has

been handling border security one bit. I have two concrete

examples of deficiencies on the part of U.S. Customs and

Border Protection that my office has been investigating that

I'd like to highlight--that I think are representative of a

much greater problem.

The first case involves how U.S. Customs has handled an

investigation into slave labor allegations regarding a

product that we import into the U.S.--as you know, importing

products made with slave labor has been illegal since 1930.

Allegations of slave labor used in the production of pig

iron, in the Para state of Brazil, came out in the summer of

2004. As the United States reportedly imports 92 percent of

the pig iron produced in Brazil, most of which is produced in

Para, it is highly probable that this importation violates

section 1307 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, which states,

``All goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined,

produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign

country by convict labor or/land forced labor or land

indentured labor under penal sanctions shall not be entitled

to entry at any of the ports of the United States, and the

importation thereof is hereby prohibited.''

I sent a letter to U.S. Customs to ascertain what actions

had been taken in response to this violation of law. After

six months, I finally got a response, which said that Customs

had opened a file on the case in July 2004, and had

referred it to the FBI Attache Brasilia for further

investigation. The rest of the letter explained how

logistical difficulties had prevented even a single

investigator from visiting Para for a site visit. One

excuse: ``The Amazon Basin in Brazil is in a remote area

where the majority of the roads to this area are only

accessible via 4-wheel drive vehicles.'' The Trans-Amazon

highway, an important route for the economic development

in that area, runs right through Para. It can carry the

pig iron out of Para, but can't take our investigators

into Para. And frankly I would be surprised if none of our

FBI investigators in Brazil had access to a 4-wheel drive

vehicle.

The inaction of the investigators in this case is highly

unsatisfactory, and I am deeply disturbed by the broader

implications of such inadequacies. U.S. Customs and Border

Patrol, along with FBI Attache offices, are responsible not

only for investigating violations of tariff law, but they are

also responsible for keeping terrorists out of our country. I

believe the inefficiencies highlighted in this case reflect

the greater threat to the national security interests of the

United States. Furthermore, I am disturbed to think of the

possibility that trade motivations are hidden behind the

inadequate investigation in this case. I can assure you that

all the American miners forced to compete with slave labor

would also be disturbed by that possibility.

The second case involves the presence of an international

terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles, in the United States, and

his recent application for asylum. Posada, a CIA- trained

Cuban exile, was responsible for organizing the bombing of a

Cuban civilian airliner flying from Bermuda to Venezuela. The

bombing killed all 73 people on the plane on October 6, 1976.

In addition to the civilian airline bombing, Posada

was implicated in the 1976 Washington, DC assassination of

former Chilean government minister Orlando Letelier.

Letelier, a prominent opponent of the Pinochet

dictatorship, was killed along with the American Ronni

Moffit in a car bombing, which was at the time, one of the

worst acts of foreign terrorism on American soil. Carter

Cornick, a retired counterterrorism specialist for the FBI

who worked on the Letelier case, said in an interview that

both bombings were planned at a June 1976 meeting in Santo

Domingo attended by Posada in addition to others. Mr.

Cornick said that Posada was involved ``up to his

eyeballs'' in planning the attack. A newly declassified

1976 F.B.I. document has confirmed this. Furthermore, at

the time of the bombings, Venezuelan police found maps and

other evidence in Posada's Venezuelan home that tied him

to the terrorist killings.

Posada was imprisoned in Venezuela, but escaped while

waiting for an appeal in 1985. In 1998, he admitted to the

New York Times that he was responsible for organizing a

number of bombings in tourist locations in Cuba, including

hotels, department stores and other civilian targets during

the summer of 1997. The bombings killed an Italian tourist

and injured 11 other people. In November 2000, Posada was

arrested in Panama for preparing a bomb explosion in the

University of Panama's Conference Hall where Fidel Castro was

going to speak. Hundreds of people were expected to attend

the event there, and had intelligence not uncovered the plot

beforehand there would have been massive civilian casualties.

Our nation's policy against terrorism is unequivocally

clear. President Bush defined this policy when he said on

September 19, 2001, ``anybody who harbors a terrorist,

encourages terrorism, will be held accountable. I would

strongly urge any nation in the world to reject terrorism,

expel terrorists.'' The National Security Strategy, released

in 2002, further defined this policy with, ``no cause

justifies terror. The United States will make no

concessions to terrorist demands and strike no deals with

them. We make no distinction between terrorists and those

who knowingly harbor or provide aid to them.'' Back in

1989; when the Justice Department was considering the

deportation of Orlando Bosch, one of Posada's associates,

Joe D. Whitley, then-Associate U.S. Attorney General said,

``The United States cannot tolerate the inherent

inhumanity of terrorism as a way of settling disputes.

Appeasement of those who would use force will only breed

more terrorists. We must look on terrorism as a universal

evil, even if it is directed toward those with whom we

have no political sympathy.'' Mr. Whitley, now General

Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security has

declined to comment on the Posada case.

Posada supposedly crossed the U.S. border six weeks ago,

and is presently here. His Miami lawyer, Eduardo Soto,

confirmed at a news conference last month that he had arrived

clandestinely into the United States. Orlando Bosch said in a

recent interview broadcast in Miami that he had spoken by

telephone with Posada, who, ``as everybody knows, is here.''

Yet the U.S. government has not even acknowledged it. Roger

F. Noriega, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere

Affairs in the State Department said he did not even know

whether Posada was in the country. State Department spokesman

Tom Casey said in a recent press conference, ``In terms of

where he presently is, I think it's fair to say we don't

know.''

The U.S. government has not sent teams of investigators

into South Florida to find Posada--or if they have, the

investigators haven't done a very good job of finding him. No

bounties have been offered to recover Posada. U.S. Customs

and Border Patrol is responsible for securing our border, and

preventing terrorists from crossing it, yet a known

international terrorist--who committed an act of terrorism on

U.S. soil that killed an American citizen--crossed it, and

the U.S. government hasn't done a thing. It just isn't a

political priority.

I hope this hearing and the series of hearings on border

security that this Committee intends to hold will shed some

light not only on the two cases I described, but on the

larger problem that those cases represent: major deficiencies

on the part of the U.S. government to investigate Customs and

Border violations, when it frankly isn't in the political

interest of the United States. That is unacceptable. We

cannot pick and choose when to apply our laws and our

policies; they must be applied in universal situations. And

when they aren't, it compromises our national security. Thank

you.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, I, as the Ranking Minority Member for the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations made the following statement during a hearing on ``Fostering Democracy in the Middle East: Defeating Terrorism With Ballots'':

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and good morning to the

distinguished witnesses that are here today for this

important hearing. We have much to learn from the experts who

are here with us, and we must listen and use this knowledge

to correct the disastrous foreign policy road that this

Administration has embarked upon--a policy which has already

taken the lives of over 1,600 U.S. soldiers and wounded

thousands more. Congress can help save many more lives by

changing these failed policies immediately. As the journalist

Thomas Friedman wrote recently, ``you can't build a decent

society on the graves of suicide bombers and their victims.''

Our policy is greatly misguided and also misrepresented.

During the President's 2005 State of the Union address there

were Iraqis in the audience who held up ink-stained thumbs in

a symbol intending to convey that democracy had reached

finally reached Iraq--thanks to the U.S. Their hope was to

send the message that even though WMDs were never found, the

victory of bringing democracy to Iraq was worth the cost in

blood and treasure.

But before we congratulate ourselves, I must admit that I

am skeptical of the Administration's policy of promoting

democracy. The United States does not have a history of

bringing democracy to nations out of pure altruism. Rather

there is usually something we have to gain by overthrowing a

nation and the promotion of democracy is the excuse we use to

do it. Or in the case of Iraq, it was our fall-back excuse.

The war to eradicate WMDs quickly transformed into the war to

bring democracy to Iraqis--once the world discovered that

WMDs did not in fact exist in Iraq.

Perhaps the greatest argument against this vision of pure

altruism is that when it is in our interest to leave

undemocratic governments alone, we do.

Examples of this argument are the Central Asian states of

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and

Uzbekistan. These countries have well-known horrendous human

rights records and have serious impediments to democracy.

According to the State Departments 2004 Report on Human

Rights Practices,

``Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with limited civil

rights. . . . the December 26 elections fell significantly

short of international standards for democratic elections . .

. the executive branch heavily influenced the courts and did

not ensure due process . . . Government's human rights record

remained very poor . . . police and National Security Service

forces tortured, beat, and harassed persons . . . the

Government restricted freedom of religion and movement . . .

the Government severely restricted fundamental worker

rights.''

These conditions are more or less present throughout the

other Central Asian states. Yet the U.S. has not taken firm

steps to encourage reforms. There have been provisions

to condition aid based on progress in democratization and

respect for human rights, however when the State Department

decided to cut aid to Uzbekistan {or failure to meet these

conditions (equal to $18 million), the Chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff announced that Uzbekistan would receive an

increase of $21 million in military aid. Furthermore, the aid

condition in Kazakhstan is allowed a presidential waiver.

This ``soft-line'' approach is probably in large part to

the strategic location of these states. The Central Asian

states offered overflight and other support when the U.S.

went into Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

have hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases.

In 2003, Uzbekistan endorsed coalition military action in

Iraq and Kazakhstan provided about two-dozen troops for

rebuilding.

Our policy is convenient, not consistent. We talk about

building democracy in the Middle East out of one side of our

mouth, while we keep authoritarian regimes in power on the

other side.

The world is watching closely what the U.S. does in Iraq,

and we are hopeful that a legitimate democracy will flourish

there and throughout the region. I am hopeful other Arab

nations will eventually hold elections. But it must be on

their timetable, not ours.

Our presence in Iraq is only slowing any hope for genuine

democratization. Violence against Iraqis is only increasing

as time goes by. The country is becoming even more

destabilized. But this Administration has not yet presented

an exit strategy or any kind of timetable of bringing our

troops home. Instead, we are pouring billions of dollars into

the probable construction of long-term military facilities in

Iraq so that we can have a permanent presence there, as well

as in the surrounding countries, none of which could be

called democratic.

So, Mr. Chairman, I hope that this hearing will go beyond

self-congratulation and beyond merely illuminating the desire

for democracy by people in the Middle East. Rather I hope

that this hearing will illuminate how our missteps are

hindering democracy, so that we can correct a failed policy.

Mr. Speaker, on April 29, 2002, Rep. Raul Grijalva and I sent the following letter to Salvadoran Ambassador to the United States, Rene Antonio Leon Rodriguez regarding police brutality against Salvadoran government officials:

Dear Ambassador Leon: It has just been brought to our

attention that Salvadoran diputados Dr. Salvador Arias and

Zoila Quijada were victims of police brutality yesterday

while defending protesters of the Social Security Doctors

Union (SIMETRISSS).

The protesters were members of the doctors union who were

upset about the unjust decision to deport Dr. Pedro Bachon

Rodriguez, an Ecuadorian doctor and adviser to the doctors

union who has been a legal resident of El Salvador for the

past 8 years.

Diputado Arias and Quijada stepped in to mediate between the

doctors union and the police an to defend the protesters, and

the police responded by beating them too. They identified

themselves to the police as members of the Legislative

Assembly, but the police continued to beat them. Fortunately

their bodyguards stepped in to protect them before the were

terribly injured.

We disapprove of in the strongest terms the use of police

violence against the government officials. This

unconscionable violation of human rights and democracy

threatens the 1992 Peace Accords and could lead to grave

consequences. Furthermore, we strongly disapprove of the

police violence against protesters. This violence has been

increasing recently with anti-CAFTA protests in El Salvador.

The Salvadoran Interior Minister endorsed the police violence

against protesters that occurred on April 14 and wrongfully

called the protesters ``terrorists.''

This is not acceptable. This will not go unnoticed by the

United States and by international human rights movements. Be

assured that, we will pursue an investigation into this

matter to the fullest.

On May 3, 2005, Ambassador Leon sent the following reply:

Dear Representative Kucinich: We acknowledge receipt of

your letter dated April 29, 2005 in which you express your

concern on the apparent use of police force against two

congresspeople of the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly, Dr.

Salvador Arias and Dr. Zoila Quijada, while seemingly

defending members of the Social Security Doctors Union

(SIMETRISSS).

To that respect, we have proceeded to send your letter to

the pertinent authorities in El Salvador who are already

aware of your preoccupation and will soon deliver you their

response.

Please accept Mr. Representative Kucinich the assurances of

our consideration and esteem.

Mr. Speaker, on May 17, 2005, during a Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on High School Reform I gave the following statement:

I am pleased we will today hear from the Governors of

Massachusetts and Iowa on what measures they have found

useful in reforming high schools in their own states. I am

especially pleased that Governor Vilsack has highlighted the

importance of vocational education and its role in high

schools. High school reform is an important piece of the

puzzle ensuring that our nation's young adults are able to

succeed in their chosen career path. The goal of high schools

should be to prepare students for the next step in their

lives, whether that be continuing on to college or beginning

a vocational training program.

First, we must work to ensure that students graduate from

high school. Recent statistics reported by the Harvard Civil

Rights Project show that only 68 percent of students who

entered the 9th grade graduated in the 12th grade. Minority

students were even less likely to graduate. In today's

economy, a high school diploma has increasingly become a

minimum requirement for workers. We must address issues that

keep students from graduating and get diplomas in their

hands.

Students, regardless of background, should also know the

options they have after graduation. The knowledge of training

programs, entry requirements for universities, and financial

aid options is invaluable for both students and their

parents. Course work must effectively engage and challenge

students, continuing their academic growth and building upon

their foundation of skills. Students of all levels should

make progress in their studies.

Our nation is diverse and so are the students in our high

schools. There is no ``one size fits all'' for high schools

or the students in them. Reforms for high schools should both

recognize and employ that fact and aim to ensure that all

students graduate from high school and are prepared for the

next step in lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Beth Israel--The West Temple, in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. Beth Israel was organized in April 1954 by Abe Silverstein, an early director of the NASA Lewis Research Center and 25 founding families, to provide a religious center for Reform Jews living on Cleveland's west side. The congregation's first service, Rosh Hashanah, was on September 27, 1954, at the First Universalist Church in North Olmsted. For the next three years, services were held at either the Universalist Church or the North Olmsted Community Club House. Following the merger with the West Side Jewish Center in October 1957, Beth Israel occupied the Center's newly completed building at 14308 Triskett Road in Ohio's 10th Congressional District. The building was dedicated on May 11, 1958. The congregation continues to worship there today.

For its first seven years, Beth Israel was served by a succession of six student rabbis from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Among them was Daniel Litt who became Beth Israel's first full-time rabbi, serving from 1961 to 1965. The year 1965 also brought the construction of a new eight-room, two-story wing and the first of two Cleveland Foundation library grants. The library and its volunteer staff have provided services for the congregation as well as colleges, schools, and churches throughout western Cuyahoga County. By 1995, the library contained more than 6,000 volumes and audio-visual materials.

Beth Israel draws its members from Cleveland's west side and western suburbs in Ohio's 10th Congressional District. It prides itself on its commitment to education and social action. Its school, staffed by volunteers, covers preschool through grade 12 and has more than 100 students enrolled. Among its alumni is Sally Priesand, who went on to become the first woman ordained to the rabbinate in the United States and to serve as Beth Israel's rabbi. As an outgrowth of the temple Social Action Committee, Beth Israel's members found the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism. Council founder Lou Rosenberg became a leader in the national movement to assist Soviet Jewry. Beth Israel's current rabbi, Alan Lettofsky, remains active in local affairs and has spoken out at interfaith rallies to save local hospitals and on other issues of concern to the people of Ohio's 10th District.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Beth Israel--The West Temple for its 50 years of service to, and a center of worship and community for, my Jewish constituents on Cleveland's west side and western suburbs. Please join me in marking this auspicious occasion.