Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. Chairman, some of us were late coming to the floor. I would like an explanation of the division of the time on this debate.

Mr. Chairman, what is the time remaining on this side of the aisle at this point?

He has 10\1/2\ minutes because time was yielded to him.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I would say on behalf of this Congress that we did pass an energy bill. We did pass a prescription drug bill. We did pass a bill to expedite refinery building in this country. We did pass an outer continental shelf exploration bill. And we would have had this bill on the floor 2, 3, 4 years ago if the Ag Committee had been willing to cooperate with us.

But to talk about this business of horse slaughter, I think the American people have every right to know what this business is really all about. It is a secretive, illicit and grossly inhumane business. Now, you listen to the members of the Ag Committee and the Department of Agriculture, and they talk about the transportation of these animals as regulated and that there is no ill will coming to these animals.

I have a picture here of a horse that was transported from Mississippi to Texas to Beltex on August 10, 2006. Now, if you look, I will show you that picture, and then I want to show you this picture. Now, the reason this happened is because a killer buyer by the name of Robbie Solomon from Belmont, Mississippi, put 17 stallions in one trailer.

Now, Mr. Salazar was here talking about his knowledge of horses, and I am sure he is quite knowledgeable, but anyone knows that you do not put stallions together. And the only way they were able to keep them from fighting was to beat these animals. This is going on all across the country because the USDA is not enforcing the transportation regulations.

And so when we talk about slaughter, we are not talking about the actual slaughter of the horse per se; we are talking about the horse theft involved. We are talking about the killer buyers getting animals any way they can get them. We are talking about them putting them in trailers like this and transporting horses.

I find it so interesting that the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the leadership, and the leadership of the American Quarter Horse Association talk about their concern for these horses. They are looking out for their welfare, yet they see nothing wrong with the method of transport, the double-deck trailers being used, where horses full grown cannot even stand up straight on the upper deck.

Just think, stallions put together. You never do that. And that is precisely what Mr. Robbie Solomon of Belmont, Mississippi, did. So I did want to point out exactly what is going on in this transportation of these animals to slaughter, and this is not something that is uncommon.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Madam Chairman, I would like to address one issue that the distinguished gentleman from Michigan raised, and we all have great admiration and respect for the gentleman from Michigan. He raised the question about how are we going to take care of all these horses that are not slaughtered when they die and the impact of those animals on the environment.

I would remind the body that there are 133 million cows in America today. Every year many of them die out in the fields. Some of them are picked up by renderers and processed, but many of them are drug to the back 40 where they are decomposed, eaten by scavengers and whatever. The same thing would happen to horses that die out in the fields.

In my State of Kentucky, only about 40 percent of the animals that die in the fields are picked up by renderers. This bill would not affect what happens to natural death to animals in the field in any way whatsoever.

I would remind the body that only 1 percent of the entire horse population in America, which is about 9 million, is being slaughtered. Less than that. I also would like to reiterate, once again, we have heard so much about unwanted horses. I would say to you, many of these horses being slaughtered are not unwanted, there is not anything wrong with them. Many of them are stolen and obtained by misrepresentation. So to leave the impression that every horse slaughtered is old, decrepit, unwanted, is certainly not what the facts show.

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

Madam Chairman, I want to address this unwanted horse issue again. Everyone keeps talking about slaughter as the answer to unwanted horses. Has anyone ever thought about the responsibility of the breeders that are breeding these horses?

The one horse industry association that most advocates horse slaughter is the American Quarter Horse Association. That is because they are the most prolific breeders in the country. They are registering 144,000 foals a year, compared to 32,000 thoroughbreds, 12,000 standardbreds.

Has anyone ever asked the question, what is the responsibility of the breeder? And for them to have the audacity to come to the Congress and say you have to pay us if you pass this bill to take care of all these horses that we are breeding every year.

Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Walter Jones.

A parliamentary inquiry. Could you explain the remaining time that is available.

Who has the right to close?

At this time I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Madam Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I would say this: The State of Texas tried to close these slaughter houses down for many years. Officials there did. A lawsuit was filed by the slaughter houses. Remember, they are foreign-owned, Belgian, Dutch and French. In that lawsuit, the slaughter houses owned by the foreign companies won that lawsuit because the Federal judge said that this is an interstate commerce issue; and there is Federal preemption involved; and if you are going to shut down slaughter houses in operation in interstate commerce, then the U.S. Congress has to act.

Now this bill came before the Energy and Commerce Committee because of the lack of action on the Ag Committee for many years. They never wanted it to see the light of day.

I would urge Members to vote for H.R. 503. As I have said before, the unwanted horse argument is not a real argument because horses being slaughtered are not unwanted. To think that we would have the responsibility of reimbursing owners who are overbreeding, who have the responsibility to take care of their own horses, they make it appear that the government has that responsibility. Owners have their own responsibility.

Private property rights, this bill protects private property rights. Because of the number of horses being stolen, we are protecting those private property rights.

This bill allows an owner, a rancher or farmer who owns a horse to do whatever he wants to with the horse. He can shoot it or slaughter it and eat it himself. We simply are shutting down an illicit, secretive business, and that is what this bill is all about.

Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney) to respond.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Talking about an amendment to create a problem that is not there, this is a perfect example of that. We have all of these organizations around the country who are voluntarily spending their time and money to provide a safe haven for horses, and this amendment basically is a killer amendment to defeat H.R. 503.

I would point out once again that each year the number of horses that have been slaughtered has been going down. We have gone from 300,000 down to 90,000. There is no evidence that society has had any problem in absorbing these horses. And I would also remind the gentleman many of these horses are stolen; so they are not unwanted horses. There is a need for them. So we know for a fact that the only purpose of any of these amendments is to make this bill ineffective, to kill this bill.

I am delighted that we are on the floor and have an opportunity to debate this, and I would urge every Member to oppose this amendment.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I must say I am shocked that the gentleman would want to get the government involved in this kind of an issue. These are private property rights people who are out there voluntarily providing their property, their money to take care of these unwanted horses.

And one of the reasons we opposed this amendment, you talk about sufficient horse sanctuaries. We know who would be defining ``sufficient.'' The Department of Agriculture, who must work with your committee to get anything that they want on the farm bill or anything else; so you would be dictating what is sufficient, and we know that there would never be enough sanctuaries sufficient to meet your demands.

So I would say once again we do not have to speculate about unwanted horses in the future. We know for a fact that unwanted horses is not a problem, as we have gone from 300,000 to 90,000 a year. No one has complained about it. No study has shown it. UC Davis in their study in California indicated that there have not been any additional increases of unwanted horses.

So I would urge every Member to oppose this amendment, which is designed to defeat this bill.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney) in opposition.

Madam Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment.

I would also submit for the Record a letter that we have from Chief Arvol of the Lakota Nation, and he wrote a very long letter in opposition to this amendment. He says: ``I am writing to ask for your support in co-sponsoring the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and for our tribe.''

Dear Representative: My name is Chief Arvol Looking Horse

of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota Nation. I am also known as

``Sung Wakan'' (Horse Man). My position with my People is the

19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf

Bundle. I am the spiritual leader for our Nation.

It has been recorded in ancient petroglyphs and in our oral

stories that the horse nation was around our people long

before the Spaniards brought the other relative of the horse

nation to this land. These ancient horses were much smaller

in size and not so much in numbers, to a point of extinction.

With this ancient Bundle, almost 2,000 years old, existed a

horse ceremony acknowledging the horse nation in respect to

their wise and gentle spirit, as they offered a gift of

healing for our own human spirit. My work has involved many

efforts in bringing awareness to the importance to all life

upon Mother Earth, including Mother Earth herself so that all

life may live in Peace. I was raised with the understanding

that all forms of life have their own meaning of importance

and should not be taken for granted. To ignore and not to try

to learn this precious truth of all living beings to live in

Peace with us as humans of power and decisions, will affect

the lives of our own children in their health of body mind

and spirit. We need to teach all children to look at all life

as sacred.

The Horse Nation is an important spirit being. The Nation

deserves the protection and awareness of what we humans can

offer. They have saved, assisted, and given of themselves for

all humans throughout history. Whether it was being ridden in

battles, or in traveling, and most recently discovered by

therapists through friendship, they can give healing to our

troubled spirits. The Native Nations always understood these

gifts and that was why we had our horse dance ceremony.

This awareness of the horse's gifts to humans has

transformed into a strong respect. This awareness has been

gathering People across the country to protect this fine

spirit from a very negative attack on their health and

existence, by unconscious disrespectful humans in the name of

greed. A horse can feel impending trauma in their

environment. Yet, horses trust humans and so are being led to

slaughter.

This is not a way of respecting life that children need to

learn, as we adults having positions as role models and

leaders in our communities. This energy, as we understand

these actions to be, will indeed backfire, if people do not

educate themselves about the importance of the different

spiritual roles of all life forms. Some animal nations,

indeed, give themselves for food. They actually know their

purpose in the human's food chain, as long as humans

understand this with respect. We should understand the Horse

Nation has earned the right to live in Peace for what they

have contributed to all our lives throughout history.

I am writing to ask for your support in cosponsoring the

American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. The AHSPA (H.R. 857)

has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by

Representative John Sweeney (R-NY) who is chair of the

Congressional Horse Caucus and Congressman John Spratt (D-

SC). A similar bill will soon be before the U.S. Senate.

Despite the passage of the Wild-Free Roaming Wild Horses

and Burros Act of 1971 which was enacted to protect the wild

horse from slaughter, hundreds, perhaps thousands, continue

to be slaughtered each year. The Bureau of Land Management

removed too many wild horses from their ranges resulting in

ongoing sales to the slaughterhouses. If you wish to learn

more about these activities, please contact Chris Heyde of

the Society for Animal Protective Legislation.

In a Sacred Hoop of life, where there is no ending and no

beginning!

Thank you for your attention to this effort.

Mitakuye Oyasin (All my relations),

Chief Arvol Looking Horse,

19th Generation Keeper of

the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe.

Madam Chairman, the purpose of H.R. 503 has never been to dictate to other cultures what they can and cannot eat. The purpose of H.R. 503 is simply to prohibit the French, the Belgians, the Dutch from offering slaughterhouses in America, taking our

horses, many of which are stolen, obtained by misrepresentation, and shipping the meat to France, Belgium, and Japan.

So this amendment would do one thing. It would make the bill ineffective. It would defeat the bill in its entirety. And so I would urge the Members to oppose this amendment.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Madam Chairman, does he have the right to close or do I have the right to close?

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of the time.

Mr. Chairman, I would just say that this bill certainly does not prevent individual owners from slaughtering a horse and eating the horse if they want to. I think that this amendment is unnecessary. It would defeat the purpose of the bill. All the correspondence we have had with Indian tribes indicates that they do not eat horse meat.

Horses have not been a part of the food chain in America. I would urge the defeat of the amendment and passage of H.R. 503.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I, with my colleague Congressman Wexler of Florida, would like to submit a statement regarding the current situation on the island of Cyprus.

As both Greek and Turkish Cypriots reflect on the events that took place more than 30 years ago, there is good news coming from the divided island of Cyprus. After a hiatus of more than 2 years since the unsuccessful referenda of April 2004, in which the Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly voted in favor of a U.N. plan for a settlement, while the Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly voted against it, the two Cypriot leaders, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos, met under U.N. auspices on July 3 and 8, respectively, and agreed to hold further meetings at the technical, as well as political levels, on the basis of a ``Set of Principles.''

Among these principles aimed at ``the unification of Cyprus based on bi-zonal, bicommunal federation and political equality,'' is a commitment to the creation of the ``right atmosphere'' in order for the process to be successful; the enactment of ``confidence building measures'' to that end, and putting an end to the ``blame game.''

The meeting of the two leaders and the agreement they reached have been welcomed by the international community, including the United States, the European Union and others.

It is important that this new and positive spirit demonstrated by the two Cypriot leaders be supported by the United States Congress in order to help the parties build trust and forge an atmosphere conducive to peace. It is our sincere hope that the spirit of reconciliation and goodwill generated during the recent meetings will continue to be promoted by all parties involved.

Mr. Speaker, as the process moves forward it is also important to recognize the resolve of the Turkish Cypriot people who have demonstrated time after time an unwavering commitment to reconciliation as well as remarkable flexibility both in the 2004 referenda and after. Despite their continued commitment to reunify Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are still awaiting the fulfillment of the promises made to them by the international community before and after the referenda that their isolation would be lifted. We believe that both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, whose support was crucial in securing the ``yes'' vote of the Turkish Cypriots in the 2004 referenda, should be rewarded, not penalized, in order for the process to move forward toward a lasting settlement.

More than ever before, it is important to support the recent progress made in Cyprus and look towards a brighter future for Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of the House an historical day

for Thoroughbred Horse Racing in western Kentucky--the reopening of Ellis Park.

Since opening its gates for the first time in October of 1922, Ellis Park has been a significant part of Kentucky and Indiana's equine history. During those years the one and one eighth mile long track has provided horsemen and trainers a venue to showcase the sport they love.

Today, Ellis Park re-opens after suffering a devastating tornado on November 6th, 2005, that claimed the lives of 25 individuals in the surrounding community of Evansville, Indiana, and that delivered a direct hit to the Ellis Park race track damaging several buildings and killing some of the Thoroughbred Horses stabled at the track.

Today is one of triumph over tragedy as those who suffered so much move forward and continue to rebuild their community.

Mr. Speaker, the re-opening of historic Ellis Park under the new ownership of Kentucky Businessman Ron Geary promises a bright future for Thoroughbred Racing in western Kentucky and the tri-state region. Mr. Geary has committed to continue and build upon an 85 year history that has made Ellis Park a popular setting for friends and family to come together and enjoy the atmosphere created by the sight and sound of thoroughbreds thundering towards the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, H.R. 503, be rereferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition, to the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 861. Today's debate is about more than just the nations of Iraq and Afghanistan, this debate is about freedom and democracy worldwide and the fight against terror and injustice. Our great nation is doing what we have always done--fighting for the values we hold dear and helping to spread those values to other nations. We also have a choice to make; do we want to fight the terrorists in the streets of America or in Iraq and Afghanistan where al-Qaida has claimed as its battle ground to kill Americans?

The Global War on Terror hits home for me because I have the distinct privilege of representing the brave men and women stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. These courageous Americans have been leading the way in the Global War on Terror since September 11, 2001. In Afghanistan, these soldiers liberated the country from the oppressive Taliban regime. They helped stabilize the country and their efforts as well as those of other units laid the foundation for the democratic elections of Afghanistan's president, parliament, and provincial councils.

In Iraq, the 101st was deployed before the war began in 2003 and were instrumental in the success of dismantling the regime of the criminal dictator Saddam Hussein. They were also responsible for the location and death of Saddam's two sons. They liberated and rebuilt the town of Mosel, including the reconstruction of the city's infrastructure. The 101st is now on its second deployment to Iraq and is involved in the securing of the city of Ramadi where some of the most violent fighting in Iraq still exists. I have personally met with many of the soldiers that have been involved in this fight and they have my utmost admiration and respect. After meeting with the soldiers of Fort Campbell, I am convinced that they understand what they are fighting for in Iraq and are committed to the very end in order to preserve the democracy we have helped create and to ensure the safety of the Iraqi people.

One of the largest newspapers in my state, the Louisville Courier- Journal recently published an article entitled ``Wounded soldiers refuse to leave Iraq.'' I'd like to share a couple of stories from that article about soldiers from Fort Campbell who are completely committed to their mission in the Global War on Terror:

[From the Louisville Courier-Journal] S0634

Specialist Steven Clark from Fitzgerald, Georgia is a

soldier in the 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne.

He is a 25 year old young man with more courage than people

twice his age. In his time in Iraq, he has been shot three

times and has been wounded by shrapnel from a grenade that

tore into his legs and back. He has been awarded three Purple

Hearts, with another on the way, as well as a Bronze Star

with Valor. His Army buddies have nicknamed him ``Bullet

Magnet.'' You may ask why he is still in Iraq and the answer

is because he wants to be. He says that his wounds are not as

important as the mission and he insists on staying.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kunk is a commander in the 502nd

Infantry Regiment. One of his duties as an officer is to

decide which of his wounded soldiers can return to duty and

which soldiers get to go home. He says this task is tougher

than it should be because his soldiers research Army

Regulations and argue endlessly in an effort to stay. Colonel

Kunk's story doesn't end there, he was caught in the effects

of a roadside bomb that damaged the nerves and muscles in his

legs causing his legs to swell and throb from pain by the end

of every day. But Colonel Kunk wouldn't think of leaving, he

says he's a father and a grandfather and he wants to do right

by them. So Colonel Kunk stays and he fights because he knows

it's the right thing to do.

Specialist Clark and Lieutenant Colonel Kunk's commitment is without compromise and their dedication to duty should be commended. Their stories are unique, but their actions are not.

There are many soldiers that refuse to leave when they have incurred wounds that would allow them to come home. These service members understand what they are fighting for and they stay to see the mission through to the end.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress should follow the example of our men and women in uniform and stay committed to completing our mission and winning the Global War on Terror. If our soldiers, like Specialist Clark and Lieutenant Colonel Kunk, can make the commitment to stay then we owe it to them to provide our support to stay and get the mission done, to do otherwise would undermine our soldiers' efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize nominees for the Regional Academic All-Star Team from the Pennyroyal region in western Kentucky.

The regional academic All-Star program's purpose is to recognize top academic scholars and performers. Students from Caldwell, Christian, Trigg and Todd Counties of Kentucky were nominated based upon their academic performance in seven disciplines: English, foreign language, journalism, mathematics, science, social studies and the creative and performing arts. The students are judged on their core academic score, the curriculum of the student, their grade point average, academic honors earned, unique accomplishments and achievements, extracurricular activities, both school related and outside school activities, employment history, and an autobiographical essay.

Mr. Speaker, education is the foundation upon which we reach our human potential. Students in my district are developing their talents, furthering their education and pursuing their aspirations in life through programs like the Academic All-Star program. Encouragement and recognition develop confidence and achievement among young Americans-- the future leaders of our country.

The following students have been nominated for their academic excellence:

David Keith Greene III, David Aaron Griffith, Brian Matthew

Harrell, Kenton Mark Henderson, Matthew Thomas Hightower,

Nicole Liane Paul, Michael Wayne Rowe, Lindsey Michelle

Storm, Allison Rae Hudson, Steven Kurtis McGhee, Samantha

Jean Moore, Daniel Stephen Richard, Elizabeth Alice Riley,

Dustin Alan Shaw, Sarah Nicole Becker, Amanda Josephine

Collett, Jessica Elizabeth Joy Gapp, Samantha Rene McIntyre,

Cody James Noffsinger, Hilary Dawn Pate, Mary Rachel Ray,

Paul Allen Reed, Thomas Andrew Burkhead, Amanda Leigh Hall,

and Lindsey Nicole Hancock.

Eric Anthony Money, Kelsey Paige Pendleton, John Luke

Schirtzinger, Sarah Ann Stokes, Christie Marie White, Bethany

Ann Cooper, Caitlyn Taylor Hughes, Kari Jaclyn Keech, Patrick

Ross Metcalfe, Denver Andrew Sizemore, Caitlyn White, Betsy

Camille Austin, Barrett Ray Boyd, Garrett James Ebel, Hunter

Wood Hayes, John David Heisterberg, Garrett Richard Sharp,

Stacey Brooke Sholar, James Gregory Williams II, Justin Keith

Cavanaugh, Courtney Lynn Greenfield, Joshua Dwayne Jenkins,

Aleia Lynne Judd, and Palak Manoj Majmudar.

Brittney Michele Metts, Forrest Samuel Pittman, Amanda Jane

Sweet, Brittney Michelle Addison, Alana Freeman Baker, Kyle

Mark Dettro, Leonard Gordon, Jr., Jennifer Lee Robinson,

Derrick Shane Strong, Jillian Katherine Terhune, Kelsi Micole

Austin, Amanda Baker, Hadley Burns, Shantinna Marie Hartrum,

Mackenzie Isenberg, Emily K. Kelley, Lyndsey McClain, Cody

Warren Nance, Stephanie M. Radford, Brandon Thomas Stanley,

Hannah Elizabeth Stokes, Kanisha Paige Frye, Keishla A.

Garcia, and Tanner James.

Justin Jatczak, Jordan Lee Johnson, Aaron Michael Laurent,

Leslie Denise Peck, Brittany Sweet, Kevin Tyler Wiseman,

Preston Workman, John Wright, Marty Stuart Asbridge, Taylor

Davis, Lyndsey McClain, Anna Miller, Kendra Angela Montejos,

Carly Jo P'Pool, Michelle Schulz, Thomas Shaheen, Chelsea

Smith, Sarah Tucker, Josh Villafranca, Matthew P. Clark, Will

Farmer, Thomas James Gilkey, Casey Haley, Austin Porter Hart,

Jessica Nichole Jobe, Emily Anne Koehler, Tierra L. McShan,

James Lile Rummage, Ashton Spangler, and Kelsey Elizabeth

Thomason.

Mr. Speaker, these students embody the spirit, commitment and sacrifice that we all should strive for in our daily lives. I am proud to represent them in my District. I extend my thanks to these students for their efforts, and I am proud to bring their accomplishments to the attention of this House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight one of my extraordinary constituents who is currently serving in Iraq. Specialist Mark Thompson from Tompkinsville, Kentucky recently wrote to me to express his thoughts on the situation in Iraq and I was truly moved by his articulate letter. I would like to share his letter with the House and I urge all of my colleagues to read Mark's letter and poem. I could not be anymore proud of Specialist Thompson and his service to our country.

October 17, 2005.

Congressman Ed Whitfield,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Whitfield: I hope this letter finds you

well. Politics seems heated as usual in the States and many

new cballenges are facing you and our country's other

leaders. However, I am sure you are taking it all as it comes

and continuing to try and find the most appropriate direction

as issues arise.

I am currently serving in the Army at Camp Habbaniyah,

Iraq. A huge change from my position as hospital

administrator in Tompkinsville as you can imagine. But it has

been a good experience to actually be here in this very

troubled part of the World and be a part of this, first hand.

We are in the ``Sunni Triangle'' as this area has been

described with a name. Ramadi and Fallujah are within 10 to

15 miles of our base with us roughly in the middle. Both are

noted hotbeds for insurgent activity as is this entire area

of Northwest Iraq. We are experiencing much of the same that

you see on TV back home.

I am sure one of those huge issues you are grappling with

is what to support in regards to Operation Iraqi Freedom. I

ask you to consider we are still making progress and this is

a worthy cause at this point. We do far more good on a daily

basis than is ever portrayed back home. Just Saturday (Day of

the Voting) our troops helped a very sick 4 month old child

get medical care in Baghdad. Also, we are actively training

Iraqi troops to ultimately replace us and takeover complete

operations of Camp Habbaniyah. Yes, there is much to be

discouraged by on a regular basis but the momentum and

atmosphere as a whole continues moving forward. The worst

thing we can do is leave too soon and risk losing it all to

civil war. At the same time we must let the Iraqi Army

continue to take over responsibility for areas as soon as

possible and the new government as well.

I see it like welfare. If we take on the responsibility for

people too long they can literally fail to progress and be

hampered by growing too dependent. We see that very real,

negative potential as we work with soldiers and civilians.

The hard part is how much and when to pull back our

support. I know that is something you are being challenged to

help determine. Please, listen to sound military leaders as

you sort that out. Please do not allow it to be a ``public

opinion'' or ``politically correct'' decision. We stand to

lose so much more from a bad decision. The Iraqi people stand

to lose the most.

Finally, the vast majority of the people here are very

worthy of what we are trying to help them achieve. It is the

few that continue to make it so hard. I have attached a

simple poem that I was inspired to write not long after

coming here. I still believe that our primary intentions

should be this simple and straight forward.

My best wishes to you as always.

Sincerely,

Spc. Mark Thompson.

That Is Why We Came

As we crossed the Iraqi Border,

our lives never to be the same.

That's when it all seemed clearer,

why we left our families and came.

The harsh land layout before us,

with things we have yet to see.

But kids waving on roadsides,

unlocked hope inside for me.

Not much do they have and own,

but gestures that tell their soul,

Too young yet to know true hate,

faith, hope and love are still in control.

Who knows where freedom will take them,

and will elders allow it to last?

Can they hold onto it with passion,

and never repeat the past?

It is the children we came for,

their love should govern this land.

Who knows where their dreams can take us,

if not poisoned with History's Brand.

I pray tonight for a new World,

where all kids are safe from harm.

That these children can play like mine,

in a neighborhood, friendly and warm.

They are the reason we came,

their hope from faith we must let soar.

With love let's finish the task,

and for them leave open the door.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize two outstanding communities in my District which were recently selected as two of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by the America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth organization. Murray/Calloway County and Ohio County, Kentucky, were chosen based on the their fulfillment of the America's Promise Five Promises: Safe Places, Effective Education, Opportunities to Serve, Healthy Start, and Caring Adults. These communities have demonstrated their commitment to the success of our area's youth by focusing on these promises and working together to ensure our youth have the skills and resources they need to succeed in life. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to represent them in Congress and grateful for their hard work and determination.

Murray/Calloway County was recognized for the healthy start and safe places it provides area students. In the fall of 2005, Calloway County implemented a countywide after school program for grades K-5. Up to 175 students participated in the program last year alone. In addition, partnerships between Big Brothers and Big Sisters and local schools have been highly successful in establishing mentoring relationships among citizens and elementary and middle school students. Murray can also be proud of the low dropout rate at Murray High School, which is only one percent. In terms of health, Murray/Calloway County has a teenage birthrate significantly below the statewide average and has decreased drug use among its youth. Clearly, this community has much to be proud of and the youth have an ideal community in which to learn and grow.

Ohio County found itself in the spotlight because of the caring adults in the community, the safe places and healthy start it offers youth, and its effective education policies. Most experts will agree that parental involvement is important in the success of a child's education. In Ohio County, this lesson is certainly understood by the parents who volunteered over 13,800 hours in local schools. The County also invested in a state-of-the-art fitness center and now has 21 percent of the county as members. The birthrate among 15-17 year-olds decreased from 43 percent in 1997 to 14.7 percent in 2001, and the dropout rate among high school students also decreased from 8.5 percent to just over 1 percent. Perhaps most impressively, local students and adults involved in the Together We Care/Ohio County Schools community partnership decided to tackle tobacco use among kids. In a county where the largest crop is tobacco, this was a real challenge. These student/ adult groups visited stores selling tobacco products and requested that they remove ads for tobacco products in their stores and move products to less visible locations. One month later, 95 percent of the stores had made the requested changes.

Again, I am proud of the progress these communities are making and pleased that they have been selected as two of the 100 Best Communities for Youth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of my constituents, Mr. Sam Moore of Butler, Kentucky. Mr. Moore has been actively involved in agriculture in my Congressional District serving as a member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors for the last 30 years. I have known Mr. Moore for several years and have found him to be a man of incredible integrity who is devoted to helping others. He is an active member of the community as well as a forceful leader in the agriculture field.

Mr. Moore hails from Butler County, where he farms more than 4,300 acres producing corn, soybeans, and wheat. He and his wife, Helen, have 6 children that frequently contribute to the family farm, teaching them time-honored values of hard work and respect for the farmer. While Mr. Moore has been active in production agriculture, he has also been involved with many other important agri-businesses making him an incredible asset to his community. He is the recipient of numerous awards, having been recognized as the Outstanding Young Farmer by the Kentucky Jaycees in 1973 as well as being named the 2003 Man of the Year In Kentucky Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine. He has also been very active in the American Farm Bureau, the American Soybean Association, the Kentucky Beef Cattle Association, and the Kentucky Corn Grower's Association.

Because Mr. Moore will soon retire from his tenure as President of the Kentucky Farm Bureau, I would like to recognize his service at the Bureau and his dedication to improving agricultural interests in my home State. Without his personal connections with many influential agriculture leaders, not to mention his tireless efforts on behalf of farmers in the Commonwealth, Kentucky would not be excelling in this industry. I am sure the Kentucky Farm Bureau is sorry to see him leave, but I am confident that Mr. Moore will continue to stay active and be relied upon as a leader for Kentucky farming for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Bonilla for yielding. He is most gracious to yield to someone who will speak against the conference report and will reluctantly vote against the conference report. It is not every committee chairman that would yield to anyone that would do that, particularly when you are talking about an appropriation bill.

I rise today in opposition reluctantly to this, but I do so primarily because of an issue of process that I have become more and more concerned about in my 11 years in the U.S. Congress.

This conference report was filed last night. The Rules Committee met quickly after that, developing the rule for consideration of the conference report. The conference report violated rule XXII of the House and violated rule XXVIII of the Senate in that section 798 was included in this conference report which was not a part of the House bill, was not a part of the Senate bill, and specifically changes substantive law.

Yet as is usually the case, the Rules Committee issues a rule waiving all points of order, which actually does raise a question of why does the House need rules, why does the Senate need rules, if we are always waiving those rules and Members never have an opportunity to bring an issue up.

Mr. Speaker, 798 is not about horse slaughter, and we have heard a lot about horse slaughter. I will admit I am one of those in the House that is making an effort to do what we can to stop the slaughter of horses for human consumption in Europe. There are only two companies left in the U.S. that are still doing this. One is owned by a French company, and one is owned by a company in Belgium. But that is not the issue here today.

Section 798 changed section 619 of title 21 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act.

And the substantive change adopted in the conference report without the knowledge of many people in the conference, we have had four different lawyers look at this language, and we have come up with four different answers. And even the attorney for the United States Department of Agriculture sent us an explanation, and they said, We have reviewed section 798 and its intent is not clear. We have had some private lawyers look at it, and they have come up with one conclusion.

So all four lawyers came up with different conclusions, but one thing that they all stated quite specifically was that it is a very vague statute. It is a very vague section. So what we are doing here, it is a section that treats equines, mules, and horses differently than other species of animals, and it is being changed significantly. And all of the attorneys have agreed that it is vague.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, as I stated, does not know its intents; so basically what we are doing is we are including this provision which is legislating on our appropriation bill and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is going to write the regulations, and we are not going to have any control of over it, in my view.

So I come today to simply express my opposition of this process that I find becoming more prevalent. Another example of this was in the omnibus bill last year in which 70 years of policy on protecting wild mustangs was changed without anyone's knowledge. And here today we do not have any agreement on what this language does, and we are going to be voting upon it.

But I would want to, in conclusion, state that I reluctantly am going to

vote against the conference report, but I do want to thank Chairman Lewis and Chairman Bonilla for allowing me to speak. I appreciate that very much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of my constituents, Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Ph.D of Paducah, Kentucky. Dr. Manchikanti has been practicing medicine in my Congressional District for the last 24 years. I have known Dr. Manchikanti for several years and have found him to be a man of incredible integrity who is devoted to helping others. He is an active member of the community as well as a forceful leader in the field of pain management. Dr. Manchikanti, an immigrant from India who is a naturalized citizen of the United States, exemplifies the fulfillment of the American dream.

Dr. Manchikanti is a well known physician with interests in many aspects of medicine, both in patient care, as well as academics. He specializes in anesthesiology with a sub-specialty in interventional pain management and is well known in the circles of interventional pain management. Apart from his interest in the clinical practice of anesthesiology and interventional pain management, he is also proficient in administrative medicine, patient advocacy, the economics of healthcare, medical ethics, and various other aspects of the profession.

Dr. Manchikanti is an avid clinical researcher with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals with original contributions, along with book publications. He is also an internationally known teacher who has conducted multiple seminars. As President and founder of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), Dr. Manchikanti has participated in the development of various guidelines, published on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) web- site. Apart from this, he also functions as a consultant to companies which assess evidence including ECRI (formerly the Emergency Care Research Institute), which is in charge of the AHRQ web-site and others. He also serves as a member on the Carrier Advisory Committee of Kentucky.

Because Dr. Manchikanti is a specialist in pain management, many of the drugs he prescribes have the potential to become addictive. During a conversation I had with Dr. Manchikanti a few years ago, we discussed Kentucky's efforts to combat prescription drug abuse through the Kentucky All Schedules

Prescription Electronic Reporting System (KASPER) which monitors Schedule II through IV controlled substances to detect and deter abuse. Dr. Manchikanti touted the benefits of KASPER which allows him to receive a report on all of the controlled substances his patients have been prescribed.

The problem that Dr. Manchikanti identified was that while KASPER was effective in Kentucky, there was no mechanism to determine if his patients had been prescribed a controlled substance in another state. In Kentucky, which is bordered by seven states (four in my District alone), it is easy for an individual to engage in the practice of ``Dr. Shopping.'' In an effort to address the problem, Dr. Manchikanti and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) proposed legislation creating a national monitoring system based on KASPER whereby physicians in all states would have access to the controlled substance prescription information of their patients, no matter where they filled the prescription. To that end, Dr. Manchikanti and ASIPP submitted draft legislation entitled the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER).

After reviewing the language and examining the idea, I decided to introduce NASPER with my colleague Frank Pallone during the 107th Congress. After three years of hard work by Dr. Manchikanti, ASIPP, and our supporters in Congress, we passed NASPER in both Houses of Congress and President Bush signed it into law on August 11th. NASPER combats prescription drug abuse through the creation of a grant program housed at the Department of Health and Human Services to help states establish and maintain state-operated prescription drug monitoring programs (PMPs). California established the first PMP in 1940. Nineteen additional states currently operate a PMP and five more are in the process of establishing them.

NASPER addresses one of the main impediments to existing PMPs--that they currently operate only on an intrastate basis while the diversion of drugs is an interstate problem. We help foster interstate communication by establishing some uniform standards on information and privacy protections that will make it easier for states to share information. Columbia University noted in a report released over the summer that between 1992 and 2003 the number of people abusing prescription drugs increased 94 percent--twice the increase in the number of people using marijuana, five times the number of people using cocaine, and 60 times the number of people using heroin. Even more disturbing, the report found a 212 percent increase in the number of children between the ages of 12 and 17 abusing prescription drugs.

NASPER, which is now Public Law 109-60, would not have been possible without the leadership provided by Dr. Manchikanti and ASIPP. I'm confident that the enactment of NASPER will give physicians and law enforcement an additional tool to help reduce the number of Americans abusing prescription drugs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent and friend in my District, Mr. Hyman King of Benton, Kentucky. Mr. King was born on June 9, 1924, in Biggers, Arkansas and after traveling much of his youth, he settled in McKenzie, Tennessee to work in the family's wholesale grocery business. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and was stationed in North Africa, Europe, and aboard a troop transport ship.

After World War II ended, Mr. King returned home to Tennessee to continue working for his uncle at their wholesale grocery business. In February of 1950, Mr. King and his brother Derril King opened their own grocery in Benton and later opened another store in Draffenville, Kentucky. The store was known as King Brother's Supermarket and is still in operation 55 years later. Mr. King's nephews, Ronnie and Ted King, operate the stores now and still maintain the work ethic that was taught to them by their father and uncle. The stores have prospered because they are an integral part of the community they served over the past half century. Mr. King's service to his country and his economic contributions through the establishment of his successful business, make him a person of integrity and a respected citizen in his community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to give me an opportunity to speak on behalf of H.R. 1132, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia (Chairman Deal) referred to the study at Columbia University noting the increase in abuse of prescription drugs in this country, and I would point out that one of the most disturbing aspects of the report out of Columbia University was the finding that a 212 percent increase in the number of children between the ages of 12 and 17 are now abusing prescription drugs. So with this legislation today, we have

the opportunity to combat this problem not only with children but also with adults around the country.

I would also mention that, and I think someone has already referred to this, that 20 States are already operating these programs; and with this legislation we establish a grant program at HHS, but more important than that, we provide some Federal standards on this program with this legislation today. In doing that, we will help foster interstate communication by establishing uniform standards on information collection and privacy protections that together will make it easier for States to share information.

I think it is also important to note that the Committee on Appropriations has already been appropriating money for these types of programs. So with this legislation, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has exclusive jurisdiction in this area, we now set the guidelines for this, and I think it will do a tremendous job of improving this program and improving our health care program and giving doctors more information to better treat their patients.

I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) for his leadership, the gentleman from Georgia (Chairman Deal) for his leadership, and, of course, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood). We have all been working on this program for 3 years. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) has been involved in it for 3 years, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). So it truly is a bipartisan effort. It is going to do a tremendous job in improving our health care program. And I would urge every Member of Congress to support this important legislation.

And I want to thank particularly Ryan Long, one of the staffers who has worked on this; John Ford of the minority the staff; and my personal staffer John Halliwell; and the many others who were involved, including Warren Burke, who actually wrote the legislation over at the legislative counsel's office.

So after 3 years, I think we are getting ready to move this bill. We know that the Senate is going to take it up in its entirety. And so we look forward to President Bush signing this legislation and improving our health care system.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Pastor Don Young of the Heartland Worship Center in Paducah, Kentucky, for leading today's opening prayer.

Pastor Young was born and raised in Childress, Texas, and following his graduation from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, he became the founding pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, where he ministered to the needs of the founding 29 members of that church.

Pastor Young has been there now for 45 years, and the church has 3,000 members and is now known as the Heartland Worship Center. Average Sunday attendance is 1,700, largely because of Pastor Young's unique preaching style and the programs he has initiated to meet the spiritual needs of people from all walks of life.

Heartland's vision statement is: Influencing people to come, instructing people to grow, inspiring people to go.

Under Pastor Young's leadership, the center supports 29 missionaries in foreign countries and the United States, assists the members of the congregation with counseling needs, supports the mission projects endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention, helps with the spiritual and moral development of our youth, and honors our men and women in uniform as they prepare for deployment overseas.

Heartland Worship Center is blessed to have such a dedicated servant whose compassion and faith have guided him throughout his entire life.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me in welcoming Pastor Young and thanking him for today's prayer.

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney) for bringing this amendment to the floor.

I would point out that we hear a lot from the American Equine Veterinarian Practitioners and the American Quarter Horse Association about their great concern for these horses, and yet there are hundreds of organizations in the country today who provide funding through their foundation to provide retirement homes for unwanted horses. Yet I am not aware that the American Equine Veterinarian Practitioners do that through a foundation, nor the American Quarter Horse Association, nor do they do it through a foundation; and they are the most prolific breeders of any breed in the country.

I will also say we are talking about two foreign-owned companies here, one owned by a French family, one owned by a Belgium family. They are the only ones slaughtering horses in America.

In addition to that, the Attorney General of Texas, who is now a U.S. Senator, wrote a legal opinion while he was Attorney General stating that it was illegal to slaughter horses in Texas. And yet, despite that, the slaughterhouse brought a lawsuit, and that case is now pending in U.S. District Court.

The Mayor of Kaufman, Texas, where one of plants is located, has written a letter to us urging us to try to shut these plants down because of their consistent violation of environmental laws.

But one of the things that is most difficult about this process is that, first of all, I think everyone would agree horses have not been raised for slaughter. Unlike cows, pigs and chickens, they have not been raised for slaughter.

When you take a cow, pig, chicken or whatever to an auction house you know it is going to be slaughtered. But many people when they take a horse to an auction are unaware because there is a lack of disclosure. In fact, there is an effort made to conceal that self-described ``killer buyers'' are at the auction house and they take the horses to slaughter.

Then the process of the captive penetrating bolt being administered by low-skilled workers, low-paid workers who frequently have to do it two or three times before the horse is stunned and then his throat is slit, I would dare to say that is not humane. Now the leadership of the American Equine Practitioners say that it is humane. But if you talk to individual veterinarians, they would take controversy with that.

For every page of supporters opposing this legislation, we have pages of entities and individuals and organizations that support this legislation. And I might add a few of them that support it.

We have the owners of the last 12 Kentucky Derby winners supporting it. We have the National Thoroughbred Racing Association supporting it. We have the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association supporting it. We have the New York Racing Authority supporting it. We have Churchill Downs supporting it. I could go on and on and on. But, most important, we have an inconsistent policy in the U.S. Government today on this issue. We prohibit sending horses out of America by sea for the purpose of slaughter, and yet we allow them to be slaughtered in the United States.

So it is an inconsistent policy. There is a lack of disclosure at the auction house. And when California banned horse slaughter, the only thing that they found was that, one, horse theft went down and horse abuse and neglect did not go up.

With that, I would urge the support of the Sweeney amendment.