Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Emergency Supplemental Wartime Appropriations Act. It is unconscionable that the administration comes to Congress for another emergency supplemental when it has failed to account for previous emergency funding, and has failed to include the cost of the war in the FY '06 budget. How can this administration offer a budget that does not include funding for America's military operations overseas when we have more than 150,000 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for an indefinite period of time? Why does the administration continue to resort to supplemental funding to pay for this war instead of including the cost in the budget where it will sufficiently reflect the impact of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom on our deficit?

Mr. Chairman, I did not support the Iraq supplemental request last year because I had serious concerns about no bid contracts in the bill. Unfortunately I was right to be concerned; just today it has been reported that Pentagon auditors have found excess billing for postwar fuel imports to Iraq by the Halliburton Company totaling more than $108 million. To add insult to injury Congress has not received any of the nine auditing reports from the Pentagon, but instead must resort to receiving this information through unofficial channels. Despite repeated requests, the administration has kept nine audits confidential from both Republican and Democratic Members of Congress. Accountability is a bipartisan issue.

This $81 billion emergency supplemental funding request for the Department of Defense's Iraq and Afghanistan operations comes on the heels of $25 billion of emergency spending already appropriated for this year. Enacting this request would mean that this Congress will have provided this administration with almost $300 billion for military and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is clear that this body is willing to live up to its end of the bargain and provide funding for our troops, but the administration is determined to continue to avoid serious questions and concerns about its spending.

Let me state outright that I opposed going to war in Iraq, but that is not my reason for opposing this supplemental request. I oppose simply because we cannot allow continued deception by the administration on every aspect of our engagement with Iraq. We were deceived with exaggeration of Hussein's weapons capabilities, and now we are being deceived about the duration of the engagement and its exact cost--on the American purse and the loss of our men and women in uniform. We have exacerbated the situation in the Middle East and put our country in a more

vulnerable position because of this war, and now we are asked to surrender the responsibilities of this body to hold the administration accountable for its actions.

accountability

Mr. Chairman as a Member of Congress I must provide answers to my constituents about the money that Congress spends. Accountability is not a partisan issue, we must all demand answers. Our Constitution was carefully crafted so as to allow a balance of power in our Government. Congress is obligated to use appropriations and the oversight that accompanies it as a means of holding the executive branch accountable for its spending of American funds. Any attempt to usurp that balance of power is a betrayal of the moral fiber of our Government and must be taken as an attack on the integrity of this body.

The Department of Defense by law must submit reports to Congress with a detailed explanation of the spending and future costs of the Iraq war. These reports were due October of last year and at the beginning of this year. Despite this legal obligation clearly delineated in last year's Defense Appropriations Act, we have to date received no report accounting for the spending and detailing cost estimates of previous supplemental funding. Our Government should not fail to meet its legal responsibility without consequence. How can we justify more emergency appropriations without adequate assurance that what has already been appropriated has been shrewdly spent?

Sadly, we have no report directly from DoD but the Inspector General reported that almost $9 billion in reconstruction funding has been mishandled and poorly accounted for. In fact, the Inspector General suggests that thousands of ``ghost employees'' were on an unidentified ministry payroll.

In addition, DoD has stated in the past that 220,000 Iraq security forces had been trained and equipped, that number was then scaled down to 136,000. Moreover, the Pentagon has recently put into question if these troops are truly prepared for service.

conclusion

Mr. Chairman, opposition to this bill is not a vote against supporting our troops. This body has proven over and over again through appropriations that it supports our troops. Congress has appropriated $20 billion for Iraq reconstruction despite the administration's claims that Iraq reconstruction would cost between $1 and $2 billion and could be financed by Iraqi oil revenues. With enactment of this bill Congress will have appropriated $300 billion for the efforts in Iraq without proper accounting of the spending of these funds. The administration claimed that we would be received as great liberators and that just a few short months after the invasion we could start withdrawing troops, but instead we have no exit strategy and over 1,500 troops have died and thousands seriously injured. I could go on and on about the disastrous miscalculations and misleading estimates. This bill is critically lacking in accountability. No more blank checks for this administration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 525.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to join my colleagues in expressing my strong concern regarding China's proposed Anti-Secession Law. This unilateral initiative by the People's Republic of China, PRC, is a very provocative move that could permanently destroy the balance in the Taiwan Strait.

This proposed law, which will be voted on as early as March in the full Chinese National People's Congress, is more than just propaganda. The law assumes that China and Taiwan are now unified and that China has the rights to punish anyone expressing separatist sentiments or engaging in separatist activities. Ultimately, China can legally pursue unification of Taiwan by military force.

Because I believe this will challenge the wishes of the 23 million people of Taiwan who have chosen a democratic system of governance, I sincerely urge Chinese leaders to abide by the wishes of the Taiwanese people and not adopt the Anti-Secession Law this March. I also urge the international community to join us in voicing their disapproval of this confrontational law.

Mr. Speaker, although I will not file an objection to the counting of Ohio's electoral votes, I rise today to acknowledge the voting discrepancies and irregularities that occurred in the State of Ohio in this past presidential election.

As is evident in my colleague John Conyers's voting rights status report, Ohio has failed to provide the opportunity for its citizens to have equal access and opportunity to cast their vote and have that vote accurately counted.

Many voters were denied provisional ballots and some eligible voters were improperly purged. Others were given erroneous information as to where and when they could vote. The State provided insufficient resources to minority precincts, resulting in long lines that caused delays up to 10 hours, forcing some voters to have to leave those lines to tend to personal obligations.

There were rampant incidents of voter intimidation, deceptive phone calls and fraudulent fliers on official looking letterhead.

The lack of a verifiable paper trail by some of the electronic voting machines contributed to a questionable vote count.

Clearly, Ohio's election officials, including Secretary of State Blackwell, have questions to answer regarding these disturbing irregularities.

How can we encourage free and fair elections in Iraq, a country that may soon become a fledgling democracy, when we can't ensure free and fair elections in America after 200 years of democracy.

As a Member of Congress it is my duty to uphold the right of the people to have free and fair elections of their government officials. It is my hope that this Congress will work together in the coming months to enact real election reform that will restore America's confidence in the electoral process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my condolences to the hundreds of thousands affected by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Somalia, Malaysia, and other countries.

December 26 will ever be a day etched in our memories and in our hearts as we struggle to comprehend the magnitude of loss associated with this disaster.

Our great country is often viewed as a leader in the world and I know that the President will ensure that our country maintains this role by mobilizing the necessary humanitarian and economic assistance for both immediate and long-term relief, whether it be the $350 million already pledged or more as each day brings us a deeper understanding of the total impact of this disaster.

We have long held prosperous relationships on economic and security issues with many of the countries that have been affected such as India and Malaysia.

If we fail to adequately meet the needs of those affected by committing to advancing a strong recovery in both the Asian and African nations that have been affected, the long-term worldwide economic and political consequences of this natural disaster could be even more severe.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend my colleagues, Donald Payne and Tom Tancredo for working with the Senate to draft a bill that will hopefully be the beginning of the end of genocide in the Sudan.

Since February 2003, Sudanese government troops and their allied militia, the Janjaweed, have raped, tortured, maimed, and burned entire villages to cleanse the Darfur areas of African Muslims.

Seventy thousand have died. Over 200,000 have fled across the border into Chad and 1.6 million have been forced from their homes and into camps, where they remain vulnerable to attacks and lack basic services.

While the Sudanese government has done little to protect its people, the African Union has shown tremendous leadership in trying to stop the atrocities.

The African Union has led peace talks since August and sent hundreds of monitors and security forces to assist in stopping the atrocities.

It is my hope that the bulk of the assistance included in this bill will go to ensure that the African Union is successful in its mission to finally end the genocide in Darfur!

Additionally, we must continue to insist that the Sudanese government cease support for and disarm the Janjaweed militias by immediately utilizing sanctions against the government officials responsible for stopping the atrocities.

Darfur has waited long enough. We must act now.

Mr. Speaker, since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, anxieties about airport security have increased. Most visible improvements and modifications--such as passenger screening--have already been done. Less visible improvements, particularly in terms of protecting airport perimeters against unauthorized entry, are lagging.

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that airport perimeter security has not appreciably improved in the past three years, despite persistent expressions of concern by Congress. The funds provided for these purposes have not been delivered to airports where they are needed.

This report's title tells the whole story: ``Aviation Security: Further Steps Needed to Strengthen the Security of Commercial Airport Perimeters and Access Controls.'' In it, the GAO notes that ``through funding of a limited number security enhancements, TSA [the Transportation Security Agency] has helped to improve perimeter and access control security at some airports. However, at the time of our review, TSA had not yet developed a plan to prioritize expenditures to ensure that funds provided have the greatest impact in improving the security of the commercial airport system.''

The safety and security of our airports and air passengers are contingent on the priorities established by the TSA and other government agencies.

Congress recognizes this, and in response to the terrorist attacks on our country, it established the Federal Airport Security Capital Fund to finance improvements at U.S. airports. This fund provides $250,000,000 a year to be parcelled out according to a legally-mandated formula by the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Borders and Transportation at the Department of Homeland Security. Despite this fund's existence, much remains to be done.

In a ``report card'' published by the Airline Pilots Association, airport perimeter security in the United States was given an overall grade of ``D.'' Based on the judgment of those who have reason to know the situation best, a grade like this is shameful and unacceptable.

Several key airports have been identified as having particular needs for expeditious improvements. These include the four airports administered by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Islip, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark); Chicago O'Hare; BWI; the airports in Allentown, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Birmingham International Airport in Alabama.

In recent months, it has been my privilege to consult with several private-sector experts on airport perimeter security. Dr. Walter Estulin, Philip Allen, and David Brownstein of the New York-based high- technology company, L-3 Communications, have taken time to explain to me how off-the-shelf technology can be used to protect our airports from intruders and infiltrators who can undermine the integrity of our air transportation system. Scientists and engineers from L-3 Communications have examined the problems faced by airports (and, by extension, seaports and inland harbors) and have developed technology that can go a long way toward meeting the security needs of transportation infrastructure. One issue of particular concern is the proliferation of MANPADS--``Man-Portable Air Defense Systems''--or, in a nutshell, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. In a GAO report published in May 2004, we learn that ``MANPADS pose a threat to commercial aircraft for several reasons. First, MANPADS are widely available. . . . The U.S. government estimates that a few thousand MANPADS are outside government controls. . . . Second, the characteristics of MANPADS--their lethality, portability, ease of use and concealment, and relatively low cost (from less than $1,000 to $100,000 each)--make them attractive to terrorists for acquisition and use against commercial aircraft. Third, MANPADS have been successfully used to attack and bring down aircraft.'' So far, luckily, none of these weapons have been used successfully within the United States. Still, in the ``report card'' from the Airline Pilots Association, defense against anti-aircraft missiles was given a grade of ``F.'' This is certainly a cause for concern.

There are two actions we can take to address these matters. First, Congress should direct the Secretary of Transportation to better prioritize grants made under his authority under the Federal Airport Security Capital Fund.

Second, we should pass legislation now under consideration, introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia), John McCain (R-Arizona), and Ernest Hollings (D-South Carolina), called the ``Aviation Security Advancement Act'' (S. 2393). If passed, this bill would authorize $100,000,000 for the Department of Homeland Security ``for airport perimeter security technology, fencing, security contracts, vehicle tagging, and other perimeter security related operations, facilities, and equipment.'' This sum should be doubled. Surely $200,000,000 is a small price to pay to assure the safety and security of the millions of Americans who travel by air each year.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Menendez substitute to H.R. 10, the only version supported by the House's 9/11 Commission Caucus, the 9/11 families and the legislation most similar to the bill adopted by the Senate yesterday by a 96-2 vote.

This bipartisan substitute fully implements the forty-one 9/11 Commission recommendations and adds no extraneous provisions. It implements critical recommendations not fully addressed by H.R. 10, including the creation of a strong National Intelligence Director and giving that director full budgetary and personal authority, as the 9/11 Commission recommends.

The 9/11 Commission came together because America and the victims' families demanded answers and solutions. The bipartisan group of Commissioners--five Democrats and five Republicans--worked tirelessly to fulfill their commitment to make America safe. We should honor their efforts and fulfill our commitment to America by producing a bill that responds directly to the Commissions' recommendations--with no added controversial or unrelated provisions. The Menendez substitute helps us do just that by ensuring that we have a clean bill on the President's desk before we adjourn.

Let's not play politics with a bill as important to the American people as this one. Pass the Menendez substitute.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to join with other Members of Congress in calling for humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean countries devastated by Hurricane Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jean.

We all know that the southern United States and particularly Florida have been hurt badly by the worst series of hurricanes in decades and I pray for their continued strength and determination through these difficult times.

But, even as we help Florida, Alabama, and other states here in the United States struggle to recover from the devastation inflicted by successive hurricanes, we cannot be indifferent to the destruction the hurricanes delivered to a number of our Caribbean neighbors.

Ninety percent of the buildings on Grenada have been damaged. The Bahamas and Jamaica have been hit hard. The Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti have experienced flooding and mudslides. The hurricanes have robbed hundreds of people of their lives and tens of thousands of their livelihoods.

Two-thirds of the population of Grenada have been left homeless and it is estimated that millions will be needed to rebuild. Death tolls in Haiti are at the 3,000 marker.

While $50 million will begin to address the humanitarian and reconstruction needs, this is only a beginning. Hurricane Mitch in Honduras required $400 million. We can do at least as much for our neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say thanks to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for the fine work that they have done in bringing this resolution to the floor.

We are here to speak about, why is it that the world is not doing more to stop the Sudanese Government troops and their allied military, the Janjaweed? Together, they have raped, tortured, maimed and burned entire villages to cleanse the area of African Muslims resulting in close to 50,000 deaths.

Another 1.5 million persons have been forced from their homes into camps where they remain vulnerable to attacks by the Janjaweed, who are among the police guarding the camps. The world cannot continue to condone this genocide.

We can also not continue to condone the presence of human rights abusers on a commission that is charged with protecting human rights because it is ridiculous and unconscionable to think that the very perpetrator of a genocide could also be the enforcer of human rights. But that is exactly what is happening by allowing Sudan to continue to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

That is why I stand behind this bill to suspend the Sudan from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and for the U.N. to launch a formal inquiry into its acts of genocide in Sudan.

Let us hope the world will begin to work harder to end the atrocities by, first, suspending Sudan from a commission it fails to respect, and second, by standing behind the efforts of the African Union to stop these atrocities.

We are here today to simply speak about why it is that the world is not doing more to stop Sudanese government troops and their allied militia, the Janjaweed. Together they have raped, tortured, maimed, and burned entire villages to cleanse African Muslims from the area-- resulting in close to 50,000 deaths. Another 1.5 million persons have been forced from their homes and into camps, where they remain vulnerable to attacks by the Janjaweed, who have been hired as police to guard the camps. The world cannot continue to condone this genocide.

We can also not continue to condone the presence of human rights abusers on a Commission that is charged with protecting Human Rights. It is simply unconscionable to think that the very perpetrators of genocide could also be the enforcers of human rights. But that is exactly what is happening by allowing Sudan to continue to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Numerous reports provide evidence of the Sudanese government's involvement in actively committing atrocities in Darfur. However, the Sudanese government continues to deny any connection to the atrocities carried out by the Janjaweed and simultaneously, has done little to stop them. By insisting that no genocide is taking place and repeatedly denying any responsibility for protecting their own people, the Sudanese government has demonstrated that it is not fit to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

What is needed now is action from the international community. First, Sudan's membership on the United Nations Human Rights Commission must be suspended. The universal declaration on human rights states that, ``everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person'' and that no ``state, group or person has any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms.'' The Sudanese government, through its involvement in perpetrating the genocide in Darfur, and its inaction in doing anything to resolve the humanitarian crisis, is in violation of the basic principles of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. It, therefore, cannot remain a member.

Second, the international community must offer increased support to the African Union, which has been a leader in attempting to resolve the conflict in Sudan. In addition to leading peace talks, the African Union has led a small contingency of troops to Darfur to monitor the cease-fire and serve as observers. The African Union must be congratulated on these efforts. Additionally, support for their efforts must be increased. It is essential that the African Union's force be enlarged and allotted a robust mandate to protect Darfur's civilians from new attacks.

We can no longer sit on the sidelines and pretend that nothing is going on while the Sudanese government commits crime after crime against humanity. Murder, rape, forced displacement--these are clearly not the tools of human rights supporters. That is why I stand behind this bill to suspend Sudan from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights and for the U.N. to launch a formal inquiry into the acts of genocide in Sudan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend our colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), for introducing this timely and important resolution, along with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler), who serves as cochair of the Indonesia Caucus along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

The resolution before the House condemns the September 9 terrorist attack outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Nine Indonesians lost their lives in this brutal attack, and almost 200 people were injured.

This latest attack by Jemaah Islamiah sadly confirms Indonesia's status as a frontline state in the global battle against terrorism. Over 200 young people, mostly Australian, were murdered in the 2002 Bali bombings. Twelve Indonesians were also killed at the suicide bombing at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta in August 2003.

While this latest attack occurred on Indonesian soil and those killed were Indonesians, the attack itself was aimed at Australia and its people.

However, these cowardly terrorist acts will not prevent Australia from standing strong against terrorism or from continuing to support the spread of democracy and freedom around the world. Neither will these attacks be successful in changing the path of Indonesia, who has just held peaceful, democratic elections in testament to its moderate character.

The United States must continue to play a leadership role in developing an international coalition that works closely with ASEAN countries to help develop strong partnerships that will help prevent future terrorist attacks.

I would like to convey to the Indonesian people my heartfelt sympathies for the innocent loss of life on September 9 and my appreciation to the Australians for their willingness to confront international terrorism at every turn.

I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), on the other side. As he said, we may not agree on much, but we do agree on New York being the best place for this. I also would like to commend my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), for introducing this important resolution. His leadership on behalf of the interests of New York City is greatly appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, the 2004 Olympic games in Athens recently unfolded before the eyes of hundreds of millions of people around the world, some watching in person but many more on television every night. It is fair to say, Mr. Speaker, that the Athens Games were an unqualified success. Despite fears of terrorism or that key Olympic venues would not be ready, Athens was more than prepared to receive over 16,000 athletes and officials from around the world, and the Olympic spirit thrived as athletes lived out their dreams.

This resolution before the House seeks to bring that Olympic spirit we witnessed in Athens here to America for the first time since 1996, when they were held in Atlanta. This measure urges the International Olympic Committee to choose the entry of the United States, New York City, to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Mr. Speaker, the Olympics brings together people from all over the world, and when they arrive in the city so great they had to name it twice, New York, New York, they will find that virtually every nationality that competes in the Olympic Games is represented among the people of New York City. Of the 202 countries that participated in the Athens Olympics, immigrant children of 199 of them attend New York City schools. Even the smallest Nation attending Olympic Games in New York will find their own cheering section.

New York City already has a developed transportation infrastructure to ensure that athletes and spectators can easily get to all Olympic venues and practice facilities. The Olympic village will also be centrally located, and over 500 acres of parks will be created or improved. New York has detailed plans to first-class sports facilities throughout the city to host the Olympics in an effort that will help to revitalize New York's waterfront.

While the Olympics will have an economic impact of over $11 billion and will create over 135,000 jobs, they will have a longer-term impact upon the blueprint of the city and its ability to host international sporting events for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, New York is blessed with some of the best financial, creative, marketing and corporate resources in the world. New York is committed to applying these talents to creating the best Games in the history of the Olympics. When the International Olympic Committee meets next July to choose the site of the 2012 Summer Games, I urge committee members to choose New York City, the Empire State.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), my friend and colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank the gentleman for his statement. The question of the stadium is something we will deal with, but we are all together in that we want the Olympics in New York.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to honor a man that has given much to my district and asked for very little.

Former City Council Member Archie Spigner is considered the Godfather of African American politics in my district in southeast Queens. A mentor to many of our current successful leaders, Archie held his seat from 1974 until term limits ended his service in the New York City Council in 2001.

As a member of the City Council, Archie rose to the post of Deputy Majority Leader--the second highest position in the Council. HIs legislative responsibilities included Chairmanships of the Committees on Housing and Buildings, Economic Development and the Legislative Office of Budget Review. He also served on the Council's Budget Negotiating Team and acted as liaison for the Council's 14 member Queens delegation. He was elected to and served on the advisory board of the National League of Cities, an advocacy group for our Nation's urban areas.

As District Leader and Executive Member of the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club, he was instrumental in electing Queens' first African- American Supreme Court Justice, the first African-American Assembly Member, the first African-American State Senator, and the first African-American Member of Congress. He played a pivotal role the mayoral campaigns of David N. Dinkins and Percy Sutton, as well as the gubernatorial campaign of H. Carl McCall. Archie helped elect my precedessor to Congress, and of course, provided indispensable support and counsel when I sought this office.

A post office facility bearing Archie's name, located a few blocks from the headquarters from which Archie's political organizing emanated will be a reminder to the community he served long and well of the gratitude they owe to this man who made a difference in their everyday lives and effectively represented them in the corridors of New York City government.

Please join me in designating the Saint Albans postal facility the Archie Spigner Post Office Building, in honor of this accomplished gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend we pause to remember the third anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We pause to recollect the full meaning of the lives lost--nearly 3,000 Americans and foreign nationals. Our compatriots were not just casualty figures. They were mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. They were best friends and good neighborhoods. They were lovers and loved ones. They were employers and employees. Their best contributions were still ahead of them.

We pause to recall the first responders who rescued thousands from the twin towers. We recall with amazement their bravery as they went into the towering infernos. And we recall that had it not been for heroic action of passengers abroad Flight 93, al Qaeda's terrorists might have crashed that airliner into the White House or the Capitol Building instead of a field in rural Pennsylvania.

On this third anniversary of 9/11, we also pause to reaffirm our determination to triumph over fear. We reaffirm our determination to foster tolerance in our land and in the world, to build respect for all faiths, and to promote the collaborative action of people and governments across the globe, to mobilize for mutual development rather the civilizational destruction advocated by Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and other adherents of radical Islamist fundamentalism.

On this day and this occasion, our thoughts turn to the survivors of 9/11 and the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. It is impossible to calculate their enduring pain. Yet, we are inspired by how these families have turned their tragedy into effective action. Their dedication to the memory of loves ones lost led to the creation of the 9/11 commission, which in turn led to a set of recommendations for intelligence and homeland security reform that if implemented could better protect our nation, make us for secure, and positioned to share peace and prosperity with the world.

As a country, we must be as determined as the 9/11 families. We must be as determined now as we were on 9/11 to bring to justice the perpetrators of this colossal assault on human decency. But, mindful of all that has transpired since then--on the one hand a just but unfinished war in Afghanistan, on the other hand a disastrous diversion and unparalleled miscalculation in Iraq--we must proceed in meeting the al Qaeda challenge with wise leadership, with patience and persistence, with global allies, with sound plans, with focused effort.

Most of all, we must proceed together as Americans. We must reclaim the unity of purpose that gripped all of us on 9/11. I remember well utter destruction that took place on that beautiful September morning. But, I remember even better how every New Yorker, every American-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, and Arabs, Jews, gentiles, and Muslims, rich and poor--came together as one.

We must reclaim that spirit and that purpose. We must overcome those among us who have distracted us by using our suffering as a nation for narrow and selfish political gain or have diverted resources, personnel, time, and energy from the struggle against Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. We must regain the momentum and solidarity befitting a great people and a great nation focused on accomplishing great deeds of remembrance for the victims of 9/11.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to denounce Vice President Cheney's disgusting and inappropriate remarks yesterday while campaigning. The Vice President's consistent attacks have reached an all-time low, even for him, and that is saying a lot for the most polarizing, divisive Vice President in the history of the United States.

We were not attacked because we were Democrats. We were not attacked because we were Republicans. We were attacked because we were Americans, and the question is where is this administration leading us? Mr. Cheney criticizes Mr. Kerry while he was defending this country, and he took five deferments.

To exploit 9/11 and play on the public fears of terrorism is an affirmation by this administration that their record is too dismal to stand on its own. Americans should be fearful, fearful of the Bush- Cheney policies that have recruited more terrorists who want to destroy us, fearful that the hatred for America is at an all-time high, thanks to the policies of Bush-Cheney.

Time and time again this administration has made the wrong choices for America. John Kerry and John Edwards will take America in a new direction. He will make America stronger at home and more respected around the world.