Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, we come here with a heavy heart. I urge the Members of this House to do our duty to pass the Schiavo Act. Its purpose is simple--to allow the Federal courts to review this matter in the light of Terri's constitutional rights. That's not a lot to ask.

Over the last few days, Members of both parties and chambers have worked tirelessly to reach this agreement. We hope that these efforts will help give Terri Schiavo new hope and a new chance at life.

We have heard very moving accounts of people close to Terri that she is indeed, very much alive. She laughs, she cries and she smiles with those around her. She is aware of her surroundings and is responsive to them. This is a woman who deserves a chance at life and not a death sentence of starvation and dehydration.

It is our hope that this bill will give Terri a new hope of life. It takes her case out of the Florida court system and puts it in the hands of the Federal court. There, her case will be tried anew where the judge can reevaluate and reassess Terri's medical condition.

Oddly enough, on this very day last year, the Pope addressed a group of participants in an international Congress on life-sustaining treatments. The Pope said a human being's value and personal dignity do not change no matter what his or her circumstances.

And I quote:

A man, even if seriously ill or disabled in the exercise of

his highest functions, is and always will be a man, and he

will never become a ``vegetable'' or an ``animal.''

I urge every Member of this people's House to carry these words in their hearts as we vote.

Today, we have the opportunity to give a woman another chance to live. It is our turn to fulfill the promises etched in the Declaration of Independence to make life more perfect for the pursuit of life.

I want to thank my colleagues Leader DeLay, Majority Whip Blunt, Representative Oberstar, Chairman Sensenbrenner and Dr. Weldon for helping us to get this life saving bill together.

I want the Schindler family to know that no matter what happens, our hearts and prayers will continue to be with you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and offer my personal thanks to Colonel Peter J. Bunce of the United States Air Force, for a job well done.

Many of us in Congress know Colonel Bunce, who for the past six years has worked as the Air Forces liaison to the House and then as liaison to the Budget and Appropriations Committees for both Chambers. I have traveled on international congressional delegations with Pete on numerous occasions, and in every case, his skill and attention to detain ensured a flawless CODEL. In addition, Pete has fostered a new level of excellence in communications between the Congress and the Pentagon on policy matters within his portfolio.

Colonel Bunce has served in this role at a very critical time in our Nation's history, keeping us advised about, and facilitating congressional visits to, our brave service men and women in Operations Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. His efforts have been instrumental in keeping Members and staff aware of the costs and sacrifices of our military personnel as we prosecute and win this Global War on Terrorism. Pete knows these sacrifices first-hand. As many of my colleagues know, Peter's son Justin, a brave marine, was critically injured while defending our freedom in Iraq. We wish Justin a speedy recovery.

While I have relied on Pete's military advice, I have valued his friendship even more, and I know many of my colleagues on Capitol Hill share in that sentiment. In this regard, I wanted Colonel Bunce to know that each of us in Congress who have known and worked with him wish Pete and his family the very best and Godspeed in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3.

I'm glad this day has finally come. This is one of the most important bills this Congress can pass.

I designated this Highway and Transit Reauthorization as H.R. 3 because of its importance as the economic growth and jobs bill for this legislative year.

It's estimated for every $1 billion we spend on road construction, nearly 48,000 jobs are created.

But it's more than just jobs. We need an adequate infrastructure to move people and the materials they make efficiently.

With more than 67 percent of the Nation's freight moving on highways, economists believe that our ability to compete internationally is tied to the quality of our infrastructure.

In an era of just-in-time delivery and an increasingly global economy it is unacceptable that traffic congestion currently affects 33 percent of all travel on America's major roadways; leading to 3.6 billion hours of delay each year.

I congratulate Chairman Young and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for producing a bill that addresses this Nation's need for a transportation system suited to the 21st century's economy.

Further, Chairman Young and the Committee have written a fiscally responsible bill at a $283.9 billion funding level that fits within our budget and that the President can sign.

Given the demands of the infrastructure needs and the delicate balance that must be maintained among competing interests for highway and transit funds, this is no small accomplishment.

Today, the House of Representatives will prove that it is possible to pass a fiscally responsible Highway bill.

It is now up to the other body to quickly match our effort and get into conference so this legislation can be enacted into law before this year's construction season passes for States in the North.

The time is over for any further delay in reauthorizing these vital infrastructure programs.

For 2 years, uncertainty and delay over establishing multi-year funding levels has hampered our and the States' ability to plan for and build transportation systems.

In conclusion, I want to thank Chairman Young, Ranking Member Oberstar and the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for producing this legislation.

To quote our Majority Leader Tom DeLay--who was also instrumental in getting us to this point--it is time to ``get it done.''

Mr. Speaker, America has lost a great public servant and a gracious lady.

When I became Speaker, Tillie Fowler was there with me at the leadership table, serving as the Republican Conference Vice-Chair.

But despite the burden of her many responsibilities, she always had time to be a friend.

She was an effective legislator because she always kept her word to her colleagues and constituents.

She rose within the Republican leadership and became one of the most powerful women in Congress. Despite her influence--she kept her word and honored her term limits pledge because she had promised her constituents she would serve no more than four terms.

After leaving Congress, she continued to devote herself to public service by serving on critical commissions related to her area of expertise in national defense.

Her selflessness and service to her community and family are the legacies she leaves behind.

The House is a better institution because of people like Tillie Fowler. We will miss her greatly.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Buck and her two daughters Elizabeth and Tillie.

Mr. Speaker, our forefathers fought a revolution. They fought a revolution for freedom against a power that at that time was much greater than the sum of this Nation. They fought against private gentry.

George Mason said at the Constitutional Convention that ``the people will be represented; they ought therefore to choose their representatives.''

This is a conceptual framework that has governed this body for more than 2 centuries. Today, even though times have changed, the spirit of Mason lives on. And with God's blessing we will never have to use this piece of legislation. But we have to seriously consider the issue of the continuity in Congress.

We have specifically designed authority to other Members of this body to call the House back into session should I not be here to do it. We have changed the rules of the House to allow it to function if Members are incapacitated.

Today we debate a bill that calls for the States to provide special elections if more than 100 Members are killed. And yes, even though we have provided for rules if Members are incapacitated, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure the American people have full representation in this Congress.

Congress has always been for the people and by the people. And in keeping with the great traditions of our country, we need to keep it that way. Last Congress we overwhelmingly passed a very similar bill to the one we are debating today. It was improved by the

Congress with various amendments, many from the other side of the aisle, which the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) has incorporated into this bill. We heard a desire to make sure that this bill specifically allows for primaries; that language is incorporated in this bill. And my good friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), wanted to make sure that the military ballots from overseas were counted. We have incorporated that suggestion into this bill.

I discussed with the Democratic leader the idea of increasing the number of days from 45 to 49, 7 weeks, to provide the 7 weeks for these special elections. I thought it was important to add a few more days. However, 60 days is too long a time for the framework of the national crisis because of our role under the War Powers Act.

The bill we had adopted last Congress with the support of 306 Members was a very good bill. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) have even a better bill this year, and I expect the same overwhelming bipartisan support.

In closing, we face a significant threat. What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy. And my point is that after September 11, partisan bickering was on the back burner, and we were able to come together and do great things for the American people.

Terrorists hate everything we stand for, especially our democracy. Their whole object is to disrupt and destroy. In the event of the unthinkable, this bill strikes a blow to the heart of the terrorists and allows this body to reconstitute itself as quickly as possible, therefore carrying on the spirit of Mason and of this great Nation.

I urge the defeat of the motion to recommit. I urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased join my colleagues here today who support taking a historic first step to breaking one of the main shackles holding back our economy and America's workforce--lawsuit abuse.

For the last decade, the Republican Congress has worked to end out of control lawsuits. Today is the day we will pass common-sense legislation and put an end to Class Action Lawsuit abuse.

I particularly want to praise the efforts of House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner for his relentless work. Without his

stewardship, I don't think th achievement would have become a reality.

I come from Illinois--the Land of Lincoln--where downstate Madison County has the dubious distinction as a personal injury lawyer's paradise. No, there are not palm trees or sandy beaches there. Instead, Madison County, Illinois, is home to very warm courtrooms where frivolous lawsuits are filed virtually everyday.

Why's Madison County? The answer: ``venue shopping.''

Cagey trial lawyers have figured out there's a pretty good likelihood their case--no matter what its merit--will literally get its day in court because of favorable judges.

To use a sports analogy, thanks to willing judges, personal injury lawyers get to play on their ``home court'' each and every time they file a frivolous lawsuit there.

For instance, a legendary class action case from Madison County illustrates what's wrong with the current legal system.

In 2000, Cable TV customers who filed suit over their cable operator's late fee policy won their case, but received nothing . . . not a dime, not a nickel, not a Lincoln penny. Instead, their $5.6 million settlement went directly into the pockets of their attorneys. How is that justice? How does that help victims?

The American people deserve better. Our working families demand better.

Today's action takes a step in the right direction to end the so- called Tort Tax.

The Tort Tax makes consumers pay more for the goods and services they use.

The Tort Tax adds to the cost of everything we buy because businesses and manufacturers have to cover themselves and their employees--just in case they get sued by a greedy personal injury lawyer.

At last estimate, this outrageous Tort Tax cost the nation's economy $246 billion a year, and by 2006, it will cost the average American nearly $1,000 more each year on their purchases because of defensive business practices.

In closing, as a matter of principle, damage awards should go to the victim, not the lawyers. Lawsuits should not be ``strike it rich'' schemes for lawyers.

There has to be some limit to what lawyers can take from their clients. Otherwise, cagey attorneys end up with the lion's share of the settlement and the victims end up with little more than scraps.

Mr. Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact on issues of mutual interest.

A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany from May 22 to June 4 of this year. During this two-week exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat Members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. Participants also will be hosted by a Bundestag Member during a district visit.

A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for two weeks in July. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington and visit the districts of Members of Congress. The U.S. delegation is expected to facilitate these meetings.

The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States.

Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events.

In addition, U.S. participants are expected to help plan and implement the program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are expected to assist in planning topical meetings in Washington, and are encouraged to host one or two staffers in their Member's district in July, or to arrange for such a visit to another Member's district.

Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange.

Senators and Representatives who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated.

Applications may be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HB-28, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16.

Mr. Vice President, please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert, administered to the Vice President the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, which he repeated, as follows:

``I, Richard Bruce Cheney, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of my office of which I am about to enter. So help me God.''

Thank you, Nancy, for those gracious remarks. You have been an able leader for the Democratic Caucus in this House and you have helped lead this Congress with honor and distinction. We have disagreed on policy matters in the past, and I suspect we will disagree again in the future, but we both love this House of Representatives and the great democratic process of representative government.

Nancy, we have some serious issues to confront in this new Congress and I look forward to a vigorous debate in the months ahead, for it is through debate that we arrive at the policy decisions that will keep this Nation safe and make it stronger. This House is where we fight the battle of ideas and at the end of the day we make the laws that govern this Nation, and so it is a great honor to serve in this institution. It is a special honor to sit in this chair.

I thank each of you for allowing me once again to serve as your Speaker.

The new year confronted us with two sad tragedies. First came the images from the tsunami that ravaged countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Our deepest condolences go to all those who lost loved ones in this terrible event. Just as former Presidents Clinton and Bush will join together to coordinate private relief efforts here in the United States, we in the Congress will work together on a bipartisan basis to get the necessary relief to those in need.

Second, we lost one of our own on New Year's Day. I too want to pay tribute to our fallen colleague, Bob Matsui. Bob holds a special place in the hearts of Members on both sides of the aisle. He was a man of strong principle but a kind and gentle spirit. He was a proud Democrat, but he also knew how to reach across the aisle when the interests of his country demanded it. He will be greatly missed in this House and we are a better House of Representatives because he served here.

Now let me welcome our new Members. We have 38 new Members, three of whom are returning after previous service here. Twenty-two of the new Members served in the State legislatures. Ten served in local government. For only the second time in House history, this class includes a Member whose ancestry is from the world's largest democracy, the nation of India. This is a motivated and talented group whom I believe will make a positive impact on the Congress for years to come.

I will not spend a great deal of time in these remarks to give you new Members a lot of advice, but I will say this. I hope that you will take the time to get to know your colleagues, to find mentors in this great body. There is a lot of wisdom and experience in this place. Even as each of you bring a new and fresh perspective to this place, there is also much to be learned from the past.

Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Europe to participate in the ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, to see our young soldiers as we visited the hospitals and bases across Europe and also visit with old soldiers who had served and given their all 60 years ago to help keep this country free. It was a great experience.

Our former colleague and Republican leader, Bob Michel who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, accompanied me along with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the dean of this House, another distinguished veteran, who will soon celebrate his 50th year in this body. And to you incoming Members, I must tell you I have learned much from these great men. In fact, I continue to learn from them. So, new Members, seek out the Henry Hydes and the Charlie Rangels and the Bill Youngs and the John Lewises and the many talented people who serve here. Get to know them and follow in their footsteps of distinguished service.

As we open the doors to the 109th Congress, we close the doors of the 108th Congress. Those returning Members can look with pride at the accomplishments of the last Congress: the historic reform of the Medicare system that includes a prescription drug package for our seniors, health savings accounts that give American consumers more power over their health care dollars, creation of the National Intelligence Director and a complete overhaul of our intelligence capabilities, tax relief that kept us out of a deep recession and will propel us into better economic growth in the future.

But there is still much work to do.

``Make no little plan,'' said Daniel Burnham, the architect who helped design the great city of Chicago. ``For they have no magic to stir men's blood.''

In this Congress, big plans will still stir men's blood. The 109th Congress will be the Reform Congress. We have big challenges that face this country, and we need big ideas to meet those challenges. Today we must seize the initiative. Today we must start anew the process of reforming our government. Security and prosperity only come with hard work and responsible government. Today let us get to that hard work.

First and foremost, we must make this country safe from those who would do us great harm. Every day that I look out the window of my office towards the Pentagon building, I am reminded of that monstrous attack on September 11, 2001, that killed 3,000 of our fellow citizens. And each day this Congress has taken important steps to make this country safer from the terrorists who seek to attack us again.

In the 107th Congress, we created the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. PATRIOT Act and the Visa and Border Security Act. In the 108th Congress, we created the Director of National Intelligence. And in this 109th Congress we have to continue making progress. We need to strengthen our borders, reform our asylum laws, and improve the national standards for driver's licenses.

The terrorists who attacked us did so by exploiting gaps in our border security system, by abusing our immigration laws, and by abusing the everyday freedoms that every American takes for granted, yet holds so dear to their hearts. We must fill those gaps.

As the Congress works to reform the executive branch, we must also work to reform our congressional oversight functions. In the 108th Congress, we created a Select Committee on Homeland Security. Today in the rules of the House that we will adopt shortly, I have proposed that we make the Select Committee on Homeland Security a permanent standing committee. Better oversight of the Department of Homeland Security will lead to better security for all Americans. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this effort.

As we secure the homeland, we must do everything we can to support our troops around the world who are on the front lines fighting the war on terror. I am troubled by accounts that our soldiers do not have the equipment and the armor to protect themselves against roadside bombs in Iraq. This cannot stand. This Congress, on a bipartisan basis, will continue to provide the resources needed to take care of our fighting men and women. Protecting our homeland and winning the war on terror are critical components of making this country more secure.

But long-term security means more than fighting the war on terror. It also means taking important steps to get our fiscal house in order. The President has laid out a bold reform agenda. We need to move aggressively on his reform agenda to protect our Nation from a looming fiscal crisis. This Congress and its predecessors have a covenant with older Americans. We have repeatedly promised to keep Social Security strong, and so it is there to protect today's seniors and is available to our children and our grandchildren. But to keep it safe, we need to make some important changes. If we wait too long, the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic.

And let me be clear. We do this without changing the system for those who receive Social Security benefits now. As we strengthen the Social Security system, we must also start a national debate on completely overhauling our Tax Code. In the last Congress, a lot of words were spoken on this floor about jobs leaving our country, about outsourcing. This Congress must do everything in its power to protect American jobs, and the one thing that kills American jobs is our Tax Code. Let me say that again. Our Tax Code is killing jobs in America. It disadvantages those who produce here to sell overseas and gives real great advantage to those who produce overseas to sell their products here. Our Tax Code is too complicated, it is too unfair, and it punishes job creators. It costs American taxpayers over $250 billion every year just to fill out their tax forms and comply with the IRS. America must have a simpler Tax Code, one that makes sense for all Americans.

As we debate the larger issues of reforming the Tax Code, we should keep in mind that increasing taxes just as the economy is getting its footing is simply wrong. This Republican majority will not raise taxes. We should continue to keep taxes low by making permanent the tax cuts we passed in the 107th and 108th Congresses. I disagree with the position of some of my colleagues who believe that we should raise taxes to cut the deficit. The best way to close the deficit gap is to keep the economy growing as we control spending. I appreciate the hard work of

the Committee on Appropriations slowing the growth of discretionary spending. We need to keep that kind of fiscal discipline in this Congress.

But we also need to take a look at entitlement spending. We must apply cost-savings technology to the government to improve efficiency, to cut down on waste, fraud, and abuse.

And as we look for ways to improve our Nation's economic future, we can start by finally passing laws to stop lawsuit abuse. Most people know how abusive lawsuits have driven many doctors, especially OB/GYNs, out of business. This is just one example of how lawsuit abuse hurts our citizens, particularly women and children. We have to bring common sense to our legal process. And, yes, there needs to be accountability for those who do harm, but abuses must be ended. That is why we must pass class-action reform this year.

Another impediment to our continued economic prosperity is the volatile energy market. We passed an energy conference report out of the House the last Congress, only to see it die in the other body. We need to finish the job this year.

And, finally, as we prepare our economy for the next 50 years, we must keep our transportation system on the cutting edge. Our roads, bridges, and ports not only move people; they also move products. And we must make at home those products to sell abroad, and we must keep those institutions viable that move them from the marketplace to the markets. To keep our products moving, we must finish the work on the transportation bill early this year.

As we move this aggressive reform agenda, let us ever be mindful of our responsibilities laid out in the Constitution. The Constitution begins by describing the legislative branch. Article I, section 1 says that all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in the Congress. The mission of the Congress, as laid out in the Constitution, is stark: establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, and provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. One hundred nine times, newly elected Members of Congress have gathered together to be sworn in, to pledge a solemn oath to uphold that Constitution. The size of the delegations have increased, the numbers of constituents have multiplied, and the demands on the Members seem more complex than ever. But the basics of doing the job have never really changed. Those Members who do best in this place are those who never lose sight of where they came from or whom they represent.

My congressional district lies in the heartland of America. My home is in the Fox River Valley, not the Potomac River. And I want to thank my constituents of the 14th District of Illinois for giving me the opportunity to serve them again. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to represent these great Americans.

And as I thank my constituents, I must also thank my most important constituent, my wife, Jean, who, by the way, is the Speaker in our house.

Jean, thank you for your patience, your guidance, your sense humor, and your wonderful common sense.

As elected representatives of the people, each of us shoulders a great burden of responsibility. Our families often bear the brunt of that burden. And let me thank all of the spouses and the children, many of whom are here in this Chamber today. We want to thank you for your sacrifices on behalf of the American people.

And as we begin this historic 109th Congress, let us also give thanks to our Creator for the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. May God bless this House and all who serve in it, and may God bless this great Nation we call America.

I now recognize the Dean of the House of Representatives, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), my good friend and colleague, who will administer the oath.

Mr. DINGELL then administered the oath of office to Mr. Hastert of Illinois, as follows:

Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which you are about to enter. So help you God.

(Applause, the Members rising.)

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time.

Times like these, after we have been through a whole session of Congress and with our rules that after 6 years our chairman steps down, the gentleman that I have been through a lot of battles with, we have worked together on a lot of issues, trying to make sure that we meet the needs of the people of this country, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) has been an exemplary chairman. He has worked hard to make sure that all needs are met and sometimes in pretty tough situations. I think, by and large, he has been a person who has been able to reach across the aisle and work. That is a great personality plus. That is a great asset in this Chamber.

I think we all just want to say a heartfelt thank you for his service. He is going to be around here for a while. But as he steps down, this is his last bill as chairman, and from the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank him for his work and for his service and for making this institution part of what it is. I thank the gentleman and God bless him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my thoughts on the 108th Congress and the challenges that we face in the upcoming 109th Congress.

The 108th Congress has been dominated by concerns about security. Our constituents are worried about their personal security, and that is not surprising given the war on terror, but they are also concerned about economic security. They are worried about jobs. They are worried about health care, and they are worried about their families, about making this world a better place to live for their children and their grandchildren. They are also worried about the high costs of energy and especially gas and natural gas.

This House has tried to address those concerns.

First and foremost, we supported our President as he led us in the fight against terrorism. We passed a war supplemental this spring that provided our troops with the critical equipment, the weapons, the ammunition and the training, to get the job done in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We have had notable success in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last year. In June, Hamid Karzai, the President of the new Afghanistan addressed a joint session of the Congress; and in September, President Allawi, the President of the new Iraq, also addressed the Congress.

Think about it. Instead of a Taliban regime that abused women and trained terrorists to attack America, we have a democratically elected pro-American President in Kabul. Instead of a brutal dictator who terrorized his own citizens, who intended to develop weapons of mass destruction and who actively supported and funded terrorist organizations in Baghdad, there is a new President of Iraq who is trying to build a democracy.

This is still a tough fight. The terrorists have flocked to Iraq because they know that if they are successful there we will have turned a corner in the war on terror, but we must not turn away now. We must see this to the end.

This is a two-pronged war on terror. As we win the war overseas, we must strengthen our defenses at home.

The 9/11 Commission gave us an important roadmap to strengthening our homeland defenses by improving our intelligence agencies, bolstering our border security and strengthening our anti-terror laws.

The Congress has reacted quickly to this report. Our committees canceled their August break to hold hearings on the recommendations, and we came back in September to start the hard work of the legislation. It is easy to make recommendations, but it is a lot harder to make law.

And since the Commission made its recommendations, the Congress has worked around the clock to make a good law that will make this country safer. We hope to find consensus and to pass the bill before the end of this year.

I am proud of our efforts. Reforming the intelligence agencies is difficult. Our former colleague, Porter Goss, who is now the CIA Director, has found out how hard it is to get entrenched bureaucrats to change. He is doing an excellent job under very difficult circumstances.

The Congress took effective action in the 107th Congress to create a Department of Homeland Security. In the 108th Congress, we made this historic change in our committees to oversee that new department. We created a Select Committee on Homeland Security. We also created a Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations, dedicated to funding our Homeland Security needs. I intend to make the Select Committee permanent in the next Congress. I hope my colleagues will join me in that effort.

As we did our part in the war on terror, we also fought hard to make America more secure on the domestic front. Job security was at the forefront of our efforts. We had an active agenda to spur job growth here in America. This fall, we passed the American Job Creation Act, and this bill cuts taxes for domestic manufacturers so that they can create jobs here.

We also passed the Working Families Tax Relief Act, aimed at helping families keep more of what they earn so they can spend more on their needs. These tax cut measures helped spur steady economic growth and job creation. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created over the last 12 months, thanks in no small part to our efforts here.

This Congress also grappled with health care security. I am proud of the Medicare Reform Act, which for the first time added prescription drug benefits to the Medicare program. Health Savings Accounts were included in that legislation, and now millions of Americans have a chance to use HSAs to get better health care for their own families. I like Health Savings Accounts because they put consumers in the driver's seat when it comes to controlling costs, not government bureaucrats.

Education remains an important part of our domestic agenda. In the 107th Congress, we reacted to the No Child Left Behind law, which greatly increased accountability and increased standards for our Nation's schools. Yesterday, we completed work on a reauthorization of a special education bill that will help free up resources for local schools. We have a responsibility to help all children in our society, and this bill does exactly that.

We also leave this Congress with some unfinished business. I am very disappointed we did not finish the highway bill. A first-class economy needs a first-class transportation system. And while we made great progress by passing the highway bill out of both Chambers, we could not finish the conference report. We will get this done early next year.

I was also disappointed we did not finish the energy conference report. Energy prices are too high, and we are too dependent on foreign sources. The energy conference report that passed the House would have given incentives to American companies to produce energy in America for Americans. Trial lawyers held this bill up. We must overcome their opposition and pass this common-sense approach to energy independence in the next Congress.

We need to pass medical liability reform. Trial lawyers, again, are driving OB/GYNs out of business, making it hard for women in many States to get the health care that they need. We passed it, but it was stopped in the other body. We will finish that job next year, also.

Other liability reform efforts are also important. Class action lawsuits are out of control. Asbestos legislation is killing jobs. And in this country we need to make some real changes so that we can create jobs and not force them overseas. Every time a court claim goes against an American manufacturer, nine times out of ten those jobs go overseas. Each consumer pays a tort tax that puts our products at a competitive disadvantage. We need to reform our tort laws if we are serious about reforming our economy next year.

Next year, we also have other big issues that we need to tackle. Social Security reform is on the agenda. The President campaigned on it. Many of our Members have talked about it. And if we do nothing, the system will go bankrupt. We can do this without raising taxes or cutting benefits for senior citizens. We can do it by giving younger Americans ownership of their retirement to help them get a better return on their investments.

We need to take a serious look at tax reform. Our Tax Code is too complex and too anti-competitive. It costs our citizens $250 billion every year just to prepare their taxes. This is ridiculous. If we want to keep jobs here in America, we need to simplify our tax system. There are a lot of ideas out there, and I hope that we can have a national debate on how best to do that.

We have a fiscal crisis that we must deal with. Our national debt is too high, and our budget deficit is too big. We need to cut spending first. We need to look closely at entitlement programs and spending. We need to reform the government. We need to make this government smaller and smarter. We can make it more efficient. We can weed out waste, fraud, and abuse, and we can get to balanced budgets again as soon as possible.

But as we look at reform in government and cutting the deficit, we should also resist the calls to raise taxes. Growing the economy is the best way to close a deficit. We lost $350 billion of revenue when the Internet bubble burst. Strong, sustained economic growth will bring back those revenues. But we will not get the growth if we raise taxes.

Looking back over this last session of Congress, I am concerned about the bitter partisanship that has engulfed this House. I am especially concerned that some might want to use the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for partisan politics. Congressional ethics is important. We all have a duty to represent our constituents with the highest ethical standards, but an ethics committee is only as good as the will of its Members.

We should remember why we have this committee in the first place. The ethics process protects the reputations of all of us by investigating abuses by

some of us. But when some seek to subvert that process for political gain, we all suffer. It is wrong to file frivolous and overly partisan ethics complaints.

The House is an interesting institution because it has rules that protect the rights of the minority and it guarantees that the will of the majority be carried out. Unlike in the other body, where the rules tend to encourage bipartisanship, our rules tend to encourage partisanship. In my opinion, we should do a better job of resisting that temptation towards partisanship and work for more bipartisanship.

All too often, both the majority and the minority in the House have retreated to their separate camps, drawing lines in the sand, refusing to negotiate, and the result has been partisanship. That is bitter and counterproductive. We will have fundamental disagreements on many issues. That is the beauty of the two-party system. But we ought to seek a way to bridge those disagreements whenever we can.

I pledge to work with my colleagues in the minority party who want to work with the majority to get good things done. I have great respect for Members like the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), and many others. And I have a high regard for the minority leadership. I know that they want the best things for this country, even when I disagree with their approach. We all have a duty to our constituents to make this country as strong as possible. We work best when we work together.

I want to thank all the Members for their patience and for their perseverance. Public service in the Congress of the United States is not an easy vocation and especially hard on families. I want to thank to all the Members for their service to this Nation.

I would also like to thank the dedicated staff, especially the floor staff, legislative counsel, the clerks, and the pages who work long and hard to make this place work. Thank you for your fine service, and thank you from this Nation. God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to those American heroes who fought so valiantly alongside our allies during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. I urge the House to pass this resolution. In doing so, we're honoring the memory of those heroes who changed the course of history.

On December 16, 1944, Nazi forces launched a counter offensive through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. Surprising the Allies, the German Army managed to force their way deep into Belgium and break through Allied lines, thus creating a territorial bulge. Six hundred thousand Americans joined the British, Belgians, Canadians and other allied forces in a month long effort to stop Nazi Germany's last-ditch attempt to save their evil regime. Nineteen thousand Americans made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of the Bulge. Countless others were wounded.

Among those who fought bravely and forever altered the course of history was my good friend and mentor from Illinois, our former Republican Leader, Bob Michel. Bob was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured by a merciless hail of machine gun bullets fired by enemy combatants from the Third Reich. Along with his Purple Heart, he received the Bronze Star and four battle stars for his selfless, heroic efforts. People like Bob Michel and his brothers-in-arms are great examples of why we live in a free world today. The world is better off because of those brave heroes who stood their ground in the Ardennes Forest and stopped the spread of fascism. By passing this resolution, we can forever remember those Americans and our allied friends for everything they gave.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it. I want to thank those who brought good ideas to the process to make this country safer.

I want to thank the 9/11 Commission for their recommendations and the stellar work of both the chairman and the vice chairman of that committee over a long period of time to take the

interest of this Nation at heart, to try to craft recommendations that make this country safer against terrorists.

I want to thank the chairmen and ranking members of the committees of jurisdiction in this House of Representatives. They have done an incredible job. They have come together. They have worked hard and, by and large, on a bipartisan basis to find good answers to tough problems. They have worked hard to provide us with their best ideas on how to implement these recommendations.

Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle complained about the process, and I must admit that I am baffled by those complaints. We had countless hearings during the August recess in every committee of jurisdiction. We had 20-some hearings on this issue in the last couple of months. We have had an open amendment process at the committee level, and we carefully considered the ideas of the commission and of the committees' chairmen, and we came up with a response that will make this country safer.

Some have complained that we are going too slow. Some have complained that we are going too fast. Some said our bill was too strong. Others said this bill is too weak. Some have complained because it is simply their nature to complain. Despite the complaints, I am proud of this work product.

This legislation will make this country safer. It will make our families safer. It will ensure the safety of our children and our parents. It is comprehensive. It reforms the government to make it more effective in battling terrorists that want to do harm to this country. It creates a National Intelligence Director. The new position will have full budget authority. It creates the National Counterterrorism Center and a Joint Intelligence Community Council. It improves terrorism prevention and prosecution so that we can get the terrorists and those who help them before they get us.

It improves border security. It makes it harder for terrorists to travel to America.

One provision that has drawn quite a bit of attention deals with the convention against torture. We do not condone torture in this country or any other country, but we do not want known terrorists and criminals living among us either.

The courts have said criminal aliens and terrorists cannot be held indefinitely in the United States, but the convention against torture says we cannot deport some people back to their own country if they ask for political asylum because of torture.

In 500 cases, the Justice Department has been forced to release alien terrorists and other international criminals whom they cannot detain and they cannot deport. I do not think that makes any sense. If you find a rattlesnake in your backyard, you should not be forced to release it in your front yard.

We have reached a common-sense solution to this problem by giving the Justice Department the power to continue to hold those terrorists and those alien criminals.

These are the kinds of solutions that my colleagues will find in our bill. They will not find it in the minority's alternative.

Why is this type of provision so controversial? To me, it just makes sense.

Yes, we disagree with the other body when it comes to making our intelligence budget public. We believe that telling our enemies how much we spend on certain intelligence programs diminishes our national security. Why should we give those who want to do us harm any information that might help them?

Yesterday, I met with three women who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. I can only imagine the pain that they feel every day, and I know the passion that they bring to this debate today. We share their sense of loss. We share their commitment to making this country, this Nation, safer.

I have a simple message for them. We will get this job done. The process will work. We will pass a bill today that implements the 9/11 Commission recommendations. We will appoint conferees that will hammer out a good conference report that will be signed by the President of the United States.

Yes, at the end of the day, we will enact a law that will make our country safer, this America, the United States of America, and the people that live in it proud.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment to inform the House that one of our most distinguished Members is leaving us and will resign as of midnight tonight.

Yesterday, the other body did something good. They confirmed our colleague, Porter Goss, as the next director of Central Intelligence. I have known Porter Goss for a long time. He has been a person that I have relied on for a variety of issues. He has great judgment, an abundance of common sense and a real ability to bring people together to get good things done for the American people. Porter has been chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for 8 years. He knows the CIA inside out, and he has good ideas on how to make sure our intelligence agencies are the best in the world.

Porter, we are going to miss you, but we know you will be doing your best to make this Nation, America, more secure. Thank you, and God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, almost 3 years ago, President Bush came to this Chamber and promised the American people that he would lead America in a war against the terrorists who attacked us on September 11th.

We did not choose this war. But now that we are in it, we have no choice but to win it.

Later today, we will pay our respects to those who lost their lives in those deadly attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

And as we pay our respects to those who died on that fateful day, we will also pay tribute to those who have died defending freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This war is not over, but we are winning. And our soldiers have not died in vain. The Taliban has been crushed. Saddam Hussein is in jail. And Osama Bin Laden is on the run.

Last week, the brutal murder of innocent children in Russia served as a grim reminder about the nature of this enemy.

The terrorists will not play by the rules of basic decency. And we have no choice but to stop them before they strike again.

My deepest condolences go out to the Russian people. The American people understand your grief and feel your deep sense of loss.

And as we remember our own losses in this global war in terror, we share your resolve to bring the terrorists to justice.