Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues a letter that was published in the November 8th edition of the New York Times. The letter was composed by my constituent--Mr. Benjamin Solomon of Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Solomon writes about the critical importance of openness in government, the serious nature of war, and the importance of honoring our nation's veterans. I hope that the words of Mr. Solomon, who is a veteran of World War II, are taken into serious consideration.

[From the New York Times, Nov. 8, 2005]

Killed, Then Exploited

To the Editor:

``The Mysterious Death of Pat Tillman,'' by Frank Rich

(column, Nov. 6), left me sick at heart. I am a World War II

veteran in my later 80's who still thinks of his tent mates

who were lost to enemy action.

Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals defensive back who

volunteered for the Army, was killed last year in

Afghanistan, apparently by friendly fire. The cynical

exploitation of his death and the lies surrounding it are a

betrayal of this brave soldier and his family, of all the

others who made the same sacrifice in Iraq, and of the ideals

of decency we claim for our nation.

The thought that the responsible high-level officials in

the Pentagon and the White House are still in power frightens

me.

Benjamin Solomon,

Evanston, Ill., Nov. 6, 2005.

Mr. Speaker, February 7th was a very special day for a fine American who had been very special to me and my family. It is the 90th birthday of William ``Bill'' Korr, across-the-street neighbor and family friend throughout my childhood.

Bill was born in 1916 in Chicago. His parents, Ben and Ida Korofsky, were immigrants from Russia who arrived in the U.S. via Ellis Island near the turn of the century.

When the stock market collapsed in 1929, knocking his parents out of the real estate business they had built, Bill at age 16 essentially ran a family grocery business on the west side of the city. He graduated from Englewood High School in 1934. He also attended the University of Chicago for 2 years but was forced to leave for financial considerations due to an illness in his immediate family.

Because of health issues he was not accepted into the Armed Forces during the WWII era.

In 1948 Bill cofounded National Hobbymodel Distributors, a wholesale operation servicing independent retail hobby shops nationwide. Most importantly, he was one of the six original founders of the Hobby Industry of America, HIA, known today as the Craft & Hobby Association, CHA, an organization that caters to a multi-billion dollar industry including craft, hobby, floral and scrap-booking products among its mix and whose leadership includes top executives from numerous prestigious and publicly traded companies.

From 1961 to present, Bill was involved as the principle of the William Korr Sales Company, a manufacturer's representative firm specializing in the floral, craft and hobby industries that today has grown to an operation which has three regional offices and accounts for over $15,000,000 in annual sales. Bill continues to go into the office 4 days a week.

Bill has three sons, Jerold, 60--Sheila, Elliott, 56--Janet, and Bruce, 52--Kimberely. He was married to Florence Tirengel Korr for 54 years before her passing in 1997. He has four granddaughters, Gail, Karen, Linda, & Alexandria, and just recently became a great grandfather when Gail gave birth to Sarah Nicole Atlas on December 5, 2005.

Bill has always been active in his synagogue and community and served as a scout master, long-term board member, and contributor of both funds and wisdom.

He remarried at the ripe old age of 87. His new bride is Sally Wisper Korr.

Golden words of wisdom: ``The DJIA will never go above 1,000,'' ``My advice is worth what you're willing to pay for it,'' ``Nixon's the one.''

I remember Bill as a kind and gentle man, always nice to all the kids on the block. He lived directly across the street from me on Jarvis Avenue in the unpretentiously middleclass Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. It was a tight-knit block on which everybody knew everybody and the families took care of each other. The man I called ``Uncle'' Bill is a great example of a hardworking, honorable and honest American, loved by his family and community, and I wish him a very happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. All women and families should be free from fears of violence, but immigrant women face particular problems in confronting this crisis. That is why I am so pleased that provisions of my bill, H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, are included in this legislation.

Madam Speaker, forgive me if I haven't noticed that Christmas is under attack. Being Jewish, maybe I am simply incapable of judging. Silly me, I thought there were about the same number of Christmas trees, both in private homes and public places--that is, everywhere. Seems like Christmas music is still ubiquitous in elevators, grocery stores, the mall and while on hold on the telephone. No? Having just returned from Eastern Market, I still have the sounds of real live carolers in my ears, and, as a former community choir member, I knew all the words and sang along. (Is it anti-Christmas for a Jew to do that? I should check with Bill O'Reilly.)

Santa was there as usual at Congressmen Barton's and Dingell's reception for the Energy and Commerce Committee, and adorable little children of Christian conservatives as well as moderates, and yes, even Democrats, were

sitting on his lap. I thought I observed the same mix of awe, fear and delight as in years past, but Jewish eyes can deceive, I guess.

I could be wrong, but I think it would be pretty hard not to guess that it is the ``Christmas season'' or that ``Christmas'' is coming if you turned on just about any channel, cable or broadcast, at just about any time of the day or night. Sometimes those reminders also include a request for you to call in and give your credit card number, and do it now, because there are only a few more days until ``Christmas.''

I'm pretty cheerful about responding to ``Merry Christmas'' with a ``Same to you.'' I can't recall ever scolding anyone in public or in private for missing the fact that I don't celebrate Christmas. I do try not to say it myself at my synagogue, unless I know for sure the person is Christian, and then I try especially hard to say it.

I'm fond of candy canes. They seem to be available for free in many places at this time of year--``Christmas'' time. I try never to pass one up. I even try to like fruit cake, understanding it is one of the typical ``Christmas'' treats, but I think it may be like gefilte fish-- an acquired taste.

If there are some Christians who think that Christmas has become too commercial--the symbol of Christmas being more the Visa or Mastercard than the nativity scene--then I think they deserve to have a serious discussion about that. That discussion, in my Jewish view, would be best held in church, or at home, or just about any place other than the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 487, which would establish January 13 of each year as Korean American Day to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean-American immigrants to the United States (January 13, 1903). The Korean American community has added so much to the vibrant culture of Chicago and our country. Illinois has the 4th largest Korean population in the United States, and Chicago alone has close to 12,000 Korean residents.

Korean-Americans have taken root and thrived in the United States through strong family ties and community support. Through hard work, Koreans have invigorated businesses, churches, and academic communities in the United States.

My constituents like Mr. Jin Lee, have made tremendous contributions to my city of Chicago. At the age of fourteen, Mr. Lee arrived in this country and has since been actively serving the Korean-American community. He

co-founded the Keumsil Cultural Society, which promotes Korean American culture. He was Executive Director of the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Village of Skokie's Immigrant Advisory Task Force and a committee member of the Skokie Festival of Cultures. He works hard on behalf of the community and has been recognized and honored by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Republic of Korea and Mayor Richard M. Daley's office. He also served as goodwill ambassador for ``Visit Korea 2001'' and served as Vice President of the Korean American Association of Chicago. He recognizes the importance of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the immigrant community.

As a first generation American and as a Congresswoman who is honored to represent one of the most richly diverse districts in the country, I have a deep appreciation for the invaluable contributions Korean- Americans have made to the United States. Korean-Americans, like Mr. Lee, contribute so much to and are an inspiration to others seeking to share in the American dream. This resolution provides much needed and deserved recognition to the Korean-American community for the invaluable mark they have had on the diversity and prominence of our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 218, a resolution to recognize 2006 as the centennial of sustained immigration from the Philippines to the United States and to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Filipino Americans over the past century.

Immigration from the Philippines to the United States began in 1906 when the first significant numbers of Filipino immigrants arrived in Hawaii to work on the island's sugar plantations. Today, a century later, the Filipino-American community's numbers increase by nearly 60,000 new immigrants per year, making Filipinos the largest immigrant group from the Asia-Pacific region.

The Filipino-American community has added so much to the vibrant culture of Chicago and our country. The 9th Congressional District boasts about 17,000 Filipino residents, which makes it home to the 36th largest number of Filipino-Americans among Congressional districts.

I am particularly proud of the achievements by my constituents like Ms. Aurora Abella-Austriaco, a lawyer, who immigrated here from the Philippines. She was just appointed a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness, First District, by the State of Illinois Supreme Court on October 26, 2005. In addition to being partner of a Chicago law firm, she served as a member of the Filipino American Voters League from 1996-98. She is the current Chair of the Cook County States Attorney's Asian Advisory Council and member of the Attorney General's Asian Advisory Council and Clerk of the Circuit Court's Asian Advisory Council. She is the past Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Chicago and past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association. She also is Vice President of the Asian American Institute's 2005 Board of Directors.

The history of America's Filipino-American community is the quintessential American immigrant story of early struggle, pain and sacrifice, leading to success in overcoming ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal barriers to win a well-deserved place in our national fabric. Filipino-Americans, like Ms. Abella-Austriaco, have made incredible contributions in all parts of our society, including business, labor, politics, medicine, media and the arts. Filipino- Americans have served and are serving with special distinction in our Armed Forces, from World Wars I and II through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Smithsonian Institution will be conducting the Filipino-American Centennial Commemoration 2006 with five public programs and at least six more in cities including the city of Chicago, which I represent. The programs will range from scholarly discussions and film showings to cultural performances providing historical overviews of Filipino- Americans in the United States.

This centennial celebration will provide every American an opportunity to celebrate a century of Filipino immigration to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 612 and to congratulate parliamentary election.

The citizens of Iraq who desire peace and a prosperous future have demonstrated their commitment to those goals by participating in three national Iraqi elections. Reports indicate that Iraqis turned out in unprecedented numbers to vote in yesterday's election. I congratulate them for braving the instability and violence on the streets of Iraq in order to cast their votes.

Today, instead of offering a resolution to express our congratulations and hopes for a democratic Iraq, the Republican leadership has chosen to play politics, offering a divisive resolution. H. Res. 612 does nothing more than reiterate President Bush's failed strategy for Iraq. While all of us support democracy in Iraq, the Republican leadership has rolled over democratic procedures on the House floor, denying Democrats an opportunity to amend this resolution.

In addition, rather than laying out an exit strategy, as was done by Congressman Jack Murtha almost one month ago, the Republican leadership continues to ignore the growing chaos and violence facing our soldiers. The Majority refuses to even debate this critical issue. Staying the course is a recipe for disaster that endangers our troops and the Iraqi people.

The withdrawal of American troops should begin now. The new Iraqi government has been formed, and it must take responsibility for forging its own path toward stability and democracy. In polls, the Iraqi people have been clear: they do not believe coalition troops are providing stability and security, and they believe it is time for our troops to come home. The U.S. should provide diplomatic and financial support to an international effort to help the Iraqi government provide security and consolidate democracy.

I have been contacted by many of my constituents who understand that H. Res. 612 is nothing more than a political stunt. The Republican Congress is no longer fooling the American people. In overwhelming numbers, they think it was a mistake to go to war in Iraq; they think the Bush Administration mishandled the war; and they don't support this war. Our troops remain far from home, endangered by a growing insurgency. Now that Iraq has a democratically-elected government, it is time for our troops to come home in order to spend the holidays with the ones they love.

Mr. Speaker, today we are being asked to vote on the Department of Defense Authorization conference report. Once again, the House is being required to vote on a bill in the dead of night, without the opportunity to read the language or consider its ramifications. I am especially concerned about two provisions in this bill--provisions that were not in the original House bill, were not the subject of Congressional hearings, and have not been carefully scrutinized. Yet, those two provisions--one that undermines the fundamental right of habeas corpus and the other that undermines the ban on torture--will have profound implications for our legal traditions and our reputation throughout the world.

The first provision, based on a Senate amendment, would limit U.S. courts' historic habeas corpus jurisdiction to review detentions. This would cut off access to the courts by persons held at Guantanamo Bay.

Habeas corpus is one of the most fundamental precepts of American Constitutional tradition. The court-stripping provision included in this legislation would do grievous harm to the rule that the government cannot just lock up people without showing cause to a court. It is not a change that we should enact without careful consideration by the appropriate committees in the House and Senate.

In a letter to Members of Congress commenting on the Senate amendment, Leslie H. Jackson, head of the POW organization, American Ex-Prisoners of War, said ``As we limit the rights of human beings, even those of the enemy, we become more like the enemy. That makes us weaker and imperils our troops. I am proud to be an American and proud of my service to my country. This Amendment, well intentioned as it may be, will diminish us.'' William D. Rogers, former Under Secretary of State during the Ford Administration, also expressed serious concerns about the possible impacts of this amendment. He warns, ``To proclaim democratic government to the rest of the world as the supreme form of government at the very moment we eliminate the most important avenue of relief from arbitrary governmental decision will not serve our interests in the larger world.''

Second, this legislation also includes a provision that would undermine a ban on torture by allowing testimony obtained by torture to be used to hold and to punish detainees. Both the House and the Senate have voted overwhelmingly in past weeks that our nation should prohibit the use of torture. We have agreed that the use of torture is antithetical to a moral nation and that it harms our reputation as the exemplar of democracy and freedom throughout the world. We have also heard from intelligence experts that information obtained in interrogations that use techniques like ``waterboarding'' or simulated drowning, often produce unreliable information. Yet, while this legislation condemns the use of torture on one hand, on the other hand it countenances the use of information obtained through torture to eliminate legal rights.

I urge my colleagues to reject these provisions in order to protect our time-tested judicial review process and to keep our commitment to end the use of torture.

Mr. Speaker, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and meanwhile, the Republicans are stealing from the stockings and taking away the hopes and dreams of aspiring students, slashing safety nets that help middle-income households get by, and kicking seniors to the curb with this budget package that is contrary to everything about the true spirit of Christmas as I understand it.

People of all faiths know that budgets are not just about numbers or percentages. There is no more moral document that we in Congress work on than the budget. What we choose to pay for and what we choose to cut are moral choices about how to run our country, reflections of the values of our society. And it takes a special brand of callousness, in the day or the middle of the night, to propose big cuts to Medicaid, student loans and foster care, as we believe this budget does, when the needs of our country are greater today than they were just a few short months ago.

When the need in the gulf coast rose, the need in the rest of the country did not subside. It is not the students who are responsible for historic deficits. Poor people did not cause our fiscal decline.

If we want to get our fiscal house in order, then we should start with the tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthiest households. Millionaires are getting an average of $103,000 in tax cuts this year because of cuts from 2001 and 2003, and next year they are going to get another $20,000 as two more tax cuts take effect. And the Republican bills passed another $108 billion in tax cuts this year. Tell me, who is going to pay for those?

Deficits matter. But the one we should be talking about today is the moral deficit of those who would balance tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of the working poor. I believe, as best said by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, that, ``the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.''

Mr. Speaker, tonight we have a choice about the type of leaders we want to be and what our country stands for. We can decide to do the morally responsible thing. We can do what is right. Mr. Speaker, together, America can do better.

Mr. Speaker, I want to raise my concerns about the Medicaid provisions in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill and, in particular, the provision that imposes new documentation requirements on individuals and on states.

There are many, many problems with the Medicaid bill. It would shift costs and take away benefits from those who need assistance the most: children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and frail senior citizens. The House-passed bill would do real harm--30 million Americans could face higher cost-sharing, 2 million children could lose coverage altogether, and 26 million individuals could lose benefits according to an analysis by the American Progress Action Fund.

One of the most disturbing provisions in the bill--Section 3145-- would impose strict new documentation requirements on Medicaid applicants. Instead of allowing self-declaration of citizenship--as 47 states do today--applicants have to show documentation of citizenship status--such as a birth certificate or a passport. The authors are Section 3145 are apparently concerned that some ineligible immigrant pregnant woman, children or seniors--will slip through the cracks and get health care. Out of that unjustified and undocumented concern, they have created a provision that will actually penalize citizens and state Medicaid programs.

First, there is no reason for Section 3145. It is a measure that seeks to address an illusory problem. Eligible immigrants already have to provide proof of their legal status when they apply for Medicaid, and states take steps to verify that status. Current law is working.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) looked at this issue and reported last July that they found no substantial evidence that immigrants are falsely claiming citizenship to qualify for Medicaid. OIG did not recommend eliminating the opportunity for self- declarations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has found no evidence that there is a problem and state Medicaid administrators have ``not seen a problem with self-declaration of citizenship'' based on the results of their quality control review systems.

Second, Section 3145 would have a disastrous effect by erecting Medicaid barriers for U.S. citizens. These new requirements will mean that those who have no money to obtain these documents or no time to wait for care will be unable to receive medical services. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has concluded that the ``bulk'' of the $735 million, 10-year savings from Section 3145 would come from reducing or delaying enrollment for U.S. citizens.

Many citizens--particularly low-income citizens--do not have birth certificates in their possession and do not have passports. And getting those documents is neither easy nor cheap. Getting a birth certificate can take weeks and cost up to $23. People born at home may not even have a birth certificate--a particular problem for people in some rural areas and elderly African Americans. According to information reported in Population Studies, as many as one-fifth of African Americans born around 1940 don't have a birth certificate. Getting a passport is even more expensive and takes even longer. Passports cost about $90. Just think about how these provisions will affect older women, living alone, possibly cognitively-impaired.

Third, at a time when we are cutting federal Medicaid funds and states are struggling to pay their share of Medicaid costs, Section 3145 would impose a brand new and costly administrative burden on them. The OIG surveyed state Medicaid directors who allow self-declaration. Twenty-five said that they were encouraged by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to simplify their application processes in order to reduce barriers to health care access. 28 said the requirement for documentations would delay eligibility determinations, twenty-five said it would increase personnel costs, and 21 said it would be burdensome and expensive for applicants.

This provision is not necessary but it is dangerous. It should be rejected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2017). The Torture Victims Relief Act (TVRA) has provided critical support to thousands of survivors of torture since it was first authorized in 1999. The sad fact is that torture is still used by governments around the world and the need for the bill is as pronounced as ever. With revelations of the U.S.'s own use of torture making waves around the world, we can ill afford to take a step back in the field of torture treatment.

The United States must renew its commitment against the use of torture. And it must support efforts to ease the pain and suffering of those living in parts of the world where there are no other resources-- not to mention political motivation--to help survivors of torture.

Currently, 27 programs in 17 states including Illinois receive assistance for torture treatment in the U.S. Treatment provided by these programs enables survivors of torture to recover their lives and become productive members of their communities. Many of these centers, including the center in Illinois, also train mainstream professionals. This increases the ability of health care providers, attorneys, leaders of faith, and others, to provide for the special needs of torture victims and contribute to the. prevention of torture.

The TVRA is at work in my district, supporting the work of the Marjorie Kovler Center of Heartland Alliance. The Center provides medical, mental health and social services to more than 300 torture survivors every year. While these services are provided for people across the state and into Indiana and Wisconsin, the Center receives more referrals from my Congressional district than any other. These individuals make their way to our community at great personal cost. They come seeking safety, only to be confronted with the difficulties of adjusting to life in the United States. They each carry a heavy burden from the trauma they have suffered, and many would not become the productive members of the community that they want to be if it not for the services supported by the TVRA.

In addition to the people in my district that the Center serves, I am proud to say that dozens of my constituents volunteer and work at the Marjorie Kovler Center. I have had the opportunity to meet many of them at events in the district over the past several years and am aware of their skill and commitment. The fact is that volunteer and in-kind donations worth more than $400,000 annually leverage funds from the TVRA spent in my district. This amounts to a one-to-one match of Federal funds provided by my community.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support the Torture Victim Relief Reauthorization Act, and I urge my colleagues to support funding for torture treatment centers.

Mr. Speaker, this House should not adjourn for the year before we extend the enrollment period for seniors to sign up for the Republican Medicare prescription drug plan. I did not support the law, because I favored a benefit within the actual Medicare program. Instead, Republicans chose a plan that forced seniors to choose from multiple plans.

President Bush and congressional Republicans say it is necessary to have multiple drug plans competing in order to help drive down costs, but a report from the Government Reform Committee says the complicated drug benefit has failed to lower drug prices. The prices available to seniors are over 80 percent higher than those negotiated by the Federal Government for veterans and 60 percent higher than the prices available to consumers in Canada.

Instead of lowering drug prices, the new prescription drug plan has resulted in mass confusion for seniors. Seniors should have the time to make the best choice for themselves rather than be penalized if they do not make a decision by May 15.

We should extend the deadline by 6 months before we leave for the year and support the Stark-Schakowsky bill, H.R. 3861.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding to me.

When I came to the House in 1999, I was often asked what surprised me the most. I answered that it was the passion, energy and depth of engagement of many of the longest-serving Members, and would cite John Dingell as the example.

John Dingell has been the driving force behind major landmark progressive legislation, from the Children's Health Insurance Program, to electric utility consumer standards, to environmental protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act; and he is still going strong.

A master of the legislative process, he is legendary for his oversight hearings, dogged in his determination to protect the public by holding government officials, corporations, and others accountable for their actions.

John Dingell is a fighter. He continues to be a strong voice for consumers and workers in Michigan and across the country. He told us all at his magnificent 50th anniversary celebration that he has no intention of leaving the House anytime soon and that he intends to be chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee once again; and I fully believe it will happen, and very soon.

When it does, I will do all I can to support him as he works to win his goal of securing health care for every American.

Some have used the word ``feared'' when talking about John Dingell, and it certainly is true that you want to have him on your side and not against him. But the John Dingell I have personally experienced is a gentleman to all, a loving husband to his spectacular wife and partner, Debbie, a man who is respectful and generous to his staff, who in turn work tirelessly and effectively and are ever loyal to him. He is patient with newer Members, always willing to share his experiences and, when asked, offer solid advice.

I feel privileged to serve with John Dingell, a patriot, a role model, mentor, and friend. I thank him for his 50 years of service to our country and wish him many, many more.

Mr. Speaker, the President would have us believe that all is well with our economy. But the American people know better. Despite finally receiving some good economic news, middle-class families in this country continue to fall behind as incomes remain flat or drop.

Gas prices fluctuate, health care costs soar, and home heating costs skyrocket. Americans this week are paying nearly 70 cents more per gallon on gas now than in the first year that President Bush came to office.

According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average family using heating oil or natural gas will pay nearly three times the amount families paid the first winter President Bush was in office.

For the past 5 years, health care costs have increased by nearly 60 percent, driving up the number of uninsured by 6 million since the beginning of the Bush administration. Under President Bush, college tuition has gone up about 40 percent, even taking inflation into account.

Meanwhile, real household income fell for the fourth year in a row in 2004. Together, America can do better than an economy in which middle- class families are seeing falling incomes in the face of rising prices. The American people know it and so should the President.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, there is nothing-- nothing--more serious that we will do in our lives as well as our careers than to send young American men and women to war. And there is no one in this body who understands the consequences of that decision more than Jack Murtha who served 37 years in the Marines, won two Purple Hearts in battle, and loves without reservation our soldiers in uniform.

Over 2,070 Americans and tens of thousands of civilian Iraqis are dead, thousands more are horribly injured in this war that many of us believe to be completely unjustified. Yet the House Republicans are so morally bankrupt that they would turn to cheap political stunts in order to undercut Congressman Murtha's conscience-driven call for an end to the Iraq war, which he calls ``a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.''

But there is not a person in this House who is man or woman enough to ever undercut the credibility of Jack Murtha, no matter how many accusations they may throw at him, no matter how many names they call him, and no matter how many ``clever'' tactics they try.

Shame on the Republican leaders for thinking it's ok to turn this war into a game and Representative Murtha into a political football. Shame on the Speaker for accusing Jack Murtha of insulting and demoralizing our troops. Mr. Murtha, this decorated war hero, is right when he says ``what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support.''

The Republicans don't demean Mr. Murtha, can't begin to demean Mr. Murtha, when they make baseless allegations and engage in pointless political stunts. They demean themselves and they demean the integrity of this House of Representatives. Shame on you.

I support Jack Murtha's resolution to stop sending our soldiers to die in Iraq. I support him when he says, ``It is time to bring them home.'' The proper response from those who disagree with this revered Marine would be to have a serious discussion about how we got into Iraq, about the conduct of the war, and about how we get out. Instead we see the typical slash-and-burn personal attacks that are

the mainstay of the Republicans, especially when they know they are wrong. And you are wrong.

But you are no longer fooling the American people. In overwhelming numbers they think it was a mistake to go to war in Iraq; they think the Bush Administration mishandled the war; they don't trust the President to tell the truth; and they don't support this war. On the eve of Thanksgiving, even as our troops are doing their very best far from home and family, the Republicans have chosen to pull a cheap, demeaning political stunt. Shame on you.