Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this is a bright day for many individuals suffering from previously untreatable diseases, and I commend our colleagues in the Senate for passing the Stem Cell Therapeutic Research Act of 2005. It was the right thing to do. It will save many lives and avoid the ethically divisive issue of the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research.

As we have heard today, cord blood stem cells have helped effectively treat over 67 diseases in human beings, including leukemia, sickle cell, lupus, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, Parkinson's, and even blindness. Cord blood cells show great promise for helping spinal cord patients, many of whom have experienced improved sensation and movement from cord blood stem cell treatments.

Cord blood stem cells also possess the regenerative flexibility to form virtually every type of human tissue. And research has shown these cells are far less susceptible to transplant rejection than bone marrow.

I want to commend my colleague, Mr. Smith, for his tireless effort in this regard, and for the leadership of Mr. Davis on this important issue. Their efforts transcend political differences. Mr. Speaker, this bill truly represents good science.

Mr. Speaker, we have just witnessed one of the freest elections ever held in the Middle East. It is important to recognize that independent multinational election monitors have confirmed that yesterday's Iraqi elections, in which a remarkably large number of Sunnis turned out to vote, met international standards. It is estimated that 10 to 12 million Iraqis renounced fear and defied those who seek to demoralize them and to undermined U.S. and international support for their noble commitment to rebuilding a civil society.

As we seek to encourage our friends in the Middle East on their journey of self-determination, let us take a moment to recall with an appropriate level of humility that our own democratic journey was neither quick nor easy and no less worthwhile for the difficulties endured.

Mr. Speaker, this historic moment inspires me to highlight an outstanding bipartisan initiative here in the House which is making a significant impact to strengthen fledgling democratic institutions throughout the world.

I want to commend Speaker Hastert for his foresight in launching the House Democracy Assistance Commission on which I serve along with 15 of my colleagues. I wish to thank my colleague, Congressman David Dreier, for his leadership on this initiative and his dedication to see it through to fruition.

I also wish to acknowledge Representative David Price and my predecessor, Congressman Doug Bereuter, for their hard work since 2003 to move this initiative and to make it a reality.

Since the establishment of the commission in March 2005, Members and staff have worked diligently to identify countries and legislative bodies in need of technical assistance. The House Democracy Assistance Commission has established an exemplary framework to help elected legislators develop badly needed parliamentary infrastructures to foster just and thriving civil society based upon democratic principles.

In his second inaugural address, President Bush issued a global call to freedom, the heritage of all mankind. Through the commission, Members of Congress have answered the President's call to move the principles of democracy around the world. And beginning next year, Democratic and Republican Members alike will join together to support and encourage our counterparts in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country; in East Timor, the world's newest country which hungered for independence and now hungers for working democratic institutions; in Georgia, where the 2003 Rose Revolution ushered in peaceful change; in Macedonia, which emerged from the brink of civil war to a new day of freedom; and also in Kenya, a regional African power in the forefront of the war on terror.

Through technical assistance missions, material assistance and exchange programs that bring legislators to the U.S. and allow our Members to share their knowledge and experiences with members of parliaments in partner countries, the House of Representatives is working directly with legislators around the world to provide expertise and parliamentary best practices. This assistance will emphasize committee operations, budgetary issues, defense oversight, specialized legislation and oversight, legislative procedures, research services, information services, as well as constituent services.

The commission also plans to support emerging legislative institutions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Lebanon, countries where governments had imposed unspeakable hardships on their own people previously. It is staggering to realize that just a few short years ago the brutal Taliban regime held all of Afghanistan hostage.

On December 19, thanks in great measure to the perseverance and dedication of our men and women in uniform, Afghans are inaugurating their first parliament in over 30 years.

Khalid Farooqi, a legislator in Afghanistan's Lower House of Parliament, was recently quoted as saying, ``We want to build our country, we do not want to destroy it again.''

For the first time since Saddam Hussein began his savage reign, and despite factional tensions and the threats of nihilistic insurgents, an astounding 70 percent of Iraqis courageously rose yesterday to determine their own future and held elections for a new National Assembly and government.

We also look to a new dawn of hope in Lebanon, where, tragically, Gibran Tueni, a publisher and deputy at Lebanon's Parliament, was assassinated this Monday in a bombing by those who fear the freedom that comes from self-determination.

Just as our troops and over 22,000 soldiers from 30 coalitions nations stood strong to help make yesterday's victory possible in Iraq, I am proud of my fellow Democrats and Republicans as we stand together to provide hope, encouragement, and vital technical assistance to the work of the House Democracy Assistance Commission.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, December 13, 2005, I was unavoidably detained due to the birth of my daughter, thus I missed rollcall votes Nos. 623, 624, and 625. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all three votes.

Mr. Speaker, Captain Joel Cahill died last month from injuries he sustained while serving in Iraq. The personnel carrier in which he was traveling hit a roadside bomb, killing him instantly. He was 34 years old. He leaves behind his two daughters, Faith and Briana, and his wife, Mary.

Joel was the son of Larry and Barbara Cahill. He graduated from Papillion-La Vista High School in 1989 and enrolled in the Army a year later. His first act was to register for Special Forces training. With his strong intellect and fierce dedication, Joel Cahill became a decorated member of the U.S. Army Rangers. Joel also went on to continue his education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, majoring in general studies. He served in Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry from Fort Benning, Georgia.

During his service, Captain Cahill became a skillful soldier. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Soldier's Medal, which he received for saving the life of a fellow soldier. During a training exercise with live grenades, Joel's quick action delivered a colleague from harm.

This act of bravery demonstrated how he lived his life; by putting others before himself. Joel Cahill had a strong sense of purpose. When asked about his recent assignment, he responded, with heartfelt emotion in his voice, ``I strongly believe that this is what I need to do to keep my girls safe in the future.''

Captain Cahill took pride in protecting America. His brother, Randy, described Joel as a compassionate individual with a good sense of humor, who conveyed a sense of sincere gratitude towards the troops with whom he served.

Captain Cahill's death is particularly hard. The father of young children, the husband of a young wife, his loss carries an unyielding sting. As we pay tribute to him, our hope is the sting may be softened, if for a moment, by the remembrance of a heroic soldier who sacrificed himself in service to his country. Captain Cahill lived and died an American patriot.

Captain Cahill now rests in Arlington National Cemetery; a fitting tribute for a dedicated soldier. He is a true hero. We shall forever be grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to the inclusion of any tax breaks to rebuild the gulf coast gambling industry in the tax package, which may reach the House floor in the near future. I believe that it is an extraordinarily controversial and improper measure to support the casino industry with tax incentives paid by other Americans. I would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for his active role in bringing attention to this important issue.

I certainly understand the need to provide general economic incentives for businesses to rebuild in the gulf region, which was so heavily devastated by the hurricanes earlier this year. I support efforts to encourage economic development and restore infrastructure in the area. However, I cannot support allowing casinos to access Federal tax breaks while at the same time we are proposing to achieve savings from a host of other governmental programs.

If Americans were given a choice, I believe that they would prefer not to use limited resources to support the casinos. Prudent use of hard-earned taxpayer money demands that we stay focused on concerns such as the defense of our Nation, education of our children, health care for veterans, and subsistence for the poor.

My constituents are aware of the proposal to potentially provide assistance to gambling interests and have let me know of their opposition to such an effort. Nebraskans, and Americans generally, are generous people, willing to help others in need. Congress, however, has a responsibility not to abuse this generosity by providing tax breaks to wealthy gambling operations which have already signaled their intention to rebuild in the gulf region. In fact, even without the tax breaks, the gambling industry has announced its plan to come back ``bigger and better'' in the area.

Government is an instrument of societal order, establishing priorities for how we choose to live. For instance, we have worked to reduce the marriage penalty in the tax code. We provide tax incentives to save for retirement. We provide tax benefits for health care, and there is certainly a precedent for targeting incentives toward certain businesses while restricting the use of tax breaks for others.

In fact, it would be unusual, I contend, if the government did not restrict these tax breaks and exclude casinos.

As a Gulf Opportunity Zone package was under consideration, Alberto Lopez, Director of Strategic Communication For Harrah Entertainment, Incorporated, was recently quoted in The Washington Post as saying, ``We are actually scratching our heads. We can't ever remember an instance of being offered a tax credit. Ever.''

In another telling comment in the same Washington Post article, a gambling company official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated ``Anything that the Federal Government can provide, obviously we'll take advantage of it.'' Unfortunately, these gambling conglomerates would be taking advantage not only of tax breaks but the generosity of American taxpayers as well.

Why should all Americans be forced to prioritize casinos in the Tax Code? How can Congress consider providing such incentives to the multi- billion dollar gambling industry when there are so many unmet needs in this Nation? Why should these incentives be considered when the gambling industry already plans to rebuild the casinos? To what extent were these casinos covered by insurance? These are a few of the questions that must be addressed before tax legislation reaches the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in expressing opposition to the inclusion of any tax breaks for gambling interests. Do not let the casino interests hit the jackpot through the Tax Code.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, November 17, 2005, I was unavoidably detained due to a death in my family and thus missed rollcall vote No. 600. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, November 18, 2005, I was unavoidably detained due to a death in my family and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 602, 603, 604, and 605. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye' on all four votes.

Army Captain Joel Cahill was buried in Arlington Cemetery today. Captain Cahill was killed in Iraq by an improvised explosive device. He grew up near Omaha. He leaves behind Mary his wife and their two little girls.

Army Specialist Darren Howe was laid to rest in Beatrice, Nebraska last week. He died of wounds from an explosive device that hit his personnel carrier. Badly burned, Specialist Howe drove to safety, then helped his men out of the rear. He was 21 and left behind his wife Nakia and their two small children.

I spoke with JoDee, Darren's mom, in what had to be some of her most difficult hours following Darren's death.

She had the gentleness of spirit, humility of heart and pride of her son's work to thank me and the Congress for the decisions that have been made, saying: We support what you are doing. Iraq is a faraway land remote from the traditions and culture of the Great Plains, the boyhood homes of Joel and Darren. Yet I am certain that in that isolated place where they gave their lives, these men understood what was at stake. That they fought for something bigger than themselves, something that transcends the snapshot of a political debate. They fought out of duty to country, they fought to defend, they fought for the soul of the free world.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. Speaker, Army Specialist Darren Howe died on November 3 from injuries he sustained in Iraq. The Bradley armored personnel carrier he was driving struck a roadside bomb outside of Baghdad.

The explosion caused the personnel carrier to catch fire. Specialist Howe, who was already severely burned, regained control of the vehicle and drove it to safety. He then moved to the rear and helped pull 13 fellow soldiers to safety.

Darren was from Beatrice, Nebraska, a town of 12,000 resting peacefully in the heart of the Great Plains. In an extraordinary tribute, the town mourned together in profound respect for the man who fought so bravely and honorably on its behalf.

Lining both sides of Nebraska Highway 77 and Beatrice's downtown district, were hundreds of people holding hands over hearts and American flags. School children from the town's Catholic and Lutheran schools stood respectfully with handmade posters. Shopkeepers, clerks, business owners, the elderly, people with disabilities, seniors from the high school, lined Main Street to pay tribute to the man who graduated less than 3 years ago.

Outside the Pamida, the Sack Lumber, and the local hardware store, signs and billboards read ``Specialist Darren Howe: A True Hero.'' What a fitting tribute to a true leader.

Darren and his family received his medals, including a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. A rifle salute marked the lowering of his casket into the ground. The only sounds thereafter were the sobs of loved ones forced to say a final goodbye. Even his warrior father gave a last sorrowful salute to his martyred son.

Darren had followed the footsteps of his father into the military. Darren was also a steadfast husband and father, providing for his wife, Nakia, and their two children, Shaye-Maleigh and Gary-Dean.

Howe was solid, steady, focused, determined. Nakia wears a medallion around her neck from the Third Infantry Division with the inscription ``Standing on a Rock.''

Darren served his country and fellow soldiers without regard for his own well-being. His heroic sacrifice came as no surprise to those who knew and loved him. Darren Howe was a young man who did things the right way and lived in accordance to a code of respect, honor and responsibility. And as Jodi, his mother, told me, he was also a very devoted son.

Such a man as this deeply impacted the town of Beatrice, Nebraska. Such a man as this saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and such a man gave himself in service to his country. Specialist Darren Howe is a hero, and our country is grateful for his service and ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to be here and participate in this important discussion of health care in our country. I thank the gentleman so much for his leadership today in coordinating this important discussion.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we have an important opportunity today to both save lives and save money. Health care is a pervasive part of American society. As we have heard, a major portion of our Federal budget is devoted to health

care costs, and total health care expenditures are a significant portion of our gross domestic product.

The good news is people are living longer with better technology and better drugs. That is excellent news. America has one of the best health care systems in the world. Yet everyone knows, because everyone is affected, that rising health care costs are a growing challenge to families, to businesses, and to the government. We need to look at this system, and I believe that simple new approaches can make a huge difference, as the gentleman has pointed out.

It is estimated that improvements in health information technology, quality patient management and wellness programs themselves promise to save up to 20 to 40 percent of costs. Personal ownership of health care decisions may minimize the wasteful overutilization of services. Incentives to medical providers, as well, to better target expensive and excessive testing are all areas that we need to aggressively explore in order to appropriately use our public and private health dollars.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to focus on one aspect of how the rising cost of health insurance prevents entrepreneurial individuals from pursuing good opportunities. I think we must take the opportunity to think creatively, to update outdated approaches, and put consumers and families in charge. I have a keen interest in reducing barriers for small entrepreneurs. The vast majority of new jobs in our country are created by small business. This is where most people are working hard to get a little ahead in life and secure their own long-term economic well-being.

I have seen how the lack of available health insurance and rising health care costs decreases productivity and distorts social and economic decisions. For instance, in my district it is not unusual for a spouse in a farm family to drive very long distances to have a job simply for health care coverage. The rising cost of providing health care coverage for employees is a growing obstacle for small business owners or those who may wish to join their ranks.

It is not surprising that only 63 percent of smaller companies can afford to offer health care insurance. This is a primary reason why three out of five uninsured persons in our Nation are small business owners, their employees or their families.

Recently, the Committee on Small Business held a field hearing in my district. It was an extraordinary turnout. One of the reasons was because it was on the issue of small business and health care costs. During this forum, we examined the increasing cost of health insurance and possible solutions. The hearing emphasized one important aspect, the underutilized tool for small businesses known as health savings accounts, which were established as a part of Medicare prescription drug law.

These tax preferred accounts, coupled with high-deductible health insurance, help alleviate the ever-increasing cost of traditional health insurance premiums and empower families to take better control over their own health care dollars.

While the number of individuals using these accounts is increasing, I believe we need to do more to give small business owners and entrepreneurs the ability to take advantage of this very important policy innovation. In fact, of the new policies, 37 percent were taken out by individuals who were previously uninsured, and 27 percent were taken out by employers who previously did not offer health care insurance to their employees.

Now, one concern regarding health savings accounts is the initial funding. I have introduced legislation that will allow individuals to roll over portions of their retirement accounts into health savings accounts. This rollover would not subject the retirement account to the usual 10 percent penalty for early distribution. Moreover, all individuals with retirement accounts would be eligible to take advantage of this opportunity.

I believe this will help meet important public policy objectives of increasing access to health care coverage and overcoming a major barrier that small businesses face.

HSAs, as they are known, are just one of the many simple new approaches that can make a huge difference in our health care system by providing positive incentives for those who use the system.

Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) for undertaking this important discussion about health care and health care costs in our country; and I look forward to continuing our dialogue about innovative approaches to both save lives and save money.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and thus missed rollcall votes Nos. 465, 466, and 467. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all three votes.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, when a government of a member state of the United Nations

is engaged in or complicit in acts of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, other member states must not stand idly by.

The U.N. is given the authority and mechanisms to discipline such members in article 5 of its charter; yet it often fails to do so.

This amendment explicitly directs the U.S. permanent representative to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to make every effort to see that member states are held accountable. This accountability would include the following actions:

One, suspending the membership of a member state if it is determined that the member state's government is engaged in or complicit in, either by omission or commission, acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, or crimes against humanity;

Two, imposing an arms and trade embargo, travel restrictions, and asset freeze upon groups or individuals responsible for such acts;

Three, deploying a U.N. peacekeeping operation or authorize and support the deployment of a peacekeeping operation from an international or regional organization;

Four, deploying monitors from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to the area where such acts are occurring;

Five, authorizing the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into such acts.

Mr. Chairman, as an active member of the United Nations, America has a responsibility to help strengthen this important body for worldwide deliberation. The spirit of the United Nations is undermined when it fails to address blatant disregard for its own charter. Its very character and effectiveness are weakened. Those governments engaged in crimes against humanity should not maintain their full rights and privileges at the U.N.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for their important leadership on the issue of U.N. reform, and the chairman, as well as his staff in particular, for working with me on this important issue of genocide.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I was recently asked by a kind and gentle lady my position on stem cell research. This is always a difficult question. But I told her, I am in favor of stem cell research, research that uses stem cells from cord blood and adult stem cell sources, research that is already showing great medical promise and avoids the ethically divisive issue of the destruction of an unborn human embryo, an unborn human person.

Frankly, I did not know how she would respond. And she went on to tell me that she had MS herself. And she told me that if research found a cure using unborn human embryos, that she would not take that cure, that she could not in her conscience take that cure that sacrificed a human life.

Mr. Speaker, let us set a new standard, one that aggressively promotes good research to help the sick and injured, one that respects the consciences of tens of millions of Americans who do not wish to see their tax dollars used in the destruction of unborn human life, one that supports a consistent life ethic and gives true hope to those who are suffering in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable gentleman from the second district for bringing attention to the severity of this problem in our State and throughout many parts of America as well.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell the Members when I am at home with local law enforcement, I ask a simple question: What is going on, sheriff? And nearly every time the answer is the same, a single word, ``meth.'' And methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, as we have discussed, is a potent and highly addictive stimulant; and it is taking a terrible human toll across rural America. In fact, my hometown sheriff, Terry Wagner, recently recounted a story about a boy who had been addicted to meth for 9 years, and it is this prolonged exposure to these toxic chemicals that has caused such severe brain damage that it has given this young man an irreversibly wasted brain of an advanced Alzheimer's patient.

In Butler County, Sheriff Mark Heckler estimated that 90 percent of the prisoners he sees in jail have been involved with meth either as dealers or users or cookers.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, their ramifications are certainly widespread. Butler County, as I just mentioned, is a serene place, a farming community, a wonderful place to raise a family. And yet this shocking statistic of 90 percent is very real and disturbing. The sheriff also reported the same problem that the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) mentioned, that he finds small portable labs for production even in the back of cars. So meth is a particular threat to our rural communities, partly because it can be cooked in this way from small batches from readily available ingredients such as chemicals commonly used in fertilizer and cold medicines, as has been mentioned.

Something else to mention, though, is that concocting meth is itself a toxic activity, and it requires a combination of deadly chemicals at high temperatures. Hazardous fumes are produced, and poisonous fires and explosions are common, as the gentleman is aware. Toxic waste is invariably dumped, which spoils the environment and requires dangerous and costly clean-up, another adverse impact of this problem.

Let me tell the Members, as well, that in 2000 Nebraska law enforcement discovered 38 labs. In 2004 they dismantled over 300, and one search for a missing person in a wooded area actually turned up 15 meth labs in a 3-square mile area. And, of course, many go undiscovered.

I would like to add a few comments about what can potentially be done about the tide of meth sweeping the

country, and I think there are three approaches that do deserve our attention. First, State efforts to control the spread by controlling the access to its component chemicals, I believe, should be applauded, and smart controls on the sale of cold medicines are also a reasonable idea that may be considered at the Federal level. Second, and the gentleman has mentioned this additionally, the antidrug task force has maximized the effectiveness of law enforcement, particularly with overlapping jurisdictions. And I believe lawmakers, as he does, in Washington must listen to those who are on the front lines in the battle against meth and give them the tools they need to protect our communities this week, this month, this year.

Third, we must also recognize the national scope of the meth problem. It is estimated that 85 percent of the meth in Nebraska comes from large out-of-state labs in Arizona, California, and Mexico. These superlabs do not get their chemicals from the local drug store, but depend on multi-state and multi-national suppliers. This is why we also need a focused and multi-national, a coordinated national, strategy to stamp out meth. And I believe it is the job of the Federal Government to keep meth and its chemical precursors from crossing State borders. Existing regulations on the sale of meth chemicals should be enforced; and the development, again, of alternative compounds in cold medicines could also be determined and encouraged.

Mr. Speaker, finally, let me add that meth is clearly addictive and deadly; and I urge all to avoid it. There is no future in meth.

And again I want to thank the gentleman from the Second District of Nebraska for his willingness to spend this evening discussing this very difficult issue for our State, but a difficult issue as well for many other areas that are facing this widespread problem.