Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I have previously expressed my support for the International Republican Institute's (IRI) outstanding work in Iraq, Eastern Europe, and Africa and want to reiterate my support as IRI celebrates its 20th anniversary. Tonight, IRI led by president George Folsom will celebrate this auspicious occasion during its 2004 Freedom Dinner at which IRI will present the Freedom Award for advancing democracy to Dr.

Condeleeza Rice, the National Security Advisor, and honor the late Sergio de Mello, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who was killed in Iraq.

I also want to focus on the unique opportunities which IRI provides for Americans to share the skills they have honed on campaign trails and in the halls of Congress with their counterparts in developing democracies. Volunteers from across the U.S. augment IRI's operations in over 56 countries by conducting specialized training missions on crafting campaign finance laws, strengthening political participation among women and youth, and implementing political polling. Additionally, IRI frequently sends volunteers to serve on election observation missions. Recently, my own Chief of Staff, Eric Dell returned from an election observation mission in Macedonia where he worked with IRI professionals from across the globe.

Mr. Speaker, IRI's use of volunteers builds goodwill for the U.S. as Americans assist men and women overseas to strengthen political parties and democratic institutions. For example, interactions between a city administrator from rural South Carolina and a mayor in Malawi can go far in breaking misconceptions about the U.S. and about the prognosis for democracy in Africa. IRI volunteers demonstrate to newly elected parliamentarians in Eastern Europe that building democratic institutions is not only a goal of U.S. government officials but that it is the desire of the American people. I hope that my colleagues and their staffers consider participating in IRI training missions as one of the best opportunities to play a critical role in implementing U.S. foreign policy.

Mr. Speaker, last year President Bush signed into law historic bipartisan legislation that adds critically needed benefits to Medicare and solidifies the program for future generations.

I have been traveling throughout the Second District of South Carolina to discuss these changes, and the seniors I talk to are enthusiastic to learn that for the first time Medicare will encourage preventative care.

First and foremost, the new prescription drug benefit will allow seniors to afford the medicine they need to prevent disease.

Yet, while the prescription drug benefit has been widely publicized, many seniors are unaware of other important preventative measures now available to them. All newly enrolled beneficiaries will be covered for physicals, cardiovascular-screening blood tests including cholesterol, and diabetes screening for at-risk beneficiaries. These benefits do not have deductibles or co-pays, to make sure there are no hurdles for seniors with limited resources.

These screenings will catch treatable, manageable conditions that otherwise would result in senior health consequences, preventing a healthy and happy retirement.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, 33 years ago today, John Kerry appeared before the Senate to talk about Vietnam. Many veterans, including myself as a veteran, view John Kerry's testimony that day as one of the worst public slanders ever against the valor and character of the American military.

In a sad act of political theater, John Kerry accused American soldiers of rape, torture, murder, and even offered up comparisons of Genghis Khan. What he said that day has been discredited. Some of the men used as sources for war crimes later were found to have never been to Vietnam.

Yet just last Sunday on ``Meet the Press,'' John Kerry failed to apologize for his extremist accusations. His words in 1971 are important because he used false information to turn public opinion against the men who were serving their country honorably, such as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), who survived 7 years as a POW in Vietnam.

These troops returned to face unfair persecution, and John Kerry owes them an apology.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, last weekend I had the privilege of joining thousands of visitors from across the world in celebrating the MCI Heritage Classic of Golf Tournament held on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The Heritage has a rich history, with the first tournament won by Arnold Palmer in 1969. This year's champion is Stewart Cink, who won in dramatic fashion on the fifth playoff round with Ted Purdy.

Yet the more important story of this popular Lowcountry event is the work of the Heritage Golf Classic Foundation. This nonprofit organization operates the tournament every year while generating over $50 million for the South Carolina and Georgia hospitality industry. The Heritage Golf Classic Foundation also distributed a record $1.2 million to charities in 2003, including such areas as education to public health.

Heartfelt congratulations are due Heritage Classic Foundation Chairman Joe Fraser, Vice President Ed Dowaschinski, Secretary John Curry, and Tournament Director Steve Wilmot for yet another successful tournament hosted by the Sea Pines Resort led by President Michael Lawrence.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, this month I served on a bipartisan delegation led by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) to visit Iraq. But I found every stop in Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, and Hungary to be a crucial part of the global war on terror. I saw firsthand courageous coalition forces of dozens of nations working with determination to stop terrorism from destroying modern civilization.

As evidenced by another bombing in Madrid, while terrorist cells with truckloads of explosives were arrested in England and Jordan, this is truly a worldwide conflict, not solely in Iraq.

Despite the renewed violence, we found troop morale high. Incredibly, the South Carolina troops who walk the streets said 90 percent of the Iraqis were grateful for liberation.

September 11 confirmed we are in a global war we did not seek. We must confront the terrorists overseas where they train, or we will fight them in America at our homes. From Qatar to Iraq to Jordan to Hungary, competent and dedicated patriots are making a difference.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the important work of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, or AAPI, which includes 35,000 physicians and 10,000 medical students and residents throughout America.

Indian-American physicians have been pioneers in medicine and health care for centuries, and by working together through AAPI, they have made important contributions to the American medical profession. In South Carolina, Indian-American doctors such as Dr. Kaushal Sinha are especially meaningful, giving service in rural communities.

Also, an Indian-American, Dr. Seshadri Raju, performed a life-saving double-lung transplant on my predecessor and mentor, the late Congressman Floyd Spence. Congressman Spence incredibly lived an additional 13 years thanks to Dr. Raju and then was able to serve his country as chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking AAPI for their visionary leadership in health care, particularly President Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, as well as Dr. Rakesh Shreedhar, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, and Dr. Raghavendra Vijayanagar.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday there was a historic ceremony at the White House where President George W. Bush welcomed Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, and Latvia into NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

I am particularly pleased of Bulgaria's entry as they are rapidly rising from decades of communist totalitarianism, which I have seen firsthand since my first visit to Sofia in June 1990. Bulgaria has been one of America's most courageous allies in the war on terrorism, providing troops for the liberation campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I want to personally thank the visionary Bulgarian patriots who have worked so hard to make today possible, including Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, President Georgi Parvanov, Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, Defense Minister Nikolai Svinarov, Speaker Ognian Gerdjikov, Deputy Chief of Mission Emil Yalnazov, Ambassador Stefan Stoyanov, and Congressional Liaison Officer Zlatin Krastev.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) for her leadership in proposing this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 386 which congratulates the U.S. Air Force Academy on its 50th anniversary and recognizing its contributions to the Nation.

It is particularly meaningful to me to be here today. I have several perspectives. In addition to being a Member of Congress, I am a veteran myself. I served 31 years in the Army National Guard. But I greatly appreciate the service of the Air Force. It has been extraordinary, the military professionalism that truly has been generated by the Air Force Academy.

I had the extraordinary opportunity firsthand to accompany the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), as the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, to visit Iraq last September; and I saw firsthand the success of the precision bombing which protected the civilian population and protected the schools and the mosques while the military targets were utterly destroyed in one of the most successful military operations in the history of the United States, protecting the American people from the terrorists by going after them in Afghanistan, going after them in Iraq. And American families are safer.

Additionally, I am grateful to be a service academy parent. I know firsthand how academies promote the high standards of academics. Actually, my son went to an academy which is in the State of Maryland, not in the State of Colorado, but I do have great appreciation for the Academy.

There are facts that should be known, that 32 cadets have been selected as Rhodes Scholars, including our colleague, the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), who also has, I think, the great distinction of being the first female graduate of the Air Force Academy serving in Congress.

Additionally, six cadets have accepted Marshall scholarships; nine cadets have received the Harry S. Truman scholarship; 92 cadets have been accepted as Guggenheim Fellows. There is so much to be appreciative of of the military service, the academic success of the Air Force Academy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to be here today with the gentleman from Alabama. I appreciate very much his leadership to promote the ROTC and Military Recruiter Equal Access to Campus Act of 2004. I have heard the comments by the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California; and I agree with him that this is about providing choices. It is also about providing opportunities.

I know firsthand. I had the opportunity to experience a career of 4 years of ROTC at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. From that it led to my ability to serve in the National Guard for 31 years. I am very grateful for what ROTC did for me. Additionally, my oldest son is a graduate of Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, ROTC. He went on to law school and now is serving in Iraq. I am very proud of his service because of ROTC and the opportunities it has provided. And in 5 weeks I am looking forward to attending the graduation of my third son from Clemson University. He is in Army ROTC, as one might expect. I am just really proud of his service and the opportunities that he will have to serve in the military.

I also am aware of opportunities for minorities in the State of South Carolina. A classic case is someone who is known here in Congress, General Abe Turner. General Turner is a graduate of South Carolina State University, which is one of our historically black colleges which is very distinguished. I was with General Turner. He is now the commanding general of Fort Jackson in South Carolina. These are opportunities that have been provided to young people to go to college and have the ROTC experience.

Finally, I want to point out that particularly for law schools, I think it is important to have access. I served in the Judge Advocate General Corps for 29 years. There is no better way to get trial experience, to learn about the law and the laws of the United States than to serve in the JAG Corps. I urge that this bill be passed, that indeed we have access for law schools. I am just grateful for this and urge my colleagues to support this act for ROTC recruitment.

Mr. Speaker, in the global war on terrorism, it is reassuring that President George W. Bush is keeping focused on winning the war which was forced on America by the murderous attacks of September 11.

In the midst of Monday morning quarterbacking, we should see the facts of success: the Afghan and Iraqi dictatorships which supported terrorism have met regime change. An emboldened Pakistan has 70,000 troops uprooting terrorists on the border of Afghanistan, and Libya has abandoned its banned weapons programs.

Libya has seen the light. It is reassuring to learn from Thursday's Washington Post that the Libyan dictator's son Saif Islam Qaddafi has made the case for peace and freedom clear to other Arab countries: ``Instead of shouting and criticizing the American initiative, you have to bring democracy to your countries, and then there will be no need to fear America or your people.''

In conclusion, God bless our troops. We will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Republican budget carefully crafted by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) for fiscal year 2005, because it is a responsible plan that sets clear priorities.

As we fight the war on terrorism, we will make sure we have the tools that we need to fight the enemy abroad and protect our homeland. Defense spending has increased 7.1 percent, and homeland security has increased 9.5 percent.

Additionally, we are committed to continuing the policies of economic recovery through job creation. The budget allows for making tax cuts, like the marriage penalty and child deduction, permanent so American families can keep more of their own hard-earned money.

Finally, we are going to cut the deficit in half in 4 years by holding the line on nondefense and nonhomeland security, and by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. We must be better managers of the taxpayers' money, and this budget will be a positive step in the right direction.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear why misleading allegations have been made by Richard Clarke, a former adviser of Presidents Clinton and Bush. His motivations have become evident over the last few days to the American people as his comments have been timed to the release for sales of his book. And we learned he was passed over for promotion and that he is a close friend of Rand Beers, an adviser to the current Democratic nominee for President.

Mr. Clarke's strange accusations about Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and President Bush's handling of the war on terrorism are false as the facts refute the rhetoric. President George W. Bush and his team, with our troops, have shown bold leadership to successfully fight the war on terrorism, have encouraged Libya to disarm, inspired Pakistan to deploy 70,000 troops to fight al Qaeda terrorists, and have led to the liberation of millions from terrorist-sponsoring regimes. President Bush has taken the battle to the terrorists so that we can reduce further attacks on American families.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to recent proposals to raise the Federal gas tax. As the former chairman of the South Carolina State Senate Transportation Committee, I know that raising taxes on America's families is not the proper answer to building a better road system.

The gas tax is a regressive tax that affects low-income Americans disproportionately. The revered Heritage Foundation recently noted that analysis shows that increasing the gas tax would depress economic activity and the incomes of millions of Americans. It would also significantly raise less revenue than its proponents project.

Instead of raising the burden on over-taxed American families, we should better manage taxpayers' money. Millions of dollars are diverted every year on low-priority roadside enhancements that are not urgent safety matters. Also, we should repeal Davis-Bacon. As the Nonpartisan Americans For Tax Reform has noted, transportation costs would decrease by an estimated 8 to 30 percent if Congress would remove the Davis- Bacon prevailing wage requirement.

I ask all of my colleagues to oppose any attempt to raise the gas tax on American families.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, in cooperation with the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the Committee on Armed Services chairman, I recently sent every Member of the House a copy of ``Iraq's Legacy of Terror: Mass Graves,'' a report that highlights the worst human rights atrocity of Saddam Hussein's regime. Hundreds of thousands of murdered Iraqis, including women holding their children with bullet holes, lie in at least 270 mass grave sites around the country.

Saddam's mass graves represent a crime against humanity surpassed in scope only by the World War II Nazi Holocaust, Pol Pot's Cambodian communist killing fields in the 1970s, and the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Thanks to the leadership of President Bush and the valor of the American military, along with our international allies, Iraqis no longer live in fear of Saddam's brutal regime. Today, the Coalition Provisional Authority is working with thousands of Iraqi families to identify and rebury their loved ones.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

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