Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise against the Republican budget because it cuts women's education acts and programs.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Democratic budget substitute and in opposition to the Republican plan which fails to address the needs and fiscal challenges America faces today. Instead of creating jobs, it creates record deficits. It shortchanges education, healthcare, veterans and does little to aid the sagging economy. Further, it makes drastic cuts to programs that provide educational and business opportunities to women across the country.

This budget eliminates Women's Educational Equity Act Programs, which fund activities promoting educational equity for girls and women. Over 10 percent of young women drop out of high school, yet the President's budget eliminates funding for dropout prevention programs. As a former teacher, I understand the importance of education in providing young men and women with the background they need to lead successful lives. This budget cuts many vital programs such as Head Start and Even Start and freezes funding for Pell Grants.

More than 3.8 million women are looking for work, yet the Administration cuts $79 million in funding for the Small Business Administration, which helps women and minority owned small businesses grow. There are more than 7 million small businesses owned by women. The need for SBA assistance continues to be vital to my community.

This budget freezes funding for The Child Care and Development Block Grant program, which provides child care assistance for low income families and early education services to disadvantaged children and is essential to working women nationwide.

Further, violence against women prevention programs and SBA Women's Business Centers are underfunded, and no increase is requested by the Administration for the National Women's Business Council, which conducts invaluable research on issues of importance to women business owners and their organizations.

Mr. Chairman, this budget fails to meet the fiscal challenges America faces today and slashes programs that are the lifeline to working families, especially women heads of households. I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic substitute as a much more realistic budgetary solution that restores funding to vital programs and achieves balance in the budget and assistance to those who seek the American dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 557. This resolution to mark the one year anniversary of the United States led military invasion of Iraq is a partisan measure. The brave men and women who continue to serve our Nation and fight for democracy in Iraq deserve bipartisan cooperation and an alternative resolution to the divisive proposal introduced today.

Back home in the fifth district of Missouri I have visited with families of service men and women to hear their concerns about the needs of our troops. Their message is clear: ``We want them home. In the meantime, we want them safe.'' The Administration's budget proposes $1.2 billion less than the amount requested by Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi which the Veterans of Foreign Wars terms a ``disgraceful'' level of funding for veterans' healthcare. We must also provide active service members with the equipment, training and resources they need to protect our freedom and fight the war on terrorism.

On the one year anniversary of our involvement in Iraq, we praise the efforts and sacrifices of those who put their lives on the line for us every day. Let our future actions on their behalf reflect that. This resolution does not.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Larry N. Blick's retirement as City Manager of Independence, Missouri. Larry Blick came to Independence more than a decade ago with over 30 years of experience in public administration, and in these past 10 years has partnered with Mayor Stewart and the community to bring growth and a new spirit to this ``All American City.''

As Independence City Manager, Larry inspired community trust and was instrumental in the passage of numerous measures necessary to the revitalization of Independence's infrastructure, neighborhoods and parks. An active member of the International City/County Management Association, Missouri Municipal League Board, and the Independence Council for Economic Development, Larry Blick has served tirelessly in prominent roles with these

professional associations and boards. Through MARC, the Mid America Regional Council, he was instrumental in the economic development of the Little Blue Valley and the creation of the I-70/Little Blue Parkway interchange to ease traffic flow and provide access for valley expansion. His leadership was an integral part of the development of eastern Jackson County, particularly his focus on neighborhood revitalization, road improvements and numerous renovations to area parks.

I am honored by the opportunity to collaborate with Larry Blick and Mayor Ron Stewart to secure Federal funding for local projects such as the Lewis and Clark Roadway, the Memorial Building, grants to support local first responders in protecting our community, FEMA assistance for the devastating 2002 ice storm, and for the expansion of the Blue River Community College to train our law enforcement officials and first responders. A lasting achievement for which he will long be remembered is his efforts to secure the prestigious title of ``All American City'' for Independence in 2001. Larry Blick's work with the community played a crucial role in highlighting Independence's enterprises, schools, parks and history to earn the support of the All-America City Program.

Around his office, Larry carries a coffee mug that states, ``Will golf for food.'' I join with myriad others in wishing him time during his retirement to hit the greens and spend quality time with his loving family.

Another great leader from Independence, President Harry S Truman, made this observation in 1951: ``Unless a man is fundamentally sound ethically, you can't teach him what to do as a public servant.'' As City Manager, Larry has exhibited exemplary vision, sound values and unwavering commitment to fundamental issues important to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting the remarkable service of retiring City Manager Larry Blick. His leadership will be missed, but his accomplishments will live on as a reminder of the difference he made by his outstanding service to the city of Independence, Missouri.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in qualified support of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Indecency Act of 2004. As an original co- sponsor of this legislation, I agree that we must provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the resources it needs to effectively enforce existing laws regarding indecent broadcasts. However, I am concerned that giving the FCC the authority to levy exorbitant fines against individuals will have a chilling effect on the exercise of free speech protected under the First Amendment.

Clearly, the FCC should be able to hold individuals responsible for breaching the public trust by violating decency standards in the same way it holds broadcasting entities accountable for what they put on the airwaves. Nonetheless, opening the door to potentially ruinous fines of up to a half a million dollars for individuals, including artists, raises the specter of state sponsored censorship. Will the federal government decide to silence certain individuals in the future for political reasons? Under this bill, it has the authority to do just that.

As this legislation is considered by the Senate, I would hope that this concern is duly addressed and resolved in Conference with the House. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, the opportunity to address my colleagues on this overlooked but critical aspect of what is overall a good and necessary piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the opening of Ladislav Bielik's photojournalism exhibit at the Art Incubator Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. Ross P. Marine, Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic, along with the Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City have arranged for this outstanding public showing from March 5 to March 31. Mr. Miroslav Wlachovsky of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic will officially welcome guests to the exhibit on March 4. The collection commemorates the 35th anniversary of the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies, pictorially recorded through Ladislav Bielik's photographs.

On the evening of August 20, 1968, Warsaw Pact armies comprised of soldiers from the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria invaded Czechoslovakia with the strength of approximately 200,000 troops and 5,000 tanks to squelch the Czech movement toward democracy. Bielik's photograph of one Czechoslovakian's desperate attempt to halt a tank captured the attention of the world and became Life Magazine's 1968 photograph of the year. This exhibit further pictorially illustrates the haunting images of sacrifice made in pursuit of democracy from the first days of the invasion at Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.

The invasion crushed Secretary Alexander Dubcek's new Action Program that promoted democratic elections and basic liberties. Prior to the invasion, the country had enjoyed a short period referred to as Prague Spring that revitalized their national culture. The impetus that perpetuated the Warsaw Pact wrath was a petition known as Two Thousand Words which called for democracy in Czechoslovakia. The Warsaw Pact invasion in 1968 crushed Czechoslovakia's quest for democracy, seized control of the government and killed hundreds of protesters. In 1993, following the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Czechoslovakia, through peaceful negotiations, evolved into two independent countries, the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.

On March 12, 1999, the Czech Republic officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at a ceremony I attended at the Harry S Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. The Slovak Republic is expected to become a full member of NATO and the European Union in May of this year, thus completing a long journey for independence and achieving world status with acceptance into NATO.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Ross P. Marine, Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic in Kansas City, Missouri for arranging this significant cultural exchange. Mr. Ladislav Bielik's historic photo exhibit celebrates courage and perseverance and serves as a timely reminder of how important democracy is to free thinking people throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Lofgren substitute to the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997), legislation to create a second Federal offense for harm to a pregnant woman without creating the second legal ``person.'' The Lofgren substitute accomplishes the stated goals of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, the deterrence and punishment of violent acts against pregnant women. By allowing for a second Federal offense against a pregnant woman, perpetrators of violence will be punished to the full extent of the law and their crimes. H.R. 1997, without the Lofgren substitute, will do nothing to prevent violence against women and further undermines their reproductive freedom. Recognizing the fetus as a second legal ``person'' would be the equivalent of rolling back a well recognized right that was established over 30 years ago. The Lofgren substitute would preserve that right. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Lofgren substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2673, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2003. Despite the adequate funding provided for a number of district priorities, this legislation contains countless flawed provisions which will harm American families.

The Administration's proposal to dramatically alter overtime rules for American workers will make it substantially more difficult for American workers to make ends meet. This provision will take money away from Americans willing to work longer hours to provide for their families.

This legislation also features severe cuts to critical national priorities. State and local law enforcement is funded at $500 million below current levels when we are asking these heroes to do more every day to provide for our homeland security.

The bill also dramatically underfunds our educational needs. The No Child Left Behind Act will receive $7.7 billion less than was authorized by the Act thus there will be fewer resources for programs in teacher training, bilingual education, and Safe and Drug Free Schools. In my own district, the teachers and faculty of Primitivo Garcia Elementary School, located in Westside Kansas City, have been working hard to meet the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act. They are already struggling to help their students succeed with limited Title I resources. This legislation fails to offer the students and faculty of Primitivo and schools across the country the Federal support they need for our children. The measure also fails to address our nation's higher education needs. Programs such as the Pell Grant which offer higher education funding to the neediest American students will not receive enough funding to meet current demands.

The Omnibus measures also does serious funding damage to veteran programs. The most dramatic is the cut in funds needed to speed up the processing of applications for veteran benefits. Currently there are 448,000 claims pending, of which 95,000 have been in the system for more than 6 months without a disposition. On average the Department is taking 157 days to process a claim. The administration request would have added no additional staff for processing claims. The 0.59% across the board cut will reduce funding for the administration of claims by $4 million and that will result in the estimated loss of 100 employees needed for claims processing. This comes at a time when the number of claims is likely to skyrocket as Iraqi war veterans apply for benefits. In my district, the Kansas City VA Medical Center provides quality service to thousands of veterans each year. The hospital's need for skilled health care professionals continues to grow. This bill fails to provide adequate funding to meet these needs.

This legislation includes funding for a number of projects within the Kansas City area. Among the programs and departments receiving funding are a stormwater project in Belton, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, the Cabot Westside Clinic and the Liberty Memorial Museum, which will use $100,000 for renovation and $50,000 for education. The Omnibus spending bill also includes more than $7 million for transportation projects, such as reconstruction of the Grandview triangle and expansion of the Lewis and Clark Expressway. Other recipients are the Kansas City Region Job Access Program, which will receive $500,000 for their programs to link low income families and welfare recipients to employment centers and employment related services; and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which will use $4.7 million in funding for replacement, upgrades and improvements to basic transit infrastructure, including buses.

As much as I was encouraged that these items were included in the bill, many important projects in Kansas City and around the nation were left unfunded for partisan reasons. In my own district, funding for the St. Vincent Family Service Center's Operation Breakthrough, the Independence School District, and St. Mark's United Inner City Services, all of which received previous Federal funding, were all denied funding because of this partisan vendetta. This is a dangerous precedent and I would urge the appropriators to consider the value of projects independent of partisan politics. The American taxpayers deserve no less.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this legislation. We can do better. Let's work together to protect the overtime of American workers, adequately provide for our students and veterans, and give communities the support they need.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks about the premium support provisions in this conference report that will undermine the Medicare system on which the elderly in my district and around this Nation depend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. I strongly support the inclusion of a prescription drug benefit as part of the Medicare program. Unfortunately, instead of providing a prescription benefit, this legislation includes dramatic changes in the entire Medicare program. As Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne recently wrote, ``They went in to design a prescription drug benefit for seniors and came out with an aardvark.''

Mr. Speaker, in 1965, President Johnson and the Congress had the wisdom to create the Medicare program. The program accomplished its mission--it has ensured every single American's health coverage upon reaching 65 years of age. Since the bill's passage, Congress has made changes to the program to keep it current and to ensure that seniors received the highest quality care.

Now seniors are asking us to include a prescription drug benefit within the Medicare program. They want a benefit that offers comprehensive, affordable coverage to all seniors. I agree with them wholeheartedly. Instead of designing a prescription drug benefit, the majority created H.R. 1, which will end Medicare as we know it.

Mr. Speaker, this proposal is confusing and inadequate. For the first $2,000 of coverage, the consumer will pay over $1,100; for the first $5,000 of coverage, the consumer will pay approximately $4,000. If a consumer buys $5,000 of drugs a year, the consumer will pay 80 percent of that cost. Elderly women will be hardest hit.

Under this misguided plan, seniors will be forced to choose private prescription plans each year. A move between states, or even between towns, could force them to select another plan. In my district, seniors who chose to relocate from Kansas to Missouri could face the loss of their chosen prescription drug plan.

I am also concerned that this legislation will encourage companies that offer employer-provided drug coverage to drop or reduce their benefits. While the bill includes billions in subsidies for companies to maintain their benefits, more than 2.7 million retirees are likely to lose their employer provided coverage under this bill.

Seniors have been asking for a prescription drug benefit. They have not been asking for HMOs to take over Medicare. Yet that is what we are being asked to vote on today. This legislation includes ``cost containment'' provisions that will prompt significant cuts in the Medicare program if more than 45 percent of the costs of Medicare are borne from general tax revenues. Let's be clear--this cost cap would effectively end Medicare as a basic right for our seniors.

In a machiavellian effort to pass this misguided legislation, the authors have included billions in additional payments for doctors, hospitals, rural health facilities, and ambulance services among others. Sadly, these quality health care providers are forced to support this legislation even though many fear it will be bad for seniors and could unravel the Medicare program. Those funds should not be held hostage by this Medicare privatization scheme. I urge my colleagues to consider supporting stand alone legislation that would help our providers and save the Medicare program.

As E.J. Dionne wisely recommended, we should reject this flawed bill and ``let's then have a national debate on the future of Medicare, out in the open, and not in some congressional back room.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to reject this measure and go back to the basics. Give seniors what they deserve--a comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, also known as the Recording Academy, on the announcement of the GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative.

The Recording Academy is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and those who make it. An organization of 18,000 musicians, songwriters, producers and other recording professionals, the Recording Academy is internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, and is responsible for numerous groundbreaking outreach, professional development, cultural enrichment, education and human services programs.

An outstanding example of the Recording Academy's commitment to music is the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. It was an honor for me to be a sponsor with Representative Steny Hoyer of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 which established the registry. The Recording Academy now works with the Library of Congress to ensure the preservation of our national audio heritage for the enjoyment and education of generations to come. As a result of these efforts the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress includes early recordings by ragtime composer Scott Joplin, inventor Thomas Edison, and singer Bessie Smith, plus more recent works by Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra.

The first 50 recordings in the National Recording Registry truly represent the breadth and brilliance of our recorded heritage in both music and the spoken word, and each year more landmark recordings will be preserved and protected through their addition to the Registry.

To further advance its cultural mission, the Recording Academy unveiled its GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative on September 17 in Washington. Neil Portnow, President of the Recording Academy, launched this Initiative on behalf of NARAS to advance the rights of recording artists through advocacy, education and dialogue. Coordinated by Daryl Friedman, Senior Executive Director of the Washington office of the Recording Academy, the advocacy team will utilize its chapters and membership nationwide to educate the public through seminars and other grassroots events.

The Academy is also set to launch the GRAMMY Town Hall, a nationwide series of discussions with music industry leaders on critical issues such as file sharing, copyright protection, and intellectual property.

Mr. Speaker, the importance of music to my life and to the lives of people around the world cannot be overstated. Music transcends borders and breaks down cultural barriers. Young

Americans reap the lifetime benefits from music instruction in our schools. Music creates timeless memories. Music strikes a chord in all of us.

We must also recognize the economic impact of music. One of the bright spots of the U.S. trade economy is our recording industry. Recorded music generates a trade surplus for our nation and is one of America's leading exports, touching virtually every nation on the planet.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Portnow, Mr. Friedman and Recording Academy Chairman Dan Carlin for launching this important initiative.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2420 and remove any question that U.S. mutual funds are a sound investment. ``The Mutual Funds Integrity and Fee Transparency Act of 2003'' is the product of hard work and bipartisan cooperation to address concerns by investors in the wake of revelations this year of improprieties by irresponsible individuals in the mutual fund industry.

Today almost 100 million Americans invest in stock and bond mutual funds through direct holdings, 401(k) accounts, and through other mechanisms. I am one of these investors. Mutual funds are a stellar success story, combining diversification of risk with the simplicity of a single vehicle. Estimates are that mutual fund holdings today exceed $7 trillion dollars.

We must provide investors with the assurances they need to continue to fuel the mutual fund engine. H.R. 2420 will protect investors by reforming the mutual fund industry in several significant ways. Among the important provisions of this measure are rules to require greater transparency to investors as to the fees they are charged, and a new directive to the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a study of transaction costs.

This measure also correctly addresses the issue of the objectivity of the mutual fund's board of directors by requiring that two-thirds of the directors be independent, a significant increase from the current 40 percent requirement.

I support H.R. 2420 and urge my colleagues to do the same. As the bill advances through the legislative process it will undergo further changes, and I would recommend minor corrections that will improve the functionality and efficacy of this measure.

I encourage my colleagues to make certain that we enact legislation that produces the transparency that investors require yet does not become overly bureaucratic or burdensome to the mutual fund industry. For example, the requirement in H.R. 2420 for the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer should take into account that investment management companies generally oversee several funds, and that each individual fund should not require a separate Chief Compliance Officer. Such a step would only add to the management costs of the funds which in turn will result in higher costs to the investor.

We must also balance the much needed protection given to whistleblowers in H.R. 2420 with the legitimate needs of businesses to weed out poor performers. With hundreds of funds to choose among, there is no lack of competition in the mutual fund industry, and when the success of a given fund is measured in fractions the emphasis must be on getting results for the investor. Let us be certain to protect whistleblowers while not creating a safe harbor for underachievers.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2420 is worthy of our support, and again I urge my colleagues to vote in the affirmative today, and to work to further improve the measure as it moves toward enactment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Conference Report on H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2003. I strongly support a comprehensive national solution to our energy needs. In developing a national energy policy, it is imperative that we address electricity reliability issues, environmental impacts, and consumer protection. We must consider ways to invest in alternative energy technologies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil, address global warming and bolster our nation's energy security. I supported the original Energy and Commerce Committee version of this legislation which accomplished these goals. Instead, we are considering legislation that reinforces our dependency on foreign sources of energy and leaves our national security at risk.

Our economy is dependent upon reliable and affordable electricity, and any break in our electric supply threatens the security of our nation. The Conference Report fails to resolve reliability issues. Months after the largest blackout in our nation's history, this legislation fails to clarify who is responsible for preventing future blackouts. The legislation also fails to offer any meaningful assistance in the effort to update and modernize our nation's transmission system. Although Missouri was not effected by the recent blackouts, much of our transmission system suffers from the same outdated equipment that left our neighbors to the north and east in the dark.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation does include a few commendable items. One such provision is the establishment of a biodiesel fuel tax credit. The credit, which will be available through 2005, will offer those who use biodiesel as fuel a 50 cent per gallon tax credit. In my district, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority has been a leader among public transit agencies using biodiesel to fuel city buses. The biodiesel provisions on today's bill will help build on my past efforts to recognize this clean burning fuel as a solution to our efforts mandated in the Clean Air Act. I am also pleased to learn that the bill dramatically expands the requirements for the use of ethanol. My home state of Missouri has two ethanol plants, and we are working to build three more facilities to meet the growing demand for this renewable fuel.

Despite this legislation's positive ethanol and biodiesel provisions, the bill otherwise fails to encourage the transition from fossil fuels to indigenous, renewable energy. The conferees chose to reject Senate approved provisions to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS provision would have required power plants to use minimum amounts of renewable fuels. Energy experts have argued that RPS will save us from building 156 new power plants. The result of this effort would be lower prices for consumers and cleaner air. Those are the long term gains a strategic energy plan could generate.

Rather than providing the American people with a more secure system, H.R. 6 provides subsidies to oil and gas companies and exempts them from vital environmental regulations. Further, it repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act--legislation specifically designed to protect ratepayers from risky investments. Instead of preventing another California energy crisis or Enron scam, this legislation enables more fraud, more price gauging, and more corporate abuse at the expense of consumers.

This legislation also fails to secure our nation's drinking water. Despite the fervent objections of communities who experienced the devastating effects of the dangerous fuel additive MTBE, this legislation includes a waiver of all liability for MTBE manufacturers. MTBE has contaminated the drinking water of hundreds of towns and cities across the nation and this legislation forces taxpayers instead of polluters to pay the bill.

The legislation we are considering today fails to address the most pressing needs of the American people. Of particular concern are provisions that endanger the environment and could lead to further global warming. The report contains an amendment to the Clean Air Act that allows certain areas to ignore ozone attainment deadlines and exemptions for oil and gas exploration companies from waste water runoff rules designed to protect our lakes, rivers and streams.

Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve an energy policy that protects our consumers, our environment, and our national security. The Conference Report fails that test. I urge my colleagues to reject the conference report and instruct the conferees to craft real, long-term, comprehensive energy legislation similar to that approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the United States Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the AileyCamp of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey as recipients of the 2003 Coming Up Taller Award. The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities presents this annual recognition to groups who encourage underserved youth to participate in the arts and humanities. The AileyCamp in Kansas City is one of 18 organizations to receive this prestigious distinction and $10,000 to continue their philanthropic efforts to bring the art of dance to our community's urban youth.

I applaud the AileyCamp's undertakings to nurture a love for the arts and humanities in the next generation. The AileyCamp uses dance in varying techniques to develop skilled performers in ballet, jazz, tap, African dance, and other dance styles. This unique organization follows in the tradition of the accomplished dancer and choreographer, Alvin Ailey, who maintained an internationally acclaimed dance company and created 79 renowned ballets over his lifetime. His contribution to dance drew upon history, the blues and the gospel. Ailey envisioned an institution to instill appreciation for dance and culture especially for all young people.

Our community's children in the AileyCamp are immersed in a six week program offering training by top dance instructors, visual artists, and social workers for 11-14 year olds. These middle school students come from disadvantaged families and at-risk situations throughout Kansas City. AileyCamp provides a safe haven for creative activity where students develop their imagination through storytelling, writing, music, photography, and sculpture. These multi-discipline activities enhance and build upon their ability to express creatively, to analyze critically, and to foster academic excellence. Additionally, the campers take part in field trips and attend classes on conflict resolution, self-esteem, and goal setting.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the AileyCamp of Kansas City for this award. The AileyCamp is a tremendous organization performing in the spirit of the celebrated Alvin Ailey to broaden the horizons of our youth so that their artistic talents may bloom. I salute Ms. Cynthia Rider, Executive Director of Kansas City's AileyCamp and the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey for their 2003 Coming Up Taller award.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and respect that I rise today to bring to your attention, and to the attention of the House, the outstanding work and commitment of Rev. Dr. Wallace Hartsfield for more than 50 years of preaching to church congregations, serving the last 37 years as pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

Reverend Hartsfield was born in Atlanta, Georgia, November 13, 1929. He was an only child, raised by his mother, Ruby Morrissatte. After a 3-year tour of duty in the United States Army, he attended Clark College in Atlanta and in 1954 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark College. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta in 1957. His first pastorate was at a Baptist church in Pickens, South Carolina.

Reverend Hartsfield is a former chairman of the Congress of National Black Churches, which represents 65,000 churches and 20 million members. Reverend Hartsfield is also the former chairman of the Economic Development Commission of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.; second vice president of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.; president of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Operation PUSH; and an adjunct professor of the Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas. Reverend Hartsfield is married to Matilda Hopkins and on August 28 of this year they celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary. Reverend and Mrs. Hartsfield are the proud parents of four wonderful children: Pamela Faith, Danise Hope, Ruby Love, and Wallace S. Hartsfield II.

I have known Reverend Hartsfield over the years through his extensive involvement in the community. He has been a leader in many worthwhile causes and a wonderful role model for our city's youth and young adults.

His leadership was invaluable in redeveloping a blighted part of Kansas City when he led the Baptist Ministers' Union of Kansas City in their efforts to demolish the old St. Joseph's Hospital and replace it with a much needed new shopping center, the Linwood Shopping Center. Residents of the city's central core had to travel some distances to buy groceries, drop off dry cleaning, or to have a prescription filled before the new development became a reality. Reverend Hartsfield successfully led the charge to secure sufficient investment capital for the project when resources for new development in that area of the city were scarce. He also was instrumental in the construction of a low income 60 unit housing development known as Metropolitan Homes, in that same geographical area. He was involved in faith based initiatives long before it was on the national agenda.

Reverend Hartsfield recently chaired the capital fund campaign to expand and update Kansas City's Swope Parkway Health Center, which provides invaluable assistance to many people who could not otherwise afford or have access to quality, state of the art health care. Millions of dollars were raised and the new health center stands as a testament to the untiring efforts of committed and dedicated people like Reverend Hartsfield.

Reverend Hartsfield has received numerous awards, among them the One Hundred Most Influential Award from the Kansas City Globe newspaper; the Greater Kansas City Image Award presented by the Urban League; the Minister of the Year Award from the Baptist Ministers Union of Kansas City; a Public Service Award from the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime; the Role Model for Youth Award from Penn Valley Community College and the Community Service Award from Kansas City, Missouri.

Additionally, he was named ``One of the Top 50 Ministers in America;' by Upscale magazine of Atlanta, GA and he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from both Western Baptist Bible College in Kansas City and also from the Virginia Seminary and College of Lyncher, VA. Further, Reverend Hartsfield is a member of the board of directors for the national organization of Operation PUSH, and the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, GA, among others.

This weekend in Kansas City, we are celebrating Reverend Hartsfield's 37th anniversary as pastor at the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, and recognizing all of his critically important work and the leadership he has provided in the community for nearly four decades. Reverend Hartsfield loves people and he loves helping people. He has made a difference in the city he calls home, Kansas City, and we are proud to honor him as one of our outstanding citizens.

Mr. Speaker, please join me, the congregation of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, the family of Reverend Hartsfield, and the citizens of Kansas City, Missouri in congratulating Reverend Hartsfield on his 37 years of service to his church and many more years of service to his community.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3289. I call upon the President and his Administration to make clear to the Congress and the American people how long we will be in Iraq, how much it will cost, and when we can expect certain outcomes. I continue to support a multilateral approach to the war effort, and recognize the tremendous sacrifices of the men and women in our armed services. I want them to know we fully support them. My heart goes out to the soldiers in Iraq and their loved ones at home as well as to the Iraqi people to whom we have promised democracy and economic freedom. I have held listening sessions in my district with the wives and families of the servicemen and women. Their message is clear: ``We want them home; in the meantime we want them safe.''

In my conversations with families of our troops, I learned of the ongoing needs of the brave individuals who serve our country in Iraq. I support the efforts of Ranking Member Obey, the gentleman from Wisconsin, to improve this legislation with an amendment that would include the following provisions: significant water purification equipment for our troops; adequate medical and dental screening for activated reservists prior to deployment, and extended coverage following their duty in Iraq; sufficient prepaid telephone cards to enable soldiers to communicate with loved ones in the States without incurring exorbitant phone bills; reconditioning equipment that is insufficiently armored and in need of repair; and covering domestic travel costs when our soldiers return home for short periods during deployment.

By denying Mr. Obey the opportunity to offer his amendment, this measure fails to guarantee the basic needs and thus the reliability of our troops in Iraq, and undermines the future of our Reserve and National Guard programs.

I'm not interested in talking about the existence or lack thereof of weapons of mass destruction or the urgency which compelled the President to get America into this effort unilaterally. I am interested in going forward, offering the necessary support to ensure our troops success and safety and keeping the promises we've made to rebuild Iraq.

As a student of history, I see strong parallels between the post World War II period when America launched the Marshall Plan and the current situation we have in Iraq. When America launched the Marshall Plan; however, it was with full disclosure of the multiyear costs and the ultimate benefits of that plan.

The Administration's approach to date is similar to a house builder who says to the owners, ``I'm building your foundation. The first brick will cost you $87 Billion. Period. Trust me on the rest.'' That's no way to build a house and no way to rebuild a crumbling and troubled nation. We the American people have to know: how much? how long? by when can we expect certain outcomes?

Let us reflect on and learn from past war efforts, and model our current action to avoid failure and yet one more ``forgotten war.'' As George Santayana wisely noted: ``Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.''

I urge my colleagues to support a reasonable and responsible approach to our efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq and address the needs of our military. Reject H.R. 3289. Provide real support for our troops, a real plan for rebuilding Iraq, and restore stability to the region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor ``A Man of Vision,'' the venerable Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, II, whose leadership, ministry, and public service have enhanced the Kansas City community for three decades. A former mayor of Kansas City and the senior pastor at St. James United Methodist Church, Rev. Cleaver is being honored on October 11 for his accomplishments, exceptional vision and contributions to our community as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of his service to St. James Church.

Growing up in a humble household, Rev. Cleaver daily witnessed the need to serve the urban core and its poor. His service as City Council Member and Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor and ordained United Methodist minister reflect the legacy of the Cleaver family tradition of giving back to one's community. Rev. Cleaver's accomplishments are vast and impressive. His dream to complete an $8 million contemporary sanctuary connected to the old building of St. James will allow many more parishioners to join those who gather to hear his inspirational counsel.

An advocate of jobs for the Fifth District, Mayor Cleaver was a pioneer in persuading

corporations like Transamerica and Gateway 2000 to lay a foundation in our community. His plans for tax abatement, infrastructure and economic development have enriched our city in myriad ways. As the shepherd of our city, he championed the Brush Creek Flood Control project, the Bruce R. Watkins Roadway, the Chouteau Bridge, and the Ilus W. Davis Civic Mall. I am proud to be a federal partner in these efforts with Rev. Cleaver, as well as in the expansion of Bartle Hall, the economic renewal of the Hispanic West Side, and the revitalization of the historic 18th and Vine District.

Rev. Cleaver's vision for a strong community includes serving the city's youth and the disadvantaged through safe and enriching recreational activities such as the Mayor's Night Hoops, a nationally recognized program that offers our city's youth a safe haven from drugs and violence. Rev. Cleaver was also instrumental in implementing a welfare to work program that provided 400 jobs to former welfare recipients. He has received numerous distinctions acknowledging his legacy upon Kansas City. He earned the 1999 Conspicuous Service Medal from Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, the 1993 James C. Kilpatrick Excellence for Government Award, the 1992 NAACP Harold L. Holliday, Sr. Civil Rights Award, and a host of other significant merits.

A trusted advisor, Rev. Cleaver was appointed to President-Elect Bill Clinton's 1992 Transition Team, attended the 1993 White House's Palestinian Liberation Organization/Israeli Peace Accord, was a member of the Democratic Platform Committee in 1996, was a member of the Democratic National Committee and spoke at the 1996 Democratic National Convention. President Clinton sought his counsel and friendship throughout his presidency.

Rev. Cleaver leadership includes: President and Chairman of the National Conference of Black Mayors, Chairman of the US Conference of Mayors Committee on Crime and Social Justice and Chairman for the Task Force on Finances for the District of Columbia. He was a Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a National Board Member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and for seven consecutive years, he was named one of Ebony magazine's ``100 Most Influential African Americans''.

To share his expertise on policy and social issues, Rev. Cleaver has appeared on the news programs ``This Week with David Brinkley,'' ``The MacNeil/Lehrer Report,'' and ``Face the Nation,'' and is quoted in newspapers and periodicals such as USA Today, The New York Times, The Economist, and Newsweek.

Members of the St. James Congregation revere Rev. Cleaver as a ``Man of Vision,'' a reference to the biblical passage Proverbs 29:18, which states, ``Where there is no vision the people perish. . . .'' Kansas City flourishes due to this great leader's vision. He follows a moral and noble path in forging a better future for us all.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring St. James' ``Man of Vision,'' Rev. Emanuel Cleaver for his 30 years of service to his church community and country.