Floor Statements

Thank you, Congressman Klein. Whether it be from Colorado to Vermont, from Kentucky to Tennessee, to Minnesota, to Florida, no matter where we come from, this freshman class that we belong to is here to stay and here to say, very clearly, that we are reclaiming the coequal branch of this legislative body in our constitutional framework. We don't have another branch of government which we take orders from. We don't have to prove patriotism by servile behavior towards the executive branch. We stand up with doing our constitutional responsibility, and our only boss is the American people, not the President, not the courts.

Article I states, all legislative power herein granted shall be vested in the Congress of the United States. Part of that power is, of course, passing laws and, of course, all of you, my fine colleagues, have made it clear that we have been productive, we have been busy, we have been putting up the fight, and we have been passing legislation that this President should sign and, in fact, in many cases has signed. But we have also done something else which I am proud of, and that is provided oversight. We have subpoenaed people and made them come to these hearings. We have asked people the questions, the tough questions, and made them give forth the right answer.

Why, on the Judiciary Committee just this week, we had Mr. Tanner, who is the section chief of the voting section. He offered the opinion that, actually I wish I had it written down, because I don't want to get it wrong, but he offered the opinion that voter ID bills may affect seniors because they live longer, but when it comes to minority seniors they die, so it doesn't really matter for them. Chairman Conyers issued that request for him to come to that committee, and we asked him questions about voting rights. We asked him about how that department was being run. We asked him the tough questions that Americans expect us to ask.

But that's not all. Chairman Nadler of the committee has had constitutional hearings, and we have had people come in and talk about important issues, and, of course, Representative Cohen has been there as well, on Guantanamo, on habeas corpus. These are the kinds of things that Americans are concerned about because America will never be a place where we give up on our constitutional protections and our civil liberties.

I just want to say that I am so proud to be a Member of this freshman class that is not only passing legislation, not only standing up for its right as a coequal branch of government, but is calling people on the carpet and asking the tough questions as it is our job to do. The American people expect us to say, What's going on? Tell us what's going on. What have you done? Why have you done it?

That is our job, and we will continue to do it, because we don't work for anybody but for the American people. Not the judiciary. Not the executive branch. We are enshrined in article I of the Constitution, coequal branch of government, that branch of government in which all vested power to legislate is inside of us.

Mr. Klein, I want to thank you for conducting yet another excellent freshman hour.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the House's attention that it was on October 25 a few years ago, not long it seems, only days ago, in 2002 that our State of Minnesota lost Senator Paul Wellstone.

Paul Wellstone, Mr. Speaker, was a United States Senator, was a professor of politics, political science, at Carleton College. Paul Wellstone was an organizer of average citizens in Minnesota and helped them to discover their own power and their ability to maneuver the instrumentality of government to work for the benefit of the average citizen. Paul Wellstone was actually the State Chair of the Jackson for President campaign in 1988.

Paul Wellstone was truly a friend of all working people everywhere on the globe. And I just wanted to let you know, Mr. Speaker, that as we approach October 25, and I reflect back upon my own personal exposure and friendship with Paul Wellstone, whose picture hangs in my office right now, that I just wanted this day to go by with us in contemplation of what a true servant leader represents.

Paul Wellstone was a friend of mine. I'm proud to say that he was a political hero of mine as well. I had the awesome benefit of knowing him, and I'll never forget some of the things he said to me. But, among those things was to make sure that you never ever stop listening to the people.

Paul Wellstone was comfortable anywhere he went. He was comfortable in the hair shops, the beauty salons and the laundromats. Paul Wellstone obviously was comfortable in the halls of power in Congress.

Paul Wellstone, wherever he went, was a person who understood that he carried a sacred trust, that government service was a trust that the people of the State of Minnesota entrusted in him, that it was not a privilege, but it was an awesome responsibility, and he never forgot it.

Paul Wellstone was a leader in many ways and was an example to young people like myself. And as I think what his life means to me, means to the people of Minnesota, I have to consider that it is also that awesome responsibility that he laid out there. A servant leader, Mr. Speaker. Not just somebody who was looking to be served but a person who was looking to serve.

Paul Wellstone's favorite color was green, that was the color of his campaign literature, because it symbolized life. And I shamelessly copied it, Mr. Speaker, because I wanted to carry on that spirit of service, of being evergreen, of being ever new, and being committed to the idea that we have to constantly and continuously renew ourselves, our values, our faith, and our consistency when it comes to serving people all over the world.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that whether it was veterans, of whom Paul Wellstone was a tireless advocate, or whether it was students or whether it was the poor in our country, and I will never forget the tour he took around this country to highlight poverty in America, Paul Wellstone could always be found serving people. His loss was a tragic loss.

Only the day before we lost him, he was scheduled to come to my office, and we were going to do some campaigning together. It was a long night, Mr. Speaker, when we heard back the reports as the news reports said that a plane has gone down in Ely, Minnesota, and it was thought to be containing Paul Wellstone and his partner, Sheila Wellstone, and their daughter and several other campaigners. We hoped all night that what we thought might have happened didn't happen, but at the end of the evening, we learned that that tragedy, in fact, did occur. Our worst fears were confirmed when we learned that we lost him, but it was a long several hours before we realized that that tragedy had actually occurred, and we had hoped against hope. I will never forget that night.

Mr. Speaker, as I wind down my remarks, I just want to say that in many ways I have dedicated my service and take great inspiration from Senator Wellstone. I will never forget him, and I hope that this House and Senate never do, either.

Well, my colleagues, let me thank you again for this excellent dialogue.

We have to, as the difference makers in this 110th Congress, tell the people what's going on, what we're here for, and to reclaim the Congress as a co-equal branch of government articulated in article I, a co-equal branch of government that resides and has all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in the Congress of the United States and shall consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

And so as I heard my colleague, Mr. John Hall, articulate his trip to Iraq, I was forced to reflect upon my own. And I didn't go there out of an idle curiosity seeker, a person trying to go on an interesting trip, but as somebody who is going to be called upon to execute a vote, to push a button, red or green or otherwise, as to monies that will be sent forth and as to other business that will be happening in Iraq. That's our job, we claim it, we do not abdicate it, and it would be wrong and a dereliction of our duty to do otherwise.

So, let me commend you and everybody who has gone to that place where our constituents, some of them have spent up to 18 months at a time as they face extended deployments.

And I also want you to know that I sat down at a table with young people

from my district in Minnesota where we ate lunch. I was struck by the fact that wherever they go, they've got these big old guns that they carry with them, everybody. It's like a wallet, but it probably weighs quite a bit more than that. And that's just the lives that they lead. But they distinguish themselves and make us proud by their courage. And it is political authority, politicians like us that make decisions whether they stay or whether they go. So we had better at least spend a little bit of time there with them, and we had better at least try to get in their shoes and identify with what they're going through just a little bit and feel that 130-degree heat that they're in every single day and feel the dust and sand under their feet and the hum of those helicopters. I'm sure you were humming around in those Black Hawks with the windows out and the machine guns on either side, strapped in in four places and feeling the heat of those propellers as the air hits against your helmet. It's the kind of experience that we go through so that we can have some real sympathy and empathy with the people who we are charged to represent. So, hats off to you, Congressman. I appreciate it.

I'm not going to talk long because I love the switching around that we do. But I just want to make one other point as we look at article I and we reclaim and assert our responsibility under the Constitution as Congress. It is also important to understand that we have asserted our authority in the area of promoting working-class prosperity for people.

I am so proud that one of the things we did for the first time in 9 years is raised the minimum wage, Mr. Speaker. The hardest working people in America getting paid the least got a raise under this Congress. And I don't want people to make that into any kind of a small matter. Thousands and thousands of Americans benefited by raising the minimum wage for the first time in 9 years. I'm talking about the folks that clean the bedpans, mop the floors, sit in those cold or hot parking booths all across this country and really do the tough, tough work, getting paid not much of nothing. And you know that if you make minimum wage, basically, if your employer can pay you less, they probably would. So what we did is we raised that minimum wage so people can have a little bit better of a life. So now instead of moms having to tell kids, ``Honey, you can't go on that class trip,'' ``Honey, you're going to have to wear those sneakers a few months longer,'' now, instead of dad saying, ``No, son, you can't sign up for baseball,'' or, ``Yes, we're having macaroni and cheese again,'' now they can say, ``No, we're going to do a little better this time. We're going to make your life a little better. We're going to make your quality of life a little better.''

So I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I'm so proud of my colleagues and this whole 110th Congress to be able to do a little bit better for the hardest working Americans in our country.

Mr. Speaker, when I think about article I, I think this passage in the Federalist Papers where it says that we are to be in intimate sympathy with the people, I got to tell you, that when I sat down along with my colleague Congressman Hodes and Congressman Klein with the Financial Services Committee to listen to people who had faced foreclosure in their homes because of the subprime lending crisis, I thought about article I.

Mr. Speaker, I thought about article I because article I is that provision that empowers me as an individual Member of Congress to want to listen to people who are facing foreclosure; listen to the mortgage originators who say, yes, we do need to have some regulation of what we are doing, there are some cowboys out there; to listen to these community bankers; and to listen to people who say, look, I made all my mortgage payments, but there is a foreclosure on the left and a boarded building on the right, and my house where I paid every payment is now suffering loss in the value of it because of this foreclosure crisis.

I was in intimate contact with article I as I sat there in earnest and sincere humility listening to people and what they were going through, when I was so proud to sit there on that committee to be able to respond to the people. Because we have to go back there every 2 years. We can't take a vacation from the people in the House. We got to listen every week. Week in, week out, we are in touch with our folks.

So Mr. Speaker, Mr. Yarmuth, I just wanted to say that article I, what it means to me is sympathy with the people and action on their behalf.

Madam Speaker, on October 10, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on H. Res. 719 (rollcall No. 954), had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on October 22, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 983-985, had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on October 15, 2007, I was back in Minneapolis attending a funeral for a constituent and failed to vote on rollcall votes: 961, 962, and 963. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes, 961-963.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the life of Vernon Bellecourt of Minnesota, a selfless servant who committed his life not just to fight for American Indians but for the rights of all people.

Last night I was at a funeral service for Mr. Bellecourt, and while I regret to report the recent passing of Mr. Bellecourt at age 75, I am grateful for his spirit of equality and inclusiveness which will continue to live on in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and around the world.

Mr. Bellecourt, a member of the Ojibwe Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, came to St. Paul from Minnesota's White Earth Indian Reservation. As a skilled communicator and a natural leader, Vernon championed the power of community. He practiced what he preached, solidifying his commitment to community by operating several small businesses. And while Vernon was a businessman, his greatest contribution was as a human rights leader around the world and in Minnesota.

Let me read a little bit from the Washington Post obituary that appeared today in the paper:

``Vernon Bellecourt, who fought to restore land and dignity to Native Americans and against the use of Indian nicknames for sports teams as a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM) died October 13 of complications of pneumonia at a Minneapolis hospital.

``Since leaving behind careers as a hair stylist and real estate agent and joining his brother'' Clyde Bellecourt ``at AIM in the 1970s, Mr. Bellecourt had been in the forefront of the movement to ensure that treaty rights of Native American tribes and the U.S. Government would be fulfilled. He was president of the National Coalition of Racism in Sports and the Media and a principal spokesman for AIM.

``He was involved in numerous demonstrations to bring attention to his causes, including the 1972 occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington and the 1992 Super Bowl rally to protest the name of Washington's football team. He also spoke at colleges and universities around the world about more than 400 treaties that the group believed the U.S. was not honoring.

``Clyde Bellecourt, a founding member of AIM, said yesterday that his brother had been in Venezuela about 4 weeks ago'' to talk about ``providing heating assistance to American tribes.''

Mr. Speaker, let me wrap up and say that Vernon Bellecourt brought an issue to the attention of the American people that most of us walk past very quickly. Most of us would look at Native American sports team mascots and think no big deal. But just imagine, if you would, Mr. Speaker, teams called the Chicago Negroes or the Washington Caucasians. None of us would appreciate that kind of depiction of our ethnicity, and Mr. Bellecourt didn't appreciate it either. And he helped elevate the self-esteem of young Native Americans and also helped us understand our common humanity as we respect each other due to his inspirational work.

I also want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I met Mr. Bellecourt in the early 1980s in Detroit, Michigan, when he was standing up for Native Americans at the Hopi Indian Reservation as they were in a conflict with Peabody Coal Company over land and treaty rights. I got to know him better when I joined him in northern Wisconsin, standing on the docks to stand up for Native American treaty rights. And whether you agree with him or not, Mr. Speaker, he embodied the spirit of an American standing up for what you believe in, speaking out for what is right, speaking up for the people who don't have a voice.

Mr. Speaker, Vernon Bellecourt will be sorely missed and will never be forgotten. In my opinion, he is a great man and he has helped us discover ourselves in a deeper and more meaningful way. May God bless Vernon Bellecourt and sympathy for his family.

Madam Speaker, on September 26, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on H. Res. 678 (rollcall No. 909), had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on October 3, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall votes 932, 933, and 934. Had I voted, I would have voted ``yea'' on 932, ``yea''; on 933, and ``yea'' on 934.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the very, very wonderful company of my freshman Members.

Mr. Speaker, since the 110th Congress began, we have, as a class, stepped forward to try to do everything we could to help the American people see a new way forward for America. And this week, we have seen that the distinction and the differences between our view of caring for the health of all Americans and that of the President were brought into very sharp contrast, very sharp contrast in that the President has vetoed SCHIP.

Mr. Speaker, before I turn it over to my very able classmates, I just want to point out that we're not rising today to talk about health care and SCHIP to throw partisan darts or anything like that. We recognize and respect and appreciate and even are quite grateful for members of the Republican Caucus in both Houses who have come forward to join and say that the health of our children is very important, in fact, it's sacred, and that all Americans should come together to support it.

Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan SCHIP reauthorization bill, which was vetoed by the President, is supported by 67 Senators, including 18 Republicans. It is supported by 43 Governors, including 16 Republican Governors, and I'm proud to say my own Governor, Tim Pawlenty. Governor Pawlenty knows that he and I have disagreed on things in the past, but we're together on this, that children's health must be cared for by adults.

The bill that was vetoed today is supported by more than 270 organizations, literally representing millions of Americans, and has very strong support from the American people at large.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to get us started today. I have much more to say, but I don't want to delay any longer because I know that my very excellent difference-maker classmates have much to say about this issue. So without any further delay, I'd like to offer the microphone to the very able, very excellent, honorable Mr. Sarbanes from Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, if it wouldn't violate the rules of decorum, I would clap after Mr. Sarbanes' comment. I thought it was very eloquent. I thought the examples he used were very poignant. The young man who had a tooth abscess and had that go up into

his brain and he died as a result of it stands as an indictment against our whole Nation. That young man deserves to have all of us, every adult in America, stand up and say, change must come, and it must come now.

I just would like to read a quote and see if I could get my colleague from Brooklyn's reaction, if I may.

Yvette Clarke, you are here with us tonight. You are a stalwart. You are a clarion voice for the public good. I just want to know what you might think about this statement as relates to SCHIP, which is a quote from the late Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, from my home State of Minnesota, in which he said that the moral test of any government is how it treats those in the dawn of life, the children; those in the dusk of life, the elderly; and those in the shadow of life, the disadvantaged.

When you think about this veto of SCHIP and you think about the moral test of the Nation, what do you think? What thoughts come to mind?

The doctor is in the House.

Mr. Speaker, we have a doctor in the House. We are all richly benefited by the presence of Dr. Steve Kagen in this Congress. He is one of the freshman Members who tells it like it is. Very few people are better qualified to talk about health care than he is. He is a physician. I think he was probably practicing right up until the day he got sworn in.

We are all very honored to have you here again, Doctor. What do you have to say about this veto?

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to point out that this is a bipartisan effort. As we come here and ask that this veto be overridden, it is not simply a Democratic initiative. It is also a Republican one. Let me tell you, I was really warmed, my heart was warmed up when I read the words written by Representative Heather Wilson and Representative Ray LaHood, two Republican Members, who sent out a Dear Colleague letter for the support of the SCHIP. They wrote, ``According to Census Bureau data, about 9 million children lack health insurance. This SCHIP agreement would cover 3 to 4 million of them by investing $35 billion in additional funding in

children's health insurance over 5 years.''

Here is what our two Republican colleagues wrote further: ``We urge your support for the SCHIP agreement and believe it is the best vehicle for reauthorizing the program before it expires.''

That is what two Republican colleagues had to say about this bill. Presumably, they will be with us trying to overturn the veto.

My point is that as Americans citizens are watching us and watching this whole debate unfold here in the Capitol, they should know that they don't have to take sides based on party.

This is something that is simply a moral imperative. It is right, it is cost-effective, and improves our health and well-being. It demonstrates our commitment to our children. It is right for a whole number of reasons, not just one reason.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to say, Senator Charles Grassley, who is a Republican Member, spoke very eloquently on this. He says, well, I am not trying to score political points. Again, it is not politics we are talking here. And any of the Democrats that have worked with me I know believe in they want to help kids, low-income kids, and we are going to not only keep the existing kids on the program, we are going to do what the President implied he wanted to do, was to bring more kids on. We are going to cover 4 million more kids as a result of what we are doing. I think it's up to the President, based on his message, to look at what we have done and see if it doesn't fit into that he tried to do, that he can't do that with just $5 million.

So, the point being, Senator Grassley, a Republican, is in support of this.

Dr. Kagen, how are you looking at this?

Mr. Speaker, I think that the words of Dr. Kagen are on the mark. Elections certainly do have consequences. Elections absolutely have consequences. I do hope as we deliberate on the next phase of this struggle, because the American people should know that we will not falter, we will not back down, we will stand strong with them, we will stand strong with the children, we will keep the faith, we will be in fidelity with them on this issue of health care.

Mr. Speaker, please let everyone know that we have heard our Speaker clearly state that we are not going to back down on this one. This is a gut-check issue, and we will be sticking to it. Not only have both Democrat and Republican legislators been very clear on the importance of this issue, it is bipartisan and it is a moral issue, and our Nation's editorial boards have been clear.

It is important to point out that on October 1, The Washington Post editorial stated that President Bush appears determined to veto, and he did now, the $35 billion expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program that the House and Senate approved last week. The administration's proposal to increase spending by less $5 billion would fall $14 billion short of what is needed to maintain the existing coverage in SCHIP alone, never mind adding the millions of eligible but uncovered children the President once said he was determined to sign up. Where is the commitment in that?

The Austin American Statesman editorial states on October 1: ``For many kids, the doctor is not in.'' What kind of statement is that, doc?

The Atlanta Journal Constitution: ``Kids lose out to politics,'' screams the headline on September 30.

The Chicago Tribune editorial: ``A sound children's health bill.'' Stating further, ``We urge the President to sign the measure. If he vetoes it, Congress should override that decision. We share the concern over stealthy leaps toward government-sponsored and universal health care. But this bill doesn't do that. It is a reasonable expansion of a vital program.''

The New York Times editorial: ``Overcoming a veto and helping children.''

The Daily News, New York, editorial. ``Presidential malpractice,'' screams the headline. ``President Bush is threatening a veto of legislation with broad bipartisan support that would extend health coverage to millions of

uninsured children. He is wrong. Dead wrong.''

My colleagues, do the editorial writers have it right or wrong?

In fact, right in this Chamber just this past week this bill passed 265-159. When do you see things pass with 259 votes, unless they are completely noncontroversial? That is overwhelming.

Doctor, you worked in this field. You are a professional. You are in the healing arts. Is SCHIP a program where the government would be telling doctors like yourself how many pills to prescribe? Are they ordering every facet of the patient-doctor relationship? What is the real truth about this?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity, it is an excellent segue that the doctor made. While the President finds it repugnant to have $35 billion in new moneys over 5 years, which would be what SCHIP calls for, the President in his new Iraq war supplement asks for an additional $45 billion, totaling close to $200 billion for the war in Iraq for the next year. That is $200 billion for the next year. And we can't afford a $7 billion increase for our children to get health care?

So please keep in this mind that this compromise to reauthorize SCHIP is something very small in comparison to the values that he seems to hold dear, which is waging war, in a war that we never should have been in, based on a false premise. For that he is willing to give all. But to secure the national health of our children, no money for that.

Mr. Speaker, if I might just propose that we spend some time sort of talking about what Americans can do, what Americans might think about doing as we move forward. Of course today, action was taken in the Congress that on a date certain 2 weeks from now, we will take up the override issue. That is very important for Americans to know.

In a couple of weeks, we will be right back here in the same Chamber and we are going to see what is what. Who is who and what is what. We are going to be counting. On that day there will be no hiding, and everybody who has an election certificate will be called upon to say where they are really at when it comes to caring for the health of our children.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important now to talk about what American citizens might consider doing. Of course people do whatever they want, it's a free country, but people feel strongly about SCHIP, and 70 percent of the people believe it should have been passed. So what they might consider doing.

Ms. Clarke, what might an American citizen do as we are moving toward this showdown on SCHIP?

Representative Clarke, one of the things I really enjoy about serving with you, you are a person of tremendous faith. And also I know that Dr. Kagen is a man of great faith as well. In fact, only a few weeks ago we recognized Yom Kippur, a sacred holiday for our Jewish brethren and sisters. One of the phrases they use from the scripture and cite is, Let there be no needy among you.

I know you come from the Christian tradition. It is interesting to me because I noticed that one of the things

that Jesus did is that he healed people and he didn't charge them.

Let's talk about this idea. Would it be okay, and people can do whatever they want, we are not telling anybody what to do, but what somebody might do is ask their pastor to sort of talk about SCHIP and its moral implications.

Dr. Kagen, what might Americans consider doing? For people who feel SCHIP is a worthy program, a meritorious program, overwhelmingly Americans agree on both sides of the aisle, so what might they consider doing? Particularly people who are busy and working a couple of jobs, getting kids and getting groceries, is this the type of thing people might want to get active on?

I agree with both of you, my colleagues. We have to believe. We have to believe we can make a change in the same way people believed that we could have workers' rights, and we believed that we could have civil rights, and we believed that we could have a freer and better America.

Let's never forget women's rights. People who made those things happen believed they could happen even though they didn't exist at the time. We have to believe, as Dr. Kagen says.

But it wouldn't hurt anything if we wrote in to our local newspapers and church bulletins to let people know how we felt about this issue. It wouldn't hurt to talk to our rabbis and our ministers and our imams in our faith communities to talk about this issue, make it sort of an issue that we talk about and make sure that people understand what is going on.

It wouldn't hurt to have a coffee klatsch. Invite some people over to talk about it. It wouldn't hurt to talk to the teachers and the principals in the local community about it. That wouldn't hurt a thing. Build awareness. Help get a teacher's perspective on what it is like to teach a child who is coughing and sneezing and wheezing and can't really focus on his or her studies.

We can e-mail and write and call in to our elected officials. That is something we certainly should do. It is time for people to come together and demand an override to this awful veto.

I would invite my colleagues to make some final concluding remarks.

The Members of the difference makers, the majority makers, the class of 2006 who are in this 110th Congress ran on a platform of change, succeeded on that platform as Americans all across the country endorsed that platform of change, coming together from diverse parts around the country, all for one thing, which is to elevate and uplift the public good and the interests of the American people. Whether it's on the issue of war and peace or disease and wellness, or whatever it may be, education, workers' rights, civil rights, environmental sustainability, whatever it is, we will continue to raise our voices because we were brought here to bring change.

We're fresh off the campaign trail, knocking on doors, talking to folks at the doorstep about what they need and what they care about. Our idealism is high. Our energy is high. Our resolve is strong, and we will be here for the American people.

Together, we will.

That's right.

Mr. Speaker, last week Democrats and Republicans came together here in Congress to pass a bipartisan bill that will ensure that 10 million low-income children have access to private health care insurance. The bill would invest $35 billion more over the next 5 years in the Children's Health Insurance Program. It's fully paid for, as this Congress has vowed to pay as we go.

Despite receiving strong bipartisan support here in Congress, President Bush is threatening to veto this legislation. He says the bill is simply too big. Instead, the President proposes a $5 billion funding increase that the nonpartisan CBO concludes would force 800,000 children to lose their health insurance.

Talk about misplaced priorities. President Bush didn't bat an eye when the Pentagon said that it needed as much as $200 billion, with a ``b,'' over the next year to continue the war in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, President Bush has no problem sending billions of dollars to

Iraq every day, but doesn't seem inclined to support an investment in children's health care here in the U.S. Talk about misplaced priorities.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding time and for this excellent resolution. I'd like to thank all of the authors, including Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and everyone who signed on to the resolution commemorating the month of Ramadan.

I am celebrating Ramadan myself personally, and I have been doing so ever since my 19th birthday. I'm 44 now, and I can tell you that it is a time of reflection, a time of renewal, and regeneration.

It's true that we fast during the daylight hours during Ramadan, but it also says in the sayings of Prophet Mohammed, that if you do not refrain from ill speech, bad speech, bad words, basically a bad attitude and negative disposition, then God has no use of your refraining from food and drink. And so in this month of Ramadan, it's important to reassess your life, to contemplate your role in society and to benefit your neighbor.

I think it's very important when we talk about ``neighbor'' that we reflect upon what that word really means, ``neighbor.'' It was Jesus, who the Muslims call Esau and who they revere very highly, who told the lawyer in the Bible that his neighbor really wasn't even somebody of his own religion or his own tribe but really was that Samaritan from that other group who lended assistance and gave a helping hand when it was needed. And that is the origin of the story of the Good Samaritan.

This idea of the neighbor is something that's very important in Islam, especially during Ramadan where Muslims of all faiths, all colors, all backgrounds, reach out to our neighbors, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist of all types.

I want to report to you, Mr. Speaker, that over the course of the last several weeks we've had several Iftar celebrations right here in the Capitol and also in the Pentagon and a tremendous demonstration of interfaith cooperation, interfaith working together and mutual respect and recognition.

As was said earlier, and I quite agree, every faith tradition relies on fasting as a means for spiritual regeneration. I also want to report to you that on the date of Yom Kippur, which is the Jewish holiday of atonement and the commemoration of the time of the new year, that my mosque in Minneapolis and the synagogue Temple Israel in Minneapolis joined together to break fast together, and we ended up with a good problem, Mr. Speaker, and that is, that there were 150 people who RSVP'ed and said they wanted to come. We ended up with about 160 people coming, and we didn't have enough chairs for everybody, but we had enough food because we shared it, Mr. Speaker, showing again that we're not too far apart.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to let you know that many of our Christian friends came to celebrate the breaking of the fast with the Muslims and Jews together, and we're really warmed and encouraged by the fact that we can all come together even though we have different faith traditions.

So, Mr. Speaker, let me again thank the wonderful, excellent commemoration we're having today as a true expression of American values, religious tolerance, inclusion of everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of the men and women of the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard and in strong support of H. Con. Res. 185.

I want to thank my colleague and friend Tim Walz for bringing this important resolution before the floor.

The dedicated men and women of 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota Guard have just finished serving the longest continuous deployment of any United States military unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom. This Minnesota National Guard unit served 22 months, 16 of which were in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I believe our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division along with all the men and women who have honorably served in Iraq.

H. Con. Res. 185 represents a small token of appreciation for our grateful Nation. The resolution formally recognizes the achievements of these citizen soldiers and officially thanks them for their service.

This resolution thanks the 1st Brigade Combat Team for their work and the time they have sacrificed from their families, neighbors and communities in their valiant service to our country.

I urge my fellow colleagues in Congress to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the SCHIP bill that will provide millions of children in America with health coverage. The bill passed Tuesday, 265-159.

The bi-partisan compromise will include $35 billion more for the SCHIP program allowing Congress to cover 4 million more additional children, bringing the total number of children covered to 10 million. Next year alone, this new SCHIP bill will provide Minnesota with $50 million in additional dollars to help insure Minnesota's children.

This compromise reauthorizing SCHIP is supported by 43 Governors, 16 of them Republican, including Republican Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and my home state Governor Tim Pawlenty.

But unfortunately, Madam Speaker, it has been widely reported that the President has promised to veto this bill to provide children with health care.

Last February, I spoke on the floor of the House to criticize the budget cuts contained in the President's budget. Like the budget, we could easily look at the SCHIP bill and say, this is all about numbers, it is just a plan and it is an impersonal thing. But, in fact, Madam Speaker, this bill is a moral statement about who matters in our society.

This bill is a reflection of our own humanity. It talks about who counts, who doesn't, who matters, who doesn't, and what are our priorities.

As the late Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey from my State of Minnesota stated so eloquently:

``The moral test of any government is how it treats those in the dawn of life, the children; those in the dusk of life, the elderly; and those in the shadow of life, the disadvantaged.''

The SCHIP bill brought to the House floor today clearly shows the priorities of this Congress.

We are for children having access to health insurance.

We are for providing health care for 4 million additional children.

We are for families not having to worry about the health care for their children.

This SCHIP bill is a clear measure that Congress values the hardworking energy, the blood, sweat and tears of Minnesotans or Americans.

Mr. President, let's not play politics with the health care of our nation's children. Step up to plate and truly leave no children behind by signing this SCHIP bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to introduce to the Members of this body Imam Yusuf Saleem, a devoted servant of the Muslim faith and a recognized leader of the Muslim community. Imam Saleem is a graduate of Howard University, where he earned both his bachelor's of arts degree as well as his master's degree in education. He is a devoted educator who has held the rank of professor, principal, and teacher.

In the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Imam Saleem, along with other prominent leaders of the Muslim community, met with President George Bush to condemn the attacks and to establish a unified front against terrorism. As spokesman for this historic meeting, Imam Saleem's remarks, along with those of President Bush, helped to clarify for the American people the peaceful nature of the religion of Islam.

Imam Saleem's tireless work has not gone unnoticed. In August 2002, the District of Columbia awarded Imam Saleem the first mayoral clergy award. In 2002, he was named Muslim man of the year by members of the Muslim community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming to the floor a true citizen- servant who is committed to his faith, his family, and the United States of America.