Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a true hero, Marine Lance Corporal Andrew Zabierek, who gave his life in service to our country.

Lance Corporal Zabierek died tragically on May 21, 2004, while serving on duty with the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Battalion, Third Platoon near Baghdad.

At the funeral service for Lance Corporal Zabierek on May 29 at Saint John's Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mark Zabierek delivered an eloquent tribute to his brother that touched me and others who were present. He described the lifelong dedication that Andrew gave to his beloved family and friends and the supreme sacrifice he made in service to his country.

Mark Zabierek's touching eulogy to Andrew should be of interest to all of us here. I will read an excerpt and ask that the statement be included in the Record in its entirety:

``In an age where many people's idea of patriotism and civic responsibility are diminished by a sense of materialism, I was touched that my brother put his life on hold to join a service that most certainly would have brought him to the thick of the fighting overseas. He abandoned any other professional and personal designs to embrace a culture of service to his country and to our flag which now, tragically, drapes his coffin.''

Mr. Speaker, I think we all should take a moment to recognize Lance Corporal Zabierek. Andrew died fighting for the country he loved, alongside his comrades he respected. Our Nation is humbled and grateful for his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, the full eulogy given by Andrew Zabierek's brother Mark is as follows:

Eulogy for Lance Corporal Andrew Zabierek, USMC

(By Mark J. Zabierek)

I've always looked up to my bother, Andrew. From when we

were young he was my role model, my hero, my friend. I wanted

to be just like him, do everything he did. He had a rare

sense of honesty and empathy that I could only try to

emulate. Even in later years, if we fought, as brother's do,

there was nothing said between us that could erode my love

for him. I truly admired who he was as a person and the depth

of his consideration for others.

In the wake of September 11th, as he pondered joining the

military, my family sometimes didn't understand why a college

graduate so gifted as my brother would want to enlist for a

nominal wage and risk losing what would have been such a full

life. Simply, my brother was special. He wanted to be a part

of something bigger than himself. He wanted to serve and

honor and protect the things that he held dear in life. His

sense of justice didn't enable him to accept that others

would go to war for him to fight and die in his stead.

I was indescribably proud of Andrew when he decided to

serve in the Marine Corps. He had a brilliant intellect and

talents too abundant to mention that he left to serve a

higher calling. In an age where many people's idea of

patriotism and civic responsibility are diminished by a sense

of materialism, I was touched that my brother put his life on

hold to join a service that would most certainly bring him to

the thick of the fighting overseas. He abandoned any other

professional and personal designs to embrace a culture of

service, service to his country and to the flag which now,

tragically, drapes his coffin.

For Andrew and me, all our lives our flag was a symbol of

hope, freedom, and purity. Now this flag also will remind our

family profoundly of the loss of Andrew and the sorrow that

comes from realizing the cost of the ideals he and I grew up

cherishing. Sadly, our family will forever feel the burden of

the sacrifice that enables our flag to fly.

Andrew's desire to serve, as I've said, came from a

sincere longing to better the lives of the people around him,

but even he couldn't have imagined just how many lives he has

touched. The support, kindness, and sympathy of family,

friends, this congregation and this community would have

shocked my brother who was humbly unaware of the extent of

the loving spirit of the people among him now. My family and

I can never truly express our thanks, nor repay your

altruism.

Andrew is deeply mourned in his death, but was incredibly

loved in his life. We come from a large family, all who

cherish the memory of Andrew. He embodied the best qualities

of my parents and grandparents who loved him perfectly and

completely. He had my mother's tenderness and faith and my

father's honesty and humor. He had an impeccable sense of

right and wrong and a heart filled with immeasurable

compassion.

He never met cruelty with hatred, never met sorrow without

sympathy, and we know he met death with courage and dignity.

That was our Andrew, my brother. He was kind, noble, and

he was loved. We know that love will lift him up to a better

place at God's right hand, and his spirit and grace will be

part of us for all our lives, never to be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his service on this committee. I also recognize the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for his service and the way that he conducted the hearings on this mark in a very bipartisan way, affording an opportunity for all Members to speak out. In fact, my recollection is the chairman even came down on the shortened of a vote which I have not seen in quite some time. I am sure the gentleman will fix that in the other body. I thank the gentleman for his service.

As a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats, I believe the product before us today is, on the whole, a solid proposal. This committee pledged to make this year the Year of the Soldier, and I think we made great strides in achieving that goal. We have a well-deserved pay raise for our troops. I am pleased that this legislation authorizes critical force protection resources, including $329 million for up-armoring Humvees, $358 million for add-on armor kits, and $421 million for interceptor body armor.

This fulfills all of the shortfalls, including on the Army's unfunded requirements list, which I am disappointed that the administration failed to request. The committee has also included language that I put forward requiring the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the lessons learned from its failure to expeditiously field protective equipment to our troops in Iraq. And we have expressed a sense of Congress urging the Department to release all appropriated

funds to armor thin-skinned Humvees as soon as possible.

We are a Nation at war, and we cannot shortchange our troops by leaving them defenseless in the theater. I am proud that this committee has stepped forward and authorized important resources to support our ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the administration's failure to include much of this funding in its annual budget. But I also strongly support efforts to authorize $67 billion to take us through the end of fiscal year 2005 instead of the end of this calendar year.

Additionally, I am pleased that my colleagues recognized the need to address the gaping holes in the oversight of civilian contractors hired by the Department of Defense in the face of human rights abuses in Abu Ghraib prison.

Our committee approved an amendment offered by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) to require the Department to report to Congress on the activities of contractors in Iraq. We also included my proposal on directing the Department to issue guidance for training contractors in the Geneva Conventions and international laws of war.

Finally, the bill makes important quality-of-life improvements for our troops and for our veterans. I applaud the committee for finally ending the survivors benefit penalty. I am also encouraged that the bill addresses many of the inequities in benefits for our Reserve component, from eliminating the $5,000 cap on reenlistment bonuses, to removing restrictions on Reservists from accessing tuition assistance, as included in an amendment which I offered.

With respect to the terrorism subcommittee's mark, several of the provisions in this portion of the bill deserve praise. First, I am pleased we included a number of recommendations to streamline and accelerate the development and acquisition of technologies to combat terrorism. Additional resources are provided in a number of areas, including chemical and biological research and important detection initiatives.

The committee also honored a request by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) and me to improve the manner in which we develop and acquire medical countermeasures against biological warfare agents.

Finally, I cannot say I support every provision in this authorization bill. I remain concerned about cuts to DARPA and several information technology programs, as well as the committee's failure to include several important nonproliferation provisions which I believe are key to winning the global war on terrorism.

I hope that we can at least have an honest debate on these issues another day. With that said, legislating is the art of compromise, and I believe the product before us will boost our troops and our war- fighting capabilities. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting its final approval.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a young woman, Kaitlin Kazanjian, whose life was tragically ended on November 5, 2003, at the age of 16.

Kaitlin Ashley Kazanjian, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, with close ties to a prominent Greater Lowell family in my district, died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Kaitlin Kazanjian was riding in the passenger seat of a classmate's automobile when control of the vehicle was lost and it crashed.

Kaitlin was born in Palm Beach Gardens, on April 22, 1987. Her parents, John and Joanne Natsios Kazanjian were proud of their daughter, not just for the cheerful girl she was, but also for the happiness she brought to them, as well as everyone who knew her. in addition to her parents, she is survived by a sister, Kristin Kazanjian, and a brother, John S. Kazanjian, both of Palm Beach Gardens.

For decades the Kazanjian family name has been synonymous with that of a hard-working family that has dedicated itself to the betterment of the Lowell, Massachusetts community. The intersection of Dutton and Fletcher Streets in Lowell, Massachusetts has long been identified with one of the Kazanjian family businesses. It was at this intersection, on

December 20, 2003 that many members of the Kazanjian family and friends gathered to remember this beautiful girl and a horrible, tragic loss.

Kaitlin Kazanjian was taken from us too soon. Her sudden loss has devastated her family and friends. Despite this terrible tragedy, a wonderful outpouring of support has helped Kaitlin's loved ones cope and continue on with their lives.

On Friday, May 14, 2004, and each year following, the Kazanjian Family and friends will continue to honor the memory of Kaitlin with the establishment of the Kaitlin A. Kazanjian Charitable Foundation, which will benefit local charity organizations.

But the true tribute to Kaitlin will lie in the hearts of family and friends and the unflinching commitment to honor her life and preserve her legacy and memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary McGrory. Mary McGrory was known for her strong opinions, which were liberal without equivocation or apology. But when I think of Mary, I will always remember her as a newspaper reporter, who gathered facts the old-fashioned way: by watching events and taking notes, staking out meetings of congressional leadership to be the first to get an interview, and relentlessly working the phones.

When she received a press club award in 1998, Mary said, ``I should confess that I always felt a little sorry for people who didn't work for newspapers.'' We shared a deep love of both politics and print journalism, and I think her commitment to reporting is what set her work apart from her peers. At a time when commentators often try to substitute spin and

second-hand analysis for the hard work of original reporting, Mary stood out for offering fresh insight backed up by her own interviews and observations.

Over the course of more than 50 years in Washington, Mary covered every major story in American politics, from McCarthyism to the Kennedy era to Vietnam to Watergate to the September 11 attacks. And because she formed opinions based on her own reporting, Mary didn't have to try to tell anyone what to think to be effective--she let us inside her mind to see just how she worked through the events. The result was far more powerful than what passes for ``analysis'' among the talking heads and pundits who now dominate political journalism.

An early example was her work covering the Army-McCarthy hearings for the Washington Star in 1954, when she found the telling details to describe the investigation led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. ``For eight days,'' she wrote, ``the Army secretary has been having his honesty questioned, his motives impugned and his patriotism challenged. He has been bullied, baited and patronized. He has been treated like a stubborn and not very bright child. Throughout his ordeal, moreover, he has been subjected to the rather jostling familiarity of Senator McCarthy, who calls him `Bob.' ''

Mary was a star attraction at my annual legislative seminar, where she entertained and educated my constituents with a lifetime of stories about Washington and the political figures that have shaped the nation. She spoke at the event in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

But even though Mary knew the leading figures on Capitol Hill--and watched generations of congressional leaders come and go--she was always more interested in writing about the underdog, the long shot, or the worthy cause that seemed to have no chance of success. ``If you want to abolish land mines, if you want to reform campaign spending'' or ``if you want to save children from abuse, or stupid laws, or thickheaded judges, you have my telephone number,'' she once said. ``All the places of little hope, that's my constituency.''

I am proud to have been part of her constituency, and when I look at the picture on my desk of her with my son, Bobby, I will remember her deep sense of compassion.

As Bobby gets older, I will show him that picture and tell him about what made Mary one of the greats of her profession--her remarkable commitment to everything that makes newspaper reporting a noble calling.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement on Cyprus that protects the rights of Turkish and Greek Cypriots alike.

As the people of Cyprus head to the polls on April 24th to vote on the settlement plan put forth by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, I am concerned that numerous provisions in the proposal fail to uphold the fundamental rights of the Greek Cypriot community.

Since Turkey's invasion and illegal occupation of northern Cyprus in 1974, the government of Cyprus has vigorously pursued efforts to reunify the island through an equitable and viable settlement. While the Turkish Cypriot government under the leadership of Rauf Denktash has repeatedly stonewalled negotiations, the commitment of Greek- Cypriots to a unified Cyprus has been unwavering.

The Annan plan, which was originally drafted by the Secretary General in November of 2002, has undergone five major revisions to accommodate the demands of Mr. Denktash. I'm concerned that the proposal sacrifices too many of the Greek Cypriots' needs in return for Mr. Denktash's acquiescence.

The Annan plan would authorize Turkish troops to remain in Cyprus indefinitely, threatening the security and stability of the island. While the number of troops would gradually decrease to 650 over a period of 14 years, their continuing presence and intervention rights would prevent Cyprus from achieving full sovereignty.

I am also concerned that the Annan plan would continue to allow Turkish settlers to illegally occupy northern Cyprus. Numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions have called for the withdrawal of all Turkish settlers from Cyprus, yet the Annan plan would permit 45,000 settlers to receive automatic citizenship rights within the United Cyprus Republic and additional settlers to remain on the island as permanent residents.

Moreover, the Annan plan imposes tough restrictions on the right of displaced Greek-Cypriots to return to their homes. The agreement would prohibit Greek-Cypriots from accounting for more than eighteen percent of the population of the Turkish Cypriot Constituent State for the first nineteen years, or until Turkey accedes to the European Union, even though it is their native soil. These Greek-Cypriots would not have the right to vote for representatives in the federal Senate, further denying fundamental rights to many citizens.

Finally, the Annan plan fails to adequately compensate displaced Greek-Cypriots for the loss of their property. According to the plan, 90 percent of the compensation from the federal State would be paid for by Greek-Cypriots, meaning that Greek-Cypriot taxpayers are forced to pay for the loss of their own property.

The Annan plan is a positive starting point on the path toward a negotiated settlement, but it is not an ending point. In order for a solution to the Cyprus problem to succeed, the rights of both parties must be equally guaranteed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were brutally massacred by the Ottoman Turk regime. The Armenian Genocide was one of the darkest tragedies in human history, one that must never be forgotten.

On April 24, 1915, nearly three hundred Armenian intellectuals and political leaders were rounded up, deported and executed under the orders of the Ottoman Turk Regime, marking the beginning of the first genocide of the 20th century. Later that day, 5,000 more Armenians were slaughtered in their homes and on the streets. For 5 years, the brutal regime carried out the systematic destruction of the Armenian people through forced labor, concentration camps, and death marches, until millions were dead or exiled.

As we look back on the bloodshed and atrocities committed against the Armenian people, we must recognize the event for the genocide that it was. As Henry Morgenthau, Sr., the former Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire stated, ``I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.''

To deny this truth is to tarnish the memories of the millions of Armenians who lost their lives to ethnic cleansing. As a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, I have joined my colleagues in sending a letter to President Bush urging him to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide during his April 24th commemoration address. By drawing attention to the legacy of this genocide, we can strengthen our resolve to prevent future human tragedies of this kind.

I am proud to represent a large and vibrant Armenian community in the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts. Every year, survivors and their descendants make public and vivid the hidden details of the Armenian Genocide as they participate in commemoration ceremonies across the Merrimack Valley. In my hometown of Lowell, the Armenian- American Veterans Honor Guard will lead a procession to City Hall for a flag raising ceremony in recognition of the 89th anniversary of the genocide. The commemoration offers participants an opportunity to remind the world of the tragedy that befell Armenians of the Ottoman Empire.

I am honored to add my voice to those of my colleagues today in commemorating the Armenian Genocide. We will never forget the truth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to express my concern that the administration has misled Congress and the American public on the most pressing issues we are facing here at home and abroad. It is time that the administration was truthful to the American public about the cost of the war in Iraq.

Last week President Bush said in his address to the Nation that the administration is constantly reviewing the needs of our troops and will provide whatever additional resources are needed. Yet this is the same administration that sent our troops to war without adequate body armor, antijamming devices or armored Humvees. Our troops in the theater did not even have enough body armor and protective SAPI plates until January of 2004.

As of today less than 50 percent of the 12,800 armored Humvees that we need in Iraq and Afghanistan are equipped with reinforced doors and windows. This is in part because the $87 billion supplemental for the Iraq war that Congress passed last November included only $239 million to up-armor Humvees, far short of what is needed.

I supported a substitute version proposed by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) that would have provided $3 billion to reinforce Humvees and other unarmored vehicles used by our forces. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership refused to allow the House a vote to consider the Obey proposal. Is it not ironic that anyone who did not vote for this $87 billion package, they say, you are against anything for the troops, when it truth they orchestrated the vote so those of us who want to provide more funding for the troops to provide them with the up-armored Humvees were not allowed a vote. Clearly the funding for upgrades to the Humvees and other force protection initiatives have been inadequate.

On March 18, 2004, the Defense Department formally requested Congress to shift $190 million previously allocated to other uses to cover the cost of armoring Humvees for fiscal year 2004. According to the defense expert Michael O'Hanlon at the Brookings Institution, simply maintaining current troops levels beyond June could add nearly $4 billion in unfunded costs through the end of this year. Yet President Bush's $521 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2005 includes no money, no money for military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.

In fact, there are $12 billion worth of unfunded requirements for the military, including nearly $2 billion of important force protection initiatives. And the administration says it will wait until next year to request a new supplemental, which could amount to over $50 billion. The question is, why did not they not include this in their regular fiscal 2005 defense budget?

I think the American people deserve answers. The American people also deserve answers about urgent health problems here at home, health care and the rising costs of prescription drugs. The American people deserve to know the truth about the new Medicare prescription bill law. I have been having town meetings throughout my district with seniors, and they are outraged at the new Medicare law because it falls far short of what they expected, of what they need, and what they deserve.

The new law does nothing to reduce the cost of drugs, and it actually raises costs for seniors with less than $5,000 a year in prescriptions.

It jeopardizes existing health benefits for retirees. The new Medicare prescription drug law was a huge victory for the pharmaceutical industry because it fails to require the government to negotiate drug prices on behalf of seniors, and it continues to make reimportation illegal.

Seniors are still prohibited from ordering prescription drugs from Canada at a fraction of the cost for those same drugs here in the United States. In the last 9 months, Springfield, Massachusetts, has already saved $2 million by buying prescription drugs from Canada for their city's employees and retirees.

So instead of working to improve the Medicare prescription drug bill, we recently learned that the administration has chosen to hide the truth that the Medicare law would cost $139 billion more than the Congressional Budget Office's prediction. We need to work together to pass a prescription drug law that will allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs on behalf of America's seniors, that will allow Americans to pay lower costs for drugs in Canada.

I have to tell my colleagues, whether I am talking to seniors who are Republicans, seniors who are Democrats, or seniors who are Independents, they do not get it. They understand that if you do not buy prescription drugs for all the 40 million recipients of Medicare, then it is probably not going to be a good deal for seniors; and they want this bill changed.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill was rammed through the Committee on Armed Services 2 weeks ago without a single hearing. Without a single hearing. I guess it should not be a surprise because it seems that time and time again the leadership has forced votes on the floor without holding committee hearings. We did not have a committee hearing on the bill with the Medicare prescription drug language that came before this Congress, so I guess it should not be a surprise that we did not have a hearing on this particular piece of legislation.

This bill is designed to force universities to violate their own policies against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and will undermine pending lawsuits that challenge the so-called Solomon amendment.

We all strongly support efforts of the United States military to recruit on our Nation's campuses, especially in a time of war. But the gentleman from Alabama would agree at the time that we debated this in committee, only one educational institution in the country was brought before us that denies access to military recruiters and that school received no Federal funding to begin with. Furthermore, every campus on which the Department of Defense elects to have ROTC currently has an ROTC presence.

This is because universities are already forced to compromise their nondiscrimination policies in order to receive most of the Federal funding they compete to obtain under the Solomon amendment.

So why are we introducing a bill that would broadly expand the prohibition on Federal funding to schools that do not allow access to military recruiters when only one institution, at least at the time that we dealt with this bill that was available, that prohibited this? I have serious concerns about restricting additional funding such as grants for homeland security, intelligence programs to universities, particularly when the authority to define ``equal access'' lies solely in the hands of the Secretary of Defense.

This bill is a drastic solution to a problem that I do not think even exists. In fact, there is no crisis in military recruiting on student campuses or anywhere else in the country. The Defense Department has reported to our committee that they are exceeding all of its recruitment and retention goals in each of the active duty services since 2001 and is actively downsizing certain specialties requiring advanced degrees.

In 2003, the Army surpassed its recruiting objectives for new contracts by 9.1 percent and new recruits by 0.4 percent, while the quality of new recruits have increased dramatically.

So if we are going to pass such a drastic piece of legislation, it seems to me we should at least have a hearing, have an opportunity to debate. I thought the gentleman from Hawaii said it best in committee. It is like trying to deal with a little problem of a fly with a sledgehammer. It does not make any sense. We should send this bill back into the committee and have a hearing on it and discuss these issues so that we know what the consequences of the language in this bill are.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 183rd anniversary of Greek Independence Day.

On March 25, 1821, the people of Greece rose up against the oppressive rule of the Ottoman Turks. For 8 years, the Greeks struggled for freedom and democratic self-governance until their independence was secured in 1829. The success of this struggle--after almost 400 years of Turkish domination--demonstrates the remarkable ability of human beings to overcome enormous obstacles in the path to freedom.

The United States and Greece share a deep commitment to democracy and rule of law. American political thought was influenced just as much by Greek philosophy as the Greek revolution of 1821 was inspired by the American fight for freedom in 1776. In fact, Greek intellectuals used the U.S. Constitution as the basis for the constitution they drafted in the 1820s.

The common struggles of our countries have forged a bond that spans the generations. The friendship between the United States and Greece is based on a common heritage and shared values. Greece has stood by the United States as a steadfast ally during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War, and now, the war on terrorism.

The citizens of Greece are preparing to host the 2004 Olympic Games, an honor that holds particular historical significance. Beginning in 776 B.C., the Olympic Games were held in the valley of Olympia in Greece every four years for almost 1200 years.

The modern Olympic Games were created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and inspired by

the ancient games. First staged in 1896 in Athens, the games attracted about 245 athletes to participate in 43 events. At the Sydney 2000 Games, more than 10,000 athletes took part in 300 events.

The Olympic Movement has survived wars, boycotts and terrorism to become a symbol of the ability of the people of all nations to come together in peace and friendship. And in 2004, the games return to their birthplace.

The Greek Government has made tremendous progress in recent months to improve the security infrastructure for the upcoming games and wish them the best as they prepare for the challenge of hosting the world's premiere athletic event.

I represent a large and active Greek-American community, and I have been proud to support U.S. participation in negotiations over Cyprus, the fight for freedom and human rights for all Cypriots, the inclusion of Greece in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, and the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew.

I congratulate the people of Greece on the anniversary of their independence, and I look forward to working together with Greek- Americans and the Greek Government on issues of mutual interest in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor a true hero, Marine Corporal David M. Vicente, who gave his life in service to this country in Iraq. Corporal Vicente was a resident of Methuen, Massachusetts; and he was deployed with the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

David arrived in Iraq just 2 weeks ago; and he died tragically on March 19, 2004, when a Humvee in which he was patrolling hit a land mine near the town of Hit, Iraq. David had just celebrated his 25th birthday and was newly engaged to his beloved girlfriend, Alexandria. His friends and family recalled David's knack for fixing things and a fondness for all things mechanical, from remote-control racing cars to his Chevrolet short-bed pickup truck.

Since he was a small child, David Vicente knew what he wanted to be, a United States Marine. While his friends dressed in overalls and T- shirts, David grew up wearing fatigues and combat boots. His friends at Greater Lawrence Technical School never doubted him when David would declare, One day, I want to be a Marine.

David's dream came true when he joined the Marine Corps 6 months prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks on our Nation. He trained as a rifleman while based at Twenty-nine Palms, California, and rose to serve his country valiantly and faithfully as a corporal with the 2nd battalion of the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

David's parents, Orlando and Celeste, are proud of their son, not just for the supreme sacrifice he made on behalf of his country, but for the honor he brought to them as a Marine. The bumper sticker on the family's car affirms their pride, ``My son is a United States Marine.''

One morning following the tragedy of September 11, Celeste Vicente discovered someone had draped an American flag over their family car. She felt that it was not only touched by her son's service but wanted to honor all of our troops for their courageous efforts on our behalf.

I spoke to Celeste today, and like so many other parents of soldiers who have lost their lives, she expressed concerns about her son and other soldiers not having the equipment, the gear, the technology that they need. I told her today that I am going to work with other Members of the Congress to make sure that we get what our troops need immediately.

Today, I have also requested an American flag be flown over the United States Capitol in memory of Corporal David Vicente to honor his brave service to this country. This flag will be delivered to his family.

David died fighting for the country he loved, alongside comrades that he respected and with the family he adored forever in his heart.

Our Nation is humbled and grateful for his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, we should all take a moment to recognize Corporal David M. Vicente, United States Marine Corps, who gave his life in service to the country he loved.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time, and it is unfortunate that this resolution has become so political because I think clearly all of us should have been able to sit down and come up with a resolution that would be united and that would send a clear voice to all of the world how much we support our troops.

We are going to have 4 hours of debate, and there are so many important things we should be discussing, like the fact that we failed to provide our troops with critical protection and equipment that they need, from interceptive body armor to anti-jamming devices, to armored humvees.

Yesterday, I met with Brian Hart, the father of Private First Class John Hart who was killed in Iraq last October when the unarmored humvee that he was patrolling in was ambushed and sprayed with bullets. Just days before his death, Pfc. Hart called his father and told him how unsafe he felt riding around in humvees that lacked bulletproof shielding or reinforced doors.

The story of John Hart is all too familiar. A couple of months ago, the Defense Department stated that 29 American troops had been killed and 290 wounded on attacks on humvees. Now I hear they are not even tracking those numbers anymore, but I do know that of the 18 soldiers killed in Iraq from Massachusetts, 6 died in unarmored humvees or trucks.

Look at this chart. Almost 80 percent of the 12,500 humvees deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom lack reinforced windows and doors. The evidence here is overwhelming that we have not gotten what our troops need fast enough.

And what bothers me is that the Army did not even begin to address this shortage until August 2003, 3 months after President Bush announced the end of the war in Iraq. The Secretary of the Army says that they will get this done by August; but as of today no new orders have been placed, leaving our troops, many of them, in this vulnerable position, in unarmed vehicles. August just is not good enough.

For too long, the Army has dragged its feet because it failed to consider quick, effective alternatives to uparmoring Humvees like installing add-on armor kits.

If we purchased more add-on kits and reached out to other vendors, we can get these Humvees armored now.

Recently, 25,000 Marines deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and took with them 3,000

trucks and Humvees, all of which have been armored with protective plating. The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Hagee, understood that installing temporary add-on kits provides a quick, easy alternative to uparmoring Humvees in depots at home. So Gen. Hagee purchased $9 million worth of add-on armor kits to outfit Humvees before he sent his Marines back into the battlefield.

I have introduced a resolution urging the Defense Department to use whatever means possible to armor these Humvees as quickly as they can.

If we truly want to support our Armed Forces, this would provide them with the critical protection and equipment they deserve!

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, that is precisely why I could not vote for it. We were supposed to have this money appropriated. We have troops over there in unarmed vehicles. It is inexcusable.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American Legacy Foundation as they celebrate their 5th Anniversary. Founded on March 4, 1999 as a result of the historic Master Settlement Agreement between the attorneys general of 40 states and the tobacco industry, the foundation is committed to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.

Thanks to the American Legacy Foundation and other life-saving organizations that work every day to prevent our young people from starting to smoke and help those already addicted to successfully quit, youth smoking prevalence in the U.S. has hit its lowest level in nearly three decades.

The American Legacy Foundation is best known for its award winning truth youth counter marketing campaign. With its blunt messaging and frank approach, truth has been cited as one of the reasons behind sharp declines in youth tobacco use. The foundation's programs also extend beyond youth. Circle of Friends creates circles of support around women who want to quit; Great Start helps provide information and counseling to pregnant women about the risks of tobacco use during pregnancy and the earliest days of a baby's life; and the foundation's Priority Populations Program focuses on minorities and other groups that are disproportionately harmed by tobacco use.

I urge my colleagues to join me today in celebrating five years of accomplishment by the American Legacy Foundation and hope that you will work with me to ensure that organizations like the Legacy Foundation are able to continue their critical work to protect our nation from tobacco's deadly toll.

Mr. Speaker, Edward H. ``Ned'' Schwarz, 74, of Lawrence, Boy Scout leader, veteran, businessman, father, and friend to his home town of Lawrence, Massachusetts, died February 1, 2004. A graduate of Melrose High School, he attended MIT for 2 years then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served stateside during the Korean conflict.

He completed his degree in electrical engineering from Merrimack College after his time in the Air Force and went on to work at the former Western Electric in North Andover as an electrical design engineer. After taking an early retirement he opened the Totem Pole Camping Store in North Andover. He was a man of faith and was a 45-year member of the former United Presbyterian Church of Lawrence where he was an ordained Elder. These are the eloquent words of Charles D. Boddy, Jr. who read this eulogy at the funeral:

Daniel Webster once compared New Hampshire's Old Man of the

Mountains to a tradesman's sign hanging above the front door

of a store indicating the nature of the tradesman's trade. He

stated that God had hung out the Old Man of the Mountains as

if to say, ``here we build men.'' It is, therefore, oddly

fitting that we should lose Uncle Ned, another icon of the

mountains, within a year of the fall of the Old Man. Uncle

Ned was himself, a builder of men.

Monday nights, 7-9 p.m., first three Mondays of the month,

September to June. For more than 40 years, if you were a boy

growing up on Prospect Hill in Lawrence, these nights were

reserved. Fathers in the neighborhood packed up their young

sons and brought them to Uncle Ned who spent these hours

nurturing the boys' resourcefulness and self-reliance through

the scouting program. I am fortunate to have been one of

those boys, and my words speak for all of us.

I well remember sitting with him, as a boy, as he taught me

my knots. His thick fingers routinely tracing the course of

rope as they had done so many times with so many other scouts

before me. The process of making the knot was so ingrained in

him from years of practice, rehearsal, and repetition. Later,

as a young scout leader I watched again as he taught another

boy the lesson, now his fingers slightly gnarled by the faint

touch of arthritis that, alone, betrayed his age. As I

watched him teach, year after year, I myself learned that his

lesson was not one of knots, but one of life. By patiently

guiding each scout, he let him know that he mattered, he was

important. By teaching the simple lessons, he instructed

us that the greatest lesson was personal contact: that a

communion of souls could bridge the greatest of

differences. Hence, you will see among his scouts and

admirers members of every creed and race, followers of

every cause, the elite and powerful, as well as the simple

and humble. Uncle Ned related to us all. He effortlessly

collected friends along his journey.

He was a mentor to all the boys who passed through his

scout troop, growing with them, changing his methods as the

times changed, but always giving generously of his time and

himself. He was a man who saw solutions not problems, and saw

friends, never enemies. In the highly political climate of

his home City, he followed the path to improve us through

unity and friendship, through our commonality, and avoided

the thorny path of criticism and divisiveness.

Without a doubt, Uncle Ned has returned to the camp in the

highest summit from which he started his 74 year hike. He

rests at a camp made safe by the Great Scoutmaster in the

Heavens. Boss Buthmann, Troop 2's first scoutmaster, along

with all of Troop 2's finest, who have passed before, are at

his side. He has marked his final trail with the scout

orienteer's sign of a dot within a circle indicating ``Gone

home.'' There he sits, and there he waits, tending a roaring

fire. Uncle Ned, the faithful Scoutmaster will guide and

guard his troop until the last of us is safe at home by his

side.

Ned Schwarz was very proud of Charlie Boddy, the young man who delivered the eulogy at his memorial service, as he was of all his scouts. Charlie went on to public service following Ned's example of public service and civic duty becoming City Solicitor for Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Besides spending countless hours with his beloved scouts, Ned worked tirelessly to revitalize his neighborhood and his hometown. Ned led graffiti removal efforts, park clean-ups and helped to organize the annual National Night Out celebration for his Prospect Hill neighborhood. He belonged to numerous civic organizations including the Lawrence Historical Commission, the Lawrence Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, and the Prospect Hill Back Bay Neighborhood Association, in which he served in various leadership positions over the years along with his dear friend, Jim Ross. The two of them took great pride in constructing the Neighborhood Association's parade floats which won numerous awards.

Edward H. ``Ned'' Schwarz will be remembered by his loving wife Gloria, his wife of 50 years; sons Edward R. and his wife Julie of Salem, N.H., and Erich H. and his wife Amy of Lawrence; daughters Lynn and her husband Edward McNamara of Merrimack, N.H., and Beverly and her husband John Cody of Haverhill; grandchildren John, Christopher and Catherine McNamara, Emily Schwarz, Tom and Dan Cody and Andrew and Nysa Schwarz; sisters Dorothy Gretchen Perkins and Hope Cox of Maine; and several nieces and nephews; a grateful City and thousands of young men whose lives he touched.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) for yielding. And when I was over at my office and you were praising the fans who had braved the cold weather those two playoff games, I said he must be talking about me. I have been a season ticket holder since 1986. So I wanted to come to the floor and join you in giving credit to this outstanding organization.

And the interesting thing about it is when Robert Kraft and his family bought this franchise, they were literally headed to St. Louis. In fact, the Kraft family could have made a lot of money simply by allowing a group of investors from St. Louis to buy out his interest in the stadium and in the contract that the team had with the stadium at that time.

I also want to congratulate the Kraft family for the outstanding organization that they have set up, and also Coach Belichick. It is interesting there are a lot of people that criticize Bob Kraft, who went out and gave up draft choices in order to get Bill Belichick away from the New York Jets. And a lot of my colleagues who were Jets fans thought they had gotten a great deal because they got draft choices.

And Bill Belichick has done an outstanding job in terms of fostering team work. This is a team that gets introduced before games as a team. I think all of us see in professional sports a lot of things that we do not necessarily like, the sort of ``me generation'' of individuals getting all the credit. That does not happen on this team. And I think that sports leagues across America could learn a lot by looking at the success of this team, the fact that so few players made the Pro Bowl.

And, finally, the individual players on that team, starting with their quarterback, they exemplify the best. I know I had an opportunity to be at the White House when Tom Brady was there. A lot of people thought it was a political thing. It was not a political thing. The Patriots players contribute to the community. They are involved in the community day in and day out. And I was proud that Tom Brady was here that evening for the State of the Union.

And I am looking at next year. As my colleague acknowledged, we have two picks in the first round, two picks in the second round, one pick in third round, and two picks in the fourth round. It seems to me that we have the opportunity to have a top-notch team each and every year.

I probably have more information that we could go on. But I am glad that this resolution is before the House.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make the point that one of the reasons why I was able to brave the cold weather was because I was wearing Malden Mills Polar Tec, which is a great product that you and I have worked together to try to help that company. That is why I was so warm during those games because I had Malden Mills Polar Tec, manufactured right in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn of the death of former Congressman Nicholas Mavroules, a dedicated public servant, leader, and family man.

At the funeral service for Congressman Mavroules on December 30, 2003, at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody, Massachusetts, Mr. deLeon delivered an eloquent tribute to Congressman Mavroules that touched me and all others who were present. He described the lifelong dedication that Congressman Mavroules gave to his beloved family, friends, colleagues, and constituents in Massachusetts, and his devoted service to this country.

Rudy deLeon's touching eulogy to Congressman Mavroules should be of interest to all of us. I ask that it be submitted to the Record.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Methodios; Current and former

Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation:

Congressman Tierney, Congressman Neal, Congressman Meehan,

former Congressman Harrington--Then as now, one of the most

capable delegations in the Congress.

On behalf of the family of Nicholas Mavroules--his wife of

53 years, Mary--his daughters Debbie, Gail and Brenda and

their families--and the other family, friends, colleagues and

constituents--I would like to thank you for remembering and

honoring a remarkable man. A man of family; a man of

community; and, a man of public service.

Nick began his political career in the late 1950's, and I

once asked--did you ever meet John F. Kennedy.

He responded, ``yes, Senator John F. Kennedy.''

His daughter--very young daughter Gail--was with him. Her

response, ``Dad, that man should run for Mayor of Peabody.''

In 1978, Nick Mavroules would be elected to the U.S. House

of Representatives, serving the 6th Congressional District of

Massachusetts for 14 years.

But it was in the 1980's, serving on the Armed Services

Committee, where Nick would have his greatest impact.

The decade began with the inauguration of Ronald Reagan as

the 40th President of the United States. It ended when the

Berlin Wall came down in 1989, followed by the dissolution of

the Soviet Union in 1991--ending communist rule in Russia.

In between was one incredible debate--and, of course--Nick

Mavroules was right in the center. Along the way there were

discussions of human rights in Central America, nuclear

disarmament, Pentagon accountability, and the morale and

welfare of U.S. troops.

In the course of his service, he would join and lead the

debate--both in the Nation's Capital and on the North Shore--

about the direction and course of our nation. The debate

would take Nick to many places:

1981: Visit with U.S. forces in Germany.

1982: Northern Ireland.

1983: Two trips to Beirut, Lebanon. The first to spend July

4th with the troops; the second to lead an Armed Services

Committee investigative team after 283 U.S. Marines were

killed in a terrorist bombing during a peacekeeping mission

at the Beirut International Airport. In the Committee's final

report of December 1983, Nick would write, ``A war of

terrorism has begun and is likely to continue for the

foreseeable future.''

1985: A session with U.S. negotiators in Geneva--center of

talks with the Soviet Union on nuclear weapons. He would meet

with President Reagan in the Oval Office after this trip.

1986: San Salvador, El Salvador. A meeting with the

Jesuit's at the University of Central America--priests would

later be assassinated in their rectory.

1987: Baghdad, Iraq; Kuwait City; Taif, Saudi Arabia: An

inspection delegation to review the security of U.S. forces

in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war. Most notable

was a vigorous session in Baghdad with the Foreign Minister

of Iraq, Tariq Aziz, on Iraq's use of chemical weapons in its

war with Iran.

1988: As an emissary of the U.S. State Department, Nick

engaged in a private dialogue with Greek Prime Minister

Andreas Papandreou, providing a framework that produced the

current U.S.-Greece agreement on military bases.

1989: Appointment to the House Select Committee on

Intelligence, performing oversight of the CIA and other

elements of the intelligence community. Nick's input: to

require that intelligence be accessible to the U.S. forces

deployed and at risk.

During this time, he was also engaged in the significant

legislative work on national security that included:

The 1986 Defense Reorganization--the Goldwater-Nichols

Act--that fundamentally restructured military command and

control--so that troops serving in high-threat combat and

peacekeeping missions--would have a responsive and dynamic

military chain of command.

Implementation of the Packard Commission recommendations to

reform Pentagon acquisition practices.

Legislation that limited the deployment of nuclear

ballistic missiles, and ensuring that missile defense

technology be treaty compliant.

Funding for the Navy's F-18 fighter, powered by GE engines

from Lynn. Twenty years later the F-18 remains as the

backbone of Naval Aviation;

And, the Small Disadvantaged Business Act that allowed more

American citizens to compete in government contracting.

Throughout his service in Congress, Nick would earn the

respect and trust of his colleagues. From Massachusetts:

Senators Ted Kennedy, Paul Tsongas and John Kerry, Speaker

Tip O'Neill, Joe Moakley, Ed Markey and Jim Shannon, Barney

Frank and Joe Kennedy. And other Members of Congress,

including Sam Nunn, Barry Goldwater, John Glenn, Les Aspin,

Sam Stratton, Bill Nichols and Beverly Byron. His colleagues

in Congress would conclude this about Nick Mavroules: He was

always a gentleman. He was always well prepared. And, he

always kept his word.

But, no matter the challenge in Congress, the highlight of

each week would be Nick's return home to Mary and the girls.

From his daughters and grandchildren came these comments:

Grandson Michael: He told me stories of himself in my place

to lift my spirit; He never said, ``No, Forget it, don't

bother'' or anything to that degree when I told him about my

goals in my life I wish to go by; Any time I ever spent with

him was always a good time no matter what the situation or

event was; You were always there for me no matter what the

situation was. The worst thing in my life was to see you go.

I love you with all my heart and I always will.

Grandson Matthew: Taking me on my daily paper route.

Calling me to make sure that I was ready to be picked up. You

would say, ``Can you believe I went from a Congressman to a

paper boy. I went from being chauffeured to chauffeuring.

Telling me never to forget our roots or where you came from.

Son-in-law Wayne: You weren't just a husband, dad or

grandfather you were a best friend. You really had to feel

very special to be Nick's friend. To Kristen and Nicholas,

you just weren't a Papou but more likely considered a dad to

them. Stories of baseball and basketball when you played but

as he told his stories, he told the grandchildren not to do

what he did. When he watched the Red Sox and Patriots blow a

game was so comical. If they pulled it out and won he would

say ``there's not a better team. Aren't they great!''

Grandson Jon: ``No bird soars too high, if it soars with

its own wings''--This could mean so many different things to

many different people but it only means one thing when it

comes to my mind. Everything that my grandfather taught and

showed me in my life comes down to one thing. You will be

most successful in life if you do things on your own and with

some guidance of people who are close to you. Words cannot

express how much love I will continue to have for my

grandfather and how proud I am to say that my grandfather was

Nicholas Mavroules.

Daughter Gail: Calling the boys over to your house when

your clicker didn't work, remote controls, setting up your

phone, TV, voice mail, teaching you all your buttons in your

new car, and how proud you were of them because they had

the knowledge of technology. How you would call us

everyday from D.C. to check on us and how you would know

from the tone of our voices if we were fine or not. You

knew us like books. Warning the Capital Security and House

Members when your grandchildren came to visit. How they

would run through the halls going into other members,

offices until they found you. Discussing at dinner and

everyone taking turns including you and Ma. What was the

best and worst part of everyone's day. How you loved that.

I will forever miss your kindness, your smile, the warmth

and softness of your hands, your guidance, loyalty, your

love and affection, support but most of all being our

champion and tower of strength. You taught us values to

live by. In our lives you were bigger than life, you made

us so proud and we will always live in your extraordinary

legacy. You're our mentor and now our guardian angel. I

love and thank you with all of my heart which you took a

piece of with you and hope it lives within you as your

soul will with me.

Daughter Brenda: I will always treasure these special times

we shared. There wasn't anything that we didn't discuss. You

always said the right things. You were my dad, hero, and

friend. God needed an angel in heaven, and he took you, but

he also took a special part of me. I wish everyone had the

opportunity to be blessed with two beautiful parents like I

was. I will miss you buddy and will love you always.

Daughter Debbie: You were my dad and my tower of strength.

When I was weak you were my strength. You were my sports

buddy every week during a Pats game or a Red Sox game, and if

we weren't watching them together I would be on the phone

with you at least five times. I started every morning by

hearing you answer the phone. ``Hello Deb, what are you doing

Dad? Having coffee and toast and reading the papers by

starting with the sports section first.'' You were a father

to my children who adored you. You fought tooth and nail for

us and always said no one will ever abuse you and the kids

again. What a price you paid for our freedom. That's what

Nick Mavroules was all about. The kindest, most caring, and

loving individual who never forgot where he came from. That's

my dad, our dad. Even from a sick hospital bed he always said

take care of your mother and take care of the kids and each

other and always stay together as one. Thank you for your

endless love and family values.

Son in Law Phil: When I first met your daughter you did not

trust me. Who was this ``Irish guy taking out my daughter.''

Our first date, Brenda had to be home by ten o'clock PM until

you trusted me with your little girl. Once I was ``cleared''

you welcomed me with open arms.

On my first trip to Washington I was in awe of how many of

the police officers, wait staff and regular people knew Nick

and he knew them. He always treated them with the same

respect as he did the Head of State. Nick you were a ``class

act.''

Nick, I remember the birth of David. Once again you were

sharing your life for others. I know when you called from the

Navy ship you were so proud. David and you developed a very

special relationship. David idolized you and relished the

opportunity to spend time with ``Pap.'' Alexis, what can I

say. She is the only one who could convince the former

Chairman of the Armed Services' Intelligence Committee to

be a student who needed to complete his ``dot to dot''

assignment. Both David and Alexis loved their Papou. You

were their hero and both of them will truly miss you.

Nick, I thank you for the opportunity to marry your

daughter. I knew from the start that I could never be the

number one man in Brenda's life. That spot was reserved for

you. I can only try to live up to your standards. I will try

my best to take care of your daughter and grandchildren.

Granddaughter Alexis: Papou was Alexis's favorite student.

He was her ``dot to dot'' champ. Alexis told Papou when he

came home from the hospital she would allow him to be the

principal. Alexis and Papou had a special code, on every hour

Alexis had to give Papou a kiss. Papou these kisses will

never stop. When you feel tiny lips on your cheek, it's me

still loving you. You will always live on in my heart Papou.

I love you.

Grandson David: You helped me and you guided me through

good and bad. I remember when I had social studies homework

and it was about the government. I would call Papou and ask

him and he would help me. We used to hang out together, talk

about his past, talk about the economy, and why things

happen. I loved spending time together and you don't know how

much I loved it. You were my best buddy and my pal. I will

miss you and I will cherish you forever and ever. I love you

Papou.

(Conclusion)

Nicholas Mavroules left us on Christmas morning. We will

remember him. And, we will miss him. But, we can all find

consolation in an angel's Christmas morning blessing found in

the Gospel of Luke:

``Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.''

With God's blessing, we say peace to our friend Nick

Mavroules.