Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 569, introduced by my colleagues Mr. Pascrell and Mr. Camp. This bill would reauthorize a grant program that expired in 2003, which authorized grants to States and municipalities to combat the problem of combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows. I was proud to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation.

In 2001, the EPA estimated there were 772 communities in the country that have combined sewer systems, including all of the communities in my district: Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, and Somerville. The EPA also estimated that to address these problems would cost communities $50.6 billion for CSOs and an additional $88.5 billion to address SSOs. These enormous costs cannot be borne by the communities alone.

Since the Clean Water Act was first passed in 1972, the condition of our Nation's waters has improved greatly. H.R. 569 demonstrates a renewed commitment by Congress to clean water by providing targeted assistance to address two large outstanding problems still affecting water quality, CSOs and SSOs. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and to thank my District Director, Michael Gorman, for his years of public service. Mr. Gorman has worked by my side since I was first elected Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts in 1989. Our city was facing difficult times: significant demographic changes and a potentially crippling cutback in state aid. Michael Gorman worked tirelessly to help me meet those challenges and to keep Somerville safe and neighborly as it became an increasing desirable place to live. We spent nine years together, improving the schools, providing dependable and cost-effective public services, diversifying the city's police and fire departments, creating green space and planting thousands of trees. His dedication to the City of Somerville was evident every hour of every day in the work he did and the causes he championed.

Mike was instrumental in helping me to make the decision to seek Congressional office. When I was elected in 1998, Mike agreed to bring his considerable talents to my District Office, serving as Director and utilizing his skills for the benefit of the entire 8th Congressional District.

For the past eight years, Mike has devoted himself to our constituents. Whether it has been helping an individual with a problem or articulating my policy positions to a community group, Mike has served the 8th Congressional District with distinction.

After almost two decades, Mike is leaving public service for the private sector. I wish him every success and thank him for his political acumen, his hard work, and his selfless dedication to the people he has helped me represent.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I don't have prepared remarks. I have been listening to this debate for the last couple of days, and everything that can be said on both sides has been said repeatedly. And thus far the only thoughtful argument I have heard to not vote for this resolution is that somehow it will demoralize the troops. That pretends that the troops live in a bubble and don't know what is going on and just never think. Everybody who has done any discussions or any polling of the troops know they already know that this war is over. It's not a military defeat. To put it that way is ridiculous. No one can defeat our military. It is absolutely undefeatable. It is a political defeat. We cannot win, which I am not even sure what that means, this war. This escalation will do nothing but delay the inevitable. America knows it.

To listen to the discussion I have heard in the last couple of days, all I can say to myself, if we had this attitude in the seventies, we would still be in Vietnam. For what? For what? We have done what we could do, and we may have to go back someday, and I may vote for it under the right circumstances. To never say never is ridiculous. We don't know where the cards are going to be played. We do know one thing: that today Iraq is engaged in a civil war. One of the leaders of that civil war isn't even in Iraq. He is in Iran. We are only delaying the inevitable at the cost of our young men and women. And I am not talking about money, because if this was the right war, a moral war, money wouldn't be the issue.

This war is over. We need to recognize that. We need to stop trying to play politics with it. Bring our troops home and prepare them for the next battle that we might all join in if it's the right place and the right time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Sgt. Carlos Madden, a heroic citizen-soldier. On Saturday, February 10, 2007, Sgt. Madden was awarded the Soldier's Medal, the highest decoration given by the United States for ``heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy.''

On December 22, 2005, a neighbor of Sgt. Madden, Mary Elizabeth Hooker, a professor at UMass Lowell, was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant. Sgt. Madden's 13-year-old sister, Mary, heard her screams and called her brother who rushed, unarmed, to Ms. Hooker's aid. He confronted her attacker and, directing another neighbor to call 911, pursued the man, caught him, and held him until the police arrived. His swift action very likely saved Ms. Hooker's life: his presence brought an end to the stabbing and secured prompt medical attention.

Sgt. Madden is a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and a junior majoring in American history at Framingham State College. He joined the Army Reserve in February 2002, and serves with the 401st Chemical Company, commanded by Capt. Jeffrey A. Fidler. Seventy members of his unit, his family, and Ms. Hooker were present to see Col. Stephen Falcone present the award.

We all hope that we would act in a crisis as Sgt Madden did. Most of us are never tested and we do not know if we would put ourselves in harm's way, without hesitation, to save the life of another person. Carlos Madden inspires us with his bravery and with his reflections on the event. ``I know I would do it again, for any of you,'' he said, ``and I know all of you would do the same for me.'' Madam Speaker, I want to thank Sgt. Madden for his courage and for his faith in his fellow citizens.

Madam Speaker, I supported H. Res. 102 and I condemn in the strongest possible terms the cowardly murder of journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul on January 19. I find particularly contemptible the actions of those who seemingly chose a seventeen-year-old youth--the alleged killer--to commit this appalling crime. This despicable act should not, however, obscure the inspiring solidarity of tens of thousands of secular, Muslim, and Armenian Christian Turks who filed past Mr. Dink's bier and marched in his funeral procession. Western news media have estimated the crowds between 50,000 and. 100,000. Important Turkish officials, such as Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin; Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu; the governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler; the head of the security forces, Celalettin Cerrah; and two generals joined Arman Kirakossian, the deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, and other Armenian officials at the funeral service.

Everyone in the world who cherishes freedom and brotherhood must take heart when signs proclaiming ``We are all Armenians'' are carried through the streets of Istanbul. I wish to express my condolences to the family and friends of Hrant Dink. I want also to express my profound respect for all his fellow citizens who protested his murder and mourned his death.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and reflect on the life of Mr. Joseph Mackey, a dedicated public servant who was committed to improving the world around him in large and small ways. Joe was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, and attended Somerville High School. He went on to graduate cum laude from Harvard University and later earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia. In 1979, Joe returned to his roots and was elected an alderman for the city of Somerville.

In 1984, Joe began representing his hometown in the State legislature and served with distinction through 1990. He championed victims' rights, environmental initiatives, and led the fight to implement Massachusetts' first gay rights legislation.

Although Joe left the legislature in 1990, he never stopped advocating for his community. Joe was the founding member of Dreams for Youth, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support for a number of worthwhile groups, including Somerville's youth programs, the Somerville Scholarship Foundation and the Girls' Pride Basketball Foundation.

During his lifetime, Joe received many well-deserved honors. He was named Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board for his work on behalf of crime victims. The Victim Advocacy Network also honored Joe as an Outstanding Legislator.

Throughout Joe's life, he worked to improve his community. Whether it was through the legislative process or as a private citizen devoting time to a worthy cause, Joe exemplified the value of giving something back.

Madam Speaker, I voted in favor of H. Res. 921. The recent attacks against the State of Israel should be condemned and terrorists and their state sponsors should be held accountable. I supported this resolution because I believe that Israel, as a sovereign democratic state, has the right to defend herself against aggression. Furthermore, the attacks on Israel came from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, lands from which Israel had withdrawn in the interests of peace.

However, I do have deep concerns about the scale of the Israeli response. I mourn the loss of life among all the suffering peoples of the region. We must actively work towards a peaceful solution to this crisis.

I do not believe that my vote in favor of this resolution provides President Bush with the authority to take direct military action against Lebanon, Syria, Iran or any other nation involved and my vote should not be interpreted as a vote in favor of such action. I insist that the President seek congressional approval if at any point he intends to take military action.

Mr. Speaker, Daniel F. Egan, Jr., president of the Massachusetts Credit Union League, New Hampshire Credit Union League, and the Rhode Island Credit Union League, has devoted 25 years his professional life to promotion, protection, and prosperity of the credit union movement.

Mr. Egan first distinguished himself as an attorney and legislative advocate for the credit unions of Massachusetts working diligently to ensure that the credit unions of Massachusetts operate in a legal and regulatory environment conducive to providing outstanding financial service to the people of Massachusetts. He continued his service to credit unions, rising to the position of president of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Credit Union Leagues and through his efforts to provide service to credit unions through unique and forward looking programs he has earned national recognition as credit union leader and visionary.

Through this leadership the credit union leagues of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island joined together in a ground breaking cooperative management agreement, allowing them to share resources, while maintaining the distinct character of each organization. Mr. Egan has been and continues to be committed to the expansion of the credit union movement throughout the world demonstrated by his support of the World Council of Credit Unions, his field work in Uganda to help establish credit unions there and through the central role he played in creating a relationship between the Massachusetts Credit Union League and the Bahamas Cooperative League to share the experience and expertise of the Massachusetts Credit Union community with the credit unions of the Bahamas.

During his tenure as president of the Massachusetts Credit Union League, New Hampshire Credit Union League, and the Rhode Island Credit Union Leagues, each of those organizations have brought together their member credit union to provide impressive levels of support to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire and Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

Mr. Egan has continually and eloquently voiced his deep and profound conviction that credit unions make it possible for Americans in all walks of life to lead better, happier and more productive lives and has done so in public, legislative, and educational forums. He has actively participated in fostering the growth and development of credit union leagues nationwide through his active participation in and leadership of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues, serving at various times as an officer and president of that group.

Mr. Egan has, through his commitment to the credit union movement, financial education, and charitable causes, helped to greatly improve the lives of the people of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island,

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Dan Eagan for his long and distinguished career in public service and to thank him for his continuing commitment to numerous charitable causes that have clearly helped improve the lives of the people of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, very simply, this amendment will help protect young juvenile witnesses who have the courage to do the right thing and stand up and testify against criminals that they have witnessed.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5573, the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2006. This legislation is an important first step towards a straight reauthorization of the community health centers program. As we all know, community health centers are the backbone of our Nation's health care safety net, providing quality, affordable primary I health care to over 15 million people across the country. There is overwhelming, bipartisan support for the community health centers program because the evidence of its I success is undeniable. Health centers are efficient, locally controlled, and provide a high standard of care: simply put, they work.

In my District, the eighth district of Massachusetts, community health centers are not only essential to providing access to excellent health care in many of the neighborhoods I represent, but they are also pillars of the communities they serve. The community board, a majority of which is comprised of patients that the health center serves, is an essential part of keeping individual health centers inextricably linked to the community and its needs. It is significant that the bill before the House recognizes the unique, consumer-driven nature of the health centers model that has worked so well for many years. This fundamental structure of the health centers program must be maintained to ensure that the widely acknowledged success of the program continues.

The bill before the House authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2007 at the same level as proposed by the President in his budget. This is a promising first step that echoes the amount authorized for fiscal year 2007 in H.R. 5201, legislation offered by my fellow cochair of the Community Health Centers Caucus, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis. However, that legislation, which I have cosponsored along with 233 Members of the House, would authorize such sums as necessary for fiscal years 2008-2011. The legislation we are considering today authorizes a specific dollar amount for each of those years, and I am concerned that the amounts in the bill may not take into account the costs of both the President's plan to expand health centers to every poor county in the Nation and the growing demands placed on existing health centers due to the increasing numbers of uninsured or underinsured, coupled with rising costs of providing medical care.

As the reauthorization moves forward, I hope that we can all remember those health centers in our districts who serve everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of ability to pay. They do extraordinary work, and we have an obligation to ensure that they have sufficient resources to continue to fulfill their essential role in our Nation's health care safety net.

Mr. Speaker, Darfur is in a state of chaos and the humanitarian situation is more dire than it was a year ago. Security is desperately needed and unfortunately the 7,400 African Union personnel have not been able to provide stability in the region. Their lack of numbers, limited mandate and supplies have hindered their ability to stop the atrocities.

However, they are currently the only force on the ground. We hope that the African Union Mission in Sudan, AMIS, will be transitioned into a United Nations mission as soon as possible, but there are no guarantees as to when that will occur. I understand that a joint AU-UN Assessment Mission is currently on the ground in Sudan and that we are expecting a deployment of troops by October 1. Despite the beginnings of this work, it is unclear that this will lead to a deployment by the expected date. In fact, the Government of Sudan is still opposed to a U.N. force in Darfur.

I understand that the Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations did not include funding for AMIS in this bill as the U.N. mission is expected to begin before this bill is completed. However, I am concerned that the U.N. mission will take much longer and that AMIS will not have enough funds to provide security and complete their new daunting tasks under the Darfur Peace Accord.

The needs of AMIS are great and I hope that a U.N. mission will be deployed to Darfur in the immediate future.

However, if the U.N. mission is not in place when we go to conference on this bill and AMIS is in need of funding, I hope that the committee will support reprogramming funds in this bill to support AMIS.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Marshall Sloane who is being honored by the Anti-Defamation League's New England Region with their Distinguished Community Service Award. As the former Mayor of Somerville, MA where Mr. Sloane founded the Century Bank Trust and Company, I have witnessed firsthand the commitment that he has to improving the community around him. This honor is well deserved.

A World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Sloane attended Somerville High School and Boston University. He founded the Century Bank and Trust Company in 1969: Today, there are 23 branches in the Greater Boston area.

Mr. Sloane's civic involvement includes membership on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Co-Chair of the Dimock Community Health Center's Board of Visitors, Board of Trustees of the Somerville Museum and a Member of the Corporation of the Perkins School for the Blind.

He has been honored by many organizations for his dedication to community service. Some of these include the American Cancer Society, Boston University's School of Management, the City of Somerville and the Boy Scouts of America.

Marshall Sloane has received the Israel Peace Medal for his support of the State of Israel. The Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great was conferred on him on behalf of his Holiness Pope John Paul II. He has also received the Boy Scouts of America's three highest honors: the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope and the Silver Buffalo.

As Marshall Sloane's business grew, he never forgot the importance of giving something back to the community. Marshall Sloane has lived by this conviction his entire life, as evidenced by his volunteer work and numerous awards. He inherited this dedication to others from his parents, shared it with his wife Barbara, who joined him in many community efforts, and passed it on to his children. It is fitting that the Anti-Defamation League honors him for his unwavering commitment to improving the world around him. Marshall Sloane's belief that one must give something back to the community serves as a shining example for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to add my voice to congratulate the leadership of the International Relations Committee and to this House for bringing this bill to the floor. I will be honest, I had some doubts that this bill would ever get to the floor, and the fact that it is here I think is something that deserves recognition.

I think everybody here and everybody who is listening who cares about this issue already knows what is going on in the Sudan.

I just wanted to rise today to express my opinion that this bill coming to this floor at this time is representative of what America can be in the world. It is representative of what America is. It is the best of America. I am not so sure that this bill or anything we can do here will actually stop the genocide in Sudan, but we need to do what we can do, and that is what this bill does.

This bill represents the hopes and dreams of the world, for all the people who care, honestly care, about human rights, basic human rights. I am not talking about the kinds of things we talk about here in America which are the extra-human rights we would all like to see. These are basic: life and death; enslavement and freedom; torture and no torture.

This bill addresses those issues to the best of our ability, and I think just for a moment, every American who cares about this issue should take a second and congratulate themselves and to feel good about their country and their representatives here in the House who have taken action today that we don't need to take. I don't think any of us will get a single vote at home because of this action. But it is the morally correct thing to do if America wants to continue to be the beacon of hope for the entire world.

Mr. Speaker, I repeat what I said before. I congratulate the leadership of this House, and thank them for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, in July of 2004 this House declared atrocities in Darfur to be a genocide. Since that time, actually since 2003, 400,000 people at least have died; 200,000 people are in refugee camps in Chad; 2.5 million people are displaced within Darfur. Over half the population has been affected.

The President has used the word ``genocide.'' The Secretary of State has used the word ``genocide.'' The whole world knows what is going on in Darfur.

Many Members of this House, including many Members on both sides of this aisle, have been very active in this issue. In this bill there is already a lot of money appropriated to continue funding the African Union mission that is currently providing 7,700 troops in Darfur to protect the people that are there. However, everyone knows that that is insufficient. The A.U. is doing a good job with the number of troops it has and with the resources it has, but we all know that it needs more.

The President himself has asked to double the number of troops in the Darfur region. I agree with him. Everybody who watches this issue agrees with him. We have to do something.

The money that is in this bill will maintain the A.U. mission, which is a good thing. However, maintaining it is insufficient.

It will eventually become a mission, and that is a good thing. I hope most of us, if not all of us, will support it. That will take 6 to 9 months at the least. In the meantime, maintaining the current situation is unacceptable. Therefore, I have asked for an additional $50 million to be put forward to enhance that mission.

I understand there is some concern about adding more troops with this money. This money can be used for several different items. It is not just boots on the ground.

First of all, money is fungible. Second of all, these troops also have major problems with communication on the ground, with technical planning on the ground, with equipment on the ground that this money can be used for. This money will be our effort to build a bridge between the current situation and the situation that we all are trying to get to, which hopefully will take less than 9 months.

That is why I offer this amendment. That is why I hope it passes.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I was prepared today to vote for this resolution but a late language change has made that impossible.

The phrase ``and take action'' was added to paragraph three which now reads: ``calls on all members of the United Nations Security Council . . . to expeditiously consider and take action . . . to respond to and deal with situations bearing on the maintenance of international peace and security'' (emphasis added). Because of that change, I cannot support this resolution. However, since I do believe that Iran poses a serious threat to the world and demands the attention of the world, I could not vote against the proposal. Therefore, I voted ``present.''

I strongly agree that Iran poses a real security threat to the world and I encourage continued vigilance. However, I have real concerns that the wording of this resolution might be interpreted by the Bush administration as all that is necessary to take military action. Although the day may come when I do support such action, today is not that day. I do not trust the Bush administration to come back to Congress if they wish to pursue military action. My lack of trust is, unfortunately, based on past actions. I voted to support military action against Afghanistan but the President is insisting today that Congress in so voting also granted him the legal authority to intercept telephone calls and other forms of communication without a warrant. I completely reject that assertion and I am concerned with future interpretations of H. Con. Res. 341. I regret that I cannot trust the President of the United States to use military force prudently and when all nonviolent means have been exhausted. I regret that I cannot support this resolution.