Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute a very special constituent of mine on the occasion of his 85th birthday, which is today. He has been an outstanding son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and he has also been an outstanding public servant, having first been elected to public office in the year 1949 and having been elected to office in seven different decades. He served as a town supervisor and mayor, a sheriff, a member of the New York State Commission of Corrections.

Mr. Speaker, I want to salute and pay tribute to him today on the occasion of his 85th birthday, the Honorable John J. McNulty, Jr., and, yes, Mr. Speaker, he is my dad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 63.

I strongly support H. Con. Res. 63, opposing the President's proposal to send 21,500 additional American troops into the middle of a civil war in Iraq.

More than 5 years after the worst terrorist attack in the history of our country, the mastermind behind it--Osama bin Laden--is still alive, free, and planning another attack on our country. And the President rarely even mentions his name.

Instead, he pursues a failed policy in Iraq. The number of American soldiers killed in Iraq now exceeds the number of lives taken on September 11, 2001, and this war has now lasted longer than our involvement in World War II.

The President's response is to send more troops. This surge is nothing more than an escalation of the failed policy that has been tried several times already. I couldn't disagree more with the President.

The Bush policy in Iraq will, in my opinion, go down in history as one of the biggest blunders in the history of warfare. Why? Because the terrorist who attacked us is still at large and the situation in Iraq gets worse by the day. Simply put, we went after the wrong guy!

So what should we do now in Iraq? A target date for redeployment of our troops should be set, and their withdrawal from Iraq should begin now. Then the Iraqis who say they support their new government will have the incentive to step forward and volunteer for military service-- something they will not do as long as we offer to take all the enemy fire.

As others have said, ``The Iraqis need to demonstrate that they want this new government more than we do.''

It's decision time for the Iraqi people.

The President has submitted a supplemental budget request for almost $100 billion to further fund the war in Iraq. If Congress

does not amend this proposal to include an exit strategy, I will--as I did on the last Iraq war supplemental on March 16th, 2006--vote ``no.''

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. Speaker, the President is going to come here tonight and by all indications he is going to call for a new era of cooperation. I hope that comes to pass. But that is not his record. On Iraq, he continues to ignore the American people, both parties in this Congress, and even his own generals. And our troops continue to suffer the consequences.

On energy policy, I have been in this chamber for the last several years when the President has spoken, I believe eloquently, about the need to develop alternative sources of energy. Then he gave huge multibillion-dollar tax cuts to the oil companies.

Health insurance is also a subject he is going to address tonight. In the words of former Governor Al Smith of New York, ``Let's look at the record.'' When this President took office, there were 39 million people uninsured in this country. Today that number is 47 million, up by 8 million people. We're going in the wrong direction.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that in the year 2007, from the White House and from this administration, we get less talk and more action.

Mr. Speaker, as our colleague, the Honorable gentleman from New York, Sherwood Boehlert, prepares to retire from the Congress, I want to join the entire New York delegation in wishing Sherry a fond farewell and in commending him for a job very well done.

Sherry Boehlert has served the people of the 24th Congressional District, which includes all or parts of Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, and Seneca counties, for 12 consecutive terms. He has been my congressional neighbor to the west for as long as I have been in Congress. We have had the opportunity to work together on many issues, such as the Tech Valley initiative in upstate New York, the FAIR Alliance for transportation funding, and, of course, rooting on our beloved New York Yankees.

With expertise and leadership in so many different fields, from the environment and the sciences, to transportation and homeland security, Sherry has not only capably served the people of his district, but also every citizen of New York and the United States.

Sherry has earned the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Marianne, their four grown children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Sherry Boehlert a respected colleague and a dear friend. His presence and strong voice will be missed during the coming debates. There is no doubt, however, that his proud legacy of committed public service and bipartisan achievement, will live on for generations.

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

(Mr. McNULTY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6111, legislation which enhances the innocent spouse equitable relief provision of the Internal Revenue Code. I believe that the enactment of this proposal will provide a straightforward and noncontroversial solution to the unfair treatment of innocent spouses under current law. Through only minor legislative modifications, this bill clarifies the statute's original intent, affording innocent spouses the necessary recourse to ensure their cases and circumstances are given a fair hearing.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a former colleague, a patriot, and a dear friend.

Tom Manton was the son of immigrant farmers from the west of Ireland--Thomas, of

County Roscommon, and Margaret, of County Mayo.

Consider his impressive life story: Born in Manhattan, reared in Queens, educated in Brooklyn, then 2 years in the Marine Corps, 5 years in the New York Police Department, 15 years on the New York City Council, and 14 years here in Congress.

Thankfully, my career as a Member of Congress included a wonderful working relationship and tremendous friendship with Tom Manton. We worked together on a number of issues--most notably the quest for peace in Ireland, and the goal of uniting all the counties of Ireland.

Tom served as Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs. I had the privilege of traveling with him and President Clinton to Northern Ireland. Tom was a leading force in getting President Clinton involved in the peace process. Tom was chiefly responsible for getting the president to agree to meet with Gerry Adams.

Tom's commitment to the cause of justice and peace in Ireland, and his commitment to human rights, was a driving force that helped lead to the Good Friday Accords.

But, Mr. Speaker, more than the working relationship, there was the friendship.

In my first run for Congress, almost two decades ago, without hesitation, the man from Queens was there to help me. And thanks to Tom, and many others, I won.

I am so grateful for the wise advice and good counsel Tom gave to me through the years.

Mr. Speaker, before I even came to Washington in 1988 for the formal orientation, Tom Manton invited me to his office in New York City for an informal orientation. It was an invaluable introduction to what life in Congress was like.

I never could thank him enough for that.

In my later reelection campaigns, Tom was always there to help. Once I told him of an event that the Irish American community in my district was planning to help my campaign. Tom immediately said, ``Yes, I'll be there.''

And he was. We had the party in Albany, and Tom spoke on my behalf. He didn't stop there, however, because Tom Manton also sang on my behalf.

And I shall always be proud to sing his praises!!

Tom Manton rendered a lifetime of outstanding service to his family, his community, and his country. I am truly blessed and deeply grateful to have been able to count him as a friend.

Mr. Speaker, Tim Friedman has been a friend of mine since the first day I walked onto the House Floor 18 years ago. His interest in, and service to, this and other Members of the House has always been above and beyond the call of duty. As he heads to a well- earned retirement a bit to our south, I want my dear friend Tim to know that I will think of him often, and with tremendous gratitude for his extraordinary service.

Thanks, Tim!

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with my statement on Tuesday, I rise in opposition to the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I am in agreement with much of the content of House Resolution 861, particularly the expressions of gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our troops.

The language of the resolution, however, includes a commitment to keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely and an outright refusal to set a date for withdrawal. For these reasons, I strongly oppose the resolution.

Eighty-two percent of the Iraqi people want us out of their country, and 47 percent say it is justified to attack American troops. It is simply unacceptable to keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely under these conditions. I continue to call for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and challenge the Iraqi people to stand up and defend their own country.

Mr. Speaker, when we debated the original Iraq war resolution, the administration told us that Iraq was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, that there were ties between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and that Iraq was within a year of having a nuclear capability.

Fast-forward to the deliberations of the 9/11 Commission. They concluded that there were no weapons of mass destruction, no ties between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and no nuclear capability.

Mr. Speaker, these votes weren't 8-4 or 7-5, they were all 12-0 that the very basis for the war did not exist.

When I go back home, Mr. Speaker, and my constituents ask me to summarize where we are in the war on terror, I tell them this: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in the history of our country, we have committed hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq. More important, over 20,000 young Americans have either been killed or seriously wounded going after Saddam Hussein, who did not attack us, while Osama bin Laden, who did attack us, is still alive, free, planning another attack on our country.

That, Mr. Speaker, is the very definition of failure in the war on terror.

We went after the wrong guy.

But after the invasion, did we have a responsibility to help the Iraqi people build a new government and a new way of life? The answer to that question is yes. And we have fulfilled that obligation. We have helped them through not one, not two, but three elections. It is now time for the Iraqi people to stand up and defend themselves.

There is a general rule of military engagement that says that you do not signal to your enemy what you are going to do in advance. But there are exceptions to every rule, and there are two exceptions to this rule.

Number one is that the insurgents in Iraq are using as a recruitment tool the argument that we have no intention of leaving their country, and that we're going to steal their oil--and it is working. It is fueling the insurgency.

As for our friends in Iraq, those who want this new government and new way of life, they seem perfectly content to let our soldiers take all of the enemy fire. The problem with security in Iraq is not the system of training; it's the fact that the Iraqis are not stepping forward to defend their own government.

So, today, Mr. Speaker, my basic disagreement with the President is this: He says that we should stay in Iraq until the Iraqis declare that they are ready to defend their own country; and I propose that we announce a timetable for withdrawal, start withdrawing our troops, and make our position very clear to the Iraqis: If they want this new government and this new way of life, they have to come forward, volunteer, stand up, and defend it.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to bring our troops home.

Mr. Speaker, when we debated the original Iraq war resolution, the administration told us that Iraq was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, that there were ties between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and that Iraq was within a year of having a nuclear capability.

Fast-forward to the deliberations of the 9/11 Commission. They concluded that there were no weapons of mass destruction, no ties between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and no nuclear capability. Mr. Speaker, these votes weren't 8-4 or 7-5, they were all 12-0 that the very basis for the war did not exist.

When I go back home, Mr. Speaker, and my constituents ask me to summarize where we are in the war on terror, I tell them this: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in the history of our country, we have committed hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq. More important than that, over 20,000 young Americans have either been killed or seriously wounded going after Saddam Hussein, who did not attack us, while Osama bin Laden, who did attack us, is still alive, free, planning another attack on our country. That, Mr. Speaker, is the very definition of failure in the war on terror. We went after the wrong guy.

But after the invasion, did we have a responsibility to help the Iraqi people build a new government and a new way of life? The answer to that question is yes. And we have fulfilled that obligation. We have helped them through not one, not two, but three elections. It is now time for the Iraqi people to stand up and defend themselves.

There is a general rule of military engagement that says that you do not signal to your enemy what you are going to do in advance. But there are exceptions to every rule, and there are two exceptions to this rule. Number one is that the insurgents in Iraq are using as a recruitment tool the argument that we have no intention of leaving their country and that we are going to steal their oil. And it is working! It is fueling the insurgency.

As for our friends in Iraq, those who want this new government and new way of life, they seem perfectly content to let our soldiers take all of the enemy fire. The problem with security in Iraq is not the system of training, it is the fact that the Iraqis are not stepping forward to defend their own government.

So today, Mr. Speaker, my basic disagreement with the President is this: He says that we should stay in Iraq until the Iraqis declare that they are ready to defend their own country; and I propose that we announce a timetable for withdrawal, start withdrawing our troops, and make our position very clear to the Iraqis: If they want this new government and this new way of life, they have to come forward, volunteer, stand up, and defend it. Mr. Speaker, it is time to bring our troops home.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of the resolution. I want to echo what others have said about the importance of family.

When we talk about priorities, we have a long list and wide range of them. I think it is critically important to keep family first.

I enthusiastically support the resolution, and I want to say how much our children, Nancy's and mine, Michele, Angela, Nancy and Maria, mean to us; and how much our five grandchildren mean to us, Teigin, Elijah, Lola, Morgyn and Daniel. They are the light of our lives.

I thank the gentleman for bringing this resolution to the floor. I urge all members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide. April 24th will be the 91st anniversary of this human tragedy.

From 1915 to 1923, the world witnessed the first genocide of the 20th century. This was clearly one of the world's greatest tragedies--the deliberate and systematic Ottoman annihilation of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children.

Furthermore, another 500,000 refugees fled and escaped to various points around the

world--effectively eliminating the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire.

From these ashes arose hope and promise in 1991--and I was blessed to see it. I was one of the four international observers from the United States Congress to monitor Armenia's independence referendum. I went to the communities in the northern part of Armenia, and I watched in awe as 95 percent of the people over the age of 18 went out and voted.

The Armenian people had been denied freedom for so many years and, clearly, they were very excited about this new opportunity. Almost no one stayed home. They were all out in the streets going to the polling places. I watched in amazement as people stood in line for hours to get into these small polling places and vote.

Then, after they voted, the other interesting thing was that they did not go home. They had brought covered dishes with them, and all of these polling places had little banquets afterward to celebrate what had just happened.

What a great thrill it was to join them the next day in the streets of Yerevan when they were celebrating their great victory. Ninety-eight percent of the people who voted cast their ballots in favor of independence. It was a wonderful experience to be there with them when they danced and sang and shouted, `Ketse azat ankakh Hayastan'--Long live free and independent Armenia! That should be the cry of freedom- loving people everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in strongly supporting H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006. As a co-sponsor of this measure since July 2005, I am extremely pleased this measure is finally being considered by the full House.

I traveled to Sudan in 1989. I did not know much about the Horn of Africa at the time. But I knew this: 280,000 people starved to death the year before and it was not because there was not enough food. There was a tremendous outpouring of support from people all over the world, and I am proud to say that it came primarily from the United States of America. But that food did not get through to the innocent civilian populations because of this civil war.

I went to Sudan with the late Mickey Leland and the late Bill Emerson and my colleague Gary Ackerman. I watched in awe as Mickey Leland negotiated with tyrant Sadiq al-Mahdi and with the leader of the SPLA John Garang, and even that unsavory character next door President Mengistu of Ethiopia to create'' corridors for peace.'' He was successful that year. And in the following year, deaths due to starvation dropped dramatically.

But in the time since then, we have focused our attention elsewhere. We have looked away from this tragedy, and the situation today continues to deteriorate.

Over 2 million people have already died over the past two decades due to war-related causes and famine in Sudan and millions more are internally displaced--more than any other nation on the face of the Earth. And we continue to look the other way.

As we approach the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we must also recognize that what has been happening in the Darfur region of Sudan is also genocide. On July 22, 2004, the House of Representatives declared that the atrocities occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan are genocide. This bill, H.R. 3127, also includes this declaration.

We need to get our priorities straight. Let's stop this war and end this human suffering. We can start by passing and implementing the provisions of this important measure, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act.

Mr. Speaker, the American people join with the people of Greece in celebrating the 185th Anniversary of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire.

The bedrock of our close relationship with Greece is our mutual devotion to freedom and democracy and our unshakable determination to fight, if need be, to protect these rights.

Greek philosophers and political leaders--Cleisthenes and Pericles and their successors--had great influence upon America's Founding Fathers in their creation of these United States.

We, as a nation, owe a great debt to Greece. Greece is the birthplace of democracy, as we know it.

Thomas Jefferson said, ``To the ancient Greeks, we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves (American colonists) out of Gothic darkness.''

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were an attack on democracy and freedom--not just against our people, but also against all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world. The Greek people understand this.

I congratulate the people of Greece and wish them a Happy National Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in extending my congratulations to the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Freedom Movement.

On February 20, 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabakh officially petitioned the Soviet government to reunite with Armenia and reverse the injustice perpetrated by the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin.

This peaceful and legal request was met with violent reaction by the Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership, and escalated into full military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of Nagorno Karabakh bravely defended their right to live in freedom on their ancestral land.

Today, Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen its statehood with a democratically elected government, a capable defense force, and an independent foreign policy.

I stand with the people of Nagorno Karabakh in celebrating their continuing freedom and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 513.