Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), my friend and colleague, for yielding me this time.

As I have said many times on this floor, as I get older, I try to keep my

priorities straight. And part of that is to remember that had it not been for all of the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States military through the years, people like me would not have the privilege of going around bragging about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the face of the Earth. Freedom is not free. We have paid a tremendous price for it. And I try not to let a day go by without remembering with deepest gratitude all of those who, like my own brother Bill McNulty, made the supreme sacrifice; and all of those who served and put their lives on the line like the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), like the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), like other people in this Chamber. Thankfully they came back home and rendered outstanding service in the community and raised beautiful families to carry on in their fine traditions. We all should be deeply grateful for that. And that is why when I get up in the morning, my first two priorities are to thank God for my life, and then veterans for my way of life.

Today more than a quarter of a million brave Americans are overseas poised for military action. Let us remember them in our thoughts and prayers every day. This proposal is a very modest proposal; but it is well earned, it is deserved, and I am deeply grateful to the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for bringing it to the floor. I urge all members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman (Mr. Snyder) for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) for bringing this important resolution to the floor.

As I get older, I work more on trying to keep my priorities straight. Among them are remembering that had it not been for all of the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military through the years, people like me would not have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often do, about how we live in the freest and

most open democracy on the face of the Earth. Freedom is not free. We have paid a tremendous price for it.

I try not to let a day go by without remembering with deepest gratitude all of those who, like my own brother Bill, made the supreme sacrifice. I'm thankful to all those who wore the uniform of the United States military, put their lives on the line for us and all that we hold dear, and then came back home and rendered outstanding service in our communities, and raised beautiful families to carry on in their fine traditions.

Today, most especially, we salute and pay tribute to all those who endured torture on our behalf as prisoners of war. Chief among them are my friend and colleague from the Committee on Ways and Means, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), Senator John McCain, and Ambassador Pete Peterson.

I join my colleagues in saluting them for what they went through remembering all of those who endured torture on our behalf as prisoners of war, and renewing our collective commitment to account for all of the American military personnel who are still missing in action.