Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Young Ju Ji. Ms. Ji is the Executive Director of Korean American Women in Need, KANWIN, and a well-respected member of the Korean-American community in Chicago.

KANWIN helps Korean-American survivors of domestic violence and is one of a few organizations in the country with such a mission. The organization's formation began amid controversy as it publicly stated that women should not be subjected to violence or brutality at the hand of her husband or partner. KANWIN has served thousands of families in Chicago, giving women and their children renewed optimism and opportunity.

Ms. Ji immigrated to the U.S. in 1999 to Chicago where she and her family now reside. In addition to her work at KANWIN, Ms. Ji teaches both adults and children Korean drumming, one of her many efforts to preserve Korean culture in Chicago. She also is a Board Member at the Korean-American Resource and Cultural Center, KRCC.

Ms. Ji is well-respected and vital to the Korean-American community. She is a natural leader and her strength invigorates the men and women whose lives she has affected. In her charity, few things are ever unavailable. Ms. Ji, her husband and their two young children regularly open their home and share their financial resources and time to those in need. It is my privilege to recognize Ms. Young Ju Ji as an outstanding member of our community and as a person who deserves our country's honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Catherine Soo Jung Han. Ms. Han is a second generation Korean who, in taking after her late father, tirelessly dedicates her time to the well-being of others in the community. Ms. Han's father was a Tae Kwon Do Master in Chicago and he would often give up his own possessions in order to help those in need.

Ms. Han is currently a board member with the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center. She served as Board President from 2006 to 2008 and as Board Secretary from 2003 to 2006. Ms. Han has been instrumental in the KRCC's Project Participate, which registers, educates and mobilizes over 8,000 Korean-American voters in local, state, and federal elections.

Ms. Han is currently the only female performer in Il Kwa Nori, the KRCC's professional pungmul, traditional Korean drumming, troupe which performs both within and outside the Korean American community 25 times annually. In addition to performing, Ms. Han teaches youth workshops in drumming. Her influence on youth extends further for she encourages children she helps to make volunteerism a priority in their lives.

I am honored to recognize Catherine Soo Jung Han. She exemplifies the values of integrity and compassion, and those who have been inspired by her will be the living legacy of both her efforts and her father's. I thank her and those who have joined her in strengthening the community.

Madam Speaker, Saturday morning the well-loved hockey player, Reggie Fleming, passed away. As a former player on the Chicago Blackhawks and a member of the ``Hawks'' team that won the Stanley Cup in 1961, Reggie left a lasting impact on the city of Chicago.

In four seasons with the Blackhawks, Reggie spent over 455 minutes in the penalty

box, making his mark as a hard-nosed player. He called himself the ``policeman of the team,'' remarking that though he was not the highest scorer, he did what he loved: played hockey.

Though he moved on to play elsewhere, Reggie's home was always Chicago. Even after his days ended in the NHL, he continued to do what he loved, returning to our city to play for the World Hockey Association's Chicago Cougars.

After falling ill five years ago, he moved to a rehabilitation facility, where he fought a brave battle against illness and where his son Chris, a noted filmmaker, documented his father's memories of his finest moments. He says that his father's roughness on the ice was not mirrored off it.

Our sympathies go out to Chris, his sister Kelly, and the rest of the Fleming family in this difficult time. Reggie will be long remembered as a hockey player, family man, and true Chicagoan, not only by his family, but by many around Chicago and across America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss our relationship with our neighbor to the south, Cuba. I applaud President Obama for his plan to re-engage Cuba in a constructive dialogue and support his first steps to that end. But I must ask, what has Cuba done?

Improving the relationship between the United States and Cuba is something I strongly support, but I do not support this partnership at any cost.

I must ask, what has Cuba done? Cuba is still imprisoning political dissidents; Cuba still denies gay and lesbian citizens basic rights like freedom of assembly; Cuba still forbids travel outside the country without official permission.

We cannot tacitly reward this behavior by restoring normal relations with Cuba without asking what has Cuba done. Our ultimate progress is up to Cuba, and our shared diplomacy must be a two-way street.

I rise today to congratulate President Obama on reaching an agreement on nuclear arms control with Russian President Medvedev. This agreement will cut American and Russian nuclear arsenals by at least one quarter. This represents a critical step towards more substantial arms control, as well as a milestone in confronting our nuclear legacy.

I, like most Americans, was born in the nuclear age. The 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked its beginning, establishing an uncertain peace in a war-weary world.

But with the global proliferation of nuclear weapons, the threat of catastrophe grew ever closer. Confrontations in Berlin, in Cuba and the Middle East were one miscalculation away from disaster. But rather than learning from these close calls and taking dramatic steps to reduce our stockpiles of nuclear arms, we built more, and so did the Soviet Union.

Our arms control efforts were limited at best, and at worst they collapsed under the pressure of pursuing a global containment strategy against the Soviet Union. Today, the United States and Russia each deploy over 2,000 nuclear warheads. Although both countries exercise extreme care in managing these weapons, only one mistake in judgment could be fatal. That risk has grown as seven other countries have joined the so-called nuclear club over the past half century.

Our nuclear warheads are also expensive to maintain and draw badly needed funding away from other priorities. As former President Eisenhower said, ``Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.''

For this reason I stand here today not only to congratulate President Obama on his progress in Moscow, but also to urge him to take further steps toward reducing the global stockpile of nuclear weapons. Like President Obama, I recognize that we live in a world in which threats to peace are no longer confined to the traditional great powers.

I echo President Obama's sentiment that in this ``strange turn of history, the threat of global nuclear war has gone down, but the risk of nuclear attack has gone up.''

Rogue states and terrorist organizations are dedicated to acquiring nuclear weapons. We must be vigilant in controlling these weapons and making sure that they do not fall into the wrong hands. A nuclear arms treaty with Russia to replace the expiring START treaty is a good place to start. We should also ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty which aims to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons around the world.

We must confront the terrible legacy of the Cold War. We must recognize that although this legacy belongs to another generation, it is now our responsibility to enact change. We must stop wasting money on the excesses of the Cold War and start thinking about improving the present. We must show the world that we are committed to reducing this nuclear threat. We must do everything we can to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.

Robert McNamara once said, ``You can correct a wrong only if you understand how it occurred and you take steps to make sure it won't happen again.''

Today, as we mark the passing of the late Secretary, I think it's time to apply the lessons he learned in Vietnam to our own times. He said, ``We are not omniscient. If we cannot persuade other nations with similar interests and similar values of the merits of the proposed use of that power, we should not proceed unilaterally.''

We had to learn that lesson again in Iraq.

He also said, ``Our judgments of friend and foe, alike, reflected our profound ignorance of the history, culture, and politics of the people in the area, and the personalities and habits of their leaders.''

That's another lesson we learned again in Iraq.

Secretary McNamara's Vietnam regrets also extended to the homefront. He confessed that ``We failed to draw Congress and the American people into a full and frank discussion and debate of the pros and cons of a large-scale military involvement before we initiated the action.''

Unfortunately, we did the same thing with Iraq.

Instead of being straight with the American people, we spent years reducing the debate to a false choice between ``stay the course'' and ``cut and run.'' Today, as in McNamara's time, we face the consequences of our silence.

McNamara also recognized that we did not learn from his initial mistake. We stuck to the same tired plan of action, even if it had minimal relevance to the situation on the ground.

``After the action got underway,'' McNamara said, ``and unanticipated events forced us off our planned course, we did not fully explain what was happening and why we were doing what we did.''

We have learned that same lesson again in Iraq and too often find ourselves bogged down by unattainable goals and unable to explain why we are there and what we plan to do about it. Unfortunately, we have had to learn many of the same lessons twice.

In the early years of the Vietnam war, just as in the early years of the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars, you could state with confidence that our military was the most powerful in the world. But military strength does not always translate into victory on the ground.

Secretary McNamara had learned a terrible lesson, that fighting a war without committed allies, without planning, without public discussion and against an enemy force defending its home territory, is not a winning proposition.

In fact, in 1962, McNamara said, ``Every quantitative measurement we have shows we're winning this war.''

But Vietnam wasn't ultimately about quantitative measures. It wasn't enough to burn out its jungles with napalm or blockade its ports with gunships. The bigger issue was strategy, planning and foresight. We didn't know why we were fighting in the first place nor what we are fighting to achieve in the long run.

We had no perspective from which to evaluate our progress and reevaluate our goals. All we had were empty measures of troops, bombs and jets. The lesson of Vietnam has had to be learned and relearned too many times.

Secretary McNamara finally admitted in 1995, ``We were in the wrong place with the wrong tactics.''

At this time of his passing, we should take a moment to reflect on his legacy and take steps to ensure the wrongs of Vietnam don't happen again. The key lesson from Secretary McNamara is that we do that we do not live in a simple world with simple solutions. Military force is only one piece of the puzzle. Success depends on many variables.

McNamara saw this complexity in Vietnam. ``We failed to recognize that in international affairs, as in other aspects of life, there may be problems for which there are no immediate solutions. At times we may have to live with an imperfect, untidy world.''

That same complexity exists in the present conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. We need an open and frank discussion of our goals as well as how we plan to achieve them. The American people deserve to know if we are in the wrong place with the wrong tactics. Let's not sacrifice another generation to a war we think we are winning on paper.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Richard F. Mell. Alderman Mell, who is celebrating his 35th year of service, is a vital part of the Chicago community.

Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Dick Mell began his career in public service shortly after moving to Chicago, starting as a precinct captain with the 33rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and working closely with a variety of neighborhood organizations. Knowing he could do more to help the community by taking on a larger role, in 1975, he ran to be Alderman of the 33rd Ward and won. A year later, he became the Ward Committeeman and took his seat on the Democratic Central Committee of Cook County, representing his community on Chicago's Northwest side.

Alderman Mell has continued to take on important and influential roles throughout his successful career. He held the office of Vice Mayor of the City of Chicago for eight years and currently serves as Chairman of the Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics. He is also a member of the Committees on Budget and Governmental Operations, Finance, Health, Housing & Land Acquisition, Human Relations, and Traffic Control and Safety.

As Alderman, Mr. Mell has always put his community first, remaining accessible to his constituents with an open door policy and frequent attendance at community meetings. He celebrates his multi-ethnic, multi-racial community and understands that diversity stimulates growth in all of its residents. He consistently strives to protect his entire community and has helped make possible social programs to assist the less fortunate.

Alderman Mell's list of accomplishments is longer than this statement will allow and includes setting new ethic codes for elected officials, fighting absentee slum landlords in housing courts, initiating an Adjacent Neighborhood Program that rids the city of vacant lots, and fighting to decrease graffiti in the city by banning spray paint and passing an ordinance that allows judges to sentence graffiti vandals to community service work.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Alderman Richard Mell and his extraordinary career, and thank him for his many outstanding contributions to the City of Chicago and its citizens. His commitment to public service stands as an example to us all.

It's interesting, earlier today someone asked me: How can you vote for this measure, because global warming is a hoax. My answer was: It's very simple. I remove the blinders there that exist with some of my colleagues who think that global warming is a hoax. I remind them that there are zero peer-reviewed scientific studies that say global warming is a hoax.

There are hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific studies that say global warming is real and that man's actions contribute greatly to that increase in temperature.

We are often asked: What is our legacy here? What really matters about what we do? And I'd like to think it's how our children and our grandchildren will react to what we did and what we left behind.

So let's face reality and do what is right for our children and our children's children.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the formation of a new judicial association--the Alliance of Illinois Judges, AIJ, which has been established to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in the judiciary and the legal system as a whole.

Founded by the Lesbian and Gay Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Alliance of Illinois Judges will serve to assist judges, lawyers and law students; to make sure that LGBT individuals interacting with the legal system are treated with respect and without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity; and to help people in the LGBT community better understand how the courts and the legal system work.

The Alliance of Illinois Judges has also been set up to advocate for their members. The formation of All reminds us that lesbian and gay judges in Illinois--like lesbian and gay employees all over the country--are treated differently than their heterosexual counterparts. All intends to address these inequities.

In the last 15 years, the judiciary in Illinois and in Cook County has been transformed by the addition of many highly talented and dedicated gay and lesbian judges. Their presence in Cook County has brought about a sea change in attitudes in one of the largest consolidated court systems in the world.

In 1993, Cook County and Illinois took a giant step forward when Judge Tom Chiola, one of the founding members of AIJ, was elected not only as the first openly gay judge but also as the first openly gay elected official in Illinois. Then, in 1996, Judge Sebastian Patti was elected in a countywide election in Cook County, the second largest county in the nation. And in 1999, Nancy Katz, the first lesbian judge, was elected an Associate Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. This month the Alliance of Illinois Judges is being launched with 16 founding members.

Madam Speaker, I want to offer my very best wishes to the Alliance of Illinois Judges and to all its members. The professional achievements of these individuals, their enormous contributions to the civic life of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois and their dedication to the legal profession remind us once again, especially during Gay Pride Month, of what we as a nation owe to lesbian and gay Americans and to the entire LGBT community.

Mr. Speaker, I read this evening with interest the President of the United States has threatened to veto the Defense bill if the additional funding exists for F-22 fighter planes.

Mr. Speaker, the President is absolutely right. And the real problem today is that opportunity to vote against those unnecessary planes are not allowed in this rule. In the end we have to stop spending more and start spending smarter.

I was extremely disappointed to learn that the administration's recommendation to halt the F-22 program was overridden. 187 F-22 Raptor fighter jets are not enough? The Raptor has not even been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, our two largest military fronts.

While I am not an expert on defense procurement, our Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, is. So I tend to believe him when he said that the notion of not buying 60 more F-22s imperils the national security of the United States is ``completely nonsense.''

We are far and away the most superior air force in the world. Why would we pour billions more into an area where we already dominate and continue to support an aircraft that is not suited to the current battlefields in which we fight? We have to invest in low-tech equipment such as unmanned drones, which are effective in those areas of conflict.

And always remember that every defense dollar spent to bolster an area where we already dominate is a dollar we don't have to spend to take care of our soldiers, strengthen our forces, and improve in areas where we may be vulnerable and our soldiers may be vulnerable.

Again, we have to simply stop spending more and start spending smarter. Our soldiers deserve it. The taxpayers deserve it.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening the highly respected radio

and television broadcasting pioneer John Callaway died in Chicago.

After more than 30 years with Chicago's Public Television, John Callaway's extraordinary dedication to honest journalism that served the people will be greatly missed.

John can be credited with many great firsts in the world of televised broadcasting. He was a leader in the nationwide development of CBS news stations and hosted WTTW's Chicago's first evening news analysis.

The former Peabody and Emmy Award winner had said that he hoped his shows would allow the viewer to see the ``fabric and soul of the city.'' Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you in my city the fabric and soul is often both extraordinary and tragic. For me and many Chicagoans, the airwaves will feel quite empty without John Callaway as the host of channel 11's show ``Chicago's Tonight's Week in Review.'' Tonight he will be remembered not only by his loving wife, Sandra Callaway, and daughters Liz and Ann, but by the citizens of Chicago and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at midnight), the House adjourned until today, Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 10 a.m.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Conde Hackbarth, who passed away on June 6 following a 28-year battle with cancer.

Conde Hackbarth was born on August 8, 1937, to Elizabeth and John Spaulding. She grew up in Chicago and Winnetka and raised her family in Kenilworth and Lake Forest. An accomplished student, she graduated from New Trier High School in 1955 and Connecticut College in 1959. Conde spent her summers in Harbor Beach, Michigan, at her family cottage, and for the past 10 years she was a winter resident of the Ocean Reef community in Key Largo, Florida.

Conde Hackbarth is survived by a loving family including her husband Philip, an attorney in Chicago, daughter Elizabeth Sears Smith, son Christopher Sears, stepchildren Rory Hackbarth and Philip Hackbarth, five grandchildren (Jane, Phineas, Sydney, Neil and Kathryn), and Brother Charles Spaulding.

I ask that my colleagues join me in extending our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Conde Hackbarth in this difficult time, as well as praise Conde for the grace, strength, and courage with which she waged her battle against cancer. Her life is an inspiration to us all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Windy City Gay Chorus and all its current and past members on their 30th anniversary celebration.

Founded in 1979, the Windy City Gay Chorus is the oldest gay chorus in Illinois and the Midwest and one of the oldest in the country.

The Windy City Gay Chorus and its volunteer members have been distinguished for their commitment to professional-quality musical performances and their dedication to Chicago's LGBT community.

WCGC is respected nationally and internationally and is regarded by critics and audiences as one of the outstanding gay choruses. It performs a wide variety of music from pop, jazz and swing to classical. Its annual ``Don We Now . . .'' concert is one of the highlights of Chicago's holiday season.

The Windy City Gay Chorus has won numerous honors and awards, including first prize at the Johnny Mann Great American Choral Festival, the only gay group ever to do so.

It has been invited to perform at meetings of the American Choral Directors Association, at the inauguration of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and at two of the world's most famous concert halls, Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.

The Windy City Gay Chorus and its affiliated choruses--Aria, Unison and Windy City Slickers--use the universal language of music to bridge the divisions that separate us and to bring joy, hope and pride not just to the LGBT community but to everyone who experiences their music.

The hard work and dedication of the Windy City Gay Chorus reminds us, especially during Gay Pride Month, of the enormous contributions that gay and lesbian Americans and the entire LGBT community have made to our country.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate and thank the Windy City Gay Chorus and all its members for their service to our community and wish them 30 more years of making beautiful and uplifting music.

Offered By: Mr. Quigley

Amendment No. 62: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following: