Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I want to add a word of my support of Mr. Pallone's amendment. The issue of companies circumventing the law and the wishes of cities and towns in this Nation deserves to be addressed.

In my district, in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a firm wanted to build a waste transfer station. Given the potential environmental and health risks, both the local community and even the State voiced their objections to the proposal. As an end run around this, the rail company that would service the proposed waste transfer facility applied to the Federal Surface Transportation Board, or the STB, to, in effect, have the waste transfer facility declared a rail facility. This was an attempt to supersede the rulings of the State and local entities that had already rejected the proposed waste transfer station. Fortunately, the rail company's application was rejected, but they can reapply to the STB at any time.

Just yesterday I stood with Bensalem Mayor Joe DiGirolamo and Pennsylvania State Representative Gene DiGirolamo and opposed this facility. Mr. Chairman, people in the local, State and Federal level are all opposed to this end run around the law.

Mr. Chairman, when Congress created the STB, it was never intended to allow decisions by the STB to be used to override the wishes of cities and towns across the country, and certainly not as a means of superseding health and environmental regulations of State and local governments. Yet that is exactly what is happening.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his excellent leadership on this issue, and thank Chairman Olver for providing me the opportunity to speak today and stand up for the residents of Bensalem and the Eighth District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, for the sixth time, I rise calling for a change of direction in Iraq. For the sixth time, I call on the President to stop sending our brave men and women to referee a religious civil war. For the sixth time I call on this administration to focus our efforts in fighting the central front on the war on terror by killing Osama bin Laden and destroying al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, last week countless folks back in Pennsylvania stopped me and asked, Aren't you frustrated by this President who refuses to listen to Congress and the American people?

I told them, I am frustrated that our President refuses to follow the advice of military experts and the will of the American people. I am frustrated because my fellow paratroopers are still fighting and dying in the 138-degree heat of a Baghdad summer. I told them that I will refuse to stop fighting for the best policy for our troops and our families back here at home.

Mr. Speaker, leaving our troops in the middle of a religious civil war isn't resolute. It's reckless. No question that change is slow, but take heart, America. Change is coming. Congress is not going to stop.

President Bush, the legislative branch of government is back and we are not going to go away. We will change the course in Iraq and fight for a smarter global war on terror.

Some Republicans have questioned the patriotism of my fellow Democrats. Even former soldiers here in the House floor. But those types of Republicans are the exception and not the rule. In my short time in Congress, I have learned that most of my colleagues across the aisle are good, decent, and patriotic Americans. Mr. Speaker, I know how much pressure my friends across the aisle are under from the President, from their party leaders to just stay the course.

But I ask you as a soldier, as a father, and as a colleague to acknowledge what the status quo entails. That means additional warnings, walking to our desks here in the Halls of Congress, holding our breath and hoping we don't get word of another fallen soldier.

Mr. Speaker, I implore my Republican colleagues who know in their heart that we need a change. I implore you to think about how many more of these calls you have to make, how many more calls to wives, to fathers, to mothers we all will be forced to make if we don't take action.

I have heard the other side say 4 more months. This President has had his 4 months. He has had his 4 years and 4 months. In 2004, the President said we are turning the corner. In 2005, the Vice President said the insurgency was in its last throes. In 2006, that was the year in transition. And now in 2007, the President says just be patient.

In the last month alone in Bucks County, we have buried four of our finest sons. Four names have been added to the memorial board outside my office. I, for one, don't want to add any more names.

My Republican colleagues, you have the power today to stop these tragic phone calls, to stop adding faces and names to our memorials. Let's change the direction in Iraq and get back to fighting a smarter war on terror together, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Texas for her leadership on this issue and the gentlelady from Florida.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer a resolution to let the world know that this House stands opposed to anti-Semitism and reaffirms our support for academic freedom. It is sad that in this day and age I would have to offer such a resolution, but the actions of a misguided group thousands of miles away have forced this body to act.

Madam Speaker, in May the leadership of the University and College Union, or UCU, the main union representing 120,000 British college teachers, called for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. As a former professor myself at the United States Military Academy at West Point, I know how wrong this action is from an academic and diplomatic perspective.

This boycott will sever academic contacts and exchanges of personnel between British and Israeli academic institutions, as well as have a significant economic impact, given that the union enjoys significant influence in Britain.

The reasons given by the leadership of the UCU for endorsing a boycott consist of the same tired propaganda and inflammatory rhetoric typically used by the enemies of Israel and do not deserve to be repeated on the floor of this distinguished body. This call for a boycott by the UCU is even more disturbing, given that Britain's National Union of Journalists called for a similar boycott this past April.

It should come as no surprise that these boycotts have drawn harsh criticism. In a recent editorial entitled ``Malicious Boycotts,'' the New York Times called them nonsense, writing, and I quote, ``Who would respect the judgment of a scholar who selects or rejects colleagues on political grounds? Who would trust the dispatches of a reporter who has openly engaged against one side of a conflict? Critical thinking and well thought-out criticism are intrinsic to good scholarship and good journalism. These boycotts represent neither.''

The criticism, though, does not end there. Now former Prime Minister

Tony Blair has criticized the boycott saying, ``I hope very much that decision is overturned because it does absolutely no good for the peace process or for relations in that part of the world.''

Madam Speaker, the former Prime Minister is right. We need to build dialogue and trust in the Middle East and we cannot do that without our greatest ally there, the State of Israel. Israel is a stable democracy that shares our values. This is rare in a region of the world where few nations have democracy, rule of law and religious freedom.

As an Iraq war veteran, I know firsthand just how dangerous that part of the world truly is. That's why when Israel comes under attack from hatemongers, it's the American values that are also under such attack. Today, by passing this bipartisan resolution, we're stating with one voice that this Congress will stand up and defend our friend, the State of Israel.

Specifically, my resolution condemns the decision by the UCU leadership to boycott Israeli academia and urges the general membership to reject the boycott. It also urges the academic community and individual governments to reject any call for a boycott of Israel and to reaffirm the importance of academic freedom.

Limiting academic exchange and shrinking the marketplace of ideas only hinders our ability to bring peace to the Middle East and to help solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to make sure that I thank some of my distinguished colleagues who were instrumental in bringing this resolution to the floor today; the chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Robert Wexler; and the chairman and ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Lantos; and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. These three distinguished Members have proven themselves to be leaders in standing up for Israel, and I thank them for all their work in bringing this resolution to the floor.

With that, Madam Speaker, I will conclude by urging swift passage of this critical resolution.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the St. Joseph the Worker Church, in Fallsington, Pennsylvania, for its 50 years of service and continued dedication to the Bucks County community.

The St. Joseph of the Worker Parish was founded by Archbishop--and future Philadelphia Cardinal--John F. O'Hara on October 1, 1956. A church that once consisted of a small group meeting in a local elementary school has now developed into a vibrant and growing congregation. In the spirit of St. Joseph, the parish church and school are committed to hard work for the betterment of their community--for the religious and laity alike.

Madam Speaker, a strong community can shape the lives of children and young adults--something I saw first hand growing up in a working class family in Northeast Philadelphia. The St. Joseph the Worker Parish School educates 165 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students of the Parish community. Through quality education and service projects, St. Joseph students learn how to help others and become the leaders of the future.

Over the past 50 years, the parish has helped create a new St. Joseph's Home for Boys and the Martha's Cupboard food pantry. The food pantry's 12 hardworking volunteers service between 10 and 20 families each week with a 2-week supply of non-perishable food. The food is contributed largely from parishioners, in addition to school and community food drives. In conjunction with other organizations, parishioners package and deliver meals, and purchase Christmas gifts for local needy families.

Madam Speaker, the St. Joseph Church and its congregation have long served as a model for community service, proving that the efforts of the few have profound effects on the many. I offer my congratulations as the parish welcomes Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and concludes their 50th anniversary ceremonies on Sunday, September 30, 2007.

The motto for the 50th anniversary events, ``Celebrating the Past and Embracing the Future,'' embodies the true mission ofthe St. Joseph the Worker Church. Madam Speaker, I am honored recognize the church's years of history and I thank the parishioners and elergy for their ongoing efforts to educate the youth and improve our society. I wish them another 50 years of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Herb Crouthamel for nearly half-a-century of service to the families of Bucks County. On Friday, June 15--after 46 years of driving a school bus for Central Bucks West and Our Lady of Mount Carmel schools--Mr. Crouthamel drove his final route. During those 46 years driving the bus and the 81 years he has been a member of our community Mr. Crouthamel has developed lasting, personal relationships but most importantly, he has protected our children.

Madam speaker, Mr. Crouthamel served our country as a member of the U.S. Navy in World War II and went to school on the GI Bill after his return. He started his route by chance, supplementing his work as a car salesman, but soon it became one of his life works.

Students, parents and school administrators all hail Mr. Crouthamel's devoted commitment to students. He impresses the students he drives by knowing all of their names and his record shows his dedication to student safety, both on and off the bus.

Mr. Crouthamel may be giving up the bus route but he isn't giving up his service to our community. He plans to continue work for his local country store and he will also volunteer at the Doylestown Hospital after his retirement.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Crouthamel's commitment to children and the community is an inspiration. His years of service come with public acclaim for his attention to both safety and the lives of local families. On behalf of the community and all the lives he has touched and protected, I would like to thank Mr. Crouthamel for his life-long commitment to excellence and service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the continued need for accountability in the war on terror. I support the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, but must register my concerns about the money we pledge to send to Pakistan.

Clear rules and accountability are vital to winning the war on terror. Just as we attach benchmarks and set goals for the money the United States sends to Iraq and Afghanistan, we must do the same for Pakistan--especially if Pakistan is to continue as a true partner in this fight.

While Iraq continues to smolder, Osama bin Laden--the murderer of more than 3,000 innocent Americans is still at large. President Bush said at a press conference 5 years ago, that he ``didn't spend much time on him.''

Recently, when asked why bin Laden hadn't been brought to justice yet he said: ``Why is he still at large? Because we haven't got him yet . . . That's why. And he's hiding, and we're looking, and we will continue to look until we bring him to justice.''

This is not good enough.

Meanwhile, the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan and American commanders on the ground are asking for more troops to fight terror, hunt down al Qaeda and kill Osama bin Laden.

Madam Speaker, we need to win the war on terror--and that means hunting down bin Laden and al Qaeda wherever they are. That means-- above all else--success in Afghanistan.

Our troops over there are doing an amazing job and they deserve our continued support. It is getting harder for them, especially along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan--and in some of the areas where we believe bin Laden is still at large.

I have always said that we needed to be tough and smart in fighting the war on terror. That means asking tough questions--even of our friends. One question that needs to be asked--especially as we prepare to send them $300 million dollars--is about Pakistan's President Musharraf.

Right now we can count President Musharraf as an ally but is he doing all he can

to hunt bin Laden? We cannot afford to let a mass murderer slip through our fingers again.

The U.S. has sent $5.6 billion in military reimbursements to Pakistan for counterterrorism efforts--this is $80 million a month. We are about to vote to send them even more.

In the early days of the war in Afghanistan, President Bush decided to out-source the hunt for bin Laden in Tora Bora. Now we need to examine--are we relying too much on Pakistan and their accord with tribal warlords near the Afghan border for the same reason?

Why do we, the United States of America, continue to send roughly $1 billion per year to Pakistan if they are going to slash patrols through the area where al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are most active?

Why, as Senator Reed has said, are we reimbursing Pakistan for their efforts instead of, ``paying for specific objectives?''

Is it true, as two American analysts and one American soldier reported--that Pakistani security forces fired in direct support of Taliban ground attacks on Afghan Army posts?

Families in the 8th District of Pennsylvania voted me here to ask tough questions and demand accountability.

I hope over the coming weeks and months this Congress gets answers to these vital questions so we can effectively prosecute the war on terror.

We can win the war on terror but after more than 4 years in Iraq and nearly 6 years in Afghanistan, we need to demand more results.

Madam Speaker, by asking the tough questions we can continue to support the troops who are fighting bravely to secure our Nation.

Madam Srecognize Charles Kane, a man who dedicated his life to serving seniors, children and anyone in need. Earlier this month, Mr. Kane passed away after a fight with cancer. With his passing, Bucks County lost a great community leader and a committed advocate for senior citizens.

Mr. Kane was well known for his work in Bucks County, where he led numerous services agencies, including the Area Agency on Aging. By those who had the pleasure of working with him, Charlie will surely be missed, not only for his exceptional talent but his unwavering compassion. He truly cared about the many individuals he helped on a daily basis throughout his impressive career. Madam Speaker, Charlie touched countless lives and his kindness will always be remembered.

Composed and professional, there was never any question about his passion. Charlie Kane had the enthusiasm and creativity to always find a way to get his job done to serve Bucks County. Madam Speaker, there was no challenge too insurmountable and no case too difficult for Mr. Kane. He was a man that the community could rely on.

Mr. Kane will always hold a place in our hearts. Our community must embrace the passion for helping others that Charlie exemplified. Even in this time of sadness and mourning, we must see Charlie and his work as an inspiration. Madam Speaker, Mr. Kane's efforts on behalf of Bucks County residents will have a lasting impact and his legacy will be that of a man who dedicated his life to helping others. Madam Speaker, I thank the other Members of Congress for joining me in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Charles Kane.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Project Transition for 25 years of service and support to people suffering from mental illness. By providing the necessary care and assistance, Project Transition has paved the way for adults with psychiatric problems to recover and contribute to society.

Project Transition's unique communities offer not only medical treatment, but also diverse opportunities for healing of the mind, body and spirit. Throughout their stays, residents learn to rebuild hope and trust. Patients are exposed to treatment and instruction that cultivates the skills necessary to live a normal life as a member of our community.

The Project Transition team is made up of professionals with the right experience and know-how in psychiatric and psychological treatment. They work to teach social skills, management of psychiatric conditions and help reintegrate patients back into the community. Their innovative approach has earned them both national acclaim and sincere gratitude from the many families they have helped.

Madam Speaker, this year Project Transition celebrates its 25th anniversary as an organization serving Bucks County adults with psychiatric disorders. Project Transition has earned the appreciation of the hundreds of adults now able to live a full and healthy life. I join them in thanking this wonderful organization for their efforts, commend them on their work and wish them a future of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Nina Tinari, who was recently

selected by Women Making a Difference, Inc. as one of Philadelphia's Next Generation of Women Leaders.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Rovner--the 2007 recipient of The Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope. Mr. Rovner is being recognized by this outstanding organization for achievements in his field and his exceptional service to our community.

To be honored by a group with such a noble cause is a great distinction, one for which Mr. Rovner is certainly worthy. For years, City of Hope has been committed to the kind of medical research that has brought hope to millions of people living with a lifethreatening disease. Madam Speaker, Bob Rovner represents the type of spirit and dedication that make organizations like City of Hope as successful as they are. He has spent years championing worthy causes, helping to publicly guide our community in a positive direction.

Mr. Rovner has spent his life performing an inspiring array of accomplishments in public service. Mr. Rovner began his career as an assistant district attorney under Sen. Arlen Specter and alongside Gov. Ed Rendell. He was then elected as the youngest ever member of Pennsylvania's State Senate, where he sponsored the Lottery Bill to direct all oflottery's profits to benefit senior citizens. Mr. Rovner went on to a successful business career and became highly involved in the community, serving on the board of trustees for Temple University and hosting several popular radio shows.

Beyond his impressive resume and his reputation for public service, I can say from personal experience that Bob Rovner has affected many lives for the better. Madam Speaker, Mr. Rovner's influence on the community has been undeniable and his continued work will shape the future of our region.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Rovner for this award, but I am more honored to consider Bob Rovner a colleague and a friend, and I would like to thank him on behalf of those whose lives he has touched.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

You know, it is funny. This is my first time as a member of the 30- Something Group, and I know I am the puppy of the group because I am only 33 years old. So when I ran for Congress, I had tremendous support from the network community, those bloggers out there all across America. But there are bloggers, especially in Philadelphia and greater Philadelphia and the suburbs that blog every day, and they got so excited when the 30-Something Group was their voice when you were in the minority. Your voice in talking about progressive values, talking about the things in the New Direction, that if we were just given the chance, we would lead. And when we got that chance just a few months ago in the 110th Congress, those bloggers, that network community, are just so proud of their efforts. And it is neat for me to be here to think that when we had a rebirth in our country and Philadelphia, the city of Philadelphia was part of that rebirth and to know that six of the ten biggest bloggers in our country are from Philadelphia and the Philadelphia suburbs. People like Chris Bowers of MyDD and Duncan Black of Atrios and how they are following the 30-Something Group every day and to be part of this group now is just a really proud moment.

And another proud moment that the gentleman from Florida mentioned is the fact that today is the 20th anniversary of the public service of the Speaker of the House, Ms. Nancy Pelosi from California. And when I was in this body just a few months ago speaking and taking that oath of office, taking that oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States as a Member of Congress, and when I was there with my wife, Jenni, and my 6-month old, at that time a month old, daughter, Maggie Murphy, and I know, Mr. Speaker, that they are watching at home on C-SPAN because I am down here trying to work on behalf of our great country, I know that I was thinking of not just the folks that are over in Iraq, those men that I served with or those men that I had taught when I was a professor at West Point, but I thought about my month-old daughter, Maggie, and I thought about what an incredible story it is that when she was born into this great country, the third most powerful person is a woman, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

And I thought about a role model. Here is this Italian Catholic woman originally from Baltimore, now in San Francisco, and the criticism about the Speaker before she got in here was that she wasn't going to do a good job or she was going to lead from the left. She has really made this a House united. She has reached across the aisle to the Republicans. She has tried to lead in a moderate fashion, and I think we have to give her a lot of credit. I know the analysts have said that she is getting high marks as the Speaker, and I know that I am proud that she is our Speaker and I am proud to serve under her leadership.

I will keep my remarks relatively brief. It is my maiden voyage here with the 30-Something Group, and I am joined as well with one of my brothers, the other Murphy, Chris Murphy, who is the elder statesman from Connecticut, who is a whole, I think, 30 some days older than I am, and I know tonight the Speaker Pro Tempore is the gentleman from the great State of Indiana, the sheriff, but tonight I want to speak about the New Direction that we are bringing about.

Finally, the rubber stamp Congress of the past is gone and the do something Congress is here. And we all campaigned in saying that we were going to hold President Bush accountable. And I had served in Baghdad as a captain with the 82nd Airborne Division, and I am so proud of my military service. My father served during Vietnam in the Navy. My grandfather served. My brother is still serving in the Air Force. And I think back to those times and what you come to expect of the Congress. And our men and women who are serving so honorably fight for our country. They fight to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and they execute the public policy as it is drafted and implemented here in Washington.

And I know that I get e-mails from Iraq and Afghanistan and those heroes talk about sometimes they don't know what the policy necessarily should be, but what they do appreciate is the fact that we are actually having a debate, that we are actually asking the tough questions necessary. So when we talk about a New Direction in this 110th Congress, when we talk about accountability, part of that is what we just passed out of the Armed Services Committee with the defense appropriations bill. Talking about in Iraq when we give the Iraqis support, why is it that 4 years later they are still, for the most part, sitting on the sidelines? Why is it that we gave them pallets and pallets, crates and crates of literally U.S. money and pallets stacked this high, shipped it over to Baghdad, gave it out, and billions and billions of dollars are simply missing?

When we talk about accountability, we have to talk about the weapons that we have given the Iraqis. In the United States military, and I joined it back in 1993, we are taught pretty early that your weapon is your best friend. There was even a cadence that I used to sing when I would jog in the morning and run troops, ``I used to date a beauty queen; now I date my M-16.'' And it is kind of funny, but it is true in that you are always around your weapon. It is part of that accountability. If you lose your weapon, that is the end of your career. You will be lucky if you don't get court-martialed.

But how that relates to Iraq is we have given the Iraqis 14,000 weapons, AK-47s, M-16s, that are now missing. Think about that. We have given 14,000 weapons to the Iraqis that are completely missing, unaccounted for. That is not the accountability that our taxpayers are expecting. That is not the accountability that we should be expecting when we fight the war on terror because when you give billions of dollars over in Iraq, when you give 14,000 weapons to Iraq that are now just missing, that affects the lives of our soldiers. And we cannot stand for that.

I would also like to talk about accountability when it comes to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Almost 6 years ago,

our Nation was attacked by Osama bin Laden. Thousands of innocent civilians, innocent Americans were murdered on September 11 of 2001. The culprit: Osama bin Laden. He was in Afghanistan. He trained al Qaeda, and al Qaeda was really given a free pass by the government there, the Taliban. And we made a decision. We got a coalition. We got Canada and all these other countries going in there in Afghanistan to do the job. And then a short time later, President Bush said, no, let's change our focus to Iraq. Well, we have ten times more troops now in Iraq now than in Afghanistan. And when we talk about accountability, you have to ask the question, what are we doing to get Osama bin Laden? Why is it that we give Pakistan billions of dollars? We actually give Pakistan $80 million a month because we have intelligence that is unclassified that we can talk about here in this setting that Osama bin Laden is in Afghanistan and possibly on the border of Pakistan. So we need Pakistan's help as an ally.

Why is it that President Musharraf has outsourced the hunt for Osama bin Laden to his regional warlords?

Years ago we learned that we outsourced the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora and he slipped through our fingers when we had a chance. We can't repeat the same mistakes. So if we are giving support to Pakistan and Afghanistan, which we should, they are our allies, we need to demand accountability. We need to demand the accountability that the American taxpayers, that the American families, and that the American soldiers deserve.

And the last point I would like to bring up on my maiden voyage here in the 30-something Group is education. One of the greatest jobs I ever had was being a professor at West Point teaching constitutional military law. And it was the Constitution that those young cadets who were about to become second lieutenants were going to take an oath to support and defend. And education is vital for Americans and our students to be more and more competitive in a global economy.

I joke with the gentleman from Florida we are not competing in my district in Bucks County for jobs against Florida. As I look at Mr. Altmire, we are not competing with the folks in Pittsburgh in Bucks County. I look at the congressman from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy). We are not competing with jobs necessarily against the folks in Connecticut. We are competing for jobs with people in China and South Korea and Japan and in Europe. And we need to have high investment in education so we remain more competitive.

And this gets me into our national debt. Right now our debt is over $9 trillion. So that means every man, woman, and child in America owes over $29,000 to our national debt. So that means when my daughter, Maggie, was born 6 months ago at Lower Bucks Hospital in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, she was born in that hospital and she owed $29,000 to our national debt. That is a debt that we owe to foreign countries like communist China, like Japan, like South Korea, like Mexico. We keep borrowing and borrowing and borrowing and borrowing.

Now, when I am back home, people say to me, Patrick, we are at war. Of course it is going to cost money.

And I say, $9 trillion we have in debt, $9 trillion; yet this war in Iraq has only cost at this point about $450 billion. That is a huge difference.

And how it relates to education is just in March of 2007, we paid $21 billion just that month on the interest rate to this debt, just paying off the interest rate that we owe, $21 billion. But that same month we only paid $5 billion in education. So what we spend on education, $5 billion, we spend four times that much that same month on our interest rate on our debt.

We need a change and we are making that change happen here in the 110th Congress. And I am proud to be part of it. I am proud to be part of the leadership to make sure we do what is necessary, establishing a pay-as-you-go system, doing the things necessary to hold all of us accountable and this government accountable.

So I would say to the gentleman of Florida, thank you for giving me the opportunity on this maiden voyage. I look forward to many more times back here with the 30-something Group, and I am proud of all those supporters not just back home in Bucks County and northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County and the network community. I am proud, on this 20th anniversary, of the public service of our leader, Speaker Pelosi, to be here amongst the 30-something Group. Thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arkansas, and point out when I was in an earlier deployment before Iraq, I was in Bosnia in 2002. Our soldiers on the ground there would often call the contractors Kellogg Brown & Root ``Kellogg Brown & Loot,'' because of the looting, of what they were doing to their own country when it comes to our fiscal dollars. And I am not trying to be cute or funny. That is a sad commentary on what is really going on over there in these deployments.

Mr. Speaker, when I heard my colleague, Mr. Donnelly, here from the great State of Indiana, and I know he went to the University of Notre Dame, I was with a colleague of mine on the phone yesterday. I was driving back from a memorial service for Private First Class Bobby Dembowski, who was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division who was killed recently in Iraq. He was from Bucks County, in my district.

When I was driving back from his memorial service yesterday with a heavy heart, I called my buddy, who is also a University of Notre Dame graduate, Captain Kobe Langley. I called Kobe, Mr. Speaker, and I said to him, ``Kobe, I am coming back.'' He said, ``How are you doing, Murph?'' I said, ``Kobe, not too good. I am coming back from another memorial service for one of our heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice.'' He said, ``Well, you got to keep fighting. You got to keep doing what you are doing.''

He asked, What was the press conference you gave the other day?

I said I was standing up to this administration. I have the great honor of serving on the Armed Services Committee. I know my colleague and my fellow Blue Dog Representative Donnelly serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. We were both cosigners for House Resolution 162 because we want to hold this administration accountable when the Armed Services Committee says our troops deserve a 3.5 percent pay increase and there is already a wide gap between military pay and civilian pay.

The people who join the military are not trying to get rich. But if you are a private in Iraq, I don't think making $18,000 a year is too much to ask for. We were trying to give those privates and everyone across the board a 3.5 percent pay increase to lessen that gap. President Bush in writing said a 3.5 percent pay increase for our troops is, I quote, ``unnecessary.'' Unnecessary. A private first class making $18,000 a year in Iraq is unnecessary. It is too much money to ask for.

So this House bill in which the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Donnelly cosponsored says a sense of the Congress is it should be a 3.5 percent pay increase. We support the troops and understand their sacrifice. We can find the money through PAYGO rules which the Blue Dogs believe in. As the gentleman from Arkansas says, $9 trillion is what we owe in debt.

So my daughter Maggie, who is home with my beautiful wife, when my daughter was born in Lower Bucks Hospital 6 months ago, she was born $29,000 in debt, a debt that we all owe combined, every man, woman and child, $9 trillion.

Some folks, when I am meeting folks in my district, they would say, Patrick, we are at war. Of course, it is going to cost money. I tell them this Iraq war has cost $450 billion, now up to maybe $500 billion. We owe $9 trillion to Communist China, to Mexico and to Japan. In March, 2007, the interest that we pay on that debt was $21 billion.

Now I know those folks at home who believe in what the Blue Dog Democrats believe in, of fiscal responsibility, of accountability. They say to themselves, wow, Congressman Murphy, $21 billion just in interest.

When I tell them how I used to be an educator at West Point and how we need to be more and more competitive in a global economy, I show them the numbers, we only spent $5 billion in education in March, 2007, yet $21 billion on the interest rate and the debt that we owe that we continue to rack up and rack up.

Finally, the Blue Dogs are taking such an incredible leadership role, establishing a PAYGO system and doing

the things necessary to put our fiscal house back in order.

Mr. Speaker, I know you cannot speak, but I know you are a Blue Dog, and I am proud that you are up there; and, Mr. Ross, I am proud you are one of our leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition. I am also proud of the freshmen Blue Dogs that I serve with, because we will demand answers and we will demand accountability of this administration and the next administration, hopefully a Democratic one, to make sure that we continue the progress that we are making in this 110th Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Richard Coe for his exceptional career in education and his tremendous contributions to the community. Dr. Coe is retiring after nearly four decades as a teacher and administrator, roles in which he served as an inspiration to both students and colleagues alike.

For the past eight years, Dr. Coe has served as the executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. Through his leadership and guidance, this organization has improved the quality of education for students all across Bucks County. His steadfast commitment to students and teachers has motivated educators throughout our community to follow his example of compassionate dedication.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe has been devoted to ensuring the education of all children, especially those with special needs. He began his career as special education classroom teacher, later becoming an administrator of special education services. Dr. Coe intimately understands our society's fundamental responsibility to educate our youth. This means helping students overcome obstacles, no matter how great or small. Like all great educators, Dr. Coe can see the potential and ability in every student. Each student is equally special and equally important.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe will be missed in his role with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. But Dr. Coe will leave behind a legacy that will continue to inspire his colleagues. We can all rest assured that retirement will do nothing to hinder Dr. Coe's enthusiasm for education. Dr. Coe has actively served the community with same eagerness and commitment that he has shown in the classroom. A long list of community organizations have benefited from Dr. Coe's service. Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe has been instrumental in the positive development of our youth and our community, and I would like to thank him on behalf of those whose lives he has touched.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Ross for yielding me this time.

Just a few days ago we stood here, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, my chairman, Congressman Ike Skelton, who has two sons who are currently serving in the military, who is a great leader in this Congress. In the Defense bill, we did several things. We wanted to make sure that the troops knew that we supported them.

When we stood there, Congressman Ross, we said thank you, Chairman Skelton, because you believe what all Blue Dogs believe, accountability and responsibility. It established those benchmarks, that oversight which is so needed right now.

So in the Defense bill that gave the troops a 3.5 percent pay increase, a pay increase because there is such a gap, such a disparity between the private sector and our servicemen and women and their salaries. When they join the military, they are not trying to make a lot of money. But the fact is that those privates who are making $17,000 a year, those privates that are leaving their wives and kids at home, many of whom have to survive on food stamps, those privates who saw what we did in the Defense bill, who said that is great, 3.5 percent pay increase, a couple hundred dollars a year. The President of the United States said, Private, thank you for your service to your country, but that is too much of a pay increase.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the people at home are watching. The President of the United States said a couple hundred dollars more a year to a private making $17,000 a year is too much.

Now the Blue Dog Coalition believes in two things: one, fiscal responsibility; two, strong national defense.

How do the soldiers feel that are running convoys up and down Ambush Alley, scouting on the streets for roadside bombs and looking for snipers on rooftops, when they hear their President back at home, the President of the United States thinks a couple hundred dollars more a year is too much. The President says, hey, it would add up over the next 5 years, $7.3 billion; that is a lot of money.

But the same standard that the President uses where he says it is too much for the troops, it is not too much for the contractors who have proven that they mismanage over $9 billion of our hard-earned money, the contractors who don't want any accountability and don't want to see the light of day.

The President has threatened to veto the pay raise of our soldiers. I believe that is morally wrong during a time of war, especially when you are saying we are not asking for a 10 percent or 20 percent or 30 percent increase in their pay when they make $17,000, just a couple hundred dollars more a year, not even reaching $1,000 more. The President says no.

In the Defense bill that we passed that the President has said he will veto, and this was not some sly comment he said as an aside, the President pointed to a document and said, a 3.5 percent increase is too much.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that everyone in America write the President of the United States and say 3.5 percent increase in pay for our troops is not too much to ask for; a 3.5 percent increase during the Memorial Day weekend when we honor their servicemembers is not too much to ask for.

This is a pattern, Mr. Speaker, that upsets me greatly, a pattern of neglect that this White House has for our troops. See, when I was in Baghdad in 138-degree heat and this White House and the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld floated out the idea and said, Let's take away their imminent danger pay, their combat pay, a couple hundred dollars a month, because mission is accomplished. Let's take away their combat pay. It's over.

Now, fast forward 4 years later, the President says, hey, 3.5 percent is too much. This is a pattern of neglect of our troops. It is okay when the President wants to use our troops as props

for a fancy speech in the Rose Garden. But when it comes to budget time when budgets are moral documents, the President says, too much. I respectfully beg to differ.

When we look at the debt of our country, just under $9 trillion, with $29,000 that every single man, woman and child in the United States owes towards our national debt. In March, 2007, we paid $21 billion in interest alone. Does it get any better? No. Why? Because there is no accountability. There is no tightening of the belt. It is wrong to pass this debt, this $9 trillion of debt, on to our children. That is wrong.

Mr. Speaker, when I know my wife, Jenny, and daughter, Maggie, are home in Bristol, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when I know that they are watching on C-SPAN, I know that they know that their daddy and husband is fighting a good fight. They know that I cannot stand here in good conscience, Mr. Speaker, and allow this President to use our troops as props and yet can't give them a couple hundred dollars of pay increase to try to alleviate some of the pay disparity with the private sector.

I can't stand here in good conscience and pay our good tax dollars, $21 billion a month, just to pay the interest, without cutting off the spending spigot.

We need to rein in the spending of this country. The Blue Dogs are absolutely committed to doing that. We need partners from the other side of the aisle. We might be Democrats, and there might be Republicans on the other side of the aisle, but we are all Americans and we all owe $9 trillion in debt in America to foreign countries like Communist China and Mexico and Japan.

Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. Enough is enough, and the Blue Dog Coalition, my brothers and sisters in this coalition, are taking the floor of the House of Representatives and all across America. We need the help of the American people to make sure people understand what is at stake. What is at stake is the future of America. What is at stake is the security, the financial security, of our country and the country that our children will inherit.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time tonight.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and personal gratitude that I recognize ther remarkable work of the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project (BMKP), whose organizers took bold initiative to provide much needed disaster relief services to Hancock County, Mississippi in the aftermath of Katrina Hurricane.

In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project developed a community-to-community disaster response model. By creating a partnership between Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania and Hancock County in Mississippi, a $1.25 million child care center was created. Furthermore, homes were rebuilt, schools were repaired and community projects were aided. In addition, the University of Pennsylvania School of Society Policy and Practice is partnering with the BMKP to help fix the Hancock County human services system. Funding for these projects came solely from private and corporate donations and in-kind services.

Through outstanding effort and vision, this project brought hope to the Gulf Coast community by establishing a proactive disaster relief program. Madam Speaker, the experience gained by BMKP and its partner organizations has inspired them to present their program as a national disaster relief model designed to bring together the military, governmental agencies, regional groups and national organizations.

Madam Speaker, as you know, the victims of Hurricane Katrina have been slow to receive the necessary and promised support from our government. The Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project has successfully provided private support to one community. Their disaster relief model, if promoted nationally, will expand on that success and greatly improve our Nation's ability to respond to man-made and natural disasters.