Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

I thank Chairman Carney for helping to bring this matter to the House floor today, and I rise in strong support of H.

Res. 1038 because we do owe a tremendous debt of gratitude and thanks to all of the employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, you and I come from adjoining districts in New York. Probably between our districts we lost well over 200 people on September 11. And I think any of us on September 12 and September 13 anticipated there would have to be another successful attack on our country in the not-too-distant future. Well, the fact is, we have now gone 6\1/2\ years without an attack.

During 5 of those years, the Department of Homeland Security has been up and operational. And it was really a tribute to the men and women who comprise the formerly separate 22 agencies who came together to be combined into this one department for what they have been able to do and what they have been able to achieve. It is no accident, it is not luck we haven't been attacked. It is for a number of reasons, but among the very prime reasons is the tremendous effort by all these men and women. And doing that was not easy because they each came from different cultures and traditions. They had different types of training and a different type of emphasis. They had a tough enough job before September 11. But now added to that was the new dimension of homeland security. And they had to do what they were doing at a different level, and they combined their efforts with employees from other agencies who were trained differently, who had a different way of looking at things, and they had to learn to speak and think as one. And they have done it. They have done a terrific job.

I believe it was last year we held hearings on how far the department has come. And yes, it is easy to be a critic. It is easy to stand back and say this should be done better and that should be done better. But the consensus of the testimony we had from experts was that the Department of Homeland Security is further along in its progress than the Defense Department was after a comparable period of time after it was formed over 60 years ago. So it is important to keep that in mind, and also to keep in mind that their work is a 24/7 job, that at any given time, there are active threats against the United States or active plots against the United States, and there is no simple easy way to stop it. And there are many ways. We have to fight it overseas. We have to fight it at the national level making sure that all intelligence is coordinated. But no one is more central to that than the Department of Homeland Security because they have to coordinate the national and international intelligence and then also make sure it gets down to the local levels, to make sure that the local police, the State police and the local law enforcements throughout the country are apprised of what could be happening, what might be happening, and also to absorb information that is sent back up from the local governments to the Department of Homeland Security.

So I commend them. I think it is too easy to take shots. And we see it in Presidential debates, we see people who take random shots at the people in this department, and it is so unfair because they are literally on the firing lines for us. They are on the front lines for us. In many ways, they are doing it anonymously because obviously their successes cannot be recorded. They are not publicized. How do you prove an attack didn't happen that was actually going to happen and didn't? And those that we do know about often can't be spoken about. But they are there. They are doing it. And in addition to that, they have the added responsibility from Congress because of the events of September 11 and having to do much more as far as border security and illegal immigration is concerned. So there is just a myriad of responsibilities that have been thrust upon them in addition to all they have been doing before, and they are doing it first class.

It is important for us in the Congress to live up to that same level, that same standard, that these employees are setting. It's important for us to get our act coordinated in the Congress, to make sure that jurisdiction is consolidated as much as possible so that we can speak with one voice, not to take partisan advantage, not to be allowing jurisdictional disputes between and among committees to impede the job that we should be doing. We can take a lesson from those employees out there who have put aside their prerogatives, put aside their own petty interests for the common good.

So I commend all the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on the fifth anniversary. Thanks for keeping us safe. Thanks for doing what you are doing. And I believe we can speak for all Members of this House that we will continue to do what we have to do to make sure that you get the tools to do your job and also get the support that you so richly deserve from all of us, and most important, from your fellow Americans whom you have done so much to protect.

I urge the adoption of the resolution.

Madam Speaker, today I rise as a strong supporter of H.R. 2464, the Wakefield Act, which will reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children program for an additional 4 years.

Since the program began in 1984, EMSC grants have helped all 50 States to better prepare their health systems to treat children in an emergency. The EMSC program has improved the availability of child- appropriate equipment in ambulances and emergency departments, supported hundreds of programs to prevent injuries, and provided thousands of hours of training to EMTs, paramedics, and other emergency medical care providers.

In my home State of New York, EMSC funds are going toward the development of a statewide, standardized system that recognizes hospitals capable of managing pediatric emergencies, both trauma and medical. This will enhance the State's ability to transfer injured children to the hospital best suited to their treatment. New York is also utilizing EMSC funds to ensure that all ambulances have the essential pediatric equipment and supplies for prehospital pediatric emergency care.

Across the country, EMSC is enabling State and local emergency care providers to better treat children. The projects funded under EMSC are vital for the safety and well-being of America's children and have saved countless lives throughout the program's existence. During a time when a terrorist attack or natural disaster may occur at any moment, it is essential that we ensure that we are adequately prepared to care for every infant, toddler, and child in an emergency situation.

I would like to thank Representative Matheson for his hard work and continued leadership on this issue, and I urge you to support the Wakefield Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of this important legislation, H. Res. 991, honoring New York's famed 69th Infantry Regiment for its dedication and valorous service in the war against terror, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Fighting 69th has been engaged in the war against terrorism since the very onset of the war, having been deployed to secure Ground Zero in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The 69th was deployed to Iraq in ``Operation Wolfhound'' and served with great distinction, defending the city of Al Taji, protecting Iraq's first free elections and, most significantly, securing ``Route Irish'' which had been the most dangerous travel route in Baghdad. Tragically the 69th had 19 troops killed in ``Operation Wolfhound'' and 78 wounded. At no time, however, did the Fighting 69th ever waver in its mission. The Fighting 69th is now being deployed to Afghanistan where it will once more take the fight to our enemy.

Having served in the Fighting 69th and being an active member of the 69th Infantry Veterans' Corps, I take particular pride in this regiment's achievements.

The Fighting 69th has served in five wars and six of its members have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Its courageous service in Iraq and Afghanistan is adding new chapters to the regiment's historic and noble history.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, and I thank him for the support which he has given to this legislation here today.

I also want to thank Chairman Dingell and Chairman Rush and, of course, Congresswoman Schakowsky for the tremendous leadership that she has shown on this issue, working in a truly bipartisan fashion and, most importantly, getting the job done. I just want to thank her for that.

I also want to acknowledge Senator Clinton and Senator Sununu, who are also pursuing this legislation in the United States Senate.

But most importantly, I want to thank Dr. Greg Gulbransen and his wife Leslie Gulbransen for coming to me almost 5 years ago after the tragic death of their son who was killed when the family car backed over him. I can't imagine a more horrific circumstance for a family to go through, for parents to go through. And yet Dr. Gulbransen and Mrs. Gulbransen, they took this tragedy and opportunity to save the lives of other children throughout the Nation, and they have been steadfast and they've been unyielding in their support of this legislation. And as Congresswoman Schakowsky said, so many other parents have gone through the agony of appearing at news conferences, of coming forward and lending their support and their own terrible, terrible experience to advancing this legislation.

So my heart goes out to them, but most importantly, today I thank them for the efforts which they have given. Cameron Gulbransen was a young man in my district who was tragically killed 5 years ago, and as Congresswoman Schakowsky said, every year we have more than 200 children killed, 200 children killed despite the best effort of their friends, of their neighbors. We're not talking about negligence here. We're not talking about people who are at all uncaring. We're talking about people who took every possible safety measure, and yet in spite of that, these tragedies occurred.

So I'm not going to go through all the detail of the bill. I just want to again thank Congresswoman Schakowsky for her effort, thank Ranking Member Barton for extending me this time today, and most importantly, thanking Dr. Gulbransen and Mrs. Gulbransen for, again, their unyielding courage, for their dedication, and also the people on my staff who worked on this bill.

And again, this is a great day for the children of America, a great day for the parents of America, and it's a day that all of us will look back on with pride and, most importantly, with thanks and gratitude for the lives that will be saved because of that.

And with that, Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for yielding. And let me at the outset thank him for the courtesy that he has shown me throughout this process. There were several differences that he and I had regarding what the exact nature of the legislation should be, but that never in any way interfered with either our professional or personal relationship. And I want to thank him for that, for his patience, and for the effort he has put in to bring about this final product.

I also want to thank Chairman Frank for, again, being totally bipartisan in trying to move this legislation forward and for always having an open door, and certainly, in my own case, allowing me to be part of the process from the start. Mr. Ackerman has been a stalwart fighter in this issue. And let me identify with certainly the points that Mr. Ackerman was making on this issue.

Also, let me thank Adam Paulson on my staff for putting in an extreme amount of time on this, on an issue that can be very mind-bending at times and at the same time is extremely, extremely vital for the rebuilding not just of New York City but for the protection of our entire Nation.

So let me say at the outset I support the legislation, and I will vote for it. I am glad that it is moving forward. I am glad we have the 7-year extension. It is certainly far better than what was being spoken of last year, which was either a phasing out all together or perhaps a 2-year extension.

Having said that, I agree with Mr. Ackerman that I wish this were for a 15-year term rather than 7, and I wish that the reset provision had not been taken out by the Senate. The 15-year provision in particular I fought for in the committee. It was a hard-fought battle. The vote was 39-30, but everything was on the table. We had the vote. If we had lost it, we would have lost it; but the fact is, we won it. And when the bill itself came to the House floor, it passed by an overwhelming vote.

I am not trying to impose our rules on theirs, but I really wish on an issue of this magnitude the Senate would have allowed that full breadth of democracy to play itself out to allow the people to be heard on this issue. Because, as Mr. Ackerman said, this is not a New York issue. It is an American issue; it is a national issue. It is an issue of national security and homeland security. And by making this 7 years rather than 15 years, by eliminating the reset provision, we have put New York in a weakened position, or certainly in not as strong a position as it should be. And by doing that, we are basically telling the terrorists that we will not give the same level of support that we should be giving. We are in effect allowing them to pick the playing field here. And we have to keep in mind that, yes, it was New York on September 11. It could be any other city or State at any time in the future. And as the former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, as the ranking member of the Homeland Security, Mr. Speaker, I do receive regular briefings. I know how real these threats are. I also know that, no matter what analysis is used, New York is clearly number one on the target list of the Islamic terrorists.

So this legislation is vital, and it was so important that the other provisions,

the reset and the 15-year time period, be included. They were not. Having said that, this is still significant that we are going forward today. And I would hope that we can revisit it in the future, but again it is important that we pass this before it expires on December 31. It is important, again, for the people of New York, but also for the people of America. And if the rebuilding is to go forward, it is going to be difficult because certain provisions have been eliminated, but, again, we will find a way to go forward.

Again, I want to thank Mr. Frank, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Ackerman, all the members of the New York delegation and most of the members of the New Jersey and Connecticut delegations who stood together. Again, somewhat of a victory today, but let's work together in the future to have a total victory that we need, not as New Yorkers but as Americans.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize a dedicated public servant who devoted nearly four decades to protecting this great Nation. Vice Admiral John Scott Redd, U.S. Navy (Ret.), retired last week after serving as the first Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).

Admiral Redd's accomplishments are many, having served thirty-six years in the United States Navy, which culminated in his assignment as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff. Retiring from the Navy in 1998, Admiral Redd was again called to serve in 2004, this time as the Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Iraq. He went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction where he influenced Community-wide intelligence reforms and made lasting improvements to America's national security.

Under his superior leadership, the National Counterterrorism Center developed into the Nation's premier intelligence and law enforcement fusion center, bridging all elements of the Intelligence Community to develop a national common intelligence picture. Admiral Redd tore down walls between Intelligence Community members and replaced a ``need to know'' philosophy with a ``responsibility to share'' environment.

Some of the Intelligence Community's successes are known such as the thwarted terrorist attacks against the Sears Tower, a Chicago-area shopping mall, military forces at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and multiple targets in New York, D.C. and elsewhere. Others remain classified. However, in each instance, the National Counterterrorism Center played a key information sharing role which led to the successful prevention of these attacks against our citizens.

Admiral Redd is to be commended for his contributions to the Nation, but such a persevering service is not without a cost. For that I offer my personal thanks to his wife of over 37 years, Donna Redd, and their children Ann, Scott, and Adam, without whose support such service would not have been possible.

Madam Speaker, due to the recent passing of my mother, I did not return to Washington until yesterday afternoon. However, if I had been present yesterday morning, this is how I would have voted on the rollcall vote I missed: rollcall No. 986--on motion to table the resolution, ``no.''

Madam Speaker, due to the recent passing of my mother, I have been absent in Washington since Thursday, October 18 and have missed a number of votes. However, if I had been present, this is how I would have voted on each rollcall:

Rollcall No. 981: On Approving the Journal, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 982: Passage, Objections of the President Notwithstanding of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 983: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended, the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Parks Act, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 984: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, the Douglas County, Washington, PUD Conveyance Act, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 985: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to Supporting the Goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, ``aye''.

Madam Speaker, due to the sudden circumstances regarding my mother's health, I will not be present during today's rollcall vote on the override of the Presidential veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 976). If I were present, I would vote ``yea.''

I thank the ranking member for yielding and, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the United States has been at war with Islamic terrorism since September 11, 2001. This is a war which threatens our survival as a civilization, and it is a war where it is essential that we maximize the use of electronic surveillance which is one of the strongest weapons in our arsenal. It is a weapon which should not be trivialized, nor should the struggle be trivialized by using such terms as ``spying'' and ``snooping.''

It is important we keep in mind who the real enemy is. The real enemy is al Qaeda and Islamic terrorism, not the men and women of our own government who are working so hard to protect us.

Mr. Speaker, the Protect America Act, which was passed less than 3 months ago, updated FISA and struck the appropriate balance between protecting our citizens from terrorist attacks and protecting our civil liberties.

Tragically, today's bill, the RESTORE Act, marks an undeniable retreat in the war against Islamic terrorism. It limits the type of foreign intelligence information that may be acquired and actually gives foreign targets more protections than Americans get in criminal cases here at home.

By sunsetting this legislation in 2 years, the RESTORE Act fails to provide permanency and guidance to the intelligence community. The RESTORE Act also fails to provide legal protection and immunity to those American companies who answered the call of this administration and also answered the call of an administration which believed that this policy was legal, and not only this administration, but high- ranking officials from previous administrations, Democrat and Republican, who believed that these policies were legal and constitutional. There was no personal gain for these companies. To allow them to be subjected to lawsuits for answering the Nation's call in time of great peril is mean-spirited, vindictive and shortsighted.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge defeat of this misguided legislation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise as a proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame law school and ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 687, recognizing Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., for his contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States, his tireless work to reduce the threat of nuclear conflict, and his efforts to secure the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.

As president of Notre Dame, Father Hesburgh worked to bring the university to the forefront of American institutions of higher education. Over the 35 years that he served as president, the university's enrollment, degrees awarded and the size of the faculty all greatly increased. Additionally, under Father Hesburgh's tenure, women were first admitted to the undergraduate program in 1972.

Father Hesburgh is known as one of the 20th century's most influential figures in higher education. He served on many commissions and study groups, including serving as chairman of the International Federation of Catholic Universities from 1963 to 1970. In this capacity, he led a movement to redefine the nature and mission of the contemporary Catholic university, drawing trom his experiences in American Catholic universities.

Father Hesburgh's accomplishments, however, are not limited to higher education. Throughout his distinguished career, Father Hesburgh has devoted himself to the cause of justice and human rights throughout the world. He has held 16 Presidential appointments for 10 presidents-- President Eisenhower through the current President Bush. In these positions, Father Hesburgh was involved in shaping policy on major social issues including civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy, campus unrest and treatment of Vietnam offenders.

Furthermore, Father Hesburgh served four Popes, three as permanent Vatican City representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna from 1956 to 1970. He was a charter member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, created in 1957, and he chaired the Commission from 1969 to 1972. In 1971, he joined the board of the Overseas Development Council, a private organization supporting interests of the underdeveloped world, and chaired it until 1982. During the 1980s he was involved in a private initiative that sought to unite scientists and religious leaders in condemning nuclear weapons. In 1982, he helped organize a meeting in Vatican City of 58 scientists who called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and then brought together six spiritual leaders who endorsed this view.

In recognition of his many efforts in America and throughout the world, Father Hesburgh was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000 and the Medal of Freedom in 1964, the Nation's highest civilian honor. His service to his country is an inspiration to all and it has been my honor to know him.

Father Hesburgh once said, ``My basic principle is that you don't make decisions because they are easy . . . you make them because they're right.'' He has certainly lived his life by those words and it is an honor to be recognizing today the outstanding life of this great man.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand today in support of H. Con. Res. 200. Let me thank at the outset Mr. Smith for the work he has done for so many years for the cause of human rights in so many countries, often at great risk to himself. I thank him for that, and we all admire him for his tenacity. I have a special regard for the chairman of the committee, Mr. Lantos, who is cosponsoring this resolution with me and has been such an outspoken advocate of freedom and human rights in Burma for so many years. Even when it is not on the television screens and the eyes of the world are not watching, Mr. Lantos has been there, dedicating himself to this issue; and I have been privileged to be able to work with him on this.

Madam Speaker, as terrible as the atrocities have been in Burma over the past 6 to 7 weeks, the fact is this is unfortunately merely an extension of the

type of tyrannical behavior which has characterized the junta in Burma for almost two decades now. This is a junta which tramples upon human rights. They use rape and torture and murder as an instrument of policy.

When we see the hundreds of innocent, freedom-loving people who have been murdered over the past several weeks, who have been tortured and arrested and abused, when we see the innocent Buddhist monks who have been shot down, when we see that communication into and out of Burma has been shut off by the junta, we can only assume the worst.

That is why it is incumbent upon the international community to speak with one voice, as we are speaking with one voice here in Congress. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, or majority or minority issue. It is a world issue, an issue of human rights. For all of these years Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been in prison or under house arrest and now imprisoned again, she has become a symbol of that fight. When we talk about symbols, often we forget these are real human beings who are paying the price for being symbols of freedom and justice and who are willing to put their lives and their freedom on the line.

That is why this resolution calls for her release and the release of all of the political prisoners and an end to the repressive actions of the Burmese junta. In saying this, as Mr. Lantos and Mr. Smith have said, yes, the United States has been at the forefront of this. But it is so important for neighboring countries now to step forward, especially China and India.

When we think of China, which is going to be hosting the Olympic Games and is trying to clean up its image in the eyes of the world, is attempting to project itself as a true country on the world scene, the fact is if China continues in any way to support Burma, to be silent in the face of what the junta is doing, it really puts a cloud and a tarnish over whatever image China is attempting to establish for itself. And that will be kept in mind by world governments as we approach the Olympic Games next year. So it is essential that China step forward and work with the world community, work with the United States, work with the United Nations, work with countries in the region to put pressure on the junta in Burma to ease, stop and, end its oppressive tactics.

As Mr. Lantos said, we are also sending a very clear signal to the military leaders, the officers, in Burma who are part of this junta, telling them that the world will hold them responsible for what they do. The world will hold them accountable.

As Mr. Lantos knows better than anyone in this House, we saw what happened when military leaders in Germany felt they could go forward and do what they were ordered to do and carry out those atrocities against innocent people. Nuremburg showed that is not a permissible defense. Similarly, it will not be a permissible and acceptable defense for the military leaders in Burma who continue to carry out these atrocities. They just can't say, We were following orders.

So our message to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is that we stand with you. Our message to the Buddhist monks is we stand with you. Our message to the oppressed people of Burma is that we stand with you. And our message to the Government of China is we are watching what you are going to do as far as putting pressure on the junta. And our message to the military leaders in Burma is the world is watching you and will hold you accountable and will know what you did. You will face justice when this is over, depending on whether you did the right or you continued to carry out the atrocities ordered upon you.

So with that, I strongly urge the adoption of H. Con. Res. 200. I applaud the fact that the House of Representatives is speaking with one voice. We have put partisanship aside. We stand as one and have put differences aside. I thank Mr. Lantos and Mr. Smith for the leadership they have shown over the years. I urge adoption of the concurrent resolution.

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

I rise in strong support of the underlying legislation and certainly with very strong questions and reservations about the rule. Like Mr. Ackerman, I certainly came to the floor intending to oppose the rule. I will study the letter which Mr. Ackerman obtained from the majority leader. I agree with Mr. Sessions that this is a very uncertain way to proceed, relying on a promise from a letter. Not that I, in any way, question the intent to follow through on the promise, but again, how that could be interpreted, what the final language will be, does raise serious issues.

Having said that, I commend Mr. Ackerman for his efforts. I do believe it is important that this process continue to go forward.

The reason I support the underlying legislation, Mr. Speaker, is that this is not a New York issue, even though it is often focused that way because of the fact that there have been two major terrorist attacks on New York City, but it truly is a national issue. I want to commend Chairman Frank for his efforts at the committee level. I also want to emphasize that this was a bipartisan vote which voted this bill out of committee. I particularly appreciate

the fact that, in the committee, an amendment was offered by myself and Mr. Ackerman which extends TRIA 15 years, passed by a bipartisan vote.

I know that, certainly on my side of the aisle, a number of Members are concerned about the reason that the 15-year term is essential. The fact is that any significant project is going to be of 15 years' duration. Both the preliminary work and the construction itself is going to go to 15 years. The insurance money, for instance, in New York, where they are attempting to rebuild Ground Zero, would not be available at this time unless TRIA is extended. And also the insurers have the certainty that TRIA will be there for the 15 years, for the duration of the project.

I have to emphasize that there will be not one nickel spent of this money unless New York or Chicago or Los Angeles or any other city in the country is attacked by terrorists. So if any city were attacked, we know the government would step in. Why not have that precaution now? Why not give the insurers the certainty, and the municipalities the certainty, so they can go forward with this development? Otherwise, we are allowing the terrorists to set the terms and conditions. We are letting them determine what is going to be built and not rebuilt. If this 15-year extension does not go forward, if TRIA is not extended, the reality is that there will not be a rebuilding of Ground Zero. If Ground Zero is not rebuilt, then this is a magnificent victory for a horrible, horrible force, Islamic terrorism. So we should be the ones determining what our economic security is and what our homeland security is. Passage of TRIA is an essential component of that.

As the former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and its ranking member, Mr. Speaker, I am very much aware how New York and other cities in other parts of our country are in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism. We know that attacks are inevitable. Whether or not they are successful is another story, but certainly attempted attacks are inevitable. I believe it is essential that no matter what part of the country you are from, you have the assurance that if, God forbid, you are attacked, that there will be insurance in place for you to rebuild. Because otherwise, you are not going to find insurers stepping forward. Places like New York, which was attacked, will not receive insurance that it needs to go forward. And the terrorists will have scored and attained not just the victory they attained on September 11 where almost 3,000 people were murdered, but they will have the additional victory in that the area that they attacked will not be rebuilt.

It could be New York. As I said, it was New York in 1993. It was New York in 2001. It could be any one of a number of other cities in the future. So let us protect ourselves in the ultimate essence of homeland security and have a complete component of security, and TRIA is essential to that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the underlying legislation. I look forward to examining the letter which Mr. Ackerman procured and see what that signifies for the future. But the reality is that we have to have the absolute assurance. We cannot be relying on a vote sometime in the future. The government itself could be attacked. The Capitol may not be here. There may not be a quorum of Members attainable. We have to have that absolute assurance in place now.

With that, again, I thank Chairman Frank. I thank, certainly, Mr. Sessions for his courtesy. I thank Mr. Ackerman for his efforts. I also thank Ranking Member Bachus for his cooperation and courtesy throughout this hearing.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the remarkable and significant career of the distinguished British Ambassador to the United States, Sir David Geoffrey Manning. Ambassador Manning is stepping down from his post after 4 years of devoted service and I would like to commend him on his long service to the British Government and his vital contributions to the enduring relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ambassador Manning began his career as a civil servant in the Foreign and Commonwealth office in 1972, where he was posted in the Mexico/ Central America Department. He then served in posts in Warsaw, New Delhi, and Paris. It was in 1990 that Sir David was appointed to the senior position of Counselor, Head of Chancery in Moscow. Ambassador Manning held this post from 1990 to 1993, during which time the fall of communism and the break-up of the former Soviet Union occurred.

In 1995, Ambassador Manning was named British Ambassador to Israel during the difficult period after the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He served in that post with distinction throughout his 3 years of service. In 2001, Sir David was appointed to head the UK delegation to NATO in Brussels, a post he held for 8 months until he was designated by Prime Minister Tony Blair to serve as his chief foreign policy adviser. It was in this capacity that he worked closely for Prime Minister Blair in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, and for the 2 years that followed. It was in this position that Ambassador Manning also developed a close working relationship with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who at that time was serving as President Bush's national security adviser.

In September 2003, Ambassador Manning was appointed by Prime Minister Blair to be the British ambassador to the United States, the 40th ambassador to hold this post. In this position, Sir David has played an invaluable role in strengthening the uniquely close U.S.-UK alliance. Now after four years of service, he is leaving Washington and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his distinguished service to the United Kingdom and for the friendship he has consistently shown toward the United States. I have appreciated my dealings with Ambassador Manning on a range of issues including the war against terrorism and the fulfillment of the Irish Peace Process. And on a personal level, my wife Rosemary and I have thoroughly enjoyed our relationship with Ambassador Manning and his wife Catherine.

Sir David, thank you for your impressive service and I wish you and Lady Catherine the best in all your future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Long Island Blue Demons for their 6-0 win in the 2007 Babe Ruth World Series tournament on August 24. The Blue Demons are comprised of players from the Merrick PAL, which is located in the 3rd Congressional District on Long Island.

The Blue Demons' win is of particular significance. This is the first time that a Long Island team has won the age 13-15 bracket. I want to applaud the Demons' athleticism and dedication to our national pastime.

These players worked hard all season. To advance to the World Series in Andalusia, Alabama, they had to win the State championship in Queens and the regional championships in Pennsylvania--which they did. They won 18 tournament games in a row, including a 6-0 victory in the championship game over a team from Henderson, Kentucky, on August 24.

This win has been more than just an athletic victory for the Blue Demons. These players from Long Island had the opportunity to stay with host families in the gracious Alabama town of Andalusia, where they warmed the hearts of their hosts with their positive attitudes and dedication to our great American pastime.

I am proud that the Blue Demons had such a rewarding experience and I again congratulate them on their World Series victory.