Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Saddam Hussein has been and continues to be a threat to Iraq's neighbors, his own people, and to all peace-loving nations of the world. The United States and the United Nations have recognized the dangers posed by his pursuit of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The world has wisely taken action to proactively address this threat.

The issue is not whether Saddam Hussein is a terrible dictator or whether or not he is dangerous. He clearly is. The issue is whether a preemptive war is justified now. I believe the answer is no. Iraq is neither an immediate or an imminent threat to the security of the American people. Aggressive inspections and disarmament by the United Nations with the full support of member states can be successful. We have time to work together with the international community to collectively address the threat of Iraq without resorting to war and without endorsing a policy of preemptive attack.

Following the devastation of World War II, the United States showed tremendous leadership in the world as we created international institutions and a framework of international law to prevent war and to sustain and maintain peace. We were the leaders in promoting a world where conflicts could be resolved peacefully and cooperatively. While never perfect, this system of international institutions has been remarkably effective. I and many others around the world are shocked and dismayed by the unilateral, confrontational approach that this administration has taken in the world arena. We must recognize the consequences in the world community of our rejection of Kyoto, of the International Criminal Court, of the treaty to ban land mines, and our own withdrawal from the ABM treaty. We must be mindful about how our criticisms of the U.N. and NATO are heard throughout the world community.

We have to recognize that after 9-11, the world came together in solidarity with our loss, working with us to find the perpetrators, to break up al Qaeda and arrest its leaders, to interrupt the flow of money. It should have been crystal clear that fighting terrorism and protecting American security would require our friends and our allies; cooperation, not confrontation. Yet the administration instead engaged in a single-minded drive to achieve its Iraqi objectives at any cost instead of developing a policy to deal with Iraq by working with our allies, by working with the world community. Even if the administration gets what it wants this time, what is the long-term damage to our international relationships? How will it impact our efforts to stop terrorism and protect the security of the American people?

I am worried. The people that I represent are very anxious. It seems more and more likely that war is around the corner. What will that war be? Are the American people prepared? The American people are expecting, I think, a smaller conflict than we are walking into, perhaps a Grenada, a Panama or the first Gulf War; quick, hopefully few casualties, troops in and out within weeks or months. I think that this war would be different. After a large ground war to capture the entire country, we will likely occupy Iraq. The Army Chief of Staff, General Shinseki, estimated that we would need 100,000 troops or more for the occupation. We have no idea how long they would have to stay. Mr. President, we need to hear about your exit strategy, and we need to hear that now.

The congressional debate that we had last fall to authorize the use of force against Iraq did not prepare the American people for the ramifications of this war and what this administration truly envisions. I call on this administration to answer the myriad questions that have been posed by numerous Members of Congress on behalf of our constituencies before ground troops are committed. All of Congress and all of America stand by our troops, but we think it is absolutely incumbent upon this administration to answer our questions.

Mr. Speaker, who among us could tell a person suffering from cancer or Alzheimer's disease, you cannot import the cure that would save your life, and if you do, you will face a 10-year prison sentence? Who could face their families and tell them they could not have the cure because the stem cell treatment that would have saved their loved ones' lives was derived from therapeutic cloning?

The wondrous promise held out by the advances in embryonic stem cell research is that we will one day be able to diminish human suffering, heal, treat and, yes, save lives.

If you support this bill, and a cure is discovered outside the United States for a devastating disease, would you deny life to our fellow Americans?

I urge my colleagues to vote for this motion to recommit and against

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jewish Social Services of Madison, which was founded 25 years ago, on February 9, 1978, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Jewish Social Services of Madison serves more than 800 individuals and agencies each year, and for a quarter century has served the entire community with its programs for seniors and individuals in need.

More than 400 people volunteer each year for Jewish Social Services of Madison. These volunteers help the organization continue its excellent social work, which includes sponsoring the largest weekly nutrition site in the country, offering services with specific attention to cultural and language sensitivity, and providing assistance to refugees and other emigres. The Jewish Social Services of Madison has also been a participating agency of United Way of Dane County for 25 years.

This organization has excelled as a professional social work agency since 1978, and has truly provided help where help is needed for a quarter century. Wisconsin is fortunate to be home to such a dedicated organization as Jewish Social Services of Madison.

I congratulate Jewish Social Services of Madison on 25 years of extraordinary achievements, and I wish them good luck in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul B. Higginbotham, a Dane

County Circuit Court Judge for the past 8 years, for his continued service to the people of Wisconsin.

Paul Higginbotham is a 29-year resident of Dane County and a former small business owner. Throughout his life he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to public service.

As a Circuit Court Judge, he presided over some of the most significant cases in recent history, including the case challenging the Milwaukee private school voucher program, which ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to his work on the Circuit Court, Paul was the city of Madison's first Municipal Judge. He was also a successful attorney who worked for a diverse group of law firms, focusing particularly on the areas of civil rights, family law, criminal defense, and housing. Between 1993 and 1994 he served as the Acting Executive Director of the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission. From 1988 to 1992, Paul was the Dane County Minority Affairs Coordinator in the County Executive's Office, where his advocacy ensured our government would reflect the rich diversity of the community. He has also served as a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School and as a staff attorney for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council.

Judge Higginbotham has also been an active community member in the greater Madison area, benefiting numerous community service organizations. He currently serves on the United Way Foundation Board of Trustees and is involved with both the Collaborative Management Team and the Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management Program. In the past, he has served as a Vice-President of the Madison Mutual Housing Association Board of Directors, a trustee of the Greater Madison Housing Foundation, as well as an Executive Committee Member of the NAACP. He was also a Commissioner of the Dane County Housing Authority, President of WORT Radio, co-chair of the Grant Allocations Board of the Wisconsin Community Fund, and Private Sector Review Committee Member of Madison Area Technical College.

Wisconsin is fortunate to have a public servant with the commitment, passion, and integrity of Paul Higginbotham. As the Wisconsin Community Fund honors Paul Higginbotham, I am proud to join them in thanking him for his dedication and service to the community.

Mr. Speaker, the House is finally acting to provide relief to some of the unemployed. This bill will be retroactive to December 28th, so those who had their benefits cut off will receive the remainder of the 13 weeks of benefits that is due to them. The relief will continue until June. It will also allow those who begin to receive their benefits to receive the full 13 weeks in the event that they are unable to find a job. That is good. However, this bill is not complete. This legislation fails to provide benefits to those who have already exhausted their benefits and are still unable to find a job. Why is the leadership forgetting those that need the benefits the most?

In Wisconsin, 22,200 people exhausted their unemployment benefits and remained unemployed at the end of December. This bill leaves these people and their families without help. Over one million people across our country have absolutely no recourse and have no assistance whatsoever because their benefits have expired. We are leaving them out in the cold when they need help the most.

These unemployment benefits don't just help the unemployed; they also help our economy as recipients will pay for immediate needs such as housing, utilities and food. Economists have said that every dollar spent on unemployment generates $2.15 in economic stimulus. Offering assistance to those whose benefits have already expired would help these families and our economy. They are paying for basic necessities with their benefits. They are trying to keep their heads above water. Unfortunately, this bill is offering to help some of the unemployed, but not the thousands of Wisconsin families who have been without a paycheck for ten months or more.

I am glad we are providing the relief included in this bill, but we have to do more. We must help those who continue to look for work in our weak economy. And we should do it today.