Floor Statements

Madam speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Officer Norvelle Brown for being extremely courageous and dedicated while serving with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Officer Brown was just 22 years old when he was killed in the line of duty while proudly and heroically serving the St. Louis community. His immense contribution to reducing crime in St. Louis, his bravery and his kindness will never be forgotten.

Officer Brown was hired by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 2006. In his 11 months of duty, Officer Brown has been an exceptional performer within the Seventh District. He recently received the Chief's Letter of Commendation, which recognized him for going above and beyond the call of duty. In addition to earning the reputation of being a hard working and devoted officer, he loved his job and was committed to keeping the streets safe.

Officer Brown was a passionate public servant, steadfast in his desire to make a positive difference in his community. A graduate of Vashon High School, Officer Brown remained involved with his alma mater by serving as a mentor to students and members of their football team. He was also a coach for the Police Athletic League.

Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Officer Brown's family and let them know how very proud the St. Louis community is of this remarkable young man. Officer Brown's energy, commitment and dedication to his job made him an extraordinary benefit to the entire St. Louis community. He will live forever in our memories. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring a local hero, Officer Norvelle Brown.

I thank the chairwoman for yielding. I have an amendment that

I will not offer today per our earlier conversation.

My amendment would allow residents of neighborhoods to purchase properties that are vacant and, for the most part, are not suitable for renovation. These properties would be razed, the grounds cleared, covered with topsoil and planted with the seeds of produce to create urban gardens.

The produce would be harvested and distributed to the residents of the neighborhoods who would be able to purchase them at less than the market rates. I would love to have the gentlewoman's support in the future for this concept.

I thank the gentlewoman.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of H.R. 3093 as reported by the Appropriations Committee with the understanding that Chairman Obey, Chairman Mollohan and the other House conferees will make every effort to restore $30 million in funding for the Census Bureau that was removed during the committee's markup of this important funding bill.

As reported by the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee, the bill included $13 million above the President's request to fund the partnership program which is so critical to our efforts to count traditionally undercounted populations.

The bill also included $35 million above the President's request for the SIPP program, which was slated for elimination until the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce, to their credit, reevaluated and reversed that misguided policy decision.

I applaud Chairman Mollohan, Mr. Ruppersberger and others for their leadership in working to include funding for this vital program in the original bill, in spite of the administration's decision not to fund them in fiscal year 2008.

Unfortunately, both of these advances would be jeopardized if the $30 million removed in full committee is not restored. This would undermine our efforts to achieve a thorough and accurate enumeration of the U.S. population in 2010. It would also hamper our ability to gather critical data about poverty, program participation and performance in the future. The data collected during the decennial census and annually by the SIPP impact the way billions of dollars are allocated and the way the programs throughout our government are run.

Indeed, cutting the money from the Census would undermine the very program our colleagues are trying to fund at the expense of the Census Bureau.

And now, Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage the gentleman from West Virginia in a colloquy.

Let me begin by congratulating the chairman for his leadership in working to provide and protect funding for the Census Bureau. As we continue the fight to protect the Bureau's funding from being raided to support other programs, I would like to ask the gentleman about his commitment to ensuring that the Bureau is inclusive in its contracting activity, particularly with regard to the 2010 census. And as the gentleman knows, the Census Bureau, according to GAO, will ``make the most extensive use of contractors in history,'' which includes information technology systems, advertising, and the leasing of local census officers.

I believe the gentleman shares my view that in order to carry out its mission effectively, the Bureau must have

a workforce that reflects the diversity of this Nation and that that idea extends to the private entities with which the Bureau contracts to perform mission critical activities.

I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia.

Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I am certainly aware and the gentleman is aware also that it is so important that the Census be diverse and that they practice it in their contracting opportunities as well as within the makeup of the Bureau itself, because I think that the Bureau should reflect this country and its diversity.

Madam Speaker, in the fall of 2002, I was among the majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives who voted against the Iraq war resolution. Claims about weapons of mass destruction had not been substantiated and there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was linked to al Qaeda and the 9-11 attacks. I did not accept--as administration officials asserted--that the costs of the war and rebuilding of Iraq could be financed by Iraqi oil revenues. At that time, I told my colleagues that Iraq did not pose a direct threat to our national security and that we should concentrate our power on capturing Osama Bin Laden and destroying al Qaeda.

The invasion and occupation of Iraq has not achieved what its proponents promised. The war has degraded our military, undermined our nation's influence in the world, vitalized terrorists, and left the American people more vulnerable to attack than we were before the war.

Now, the National Intelligence Estimate confirms that while the administration vainly wrestles to salvage some semblance of victory in Iraq, Osama Bin Laden and his followers are poised for a resurgence. Al Qaeda's terrorist network, which was weakened but not destroyed after we invaded Afghanistan, never lost sight of its enemy. Today, al Qaeda poses as grave a threat to the United States as it did before 9-11.

As long as we remain in Iraq, al Qaeda will profit and the American people will pay the price. The security of our Nation demands that we withdraw from Iraq and use all of our military, intelligence and diplomatic resources to tear down the terrorist networks that want to destroy our way of life.

This Administration must stop blindly pandering to elitist dreams of rebuilding other nations in our image. Protecting the American people is a fundamental purpose of our government. The Iraq war is not advancing our national security; it is time to bring our troops home.

The Bush policy in Iraq has already cost the lives of over 3,600 brave Americans, with over 26,000 wounded. It has squandered and scattered resources that we should have devoted to our homeland security. And it has cost the U.S. citizens over half a trillion dollars in hard earned wages and lost Government services.

When history is written, it might say that we lost the first battle in the war against terrorism, but I pray it will not say that we lost the war.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise today in celebration of the efforts and improvements achieved by the Pagedale Community Association in association with Beyond Housing in the city of Pagedale.

Since 1980, Beyond Housing has assisted many St. Louisans in the 1st Congressional district. Beyond Housing has sought to provide affordable housing, propagate home ownership, and help low-economic families achieve stability. Beyond Housing has used their history of beneficial rehabilitation for St. Louis citizens to support the PCA and re- building efforts in the city of Pagedale.

The newly created Pagedale Community Association (PCA) has made many fruitful, laudable efforts over a small period of time. The PCA has assisted Beyond Housing in providing some 100+ homes for the residents of the 1st Congressional district of Missouri in Pagedale. Along with providing homes, the PCA has established a community center with multiple functions that each assist in community growth.

I am thrilled with the progress that has been made in Pagedale and excited for the years and further progression to come. The initiative taken by the residents of Pagedale is admirable and the economic development, incredible. Along with commending Beyond Housing and the PCA, I would like to thank St. Louis County for their financial interest in the projects in Pagedale. I am happy to see Missouri residents coming together to help one another.

I truly extend my gratitude and support to the Pagedale Community Association and Beyond Housing in St. Louis, Missouri. It is my pleasure to commend them on their excellent work in my district and beyond. I hope their progress continues.

Mr. Chairman, as chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Emanuel.

In light of recent events, in which various Executive Branch officials, including the Vice President's former Chief of Staff, I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, have acted with reckless disregard for the protection of classified information, I applaud Mr. Emanuel's leadership in introducing this amendment.

This amendment would eliminate funding for the Office of the Vice President in light of the Vice President's refusal to comply with Executive Order 12958.

Executive Order 12958, as amended by President Bush in March 2003, requires the Information Security Oversight Office, ISOO, within the National Archives and Records Administration to establish a uniform system to protect classified national security information throughout the Executive Branch.

In 2004, the Office of the Vice President refused to submit to an on- site inspection. In doing so, it made the astonishing claim that it was not an Executive Branch entity and therefore not covered by the Executive Order.

The director of the ISOO wrote the Vice President's office to contest the claim and also asked the Department of Justice to evaluate the Vice President's argument. The Vice President and the Justice Department repeatedly ignored these communications. Moreover, we learned this week that the Vice President's staff has proposed amending the Executive Order to eliminate the ISOO.

Congress should not tolerate this effort by the Vice President to exempt his office from oversight and retaliate against the agency charged with maintaining our Nation's most sensitive secrets.

The Vice President is making a mockery of the law and our system of checks and balances.

If the Office of the Vice President insists upon defining itself as not being an Executive Branch entity, then clearly it should not be funded like one.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor Betty Jean Kerr as she celebrates 30 years of successful service as CEO of People's Health Centers, PHC. Under her dedicated leadership, the medically underserved and uninsured receive comprehensive medical treatment daily across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The St. Louis community will celebrate Ms. Kerr during a very special Gala Weekend, which includes a historical renaming of PHC to the Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Centers. This is a fitting tribute for an extraordinary woman who has been credited with taking her vision of community health to an international level.

PHC Health Centers, PHC, has a 35 year history of providing essential primary care and prevention health education risk reduction services. Under Kerr's leadership, the PHC campus is now a sprawling community of apartments for the elderly, housing for persons with disabilities, social security services, primary health care, dental services, a pharmacy, affordable homes, small businesses, and school-based sites that provide increased access to health in conjunction with health center locations. All health services are provided by clinicians who are accountable for addressing the personal health needs of the residents in St. Louis. The success of PHC is a true reflection of Kerr's commitment and dedication to ensuring that primary care and prevention services are efficiently provided, regardless of a patient's socioeconomic status.

Kerr has also ventured beyond medical treatment by incorporating medical research into PHC. By partnering with government agencies, teaching institutions, and a host of other participants, PHC is able to conduct clinical research trials in an effort to improve health outcomes for medically underserved persons with chronic diseases. And reduce health disparities. Ms. Kerr has a strong belief that every citizen has the right to a long and healthy life. She continues creating unique programs, such as the Sharing the Care Program, which allows eligible PHC participants to receive life-saving drugs free of charge.

Kerr has recently extended her mission of serving the underserved through the Betty Jean Kerr Scholarship. These College Family Life Assistant Scholarships are awarded to African American students with an interest in higher education in the fields of health and health related professions.

Madam Speaker, it is with great privilege that I recognize Betty Jean Kerr today before Congress. She is not only a local hero, but is indeed a national treasure. Her tireless work to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all makes her more than worthy of this honor. It is with great privilege that I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Betty Jean Kerr.

Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 333, the resolution to Impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. Four years after the start of this war, it is obvious that Mr. Cheney deliberately manipulated the intelligence process to deceive Congress and the American people. At the urging of my constituents in Missouri's 1st Congressional District, and from Americans across the country, I cosponsored Congressman Kucinich's resolution because there is ample evidence that Mr. Cheney systematically evaded the truth and used scare tactics to build support for this unjust war. Mr. Cheney's betrayal has resulted in a tragic, unnecessary war that has already cost the lives of over 3,300 brave Americans and has cost the taxpayers over $400 billion. The Vice President has taken the integrity out of his office and breeched the trust of the American people.

Madam Speaker, below is Richard Cohen's column from yesterday's Washington Post, headlined, ``A Case Against Cheney.'' I agree with Mr. Cohen's conclusion, ``the harping on weapons of mass destruction was an attempt to scare the American people into supporting a war that need not have been fought.'' I encourage my colleagues to read this column and make a conscious decision to hold Vice President Cheney accountable by cosponsoring H. Res. 333.

[From the Washington Post, May 2, 2007]

A Case Against Cheney

(By Richard Cohen)

The resolution offered by the gentleman from Ohio reads

sensibly. It alleges crimes high and low, misdemeanors

galore--all of them representing an effort to mislead the

American people and take them into war. It is Dennis

Kucinich's articles of impeachment directed at Dick Cheney.

The vice president will, of course, deny being a liar. As

long as Kucinich is at it, add that to the articles.

The congressman's case is persuasive, although his remedy

may be too radical. He calls for Cheney to be impeached by

the House and tried by the Senate, just as Bill Clinton was

for what turned out to be neither a high crime nor much of

a misdemeanor. What was it, anyway, compared with more

than 3,300 American dead?

In his articles of impeachment, Kucinich details the many

statements Cheney made that turned out to be factually wrong.

For instance, he quotes Cheney as saying, ``We know they [the

Iraqis] have biological and chemical weapons,'' which of

course, they didn't. Still, that was excusable, since it was

early in the game and little contradictory evidence was being

presented. As Condi Rice said Sunday, ``When George [Tenet]

said `slam dunk,' everybody understood that he believed that

the intelligence was strong. We all believed the intelligence

was strong.''

But in Cheney's case, the slam-dunking went on and on--way

past the point where it was possible anymore to believe him.

He continued to insist that Saddam Hussein had high-level

contacts with al-Qaeda--``the evidence is overwhelming,'' he

once said--while others in the government not only knew that

the evidence was not overwhelming but that it hardly existed.

It was the same with Cheney's insistence--not just wrong, but

irrefutably so--that Hussein ``has weapons of mass

destruction,'' and ``[t]here is no doubt he is amassing them

to use against our friends, against our allies and against

us.'' The percussive march of these statements is so

forceful, one after another after another, that it suggests

Cheney wanted war no matter what. If he was lying to himself

as well as to the rest of us, that is only a mitigating

circumstance--sort of an insanity defense.

Kucinich also alleges that Cheney ``purposely manipulated

the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and

Congress.'' That, as the expression goes, is the gravamen of

the charge. Kucinich doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of

making it stick because Congress is not about to vote

impeachment. But no one who reads Kucinich's case against

Cheney can fail to conclude that this is a rational, serious

accusation. It's possible that each individual charge can be

rebutted, but the essence of it is shockingly apparent: We

were being manipulated.

It is something of a joke that Washington is now transfixed

by l'affaire Wolfowitz. This is the contretemps at the World

Bank in which an architect of this misbegotten war stands

accused of favoring his girlfriend. Do not be concerned with

the details--this is a parody of a Washington scandal--but

concentrate instead on what else Wolfowitz has done in

government and how, now, it is a salary increase awarded to a

companion that might do him in. This is tantamount to getting

Al Capone for tax evasion.

In the same vein, we tend to focus on single events or

statements regarding Iraq (to slam dunk or not to slam dunk,

that is the question) and how poor George Tenet, a self-

deceived careerist, is misunderstood--as if he had uttered a

statement of principle dramatically resigning over the

manipulation of intelligence and it is suspiciously missing

from the record. In all this back-and-forth, what gets lost

is the immensity of the outrage, the enormousness of the

breach of trust, the naive faith some of us had that when it

came to the making of war, we'd be told the truth. This was

not the case. The harping on weapons of mass destruction was

an attempt to scare the American people into supporting a war

that need not have been fought.

Kucinich is an odd guy for whom the killer appellation

``perennial presidential candidate'' is lethally applied. But

he is on to something here. It is easy enough to ad hominize

him to the margins--ya know, the skinny guy among the

``real'' presidential candidates--but at a given moment, and

this is one, he's the only one on that stage who articulates

a genuine sense of betrayal. He is not out merely to win the

nomination but to hold the Bush administration--particularly

Cheney--accountable. In this he will fail. What Cheney has

done is not impeachable. It is merely unforgivable.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lady Hornets Basketball Team of Harris-Stowe State University for their crowning achievement on March 3, 2007 when they became the first-ever Lady Hornets team to clench the American Midwest Conference--AMC--title.

To win this historic title the team, led by Head Coach Christopher Lewis, soundly defeated the Columbia College Cougars by a score of 78- 58 on the Cougars' home court in Columbia, Mo. To put the score in perspective and to appreciate the tenacity of the squad, a brief recap of the victory might be appreciated.

Trailing by six points early in the first half, the Lady Hornets worked a 40 percent shooting effort into a halftime advantage of 36-29. They opened the second half with one of their patented runs, extending their lead to 13. They continued to increase their field-goal percentage to 51 percent and their three-point success to 43 percent. Senior guard Laniya Stevens led the Hornets with 23 points and junior guard Chanel Ross added a double-double with 21 points and 10 steals. Both Stevens and Ross received First Team All-Conference honors, while Kanisha Pettis received an All-Conference honorable mention. Stevens received another honor when her number, 20, was retired by the school.

With their victory--their sixth consecutive win--the Lady Hornets moved on to play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament or the NAIA, also a first for the team.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Lady Hornets Basketball Team of Harris-Stowe State University--Jamira Easley, Dionn Jackson, Chareka Terry, Dominique Allen, K'Vonn Brittingham, Tawanda Barns, Briranda Griffin, Kanisha Pettis, Erica Anderson, Chanel Ross, Carmon Weaver, Laniya Stevens, Kimberly Lang, Valarie Mason, Amy Williams, Stephanie Roberts, Tamara Black, Shelia Walker and Marvis Jackson--for becoming the first team to earn the American Midwest Conference title. From a 73-game losing streak a few years ago to champions today, the Lady Hornets have become a shining example of what commitment, perseverance and hard work can accomplish. They are a force to be reckoned with and the pride of the school and the entire St. Louis community. In their honor I ask my congressional colleagues to join me in honoring the team, their coach, Christopher Lewis, Athletic Director Richard Fanning, University President Dr. Henry Givens, Jr., and the entire university. With such continued dedication and hard work, a national title could be in the Hornets' nest in the near future.

Madam Speaker, the St. Louis Post Dispatch recently published a series of articles to shed light on music education in the St. Louis Public Schools. The significant benefits conveyed by music education are immeasurable. Studies have found that education in the arts leads to success in society, school and life. I applaud the St. Louis Public Schools for recognizing the value of music education. I also commend Mr. Bob Dorries, the instrumental music teacher at McKinley Junior Classical Academy, a St. Louis magnet school, for his commitment to cultivating the gift of music in our children. I was especially impressed with the article's coverage of sixth-grader Sydney Everett's intense desire to master playing the clarinet.

In reading Steve Giegerich's articles, it is obvious that Sydney is an exceptional student who is dedicated to conquering new objectives and realizing her full potential. Sydney's love for music was instilled by her parents Sean and Deirdre Everett. They have always made music a part of Sydney's life. Her father, having taught himself to play the trumpet, shared his love for music with his children. Sydney exhibits that same drive and frequently takes the initiative to teach herself lessons before the class covers them.

Madam Speaker, it is with great privilege that I recognize Sydney Everett today before Congress. I encourage Sydney to continue her studies and remain committed to exploring new horizons.

The two articles from the St. Louis Post Dispatch chronicling Sydney's journey to master playing the clarinet follow this tribute.

[From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sept. 30, 2006]

Learning To Play: Will Sydney Make the Band?

(By Steve Giegerich)

It's no accident that a poster of Miles Davis is in the

sight line of Bob Dorries' students as he stands at the

blackboard to review scales, time signatures and other

rudiments of music education at McKinley Classical Junior

Academy.

Dorries put it there as a constant reminder of the link

between the East St. Louis jazz icon and the potential heirs

to his legacy who pass through Dorries' classroom each day.

The connection is pretty much lost on the majority of

sixth-graders enrolled in the instrumental music program at

the St. Louis magnet middle school.

Most don't know Miles Davis from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The exception is an intense young girl in Dorries' seventh-

period band class. Sydney Everett required no introduction to

Davis, the man who provided much of the soundtrack for her

childhood.

As parents, Sean and Deirdre Everett's priorities were

established far in advance of Sydney's arrival on March 30,

1995. ``Education has been the goal since her birth,'' said

Deirdre.

The motivation came in part by the failure to realize their

own potential. Both Sean and Deirdre had left college without

a degree.

``I always felt I didn't take full advantage of all I

had,'' said Sean. ``Now I look at the way the world is going,

and you have to have that degree.''

From the moment she was born, music danced on the periphery

of Sydney's life.

Her father had developed an eclectic taste in music as his

family moved from one military base to another across the

country.

``I listen to it all,'' he said. And the Everetts made sure

their children did the same. Sydney and her brother, Sean

Michael, their father said, ``have an open mind toward music

and life, too. I want them to experience everything

possible.''

Between the birth of his first and second children, Sean

bought a used trumpet at a secondhand store.

Though he'd dabbled with the guitar in high school, he'd

never learned to read music. He still can't. But he taught

himself to play that trumpet by emulating chords and riffs of

the musician he admires above all others: Miles Davis.

When Sean Everett's daughter took a seat in Dorries' band

room a month ago, her own experience as a musician was

limited to a month of piano lessons, family Karaoke sing-

alongs at Christmastime and a class at Kennard Elementary

School that taught the 12-tone musical scale.

Over the summer, Sydney toyed with the idea of enrolling in

McKinley's vocal music program, a notion she ultimately

rejected. ``I knew I couldn't sing,'' she said.

On the day she walked into Dorries' class for the first

time, Sydney was just as sure she knew which instrument she

wanted to play: the trumpet, like her dad.

``Just to hear music in the house will be nice,'' said Sean

Everett. ``Music opens up so many horizons. She'll meet so

many characters playing music, and it's such a release. Who

knows? She could wind up joining an orchestra, seeing the

world.''

Before that can happen, Sydney must learn an instrument.

Learning the notes

Impish and sarcastic, music teacher Dorries often plays the

theme from ``Final Jeopardy!'' on the classroom synthesizer

as students ponder a question. Dorries, 43, has a firm set of

rules and little tolerance for those who break them.

Rule No.1 for sixth-graders: Before receiving an

instrument, they must score an 80 or above on a 60-question

exam that tests their knowledge of the categories of band

instruments, musical history and, critically, the l2-tone

notation scale.

The payoff for those who obey the rules, practice and stay

the course is a chair in one of McKinley's four bands, which

perform two concerts a year.

The students get as many opportunities as necessary to pass

the exam. Most need it. Rare is the student who hits the

magic score of 80 the first time.

Summoning lessons learned at elementary school, Sydney

scored an 89.

The following week, Dorries asked the students who had

fallen short of a passing grade to review their tests and

prepare to retake the exam. Then he summoned Sydney to his

desk.

``Let's see what you can blow,'' the teacher said,

producing an array of sanitized mouthpieces for brass and

woodwinds.

``I come from the theory of music that every person's mouth

determines what instrument they should play,'' he explained.

``It has nothing to do with intelligence, where you've

come from, what school you attended or your ability. It's

something you come to naturally. It's the shape of your

mouth.''

The fourth generation in a family of musicians, Dorries'

philosophy was born of personal experience, a childhood dream

of playing the trumpet shattered by the inability to make a

single sound through a cornet mouthpiece. It wasn't until his

teacher handed him the mouthpiece for a saxophone that he

achieved the desired result. He was 5 and has played the sax

ever since.

Dorries turned to Sydney: ``The lesson here is that what we

think we want to play, nine times out of 10, is not the

instrument we wind up with. And looking at your overbite, I'd

say there's a real good chance you'll be good at a wind

instrument.''

First, however, Sydney needed to learn the same lesson

instilled in Dorries.

She blew into a trombone mouthpiece. Nothing. Same with the

mouthpiece for a cornet. All hope of following in the

footsteps of her dad and Miles Davis vanished, she slumped a

bit in her chair.

Dorries handed her a mouthpiece and a clarinet reed and

demonstrated how to moisten it. ``Blow,'' he instructed.

A duck call broke the quiet of the room.

``It's called a squawk, that's what we're after,'' said

Dorries. Sydney sat straighter, blew into the mouthpiece.

Squawk.

All eyes on their classmate, the rest of the students

stopped studying. Dorries held Sydney's cheeks to prevent

them from puffing out. ``Roll the mouthpiece over in your

mouth,'' he said gently.

Sydney blew. Squawk.

Her classmates applauded and whooped. Sydney smiled.

After auditioning two more mouthpieces, she ruled out the

saxophone and flute and chose the instrument her mother had

played, long ago, at O'Fallon Technical High.

``I want the clarinet,'' Sydney told her teacher. ``I like

the way it sounds.''

``I think that's a wise choice, either that or the flute,''

he responded. ``With your mouth structure, you belong on a

wind instrument. You have lovely cheeks.''

Dorries excused himself and retreated to an adjoining

supply room, emerging a moment later with a small black case.

Eyes wide, Sydney watched as Dorries slowly revealed the

contents of the black case: a coal-black Yamaha clarinet

nestled unassembled on a bed of molded velvet.

He handed her a form. The clarinet, he explained, belongs

to the St. Louis Public Schools. After her parents gave

written assurance that it would receive proper care, the

instrument would be hers to take home.

Sydney slipped the piece of paper into a notebook just as

the bell rang. Hefting her books, she headed for the door,

her next class and the next phase of the journey envisioned

by Sean and Deirdre Everett, long before their daughter was

born.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for yielding and managing this bill. I want to also thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his leadership on this subject. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1254 and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Mr. Speaker, Federal election laws limit the amount a single source can give to a political campaign. It requires that donations and donor information must be disclosed to the public. These requirements help to preserve the integrity of our democratic system by ensuring that campaign donors do not exercise undue influence over elected policy- makers.

Similar requirements do not apply to Presidential library fund- raising campaigns, and this creates the potential for large donors to exert or appear to exert improper influence over a sitting President.

The fact that private foundations are required to raise money to build and maintain Presidential libraries lowers the burden on taxpayers, but it also increases the incentive for sitting Presidents to pursue aggressive fund-raising for libraries that have become more and more expensive over the years.

Under H.R. 1254, the Presidential Library Foundation would be required to report on a quarterly basis all donations of $200 or more. This requirement would apply to donations made to the foundation during the time that the President is in office and during the period before the Archives agrees to use the land or facility.

In addition, the proposal calls on the Archivist to make all reports available to the public online through a searchable and downloadable database.

In 2000, during the last days of the Clinton Presidency, the House passed similar legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. A similar provision was included in legislation introduced last year by then-Minority Leader Pelosi but it did not move.

Mr. Speaker, the time has passed for the Congress and the President to enact these requirements into law. This is not a partisan issue. It is an issue of concern to all Americans who care about government, integrity and transparency.

I commend Mr. Waxman, my fellow original cosponsors, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Platts and Mr. Emanuel, for their leadership on this issue and urge all of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1255) to amend chapter 22 of title

44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives and an original cosponsor of the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007, I strongly support H.R. 1255 and urge its passage by the House. It is appropriate that the House should consider H.R. 1255 during Sunshine Week, when we can call attention to the importance of transparency and open government.

Introduced by Representative Waxman, this bipartisan bill is intended to promote the timely release of Presidential records under the Presidential Records Act of 1978, by rescinding Executive Order 13233. Issued by President Bush in November 2001, the executive order granted new authority to Presidents, former Presidents, their heirs and designees and Vice Presidents, allowing them to withhold information from public view unilaterally and indefinitely.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I now yield 3 minutes to the distinguished Chair of the full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, during subcommittee hearings last week, the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, testified that Executive Order 13233 has ``added to the endemic problem of delay that NARA faces from the PRA in the processing of Presidential records.''

Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive testified that the order already has added 5 years to the response time for records from the Reagan library and violates the letter and spirit of the PRA.

Presidential historian Robert Dallek urged Congress to rescind the order, stating, ``President Bush's order carries the potential for an incomplete and distorted understanding of past Presidential decisions, especially about controversial actions with significant consequences.''

``It is understandable,'' said Dr. Dallek, ``that every President and his heirs wants to put the best possible face on his administration, but an uncritical or limited reconstruction of our Nation's history does nothing to serve its long-term national interest.''

Mr. Speaker, the long-term national interest demands that the American people know how and why important decisions are made at the highest level of our government. This straightforward and bipartisan legislation would ensure that this will be the case by requiring that Presidential records will be treated as the property of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill as reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of our committee for those anecdotes and his knowledge of history.

I also want to thank the ranking member from Ohio for his cooperative spirit of allowing the sunshine in on this bill and the other bills that we have been discussing today.

And I just want to close by urging all of my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 1255, the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1309) to promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives, and lead sponsor of the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1309.

H.R. 1309 champions the values of transparency and open government that we celebrate during Sunshine Week and that are embodied in the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, as it is referred to.

Introduced with my colleagues Representative Waxman, chairman of the full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Representative Platts, this bipartisan legislation is necessary to strengthen FOIA as a tool for enabling public access to government records.

During a hearing in February, the subcommittee heard extensive testimony concerning long delays and bureaucratic obstacles experienced by requesters when trying to obtain government records under FOIA.

According to testimony from GAO, most agencies throughout the government are failing to keep pace with the volume of requests they are receiving, the number of pending requests carried over from year to year has been steadily increasing, and the rate of increase is growing.

A report released on Monday by the nonprofit National Security Archive further highlights the failure of agencies to make information available to the public in a timely way. According to the report, just 22 percent of agencies are complying with the 1996 ``e-FOIA law,'' which requires agencies to post frequently requested information on their Web sites.

An insufficient level of resources available for FOIA processing is one reason requesters are being forced to wait long periods of time for responses from agency FOIA offices. Another factor is the current administration's policy of withholding government information that would have been released under previous administrations. Government secrecy has increased as the volume of requests has gone up dramatically.

Building on the OPEN Government Act introduced in the last Congress by Senators Cornyn and Leahy and Representative Lamar Smith, H.R. 1309 contains 13 substantive provisions aimed at removing obstacles to complete and timely government responses to FOIA requests.

The bill would re-establish the policy of the Clinton administration, under which agencies were directed to disclose requested information unless the disclosure would result in some harm. The current administration has encouraged agencies to be more aggressive in asserting statutory exemptions to deny FOIA requests.

In addition, the bill proposes a government-wide ombudsman to mediate disputes between agencies and requesters. This would help to reduce the number of disputes resolved through costly and time consuming litigation.

Other key provisions include: A requirement that agencies respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days or face meaningful administrative penalties; the establishment of a publicly accessible tracking system for pending FOIA requests; and new reporting requirements to allow Congress to evaluate agency compliance with FOIA laws and regulation.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1309 provides a strong, reasonable and bipartisan approach to streamlining the FOIA process and increasing transparency in government. It has the vigorous support of every major organization representing the media industry, journalists, historians, archivists and the public interest in government openness and accountability.

We owe it to our constituents to pass this legislation and ensure that the Freedom of Information Act provides actual access to government information to which the American people are entitled.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished chairman from California, Mr. Waxman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished colleague from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In closing, I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working together on this bill to open up our government to the people of the United States. And I also want to thank Mr. Smith, who has reservations about the bill, but I want to thank him for his leadership in championing the cause of freedom of information in this country.

I want to also thank my friend from Wisconsin for agreeing with us that the bill was modified since it came out of committee, and that modification was in order to eliminate the costs associated with the bill.

Let me say that H.R. 1309 champions the values of transparency and open government that we celebrate during Sunshine Week and that are embodied in the Freedom of Information Act. The bill does several things: It would reestablish the policy of previous administrations under which agencies were directed to disclose requested information unless the disclosure could result in harm. In addition, the bill proposes a government-wide ombudsman to mediate disputes between agencies and requesters. This would help to reduce the number of disputes resolved through costly and time-consuming litigation.

It does several other things: There is a requirement that agencies respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days or face meaningful administrative penalties. It establishes a publicly accessible tracking system for pending FOIA requests.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, H.R. 1309 provides a strong, reasonable, and bipartisan approach to streamlining FOIA and increasing transparency in government. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my friend and colleague from Arizona for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are unanimous in supporting the courageous men and women serving in our Armed Forces. In recent days, we were appalled to learn that our veterans are not receiving high- quality health care. We have been sickened by some of the stories and images of the patients at Walter Reed Hospital who have been neglected and left untreated. And we are beginning to understand that this is a nationwide crisis. We are all somewhat ashamed that we have failed to provide to those who have given the most to keep our Nation free and secure.

With these recent events in mind, I want to address the legislation before us today. H.R. 1047 is a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum in the city of St. Louis as a unit of the National Park System.

This memorial is a shining landmark to those brave men and women who gave their lives in World War I. Today, as much as any time in our history, the American people feel a very special connection to our military forces, and the citizens of our Nation have a real need to visit shrines that honor our wartime heroes.

The St. Louis Soldiers' Memorial is a valuable shrine where citizens can participate in the tradition of honoring our Nation's veterans. Initiated by the residents of St. Louis in the 1920s, after many years of fundraising, the land was acquired and the monument was constructed. On October 14, 1936, St. Louis Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum was officially dedicated by President Roosevelt. And St. Louis Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum also has a unique place in our Nation's history as it is the only structure in St. Louis that is known to have been dedicated by a sitting U.S. President.

The Soldiers' Monument is a national treasure, and it is recognized as an architectural masterpiece. Designed by one of the 20th century's foremost art deco sculptors, Mr. Walter Hancock, the entrance to the memorial is flanked by four limestone sculptures which symbolize the most important virtues in a soldier's life: courage, loyalty, sacrifice and vision. The ceiling of the monument is decorated with mosaic tiles in the shape of large gold stars that are dedicated to our Nation's Gold Star Mothers.

Today, the St. Louis Soldiers' Memorial is an important cultural resource and gathering place. It attracts about 48,000 visitors a year, and provides the setting for more than 20 ceremonies annually, including change-of-command and retirement ceremonies, and many other patriotic events hosted by veterans groups. It is also the center of an annual Veterans Day parade which is the largest of its kind in the Midwest, drawing participants from several States and hosting more than 100 marching units.

In recent years, the city of St. Louis has relied upon the support and contributions of active military personnel and veterans to enable it to maintain this cherished monument. We all want to honor the veterans and citizens of our Nation. We should have Federal monuments to help us all remember those family members and friends who have given their lives for us in combat.

It is the right time for the Federal Government to consider acquiring the St. Louis Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum in its inventory of national monuments. I believe that a study of the monument will show it is a historically important structure with a national significance.

H.R. 1047 is strongly supported by veterans groups and other civic organizations. I hope the Members of this body will endorse this important effort to create a Federal monument to honor our Nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise to declare my absolute and unwavering opposition to the President's plan to escalate this tragic and unnecessary war.

Four years ago, I stood on the floor of this House to oppose the original force authorization resolution. At the time, some of my colleagues cautioned me that I was taking a risk by opposing the President and failing to support the war against terrorism. But I took that position because I believed then and still believe today that great nations do not start wars as a matter of policy, they exercise diplomacy and negotiation to avert threats and achieve security.

The evidence that the administration presented did not clearly establish any imminent threat to our national security. I was convinced that invading Iraq, without international support and without unequivocal evidence that Iraq was involved in 9/11, would dangerously drain our military strength, distract us from fighting the very real terrorist threat, and ultimately weaken our credibility around the world. Now we can see that the world in Iraq has emboldened our enemies and provoked the scorn of our allies.

Madam Speaker, standing here 4 years later, I can only wish that my assumptions were wrong, that invading Iraq was somehow vital to our national security. We were told that there were weapons of mass destruction, and now we know there were no WMDs. We were told that Iraqi oil revenue would pay for this war, and now we know that that was only a pipe dream that has cost American taxpayers over $400 billion. We were told that our troops would be greeted as liberators, and now we know that was only wishful thinking based on neocon fantasies and not the facts.

Today, American troops are embroiled in a bloody quagmire that has already resulted in over 26,000 American casualties. And now, just this past week, the Defense Department Inspector General reported that senior administration officials engaged in a deliberate misinformation campaign about al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. Now we have learned that officials in our government deliberately distributed altered intelligence assessments. Such a misinformation campaign is unconscionable and a greater threat to our national security than any act of terrorism.

We are all familiar with the historian's observation that great nations are not conquered by outside forces until the nation has destroyed itself from within. I implore my colleagues to heed the lessons of history. Do not allow the politics of deception to distort reality.

This administration is denying the facts. It has repeatedly misled the Congress and the American people and undermined our Nation's integrity throughout the world. Now the President is asking Congress to register more support for a policy failure. Escalating the military violence in Iraq by injecting 21,000 more U.S. troops into a civil war reflects nothing more than this administration's obstinate refusal to face present realities.

A vast majority of Americans want a responsible end to this war as soon as possible. They want our troops redeployed, they want us to alleviate the suffering of innocent Iraqis, and they want us to finally tell the Iraqi people that they must be engaged in their country's destiny. The future of Iraq must ultimately be determined by them, not by us.

I want to conclude by quoting a good friend of mine and a fellow colleague, the distinguished chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, Ike Skelton. In a recent statement he said, ``Only the Iraqis can change the situation there and bring lasting security to their nation. I remain convinced that a gradual and responsible redeployment of U.S. forces is the best way to help the Iraqis take responsibility for their security and to restore the full strength of our military.''

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Sure, we had Democrats on this side supporting it. It didn't make it right. It certainly didn't make it right. We were given false information. This Congress and the country was given false information.