G.K. Butterfield

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, last week, congressional Democrats accomplished something the Republican ``do-nothing'' Congress could not do. We passed a final budget through both the House and Senate. Over 3 of the last 5 years, the Republican-led Congress failed to reach agreement on a final budget resolution, leading to unparalleled deficit spending. Unlike our Republican predecessors, this new Democratic Congress has produced a fiscally responsible budget that serves as a blueprint for investing in America's priorities, providing tax cuts to middle-class families, and balances the budget in just 5 years without raising taxes. Not even the President's proposed budget comes out of the red after 5 years. Mr. Speaker, budgets serve as a blueprint of a Congress' priorities. Our final budget strengthens our military readiness and invests in our troops and veterans. It also spurs innovation to boost our economy and expands investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce global warming and our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Democrats vowed to run this Congress differently, and we have, by producing a final budget agreement.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker it is with tremendous pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Petty Officer Mario M. Vittone of the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard selected him as the Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year for 2006. Officer Vittone demonstrated outstanding resourcefulness, leadership, and competence while serving at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina from January 1, 2006 to December 2006. While performing the demanding duties of a Night Shift Supervisor for the Aviation Survival Technician Shop as the Senior Duty Rescue Swimmer, he applied his experience in rescue swimmer procedures, aviation maintenance techniques, and team management toward creating a standard operating procedures handbook. A brilliant mentor, he also designed a web-based service-wide exam study guide for all members of the unit and conducted daily training sessions to aid them in exam preparation. His unmatched efforts directly improved the readiness posture of the entire station and helped junior Coast Guard personnel score higher on exams. Petty Officer Vittone used his expertise to author more than eight separate articles in areas ranging from survival to leadership. An accomplished writer, many of his articles have been published and are used as a reference by the Leadership Development Center at the Coast Guard Academy. Most recently, one of his articles was submitted for publication in the Winter 2006 issue of On-Scene Magazine. With his stellar reputation for instilling commitment to operational excellence, he has delivered inspirational speeches to graduating companies as well as visitors at Training Center Cape May. Repeatedly, his motivating words capture the audience's attention and draw compliments from attendees. His selfless contributions go beyond the Coast Guard and are evident in the community. As a testament to his unquestionable character, he endured a rigorous screening process to be hand-selected as an advocate for abused and neglected children in the Virginia Court System. Petty Officer Mario M. Vittone's previous awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Coast Guard Achievement Medal (3), Commandant's Letter of Commendation, Coast Guard Basic Training Honor Graduate, Coast Guard Rifle Expert Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal (2). Through his exceptional achievement and performance, he has proven himself as a worthy and distinguished recipient of this award. His dedication, judgment, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and uphold the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today with Congressmen Jones, Price, Watt, Etheridge, McIntyre, Miller and Shuler, all of North Carolina, to honor and observe the 70th birthday of our four-term Governor of North Carolina, the Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr. Over the years my long-time and dear friend, Governor Hunt, has successfully dedicated so much of himself to public service. He is a man of immense vision with an extraordinary ability to implement his vision with great results. That vision has often been focused on education. Governor Hunt's list of accomplishments is long and highly distinguished in the area of education. He led efforts to establish the State's primary reading program. He also spearheaded the efforts to reduce class sizes and prevent students from dropping out of school. Governor Hunt assumed the lead role in establishing the State's school of science and mathematics, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Smart Start, which was established under Governor Hunt's leadership, has become a nationally recognized and award-winning public-private partnership that ensures that children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. The program helps provide quality child care, health care and family support for every child in need, and there are now 14 States using this model. Governor Hunt also assisted with establishing one of the most rigorous approaches to measuring student performance, requiring mastery before promotion and graduation, and providing assistance to turn around failing schools. He did not allow these initiatives, or any of the many others he headed, to stand alone after he signed them into law. Instead, he demanded follow-through and results, and he got them. A study by the RAND Corporation found that our public schools raised their test scores more than any other State in the 1990s. Governor Hunt's strong-held belief that the key to a quality education is great teaching has benefited students well beyond North Carolina's borders. In fact, it has benefited students and teachers throughout our Nation. As the founding Chair for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Governor Hunt was a driving force in fulfilling the promise of improving student achievement by raising the standards. Today, virtually every State and more than 25 percent of all school districts offer financial rewards or incentives for teachers seeking certification. Madam Speaker, the economic value of an education and knowledge was well understood by Governor Hunt long before people started talking about its central role in the global economy. Madam Speaker, Governor Hunt has also led the way in opening up the Democratic Party of our State to full participation by minority citizens. As Governor, Governor Jim Hunt appointed many African American lawyers to the trial bench and appellate court benches to hold positions that had been virtually impossible for them to otherwise obtain. Many of them now serve as judges with distinction, and it was Governor Hunt who made that happen. In closing, we are honored today to recognize this great man of conviction, principle, and exceptional character on such a joyous occasion. I ask you to join us in congratulating the ``Education Governor,'' the Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr., on his 70th birthday, and in wishing him and his wife, Carolyn, many more years of happiness and accomplishment.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, it seems that every year as we close in on Memorial Day, gas prices sky-rocket to new record highs. Unfortunately, this year there is no exception. For 6 years under Republican leadership, Congress has failed to enact a comprehensive energy strategy needed to help stabilize the price of gas and make America more energy independent. Under the Republican leadership, energy policy was little more than corporate welfare, handing over billions of dollars in tax breaks to oil companies and gas companies experiencing record profits. As a result of those policies, American families are paying a higher price every time they go to the pump. Under the new leadership, this House has already supported a rollback of those multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies so that we can invest in efficiency and renewable forms of energy. Mr. Speaker, it is time to help the working families struggle to pay the prices at the pump. We must bring down prices and make America energy independent. With a comprehensive energy policy we can and should and will accomplish this goal.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, last week, President Bush had a chance to change the direction of the war in Iraq, but he rejected it. He rejected a plan that would finally hold the Iraqi Government accountable for meeting the benchmarks that he laid out earlier this year. According to the nonpartisan Brookings Institute, the Iraqi Government is failing to meet the political benchmarks they were supposed to make. By vetoing the bill, the President was condoning such inaction. The President claims the situation is getting better in Iraq. Wrong. April was the deadliest month of the year and one of the deadliest of the entire war. Retired General William Odom said last week, and I'm quoting, ``No effective strategy can be devised for the United States until it begins withdrawing its forces from Iraq. Only that step will break the paralysis that now confronts us.'' General Odom is correct. Today our troops are serving as referees in a deadly civil war that shows no end in sight. This Congress offered the President a dramatic change, and he rejected it. We're not going to give up, because ending this war is simply too important.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, as the World Health Assembly prepares to meet in Geneva this May, Taiwan is applying to the World Health Organization as a member under the name ``Taiwan.'' For years, Taiwan has been excluded from the activities of the World Health Organization; thus the health rights of the 23 million Taiwan people have not been represented. Taiwan paid high prices for the enterovirus outbreak in 1998 and SARS in 2003; Taiwan should not be left out of the global disease prevention network. The United States government has always encouraged Taiwan to seek meaningful participation in international organizations and if Taiwan were barred from World Health Organization activities, opportunities for Taiwan's government and people to make contributions to world health affairs would be severely impeded. I therefore urge my colleagues to speak up for Taiwan's right to participate in the activities of the World Health Organization. Fighting disease is a worldwide issue; no country or people should be excluded from WHO's activities due to political considerations.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I come to the floor this afternoon to thank, first, the chairman of the committee, Mr. George Miller of California, for his tireless work in this area, and also the gentlelady from Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1429. There is no question, Mr. Chairman, that America needs more minority teachers in Head Start classrooms. I represent the First Congressional District of North Carolina, which is the 15th poorest district in the Nation. I can tell you that Head Start is making a difference in my congressional district. I encourage the continuation of the program. I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey, my friend Congressman Donald Payne, for his tireless efforts on behalf of the continent of Africa and other related issues. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her work on this resolution. And, hopefully, we will pass this resolution and move forward with greater work of this Congress. Madam Speaker, this Nation has yet to fully come to terms with and recognize the institution of slavery that existed in this country for so long. Slavery is perhaps the most underrecognized crime against humanity in the history of the world. Madam Speaker, I am often asked about my light complexion. Some people do it out of curiosity and it does not offend me, but I am often asked about my complexion. It is a fact that I am indeed an African American. My great-grandmother was a slave. And my great grandfather was the slave master. And my situation is not unique. The enslavement of millions of people who were taken from the west coast of Africa still affects millions of Americans today. I represent the First Congressional District of North Carolina. My area of the country was one of the destinations of the slave trade. My congressional district today suffers from the effects from slavery. My constituents, half of whom are African American, suffer from disparities across the spectrum. I can trace directly these conditions to the fact that their foreparents were legally denied citizenship and the benefits of citizenship. Even after slavery ended, the United States continued to disrespect black citizens and forced them to endure inferior schools, health care, income and the like. In my hometown of Wilson, North Carolina, my mother did not have access to a public education beyond the sixth grade. Had she lived in the rural area of my county, she would not have had the benefit of any education, save only a token opportunity offered by black churches. When my mother left the sixth grade, she was given an opportunity to move to another city to get an education, and it made a difference. She returned to our home community and became a teacher for 48 years and instilled in my generation the importance of education. There were hundreds of thousands who were denied educational opportunities, and their descendants today continue to suffer. Madam Speaker, we have a tremendous responsibility as a Nation to remedy past wrongs. This resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade is a step in the right direction. We must do more. Poverty is pervasive. This Congress must set the tone and begin the process of healing and remedy the cruelty of slavery and racial discrimination.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, it is absolutely correct: 4 years ago President Bush stood before this sign declaring ``Mission Accomplished,'' but today he insists on staying the course. To accomplish our own mission, President Bush needs to listen. He needs to listen to the retired military generals who support the approach of this Congress. Retired MG Paul Eaton said, ``This bill gives General Petraeus great leverage for moving the Iraqi Government down the more disciplined path laid out by the Iraq Study Group. LTG William Odom said, ``The bill gives the President a chance to pull back from a disastrous course, reorient U.S. strategy to achieve regional stability, and win help from many other countries, the only way peace will eventually be achieved.'' Major General Montano said the bill ``not only reflects the thinking of the Iraq Study Group but puts teeth to the phrase of `supporting our troops.''' Madam Speaker, the President needs to listen. He needs to listen to these retired generals. And, Mr. President, I will not address you directly, but I would ask you, Madam Speaker, to allow me to say that the bill will be on his desk this afternoon.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, this week Congress will vote on an emergency war spending conference report that fully funds the war and our troops, and yet the President is still threatening a veto. The President's problem with the bill is Congress' strong message that we are not going to allow the war to go on indefinitely. In years past, the President has dealt with Republican-controlled Congresses, which simply rubber-stamped his requests, despite countless mistakes in Iraq. Last November, the American people demanded a change. Last month the Congress acted and brought a serious change to our policy in Iraq. We demanded that the Iraqi Government meet the political and economic benchmarks that the President himself outlined earlier this year and set timelines for withdrawal if those benchmarks are not met. Defense Secretary Gates himself, last week, said that the timelines we passed here in Congress and the pressure that our legislation exerts on the Iraqi Government is having a positive impact. Our legislation is already impacting the events in Iraq. The President should allow this to continue by reconsidering his threat to veto the legislation.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I too rise this evening to honor the life and work of my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, who has passed from labor to reward. Juanita was a warm and caring individual. She worked very hard in this body to improve quality of life for all Americans. As a faithful member of the Congressional Black Caucus she also spoke of the urgency of eradicating poverty and eliminating disparities in education and health care and wealth. She spoke for those who could not speak for themselves. My constituents, the 660,000 people of the First District of North Carolina, are grateful for the service of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald. I join my colleagues this evening in saying to the family of this great woman, you had a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother. Her love of humanity and work on behalf of disadvantaged people everywhere ensures that she is in heaven and free of the suffering she had to endure. May God bless the soul of this great American.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Odelle Whitehead Barnes, a native and longtime resident of Wilson, North Carolina. This wonderful individual is a family friend and a former teacher at my alma mater, The Charles H. Darden High School. For many years, Mrs. Barnes dedicated her life to educating and serving the people of Wilson, North Carolina. She is being honored this week upon her designation as a Diamond Soror in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and for her years of service to the community. Madam Speaker, Mrs. Barnes committed 39 years of her life as both a teacher and speech therapist, and many more as a beacon of positive light to the community. She should be lauded even greater for her success in overcoming the racial and gender prejudices of her time. Mrs. Odelle Barnes was born in Wilson, North Carolina, as one of 12 children to Henry and Victoria Whitehead. She faced numerous challenges growing up in the Jim Crow South during the Depression, but excelled nonetheless, graduating from high school at age 16. Mrs. Barnes attended North Carolina College at Durham, today North Carolina Central University, and graduated with high honors in both English and French. Although the college environment during the Depression was unfriendly, nevertheless she persevered with the help of her family, the determination of her own character and her faith in Almighty God. Mrs. Barnes taught for many years at both Elm City Elementary and Darden High School, before earning her Masters in Speech Therapy with the University of Michigan. In a time when integration still ruled North Carolina, Mrs. Barnes provided an invaluable service to the African-American community of Wilson County with her work as a Speech Therapist in the school system. In 1977, Darden High School named her ``Alumna of the Year,'' and in 1981 she was honored by the Wilson Human Relations Commission with its ``Citizen Award.'' Madam Speaker, Odelle Whitehead Barnes is very proud of her distinction of being ``Charter Member'' of two chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Alpha Chi Chapter in 1932 and of the Gamma Beta Omega Chapter in 1940. She is now a Diamond Soror and has spent 75 years as an AKA member. Mrs. Barnes is a lifelong member of the Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, where she has served as the president of the Missionary Circle and co-founder of the Fellowship Club, and has twice been named church ``Woman of the Year.'' Additionally, she served as board member for the Department of Social Services, the Wilson Historic Properties Commission, and Wilson County Mental Health Board. She volunteered at the Wilson Crisis Center, the Hospital Visitation Program and the Wilson County Board of Elections. Mrs. Barnes, who was married to Edward Morrison Barnes for 65 years, presently resides in Detroit, Michigan, with her daughter, Carolyn, her two grandsons and five great-grandchildren. Madame Speaker, in honor and recognition of Mrs. Odelle Whitehead Barnes' diligent service as an educator, therapist, and leader, I ask my Colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this great woman.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there was great cause for celebration in eastern North Carolina over this past weekend, as Wilson, North Carolina's Barton College captured the NCAA Division II men's college basketball championship. What a game. Barton College, Madam Speaker, is a small but proud college with a rich academic history. With a student body of about 1,000 students, it is located not only in my congressional district but located in my community. I am so proud of them. Barton College captured the national championship Saturday afternoon, scoring an amazing come-from-behind 77-75 victory over previously undefeated and defending national champion Winona State University. Barton won the title game at the buzzer, with one-tenth of a second remaining. They won their semifinal game by one point on a last-second free throw. And it won its quarterfinal game on a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime. This will be a game that will long be remembered. Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to recognize the success, efforts and achievements of these outstanding young student athletes. It is my pleasure to recognize their head coach, Ron Lievense, and his staff. Their hard work and dedication to teamwork is something that we are all proud of in Wilson, North Carolina and throughout the First Congressional District. I ask my colleagues today to rise and join me in paying tribute to Barton College's basketball team of 2007 and to recognize their extraordinary championship.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from Tennessee for yielding the time to me to speak to this very important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding jurist and community leader by seeking to name the Federal building in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the J. Herbert Small Federal Building and United States Courthouse. I want to thank my good friend, Chairman Oberstar, and Ranking Member Mica for their outstanding leadership in quickly moving this legislation through their committee. I would also like to thank each member of the entire North Carolina delegation, Democrat and Republican, for their collective support of this important bill. Mr. Speaker, J. Herbert Small is a lifelong resident of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He has devoted 52 long years of his professional life to the practice of law and to the administration of justice in eastern North Carolina. Herb Small began his law practice in Elizabeth City in 1949 after graduating from the School of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as Special Counsel to the Congressional Committee on Intergovernmental Relations and later served 8 years as county attorney for the County of Pasquotank. He was elected as district attorney for the First Judicial District of North Carolina for three consecutive terms. During his tenure, he served as chairman of the District Attorneys Advisory Committee, was President of the District Attorneys Association and was appointed by the Governor to the Jail Study Commission. It was when Mr. Small was a district attorney that our paths first met. As a young lawyer, I opposed him in the courtroom on several occasions. He was a strong and effective district attorney. In 1979, Herb Small was elected as Resident Superior Court Judge for the First Judicial District of North Carolina. He served in this capacity for 17 years. He was honored by his peers when he was elected President of the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges. During this time, he represented the conference on the North Carolina Policy and Sentencing Commission. In the early days of Judge Small's service as a trial judge, I appeared before him as a lawyer, representing both civil and criminal clients. He was a firm but fair judge, treating everyone who came before his court with respect. And then Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of being able to call Judge Small my judicial colleague. When I was elected as a Superior Court Judge in 1988, Judge Small had preceded me to the bench by several years. He welcomed me among the ranks of Superior Court Judges, and our friendship continued to evolve. Mr. Speaker, Herb Small is a legal scholar; and our courts benefited in so many ways because of his intellect. Now, I am very proud to call Judge Small a constituent. He is retired. He is happily retired, living in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, which is one of my 23 communities in my congressional district. Herb Small is a trusted friend and a good adviser. Judge Small served as chairman of the Albemarle Hospital Board of Directors and as Chairman of the American Red Cross Chapter. He has been actively engaged in other civic and charitable and service organizations, including the Jaycees and the Boy Scouts and Volunteer Firemen, Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club and the Elks Club and the Red Men and so on. He was given the Distinguished Service Award by the Jaycees, the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the State of North Carolina for outstanding community involvement. Very importantly, Mr. Speaker, during World War II, Judge Small served 3 years in the United States Navy; and our country is proud of and thanks him for his service. Judge Small has been married to a wonderful individual, Mrs. Annette Ward Small, for many years. They have four children, Elizabeth, John Herbert, Fran and Carol; and they have nine grandchildren, Rachel, Matthew, John, Mary, Margaret, Ruth, Allison Katie, and Chris. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no finer individual and no person who is more deserving of this high honor than Judge J. Herbert Small. I can assure you that Judge Small is humbled and honored by this recognition. The people of Elizabeth City and the First Congressional District of North Carolina are grateful for his community service, for his dedication, and his great and extraordinary leadership. I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding me time, and I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his work on this matter. I urge my colleagues today to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1138.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, 2 years ago, China enacted an anti- secession law which ``gave'' China the right to overtake Taiwan by force. Since then both Taiwan and the United States have asked China to rescind the law. So far China has ignored all pleas. Instead, it has increased its number of guided missiles deployed along the coast of Taiwan, threatening war anytime. In addition, China has prevented Taiwan from participating in international organizations such as the World Health Organization and heightened its bellicose rhetoric against the democratically-elected Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. As a rising world power, China must assume the responsibility of a global leader. It must lessen the tensions in the Taiwan Strait by rescinding the bad anti-secession law which has deeply hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people. China should also reduce its military presence along the coast of Taiwan and learn to respect the wishes of the Taiwanese people. I urge my colleagues to give Taiwan our support. Taiwan is a democracy and an ally of the United States. Under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, we must make sure that peace and stability continue to prevail in the Taiwan Strait.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor East Carolina University, a public, 4 year institution located in Greenville, North Carolina on this, their 100th Anniversary. On March 7, 1907, the North Carolina legislature approved the charter for the East Carolina Teachers Training School. The school was established to increase the critical need for teachers in the eastern portion of the state. The East Carolina Teachers Training School produced thousands of highly qualified educators, improving the lives of countless North Carolinians. Madam Speaker, when the North Carolina legislature approved the charter for the East Carolina Teachers Training School, a site for the facility had not yet been selected. Cities throughout Eastern North Carolina like Kinston, New Bern and Washington were among those vying to win the state Board of Education's favor, but it was Greenville that was ultimately selected. I have never been more proud than to represent Pitt County and East Carolina University in the Congress. The deliberate evolution of the school--from East Carolina Teachers Training School to East Carolina Teachers College and later to East Carolina University--reflects the change and positive growth of the region. While such landmark moments speckle the history of Greenville, none are greater than the day Greenville won the rights to the new school. It is difficult to think that just 100 years ago East Carolina University would become the heart of a community or grow to become the state's third largest public university. I ask my colleagues to rise and join me in honoring East Carolina University for the diligent efforts that have led to this most historic occasion.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, there was certainly cause for celebration in eastern North Carolina over the weekend as Elizabeth City State University overcame seemingly long odds as the seventh seeded Vikings won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) men's basketball tournament and earned a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. ECSU's 21-9 women's basketball team will also be heading to the NCAA Division II tournament as an at-large representative. The CIAA consists of 11 historically black colleges and universities. It was established in 1912 and the CIAA is the nation's oldest black athletic conference. It is a conference rich in history and heritage. The Vikings overcame perennial conference power and top-seed Virginia Union 63-60 after losing to them in double overtime a week before. It marked the first time that ECSU coach Shawn Waller, who was an all- conference player at ECSU, beat VU as a coach or player. Led by third-year coach Tara Owns, the Lady Vikings enter the tournament after a strong regular season which ended with a tough loss in the conference finals. It is a great honor for me to recognize the success and achievements of these outstanding young men and women student-athletes, their head coaches, and members of their staff. Their hard work and dedication to teamwork is something we are all proud of in northeastern North Carolina. I ask my colleagues to rise and join me in paying tribute to Elizabeth City State University's basketball teams.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for yielding this time to me, and thank the Speaker for convening this very important debate this evening. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor this evening to express my unconditional support for H. Con. Res. 63. I also come to the floor this evening to thank the leadership, to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the majority leader, and Chairman Ike Skelton for their leadership on this issue, and thank them very much for scheduling this debate. I am confident that the American people are also appreciative of this debate. Madam Speaker, 4 years ago, shortly before I was elected to this body, the President of the United States convinced this Congress that dictator Saddam Hussein had in his possession weapons of mass destruction, and that he was prepared to use those weapons against our country. The world now knows that he was wrong, and history will decide whether that intelligence was manipulated or whether it was an honest mistake. But this evening, Madam Speaker, the invasion we all know, happened. We captured Baghdad, and we arrested Saddam Hussein, and he has now been convicted and executed. But the search for weapons of mass destruction revealed that there were no weapons whatsoever. Our aim then turned to helping the Iraqi people create a democratic government with free and fair elections, a constitution was ratified, and elected representatives are now making decisions on what is best for their country. The Iraqi Government has a security force in place, and we are assisting in training them to defend their country. In 4 years of fighting the brave men and women of our Armed Forces have accomplished every mission put before them. They have performed admirably and completed all that is possible militarily possible in Iraq. There is an intractable problem on the ground in Iraq. The tensions between the sectarian groups are centuries old. We all know that, and our continued presence is exacerbating those tensions. It is no longer a military problem, but a political problem best resolved through diplomacy. It is clear, Madam Speaker, that a continued open-ended military action is not in the best interest of our country. It is not in the best interest of the Iraqi people or the citizens of the Persian Gulf region. We have reached the point where we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis. Iraqis know that, so that the Iraqis will know that the U.S. is not an occupying force. Since the invasion we have lost 3,000 lives. We have heard that for the last 2 days. And so many of those injuries are permanent. The financial cost of this war exceeds $400 billion. The President is now seeking another $245 billion to finance the war over the next 18 months. Madam Speaker, if those funds were invested in rural America, there is no question that we would improve thousands of lives in our own country. Our military and their families are tremendously strained. Some troops are on their fourth and fifth deployments. Military personnel costs are skyrocketing. Further strains on our Armed Forces will leave this country unprepared for a wide range of threats that now exist. At a cost to the American taxpayer of nearly $2 billion a week, we simply will not have the resources needed to prepare for the wide variety of future threats that our country may have to face and for our domestic needs at home. America has a problem and we must fix it. This debate this evening is the first step in a new direction. Our goals in Iraq have been accomplished, and it is now time to begin bringing our troops home. Now is not the time for escalation. Surges have not helped before, and they will not help now. The time has come to redeploy and reset our force to begin addressing our other challenges around the world and give us an opportunity to repair our relationships with our allies and refocus on the war on terror.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in just a few minutes, we will begin to debate House Concurrent Resolution 63. The American people are ready for this debate, and finally the time has now come, and we will decide and recommend whether or not the President should escalate our troop strength in Iraq. I look forward to this debate. But this morning, Mr. Speaker, I want to use my time to talk about the fiscal crisis that we have in America. You know, Mr. Speaker, in my speeches to constituents throughout the First District of North Carolina, I always make a point to talk about the fiscal crisis that we are facing in this country, the fiscal crisis that the Republicans have created over the last 5 years. You know, Mr. Speaker, when I tell them that we have unprecedented deficits that have resulted in $8.6 trillion in debt, and when I tell them that we spend $2 billion a week in Iraq, $8 billion per month, and yes, $100 billion per year, but only spend $90 billion in funding education in this country, they are absolutely shocked. And now, Mr. Speaker, the President's 2008 budget will raise our debt by more than $1 trillion over the next 5 years. This proposed budget that we received last week from President Bush would make tax cuts for the wealthy permanent while cutting vital programs that are important to middle-class families. To help pay for the nearly $2 trillion in tax cuts over the next 10 years, the budget substantially cuts Medicare and Medicaid, creating uncertainty for millions of seniors and low-income families who get their health insurance through these programs. The President's budget also shortchanges veterans' programs, cutting veterans' health care by $3.5 billion over 5 years and providing less than veterans service organizations say is needed to meet the growing needs of our veterans, including those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, congressional Democrats have repeatedly, repeatedly expressed the desire to work constructively with the administration to restore fiscal responsibility to the Federal budget consistent with our Nation's priorities. However, this budget that we received last week is marked by a disappointing dedication to the failed policies of the past rather than a commitment to a new course. Fortunately for the American people, Democrats will now produce an alternative that will be fiscally responsible and meet the demands of our great Nation.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the amendment.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the amendment.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chairman, my friend is eloquent as usual, but he still has an amendment that is not germane, and I continue to pose my objection. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the amendment concerns matters that are not within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science and Technology.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Chairman, this matter is clearly in the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and if the gentleman would be willing to withdraw his amendment, I would say to him on behalf of the committee, we will be glad to work with him in the future.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I reserve the right to object as well, Mr. Chairman. We have not seen a copy of the amendment.

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I will at this time reserve a point of order.