Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, a patriotic veteran and role-model citizen recently passed away in Greensboro, North Carolina. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, I rise to honor John Seymour Starr, a World War II veteran, who dutifully fought for his country from an early age. Only nine days after his 18th birthday, Starr enlisted in the army and joined General George Patton's 3rd Army as a machine gunner on the back of a jeep in the 2nd Cavalry, 42nd Recon. As one of Patton's ``Ghosts,'' Corporal Starr put his life on the line day after day scouting ahead of the division to locate and engage the enemy in order to determine their strength and position for an armored assault. Just months after entering the fight, on August 8, 1943, Corporal Starr's jeep drove over a land mine on France's Breast peninsula killing the driver and passenger. Starr was put in the hospital with shrapnel embedded in his back that he would carry for the rest of his life. Undeterred by his injuries, Starr ignored his reassignment to a non-combat unit and left the hospital. He hitched rides through France until he was reunited with the 2nd Cavalry. During the rest of his service, he helped General Patton's 3rd Army take control of the French campaign, and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944. The courage and dedication Starr displayed, earned him several medals, including the Purple Heart and five Bronze Stars. Starr's patriotism was reflected in his life's philosophy: it is easier to fight for one's country, even in the face of death, than it is to give up the freedoms we enjoy in America. He is survived by his wife, Jean Starr, 1 sister, 5 children, 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter. Again, on behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we join with his family and our community to state that we will miss Corporal John Seymour Starr, an admirable citizen and veteran.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Commander William J. Milne for his service to the United States House of Representatives and his continued service to our country in the United States Coast Guard. Commander Milne was assigned as the Coast Guard liaison officer to the United States House of Representatives in July 2003, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to work closely with him. In my leadership roles on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee and in numerous other venues, my staff and I have often relied on Commander Milne's knowledge and understanding of the operational missions, the current day-to-day challenges, and the roles and responsibilities of the United States Coast Guard. While Commander Milne began his House career 3 years ago as the chief of the Coast Guard's House Liaison Office, his Coast Guard career began more than three decades earlier as a 1975 graduate of the Recruit Training Center in Alameda, CA. In 1975, Seaman Apprentice Milne was assigned to his first unit working as a Search and Rescue communications watchstander and a Motor Life Boat coxswain. During this assignment he also became one of the few distinguished registered SURFMAN in the Coast Guard while being promoted quickly to the rank of boatswain's mate first class and accepting the duties as executive petty officer of Station Umpqua River in Winchester Bay, OR. Commander Milne received five promotions within his first 3\1/2\ years in the United States Coast Guard. In 1983, he was promoted to chief petty officer and transferred to the Second Coast Guard District in St Louis, MO, serving in the Rescue Coordination Center overseeing search and rescue and bridge operations in a 22-State area throughout the MidWest before being selected to attend Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, VA, in 1986. Later that year, he was promoted to the rank of ensign, thus beginning his commissioned career. During his 31-year career, Commander Milne has been assigned to seven coast Guard cutters and has commanded the cutters Cape Cowin, Redwood and Juniper. His shore assignments have included the Professional Development staff at the Coast Guard Academy, Office of Financial Management at Coast Guard Headquarters, and as Surface Operations Assignment officer at the Personnel Command. This week, Commander Milne will leave his post as the Coast Guard's House liaison and head off to the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He will be missed in the United States House of Representatives. It has been my pleasure to work with Commander Milne. On behalf of all who have also been fortunate to work with him, we wish Commander Milne and his wife Martina the best in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I inevitably and innocently likely will omit some cities. But when I think hockey I think Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, and, of course, the entire country of Canada. So how do we explain the success of the Carolina Hurricanes? Two weeks ago, I asked my good friend, Congressman Ed Markey, the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, his thoughts about our Hurricanes. In this tone of voice, he replied, ``unbelievable.'' But I say to Ed and all others who reside beyond the confines of Tobacco Road, very believable today as the revered Stanley cup is proudly displayed in North Carolina. And what an exciting Stanley cup series. The Edmonton Oilers regular season record was not that impressive. But the Oilers play-off record was impressive indeed. And the final seven games, Mr. Speaker, were exercises in international diplomacy as the Oiler fans and the Hurricane fans enthusiastically sang Oh Canada and the Star Spangled Banner with obvious pride prior to the commencement of each match. Carolina hockey came to be known as redneck hockey, and our fans were superb. I know virtually knowing nothing about hockey, Mr. Speaker, but I have become a full-fledged hockey fan. Strike that. I have become a full-fledged redneck hockey fan. Last evening and today I met with Canadian friends who were visiting Washington, and Mr. Price, I say to you that they said for us not to become too comfortable with that Stanley Cup. My Canadian friends said that cup is destined to go north. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that the Hurricanes' outstanding goalie is an Edmontonian. So it is all in the family. I may drive 95 miles next year, Mr. Speaker, just to see a match or a game, whatever it is called, but meanwhile, best wishes and congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes 2006 Stanley Cup champions. And I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentleman from Alaska, the distinguished chairman of the full committee. Mr. Young, I want to commend you and Mr. LoBiondo, the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, for having chaired the full committee and the Coast Guard subcommittee, along with your respective ranking members, Mr. Oberstar, the gentleman from Minnesota; and Mr. Filner, the gentleman from California. You all have done notable work. Chairman Young, you and I have talked about this before, but I believe the U.S. Coast Guard probably more than any other Federal entity assumes additional duties time after time without corresponding increased appropriations. I told the Commandant the other day, Admiral Allen, I said, You must have a magic wand down there, because you all continue to discharge duty after duty, oftentimes newly assigned duties, with the same amount of money. And I don't know how they do it, but they do. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, championship hockey on North Carolina's Tobacco Road, unbelievable, as one of my Boston colleagues said last week. Well, very believable this date because the Carolina Hurricanes prevailed over the spirited and talented Edmonton Oilers and now proudly display the revered Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes formerly played in Greensboro, located in the congressional district I represent, but now call Raleigh, North Carolina, home. And the Raleigh and Carolina fans have been superb this season. Mr. Speaker, ``redneck hockey,'' as it came to be known, is here to stay. Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, after I recognize the distinguished gentleman from Virginia, I ask unanimous consent that the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren), who sits on the Judiciary Committee, be allowed to control the remaining time on our side.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to recognize for 3 minutes the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) who chairs the House Agriculture Committee and who sits on the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am manager of the bill for the Judiciary Committee for our side.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to initially present an update as to where we have been and where we are in Iraq. Many months ago an Iraqi citizen said to me, you all must remove Saddam. We can't do it, he said, because we know what he is capable of doing to us in retaliation. I said to him if we do remove him, will you embrace us or will you kick us? He said, I don't know. I responded, that is my concern. I don't know either. I believe his anti-Saddam remarks at that time represented a majority view in Iraq, but my concern proved prophetic. Our exercise in Iraq, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, has not been without mistakes. Our entry strategy was superb. Our post-entry strategy was tentative at best, inept at worst. A better response to the looting that ensued in the early days should have been in place. The disestablishment of the Army, without an alternative plan, in my opinion, was premature. Some would blame the United States for the delayed political development, but after all, our forefathers were deliberate in forming our country's operational apparatus, so I think the political complaint is probably unfounded. Was Saddam an evil, brutal murderer, a flagrant violator of human rights? You bet. Was he involved in international terrorism? You bet. Was he directly or indirectly involved in the 9/11 attack? I don't know. I can neither confirm nor reject that theory. My point, Mr. Speaker, is that intelligence was flawed. Mistakes were made. But the cause for freedom is a noble one, and progress has, indeed, been realized. I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, about the lack of objectivity in reporting the war on terrorism. Some liberal talk show host reports imply that no good has been accomplished. Conversely, some conservative talk show hosts portray Baghdad as moonlight and roses. Clearly these two slanted versions are inaccurate and unfair. Let me say a word about the PATRIOT Act, Mr. Speaker, and this will be discussed in more detail subsequently. But the PATRIOT Act was reported in the full House by the Judiciary Committee, and it addressed the nexus of the sale of illicit narcotics and terrorist financing. These two shadowy worlds of narcotics trafficking and terrorism is an element of terrorism that I think is lost on many Americans. They are joined at the hip, and I am particularly pleased that the PATRIOT Act did respond to that end. Seventeen months ago, Mr. Speaker, I publicly indicated that troop withdrawal was conspicuously absent when the war on terrorism was discussed. Oh, we spoke of appropriating more funds, we spoke of dispatching additional troops, but virtually no one ever even remotely included troop withdrawal in their discussions. Now, I am not suggesting troop withdrawal tomorrow, but I want our armed servicemen and -women home sooner rather than later. Some may declare, oh, we cannot cut and run. Cut and run? We have had a presence in Iraq in excess of 3 years. 2,500 armed services Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice to the cause of freedom, Mr. Speaker. Thousands of permanent and disabling injuries have been inflicted upon members of our armed services in addition to the spending of billions of dollars. I do not know what constitutes cutting and running, but I do know that when we have logged a wartime duration of 3 years, when 2,500 Americans have given their lives for freedom, and Lord only knows how many Americans have been injured, this does not constitute cutting and running. The time has come, it seems to me, Mr. Speaker, to pass the baton to the Iraqi Government. Now, this decision will ultimately be made militarily, and properly so, by the commanders on the ground; but I do not want this matter of withdrawal to be lost in the shuffle. If freedom and peace prevail in Iraq, Mr. Speaker, history will be generous in its praise to President Bush and the Congress. Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) who chairs the judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) who sits as a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on each side?

Mr. COBLE. And the other side?

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) who chairs the Subcommittee on the Constitution on the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King), who sits as a member of the Judiciary, 3 minutes.

Mr. COBLE. I say to my good friend from Pennsylvania, I have two more speakers, Mr. Murtha.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize for 2 minutes the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), who is the chairman of the National Security Subcommittee of the Government Reform Committee, and who has been to Iraq 12 times.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Tanner, I do not know. I am told that it was announced that it was a mistake. But I cannot verify that, and this is a case of first impression with me, what you have just shared with me.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), who, by the way, is the founder and chairman of the bipartisan, bicameral Anti-terrorist Funding Task Force.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. (Mr. HAYWORTH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), a Vietnam veteran and the recipient of two Bronze Stars.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, before I recognize the next speaker, could you tell me how much time remains.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) who sits on the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson).