Eric Cantor

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, recently some Members of the House have proposed using the supplemental appropriations bill to restrict the President's ability to defend our country and its allies from a hostile Iran. Attempts to curtail the bargaining ability and leverage of the United States comes at the precise moment when our Nation must show strength. However, attempts to dampen our resolve and security send the anti- U.S. forces in Tehran a signal that America is weak. If Iran continues to see that America stands determined to prevent it from going nuclear, it will be encouraged to become a responsible member of the international community. If we falter, the Iranian nuclear threat may well become a reality. Mr. Speaker, we must not let that happen.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. I would respond to the gentleman that the section cited on page 2, subsection (4), line 1 of the bill, is a section of the U.S. Code dealing with terrorism. And again, the underlying----

Mr. CANTOR. I would ask the gentleman to repeat that again.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit is designed to be a substantive enhancement to the underlying Secure Maritime and Vessel Workforce bill. I think the other side has demonstrated on two occasions this week that they are inclined to work across the aisle and accept substantive improvements to the bill. What this motion to recommit does, it is intended to protect our maritime workforce, our national security, and ultimately the ports that serve and provide commerce to our great Nation. The language of the motion to recommit ensures that individuals that have been convicted of felonies are not able to board maritime vessels using transportation security cards. Now these felonies includes espionage, treason, sedition, murder, racketeering, crimes dealing with explosives or incendiary devices. These are individuals convicted of these felonies that frankly have an underlying purpose to harm Americans. Clearly, individuals convicted of these type of felony crimes pose a security risk to America and its citizens. We need to keep our ports safe and secure, and to do that, we must keep our maritime vessels safe and secure. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. CANTOR. In its present form, yes, I am, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CANTOR. I would tell the gentleman, dealt with----

Mr. CANTOR. Absolutely, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman has yielded. So what we are talking about here is the substantive----

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman, I find it very difficult to understand how the gentleman can refer to an abuse of process on this side of the aisle. I hardly----

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CANTOR. I would say to the gentleman again, this is a section of the U.S. Code that deals with acts of terrorism against the United States and its citizens. The underlying purpose, again, of the motion to recommit is to ensure the safety of our----

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, just 2 days ago, on February 14, Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, posted a speech on an Islamist Web site where he blessed jihad fighters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia and urged the mujahadeen all over world to remain steadfast since complete victory was near. He made special mention of those in the Islamic jihadist media and thanked them for their blessed efforts which cause the Crusaders to lose sleep. There is no doubt about it, Madam Speaker. We are fighting against an enemy that uses every weapon at its disposal to inflict casualties upon our soldiers in the field. This enemy seeks not just victory in Iraq but the reestablishment of a greater Islamic caliphate that would threaten the security of America and freedom-loving people throughout the world. Today, this House will vote on a nonbinding resolution that disapproves of a surge in Iraq, a resolution that discourages our troops yet fails to satisfy the antiwar movement of America's left. The resolution will likely pass today with near unanimous support of my friends on the other side of the aisle. Yet, Madam Speaker, I am troubled by their seeming unwillingness to accept the real consequences of this outcome. This from the party of John F. Kennedy, who so inspired our Nation when he said in his inaugural address: ``Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to ensure the survival and the success of liberty.'' Madam Speaker, we have come a long way since our Nation's 35th President spoke those words 46 years ago. This debate arrives at an historic time in our Nation's history, not because of the resolution we are considering today but because the results of our efforts in Iraq will have a true impact on the lives of our soldiers and the security of all of us for generations to come. Recently, I received a letter from one of my constituents who expressed some very real concerns about the Democrats' view of the war in Iraq. He writes: ``I am a servicemember that has served in Iraq, training Iraqis. I have 19 years of service. I spent 6 years in the Virginia Army National Guard, and I am entering my 13th year of active Federal service. ``Pulling out of Iraq doesn't send the right message to those we are fighting,'' he said. ``Not enough is being said about what the U.S. will do if we withdraw and what will happen in the midst of a power vacuum . . . '' The soldier went on to say: ``I personally served in the streets of Baghdad in 2006, and I would have felt better serving, thinking that both houses of Congress gave me their full support.'' Madam Speaker, what we debate in this House, how we conduct ourselves, does have real consequences. Some of our country's bravest are on the battlefield and on the streets of Baghdad as we speak. We have seen throughout our history what happens when our resolve is weak. In 1993 this country half-heartedly supported the commitment of troops to subdue the violent warlords of Somalia. The precipitous withdrawal in the face of casualties left a chaotic nation to this day that harbors terrorists and is a feeding ground for instability. The lessons of history must not be forgotten as we face a determined enemy of Islamic terrorists who are waging a war upon freedom. Madam Speaker, the American people want us to fight and win in Iraq and bring our troops home. Our soldiers seek nothing more than the support they require to perform their mission and the knowledge that the American people believe that their sacrifice is necessary and noble. Contrary to some of those on the other side of the aisle who have stood here in this well believing and saying that this debate is a breath of fresh air, our enemies will be the only ones satisfied by this debate. They will have received all the political rhetoric they require to convince their followers that complete victory is at hand. One can only imagine with horror how many Islamic radicals will be inspired to continue the fight after this House resolves that it supports our troops but not the mission we ask them to perform. To those who support this resolution and oppose any effort to achieve victory in Iraq, I challenge you to be true to your convictions and bring a binding resolution to the floor to cut off funds for our troops, because that is really what this is all about. Madam Speaker, I oppose this resolution and urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and send a message worth hearing to America, our soldiers, and our enemies.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened at the loss of a great American. Charlie Norwood was an honored member of this House of Representatives and will be deeply missed. His work for patient and individual rights showed his intense compassion for the American people. Congressman Norwood was someone who lived the American dream. He went to college, became a dentist, fought for his country in Vietnam, and was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He served his district, state and country with distinction in the United States Congress. Charlie worked to leave the world a better place than it was given to him, and I can say that, because of his service to our country and work for health care issues, he did just that. Congressman Charlie Norwood was taken from this earth too soon. My wife Diana and I extend our deepest sympathy to Gloria and the entire Norwood family in this difficult time.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Paul Anthony Wieser of Culpeper, Virginia, who passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2006. Mr. Wieser dedicated his life to military and public service and should be honored today. Mr. Wieser was a proud World War II veteran who served in the United States Navy aboard the USS North Carolina as a Boatswain Mate First Class from 1941 to 1946. After the war, he returned home to Linden, New Jersey and became a firefighter for the Linden Fire Department. He was called from the United States Naval Reserve in 1951 and served in Korea aboard the USS Kula Gulf. After retiring from the Linden, New Jersey Fire Department in 1980, Mr. Wieser moved to Wilmington, North Carolina to be closer to the battleship he loved, the USS North Carolina. He was a volunteer tour guide on the USS North Carolina for over 10 years. Mr. Wieser remained in touch with many of his shipmates and attended all of the USS North Carolina's annual reunions. As the guest of honor at Constitution Day on September 17, 2006, he had the opportunity to ring the USS North Carolina's bell. He was also featured on the cover of the October 2006 issue of Virginia Living Magazine in an issue that honored World War II heroes. I hope that you will join me in honoring the life and service of Mr. Wieser and offering our sincerest condolences to his wife, Millie Wieser, and his family and friends.

Mr. CANTOR

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

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, today's debate on H.R. 547 ultimately is about finding ways for our Nation to reduce its dependence on petro fuels. I offer this amendment, Mr. Chairman, one in response to an issue that has caught the attention of the American people and is being wildly reported in the press. The subject of this report in the amendment is the request by the office of the Speaker for the use of a luxury jetliner. Today, the New York Post cleverly questioned the ``Airogance,'' that is A-I-R, of a request to use a $22,000-an-hour taxpayer-funded luxury jetliner to fly the Speaker from coast to coast. While citing security concerns, a request was made by the Office of the Speaker for a plane that, according to the Air Force, has a game room, a stateroom, entertainment center, bedroom, shower, and seats 42 to 50 people. Now, Mr. Chairman, I hardly think these amenities help with security, and I personally would describe them at the very least as inappropriate and an unnecessary extravagance. Again, H.R. 547 is about finding ways to shift our Nation's patterns of fuel consumption. We hear a lot of talk about doing everything we can to achieve energy independence. And there is a lot of talk as well about stopping global warming. In this context, Mr. Chairman, these reports and the underlying request by the Office of the Speaker is an extravagance of power. It is something that, frankly, the taxpayers won't swallow. And I urge the passage of this amendment.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman. Mr. Chairman, there has been a lot said on this floor today in this debate. Frankly, questions have been raised about the expectations of the American people and what it is that they seek for their Members of Congress to do. There was one Member on the other side of the aisle who said we ought to get on with the serious business of the day. Well, Mr. Chairman, the ability to fly on a jumbo jetliner is a privilege never before granted to a Member of Congress. And I know one thing, Mr. Chairman; the American taxpayers do expect us to take seriously the decisions surrounding the expenditure of those dollars. They expect us to respect that those tax dollars do not belong to the Speaker, do not belong to any of us. They are just that, the taxpayers' dollars. They also expect us to lead by example, and I would want to pose to every speaker that spoke today and ask them, do they really in their heart of hearts support our Speaker having the access to a 42-seat jumbo jetliner?

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, first of all I would like to congratulate the gentlelady from California on her election as Speaker and look forward to serving with her. I just ran into a reporter on the outside of the Chamber who asked me about the tone of debate and what I thought the tone would be going forward. I agree with Leader Boehner when he spoke in this Chamber just a little bit earlier about the fact that we can debate, we can differ in a nice way, and I think that is what the American people expect. But they also expect rigorous debate here on the floor of the House. I am asking my colleagues to reject the previous question. Because if we look at the message from this election, the American people spoke out: They want change. They want us to change the way that Washington does business. And in fact, a little less than 2 years ago, then Minority Leader Pelosi saw fit to send a letter to the former Speaker Hastert spelling out the way that she thought this House should run, how we should change, a prescription to correct the so-called ills that my friend from Massachusetts mentioned earlier of the 109th Congress. So if we defeat the previous question, we in the House will be allowed to bring up what has been called the minority bill of rights, and this again was the recipe for change that then minority Leader Pelosi saw fit that was the right prescription for the ills that affected this institution or allegedly affected this institution. So it just doesn't make sense for us to be here today and somehow in spirit of bipartisanship, transparency, civility, to be going back on that pledge to honor the rights of all Americans so that we can have an open debate in this House. It doesn't make sense to follow the adage, ``Do as I say, not as I do.'' So I would urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question, allow there to be light, allow there to be transparency, not just after we pass the first 100 hours of this Congress.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Private First Class Edwin Anthony (E.J) Andino II of Culpeper, Virginia. On Sunday, September 3, 2006, PFC Andino, a member of the United States Army 1st Battalion 77th Armored Division, died while responding to a mortar attack against a U.S. Army camp in Baghdad. He had been awarded the Army Achievement Medal and was recently promoted to the rank of Private First Class. PFC Andino volunteered for 18 months of combat service and had only been in Iraq for a month before he was killed. Posthumously, he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor. PFC Andino is remembered as an American hero who joined the Army to serve his country and to make his family proud. We are grateful for his service to our Nation and for his ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedom. I ask that you join me in offering our sincere condolences to the family and friends of PFC Andino at this most difficult time.

Mr. CANTOR

Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important contributions and deep sacrifices that our men and women in the military make. I would like to share the experience of one of my constituents, Major Jeff Farmer, who recently returned from Iraq and sent me this message: I'll leave you with a little story. After going on R&R three months earlier (to date I'd been away from my home for more than twelve months), I flew into Atlanta National Airport from Kuwait for a layover waiting for the next flight to Charlottesville, VA. I had on my same uniform that I had been wearing for 36 straight hours. I was trying to get home to my family. I was hungry so I went into an Appleby's in the airport terminal. I did not feel very patriotic so I found a corner booth and dropped my pack next to the floor by my table. I was tired so I put my head down as if to meditate and trying not to attract any attention. I was not quite sure if I wanted to eat or sleep however both were weighing heavily on my mind. The waiter came to my table and reminded me that I could not drink alcohol in the airport in uniform because of General Order #1. I told the waiter that was OK. I was not drinking anyway. My eyes were a little hazy and I was appreciating the look of free people walking around and enjoying each other's conversation. It was refreshing and distracted my attention while I was trying to look at the menu and order. It was nice to hear a baby cry, people laugh, and just enjoy what they were doing without consequences or repercussions. The environment was very warm which made me feel a little envious of my experience and if they really knew how good life really is. My meal finally came and I ate slowly trying to taste, smell, and enjoy every bite. French fries never tasted so good. After an enjoyable meal I slowly got up and walked over to the counter to ask for my waiter so I could pay and leave. The cashier said, ``Don't worry. The meal is covered.'' I thanked him and he said don't thank me. Four different people offered to pay your meal and when I told the other three the meal was paid in full they said, ``Keep the money for the next soldier coming in.'' As I turned from the counter with my pack on my back people began to stand, thank me, pat my back, and applaud. Tears filled my eyes. I was humbled. Just the thought and gesture made me feel proud of what I was doing and my service to my country. At that moment I knew I was home. We owe Major Jeff Farmer and his fellow servicemen and women a debt of gratitude for helping preserve freedom and democracy.