Christopher Carney

Mr. CARNEY

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

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Perhaps. H.R. 553 is a bipartisan fix to a decades-old problem that will only get worse if we don't act now. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ms. Harman for her leadership on this bill. And on behalf of first preventers, first responders everywhere, I urge passage of this essential legislation.

Mr. CARNEY. Yes.

Mr. CARNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of H.R. 553, the Reducing the Over-Classification Act of 2009. It's an essential part of our national security, and this act is identical to one that passed the House last year, H.R. 4806. I was proud to work on that legislation with Ms. Harman and my other Intelligence Subcommittee colleagues last year, and I am pleased that we are moving it anew this Congress. Our goal is a simple one, to make DHS the gold standard when it comes to classification practice. As someone with many years of intelligence experience as a member of the U.S. military, I know that intel is useless if it doesn't get to the people who need it. And I have witnessed personally the missed opportunities that can arise from over-classification. That's why H.R. 553 is designed to ensure that as much homeland security information as possible is shared with the Department's State, local, tribal and private sector partners, the men and women on the front lines of the Nation's homeland security efforts. As the 9/11 Commission and others have noted, it is those officers who, during their day-to-day police work, are most likely to uncover a terrorist plot in the making, and those who are best positioned to disrupt or even prevent it. They are not only our first responders, they are also our first preventers. Unfortunately, what we have heard time and again from those officers is not encouraging. They are not getting important information that can keep people safe because too much of it is stamped ``Top Secret.'' H.R. 553 will promote accountability and best practices at DHS by requiring employees and contractors to use the classification regime the way it was intended: To protect sensitive sources and methods, not to hide embarrassing facts or protect political turf. Among other things, H.R. 553 will promote accountability by requiring that all classified intelligence products created at the Department be simultaneously created with a standard unclassified format as well if such a product would help police and sheriffs keep us safe. This will help change the intelligence culture that is still far too comfortable with classifying rather than sharing. H.R. 553, likewise, will promote accountability by requiring the Secretary to create an auditing mechanism for the DHS Inspector General that randomly samples classified intelligence products, identifies problems that exist in those samples, and recommends improvements to fix them. To further engage Department staff in their efforts to get classification right, H.R. 553 requires the Secretary to establish a process through which employees may challenge original DHS classification decisions and be rewarded for bringing those abuses to light. The legislation further requires the Secretary to establish penalties for staff who repeatedly fail to comply with applicable classification policies, despite notice of their noncompliance and an opportunity to undergo retraining.

Mr. CARNEY. I will not. I will finish my statement at this time.

Mr. CARNEY. Those provisions are removed from the stimulus package, if I'm correct.

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 2403.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2403) to designate the new Federal Courthouse, located in the 700 block of East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse,'' as amended.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2403, as amended. This bill honors the distinguished careers of two giants in the civil rights field. From 1948 until 1960, Judge Robinson served at the NAACP's Legal Defense and Education Fund. During that time he was instrumental in representing the Virginia plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit Brown vs. Board of Education, which declared separate but unequal schools as unconstitutional. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Judge Robinson to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, a six-member bipartisan commission charged with studying civil rights violations in the United States. Judge Robinson was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 73-17. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Judge Robinson to the District Court, and 2 years later he became the first African American to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Judge Robinson served as Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals from 1981 to 1986, and served on the Court until his retirement in 1992. Judge Robert Merhige, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 5, 1919. Judge Merhige attended High Point College in North Carolina and received his law degree from the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law in 1942. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, where he served as a crewman aboard a B- 17 bomber based in Italy. Judge Merhige was U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1967. He served there for over 30 years. He was a frequent lecturer at the University of Virginia and served on the faculty of the University of Richmond. While on the bench, Judge Merhige ordered the University of Virginia to admit women, and 2 years later he led the order to desegregate dozens of schools in Virginia. Two weeks into his service on the court, Judge Merhige drew the first of many high-profile cases that became the landmark of his career. He ordered the release of black activist H. Rap Brown, who was imprisoned in Virginia after making an impassioned and militant speech in Maryland. Mr. Speaker, this bill has broad bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) such time as he may consume.

Mr. CARNEY. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2837) to designate the United States courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse''.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 2837.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2837, a bill which designates the courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse. As we all know, President Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He led an extraordinary life. He steered the United States into world politics and was a polished and accomplished public servant and indeed was a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 27, 1858, and died in Oyster Bay, New York, in 1919. He served as the 26th President of the United States. During his youth, he struggled with ill health and later dedicated his life to strenuous outdoor activities and Spartan living. He served during the Spanish American War, leading the Rough Rider Regiment, which became famous during the battle of San Juan Hill. He was elected Governor of New York in 1898. Upon the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, he became President, and served until 1909. He believed the government should serve as an equal and fair arbiter between great economic forces such as labor and management. Roosevelt's life was rich with varied experiences. He served as Police Commissioner of New York City, Governor of New York, and was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist, an ardent conservationist, and the author of 26 books. As I mentioned before, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905. He died peacefully in his sleep in 1919. I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNEY. I yield back as well.

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

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days, the House will once again consider the new GI Bill which restores the promise of a 4-year college scholarship for Iraq and Afghan veterans, similar to the educational benefits available after World War II. The original GI Bill of 1944 allowed millions of families to achieve the American Dream and set the economy on the right course after a draining war. After World War II, for every dollar spent on the GI Bill, $7 was returned to the economy. The new GI Bill will spark yet another American economic recovery, one that is needed during this time of economic uncertainty with skyrocketing gas prices and food prices and devastating job losses. But even more importantly, it will fulfill our promise to our military personnel that if they serve their country in war, they will receive a quality education at home. The current benefit simply does not live up to that promise. Mr. Speaker, while President Bush and his Republican allies remain strong advocates for continuing the war in Iraq, it is important that they join us in keeping this important promise to our Nation's troops.

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on June 4, 2008.

Mr. CARNEY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 308.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 308) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 308 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 27th National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. Statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund indicate that, in 2007, 181 officers died in the line of duty, and they will be honored at this year's memorial service. On average, in the United States a peace officer is killed every 53 hours. Sadly, these numbers make 2007 one of the deadliest years for peace officers. Five officers were women. Forty States plus the District of Columbia experienced officer fatalities in 2007; 13 States had five or more fatalities. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The first official Memorial Service took place on May 15, 1982, at which 91 law enforcement officers were honored. Over the past 27 years, the Memorial Service has honored over 3,000 law enforcement officers from around our Nation. Today, the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Capitol Hill has become one in a series of well-attended events during Police Week. Activities on the Capitol Grounds conducted under H. Con. Res. 308 will be coordinated with the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, will be free and open to the public. I support this resolution and urge its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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