Bill Delahunt

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, if I may just pose a question, again there is a wealth of history that I am looking at right here in terms of the issue of ethical standards in this particular institution. Has there ever been before a moment in terms of ethical standards where a unilateral initiative has been imposed on the body without a collaborative effort, without consultation?

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to me. I have to say they have all served this institution well. They provided me with a real history lesson here this evening. I am probably, maybe with one exception, their senior in terms of age, but they carry a wealth of insight and experience in this issue. What I found particularly interesting was that single experience I had serving on that subpanel in many ways reflected what they each individually came to a conclusion. What I discovered was that it worked. We worked hard, much harder than I anticipated. It was long hours. We brought before that subcommittee a significant number of Members of this House. They fully cooperated, each and every single one of them; and we worked in a bipartisan fashion. The two Republicans that served on that particular panel, I knew one before and I happened to be a classmate, and the other one I never really had any contact or communication with. And I have to tell my colleagues I was extremely impressed with their concern about this institution, with their professionalism, with their standards and their willingness to work in an extremely collaborative way. It truly was a lesson that bipartisanship exists in this institution, and particularly in the rubric in the format of an ethics investigation is absolutely essential. We talked about the House today, and we all obviously go back to our home districts, and we hear our own constituents decry what they perceive to be the strident level of partisanship that, unfortunately, does exist today within this institution. But my experience on that subpanel was really informative, that those who love the institution, those who understand that if there is a lack of confidence in the integrity of this institution by the American people that we erode the health, if you will, the viability of our democracy. It really is a sad comment that, without consultation, in a unilateral move, these rules changes came to the floor and were adopted. Because I think the real issue here will be not just the erosion of the respect of the institution over time, but there will be demands from the outside. There will be a legitimate question posed by the American people as to whether this House can, in fact, police itself, whether we have the capacity to maintain high standards. If we abrogate that responsibility, not only do we do damage, in my opinion, to this institution, but we chip away at the health of American democracy. People will begin to believe the worst. What is happening in that institution? Are there backroom deals going on? Or is the partisanship so absolutely venomous at this point in time that they cannot work together and there should be some sort of independent group or independent commission that polices those Members of Congress? That would indeed be unfortunate, in my judgment.

Mr. DELAHUNT. And we never could have done it, Mr. Speaker, in 45 days. Never.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, very few of life's important lessons come from a book. That is the educational philosophy of the Sea Education Association, a unique program based on Cape Cod to teach hands-on seafaring skills to young men and women. SEA offers college students a rigorous semester ``overseas'' that challenges them intellectually and physically by combining study of the deep ocean with the sailing adventure of a lifetime. After extensive classroom training, 22 SEA students and a crew of 11 launched from Key West aboard the Corwith Cramer, a 134-foot sailing research vessel under the command of Captain Steve Tarrant. Five weeks later, the students were deploying oceanographic sampling equipment near Jamaica when they spotted a small disabled vessel brimming with Haitian nationals, including many children. With search-and-rescue assets nowhere nearby, and with life and limb literally at stake, the students showed more than academic and navigational prowess. They acted from deep in their hearts. What followed was a dramatic story of courage and compassion--a life- changing, hands-across-the-sea experience for rescuer and refugee alike. John Bullard, SEA president, summed it up in five eloquent words: ``We're all in the same boat.'' The enormity of the ocean has inspired for thousands of years. These students learned first-hand that men and women are also part of the natural rhythm of the sea, and resolved immediately to remain a part of the lives of the Haitians they encountered so far from home. All who follow in future SEA voyages can sail with deep pride in a mission that anticipates serious challenge--but that also embraces deep responsibility. I commend to my House colleagues the following news account, one of dozens in the wake of this remarkable sequence of events: [From MSNBC, Mar. 10, 2005] U.S. Students Aid Rescue of Haitians Adrift at Sea (By Kari Huus) For 22 U.S. college students on a voyage in the Caribbean, the six-week trip would have been an adventure to remember in any case, but their encounter with a boat full of Haitians adrift at sea made it a life-changing event. The students, studying oceanography in a program called Sea Semester at Woods Hole, Mass., were about 45 miles north of Jamaica on Wednesday deploying some research equipment from their vessel, the SSV Corwith Cramer, when one student spotted what turned out to be a 25-foot open boat packed with 49 Haitians, including 14 children and infants. The Haitians had been heading for Jamaica, but were adrift after their boat lost its mast and rudder. Passengers on the distressed boat said they had been at sea for five days. What to do was decided over the course of the next five hours. Through calls to the U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaican authorities, the students learned that the Corwith, a 135- foot sail-powered research vessel, was the only boat within reasonable range to rescue the Haitians. Jamaican authorities said they could not rescue the group of Haitians but would receive them. But there were risks to be considered, said John Bullard, president of Sea Semester: ``Piracy is one of them. Exposure to disease is another.'' On the other hand, he said, if the research vessel ``had just sailed away from 49 people . . . our students would have been scarred in other ways.'' assessing the risks Under the direction of the vessel's captain, Steve Tarrent, who leads an ll-person professional crew, calls went out to search-and-rescue experts and medical experts. The decision was made to bring the Haitians aboard before the sun set. ``We thought if we towed the vessel it might not survive that. We would end up fishing people out of the water,'' said Bullard. ``We felt the safest action was to bring them aboard during the daylight when we could control some things.'' As the Haitians gathered in a sheltered spot above deck on the research vessel, the crew cut the smaller boat loose after marking it with fluorescent paint to avoid sparking unnecessary search-and-rescue efforts if it were spotted later. A meal of rice and beans was prepared for the unexpected passengers. `We're all in the same boat' An escort boat met the Corwith off the coast of Jamaica, and delivered the Haitians safely to Port Antonio early Thursday morning. The ship's crew and students were resting in port before finishing off their sailing semester in Key West, Fla., on March 19. The captain and students were not immediately available for comment, but Bullard said parents who were contacted expressed great pride in their children's role in the rescue. ``What we have in our planned curriculum is the study of oceanography, and the history and literature of the sea and skills like navigation and weather forecasting,'' said Bullard. ``One thing you learn that is not in the curriculum is that we're all in the same boat. ``This group of students got a chance to learn this literally.'' Waves of unrest and poverty have driven thousands of Haitians to seek refuge outside their country over the past decade. One common destination is Jamaica. Many Haitians are denied refugee status and forced to return home.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute David Hannon who is being honored today for his outstanding work as President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Since Mr. Hannon's tenure as President and CEO began in 1986, South Shore Hospital has experienced considerable growth and development, adding programs consistent with the highest quality of medical care in the region, and bringing to the community a level of excellence that was once the domain of prestigious academic medical centers in major cities. In addition, David has promoted sustained investments in hospital infrastructure, including new medical technologies and health care equipment. These initiatives have enabled the hospital to grow from a small community facility to a regional medical center offering highly complex and sophisticated care--from acute and outpatient services to home health and hospice care--to more than 650,000 residents in southeastern Massachusetts. In addition to caring for the medical needs of the community, he has also taken an equally strong interest in the outstanding work of the 3,000 employees who are the very heart and soul of South Shore Hospital. Through their collective efforts, South Shore Hospital has become a leading health care provider in the state of Massachusetts, with a record of clinical excellence and superb patient care. That is reflected in the hospital being the first in the Commonwealth to earn maximum recognition with commendation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for three consecutive review periods. On behalf of a deeply grateful community, I want to join with my colleagues in the House of Representatives in thanking David Hannon on a job well done.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and appreciate his encouragement and support in this particular effort along with his leadership on the full Committee on International Relations on the House side. Mr. Speaker, as others have said, including the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), this bill represents yet another step forward in the comprehensive effort to address the international human tragedy of sexual exploitation of women and children. It would mandate that humanitarian relief agencies adopt a code of conduct that would promote protection for potential victims. As the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) indicated, U.S. funding would only be available if those agencies had expressly articulated and adopted such a policy. The bill enumerates six core principles that incorporate the findings of a task force created by the United Nations in 2002. To mention a few, and I will be repetitive, but I think it is important to repeat because these provisions are of consequence. Sexual activity with a child under 18 is prohibited regardless of local law. The exchange of sexual favors for any reason is defined as abusive and exploitative behavior. It is humiliating and degrading, and as such, it is prohibited. Where there is a concern of abuse or exploitation on the part of a humanitarian worker, that individual, that humanitarian worker is required, is mandated now, under the provisions of this legislation, to report their suspicions to the proper authorities. And most importantly, humanitarian agencies are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of their code of conduct. It cannot be denied that as a people and a government, the United States has responded to crisis after crisis. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across national borders. It is also estimated that 2 million children, 2 million children are enslaved in the global sex trade. The magnitude of this crisis is immense. And sadly, Mr. Speaker, it goes largely unnoticed. It is an international scandal that needs to be revealed and acknowledged by the international community because that is necessary before we can adequately address it and seek to eradicate it. Information and discussion about this tragic reality is critical because there is widespread agreement that education and awareness, public awareness are the keys to prevention. And if we persist in our collaboration with other governments and stakeholders, including the United Nations, I am convinced that our efforts will result in a significant decline in these unacceptable numbers. The truth is we are making progress. Since 2001, the U.S. has provided close to $300 million to support anti-trafficking programs in 120 countries. Under the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the Protect Act became law, which allows for the prosecution of U.S. citizens who travel abroad to sexually abuse minors. And in the private sector we secured a commitment from the travel and tourism industry to implement its own code of conduct on child trafficking. And I am confident that the passage of this bill code will build on that progress that we have already observed because it will increase public awareness of this quiet crisis. And hopefully it will impact the cultural attitudes that nurture this behavior, often by silence and acquiescence by looking the other way, by ignoring its existence. And there have been some positive developments. Recently, the action of the government of Morocco in filing charges against their own troops who purportedly bribed Congolese children with food for sex while serving as U.N. Peacekeepers has to be noted for the record, because I have no doubt that the tangible and cumulative efforts of this Congress and many of the stakeholders contributed in an indirect way do that particular action. Because by our cumulative efforts we have announced to the world, to the international community that this issue is a high priority for the United States and for every American. The idea for this discrete proposal was generated as a result of a meeting in the Majority Leader's office this past January, and I want to acknowledge his leadership on this issue, I see the gentleman presents in the Chamber now, not only on the bill before us today, but for his long and committed engagement on children's issues. The Majority Leader has made a difference, and I would be remiss also not to note the contributions made by the gentleman who controls the time for the majority, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) whose leadership on this whole array, this particular issue and other related issues, can only be described as inspirational. Many are in the debt of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), many victims across the world. As a people and a government, the United States responded as we always do in a very positive way to the tsunami in South Asia and to every crisis that besets this planet with passion and incredible generosity. But we cannot lose sight of that unfortunate reality that at such times, there are increased opportunities for sexual predators and those who would traffic for sexual reasons. So today, once more, we are announcing to the rest of the world that protection of women and children is a top priority for the people of the United States. Before I conclude, I think it is incumbent upon me to recognize the key members of the staffs on both sides who achieved what I consider to be a thoughtful and obviously bipartisan piece of legislation. First, let me thank the staff of the Majority Leader's office for their cooperation and hard work enabling us to reach this result. With their customary incredible energy, Cassie Statuto Bevans demonstrated a sincere determination to craft the best legislative proposal to protect women and children who are at risk. I am also grateful for the helpful assistance of Hope Henry in the office of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). From the House Committee on International Relations, Renee Austell and Matt McLean provided significant time and expertise helping us to formulate the right approach. In addition, I would like to acknowledge the import and guidance of my Democratic colleagues on the committee, Pearl Alice Marsh and Robin Roizman. And I would also like to extend my appreciation to Rob Blair with the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the House Committee on Appropriations whose timely and insightful guidance throughout this process is much appreciated by me and my own staff. Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation for the skillful assistance of Mark Synnes in the Office of Legislative Counsel in the drafting of this bill. Myself, and I know the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) also appreciate the letters of support that we have received from several leading relief organizations, including InterAction, Save the Children, the American Red Cross, Refugees International, World Vision and UNICEF. By the way, I also want to acknowledge the assistance and help of my own staffer, Christine Leonard. Mr. Speaker, with that I urge my colleagues to unanimously approve this legislation. [From World Vision, Mar. 1, 2005] Statement of World Vision on H.R. 912, the Humanitarian Assistance Code of Conduct Act of 2005 Washington.--World Vision would like to thank House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Congressman William Delahunt for their ongoing commitment to protecting children from harm and their leadership in drafting H.R. 912, the Humanitarian Assistance Code of Conduct Act of 2005. World Vision supports this important piece of legislation. Each year, millions of children are exploited and abused around the world, often in the midst of a disaster, such as the tsunami that impacted South Asia in December 2004. Humanitarian organizations must be part of the first line of defense in protecting these children, and this includes measures for self-accountability and proper conduct. H.R. 912 helps to ensure this accountability and conduct by prohibiting the funding of relief organizations that have not adopted a code of conduct that provides for the protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian operations. World Vision has been in the forefront of developing comprehensive child protection policies and codes of conduct among the humanitarian aid community. All organizations that work with children should use every available measure to protect children from harm. World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision serves the world's poor-- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. In 2004, World Vision operated in nearly 100 countries around the world.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Once again, Mr. Speaker, we have before us a bill that would sweep aside generations of State laws that protect consumers. Citizens will be denied their basic right to use their own State courts to file class action lawsuits against companies--even if there are clear violations of State labor laws or State civil rights laws. This bill comes after a lobbying campaign costing business interests tens of millions of dollars. Well, that was money well spent. With this sweeping legislation, corporations will have free reign to avoid responsibility for the wrongs they commit. It is just shameful that the victims of corporate misconduct do not have the same level of influence here in the halls of Congress. Let's not forget the people who died as a result of defective tires manufactured by Firestone. What about countless individuals who died as a result of the tobacco industry's failure to disclose the risks of cigarettes? Well, if it is any indication of this bill's intent--tobacco is already celebrating this week. Stocks are up and the industry is glowing. Let me quote their take on this bill, ``The practical effect of the change could be that many cases will never be heard given how overburdened Federal judges are.'' Plainly that is the goal of the bill. The goal is to ensure that legitimate plaintiffs are denied any recovery at all. And that whatever recovery they do receive is delayed as long as possible. I have spent decades in courtrooms and I can tell my colleagues--from my own experience--that justice delayed is justice denied. The doors to the courthouse will be locked shut. And this Republican leadership is handing the key to corporate America. With complete disregard for precedent-setting individual and class action litigation, the Republican leadership is determined to destroy America's civil justice system, eliminating protections for the poor and powerless. This bill is a disgrace to the historic victories in courts across the country--to expand consumer rights, protect our environment, and strengthen workers' rights. And there has been complete disregard for the legislative process in the House. While we have had hearings and markups on class action legislation in the past, this bill is quite complex and very different than previous versions. The fact that the other Chamber has already approved this matter in no way justifies a ``rush to judgment'' in the House, when so many important rights are at stake. Class actions have addressed the looting of company after company by corporate insiders, whose brazen misconduct and self-dealing defrauded creditors and investors of billions of dollars, and stripped employees and retirees of their livelihood and life savings. Yet if this bill becomes law, the victims of those practices will face new obstacles in their efforts to call those executives to task. This bill is not about protecting plaintiffs. It's not about protecting the public. It's about protecting large corporations whose conduct has been egregious. It's about protecting the powerful at the expense of the powerless. And to prevent people from banding together as a class to challenge that power in the only way they can. We must also see this bill in its proper context. It is part of an ambitious and multi-pronged campaign by major corporations to evade their obligations to society. Under the guise of ``deregulation'' we're watching the wholesale dismantling of health and safety standards, environmental protections, and longstanding limits on concentration of ownership within the media and other key industries. Today's bill completes this picture. It takes aim at the civil justice system that exists to correct the wrongs that the government cannot or will not address. I urge my colleagues to oppose this blatant effort to muzzle the courts. This bill is but the latest in a series of assaults by those on the other side attacking the ability of individuals to seek relief from the courts. And it is also but the latest in a series of assaults on States' rights to provide legal remedies for harm suffered by their citizens. We cannot allow them to do it, Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman who has dedicated the better part of her life to ensuring the public safety of our community. She is a pioneer in law enforcement, and a role-model for all who choose to wear the uniform. Dedicated, visionary, and compassionate, she has left a lasting legacy on the Massachusetts State Police, the troopers under her command, and the public she serves. I'm talking of Capt. Kathy Stefani. Where I'm from, it's not uncommon for children to want to follow in their parents' professional footsteps. No where is this more so than with the police department. So it was with a special pride that Kathy's father, Gerry Coletta, a good friend and my chief administrative assistant from my tenure as Norfolk district attorney, encouraged her pursuit of a law enforcement career. Joining the ranks of the Massachusetts State Police force in 1978, she was one of only three women on the job. It was clear from the beginning that her career was going to be special. In 1995, when she was elevated to the rank of lieutenant, she became the first State Police officer to run the Commonwealth's crime Lab. During her tenure there, she successfully secured a $1 million grant to develop the first DNA testing facilities in Massachusetts. And, in 1999, when Kathy was promoted again she made more history as the first woman ever to hold the rank of captain. Law enforcement has always been a family affair, and at her promotion ceremony she proudly accepted her husband Michael's badge as her own. During her 26 years on the force, Captain Stefani has been involved with some of the most important public events in recent memory. Long before we talked about homeland security, she used her position as Troop H commander to push for a more integrated approach for securing large events--including the 2000 Presidential Debate held at UMASS- Boston, the annual Sail Boston events, the July 4th celebrations on the Esplanade. During her long career she's been recognized with the Superintendent's Commendation, the Distinguished Service Award for Forensic Science and the prestigious State Police Medal of Merit. But perhaps the greatest compliments come from those who don't know her personally, but benefit from her forward-thinking plan for the State crime lab during the 1990's. Long before televisions shows like CSI made forensic science popular, Captain Stefani recognized the role that DNA testing could play in bringing criminals, especially rapists, to justice. Her perseverance in advocating for this technology has brought solace and comfort to victims and their families. As Captain Stefani prepares to enter into a well-deserved retirement, I doubt very much that she'll be working on her tennis game. My guess is that she'll continue to be involved professionally--inspiring the next generation in the classroom; being a role-model to those who continue to wear the uniform, like her brother Chip; being an involved mom to her two kids, and a loving wife to Michael; and a devoted daughter to Gerry and Marge. I'm honored to add my voice to the chorus of friends, family and colleagues who wish her well as she embarks on her retirement. Job well done.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, we are making a terrible mistake here today by changing the rule in terms of the provision that would simply require no action after a 45-day period because, as the earlier speaker immediately preceding me indicated, what we will have done is change a nonpartisan committee that is based on a nonpartisan process into one that provides for a partisan veto over action where the behavior of an individual Member or Members is at question. That, I suggest and submit, is something that this institution will suffer from. There has been much discussion recently regarding this package. It was anticipated that there would be additional provisions that were not submitted today, but let us be clear what is at risk here. It is the confidence of the American people in the integrity of this institution. Perception, as we all know, is reality. And when the American people understand very clearly that we now have a Committee on Standards of Official Conduct in which either side has a veto, it will undermine the confidence of the people in our ethical process. My question to the proponents would be, what is wrong with the current rules? We have operated on them.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, since the earliest days of sailing, ship captains have had to be many things to their crew--teacher, mentor, role-model, even friend. Rear Admiral Maurice Bresnahan was the living embodiment of this tradition to the thousands of sailors who crossed his wake. After a 30-year career in the US Navy that took him to the ranks of ship captain and command of a surface warfare group during the first Gulf War, it would have been understandable for this warrior to simply retire and take up a hobby. But, when the Commonwealth called and asked him to serve as president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he embraced the challenge. Of course, challenge is an understatement. Admiral Bresnahan inherited a school whose training ship was unseaworthy, and the Academy lacked the financial resources to sustain its core curriculum. I first met Admiral Bresnahan--my Admiral--when I was a newly-minted Congressman. He spoke so passionately about the Academy and its role in ensuring the future of the maritime industry that I was tempted to enlist myself. He was a man with a vision that would transform this small, but proud, school on the banks of Buzzards Bay into a world- class institution. It was not enough that his cadets learn basic seamanship; they also had to be renaissance men and women--equally at home on the deck of a ship or the halls of an art museum. He demanded excellence--and got it. An inspiring presence on the drill field, cadets wanted to be like and near him. His sailors were well-rounded and well prepared for the Merchant Marine of the 21st Century. Every sailor learns to use the stars to guide them on their journey. In the case of Maurice Bresnahan, the stars on his shoulders denoted more than just a rank. They were guideposts of integrity, compassion and duty. I commend to my colleagues the following Boston Herald commentary on his passing. [From The Boston Herald, November 9, 2004] Maurice Bresnahan, Massachusetts Maritime President Rear Admiral Maurice J. Bresnahan Jr. of Centerville, U.S. Navy retired, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, died Saturday of a brain tumor at his home. He was 68. Admiral Bresnahan was a 1954 graduate of Mission Hill High School in Roxbury, and a 1959 graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He received his commission in 1959, served on five combatant ships and commanded the USS A.M. Sumner (DD 692) and USS Damato (DD 871). He served as special assistant to the chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., following his graduation from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Returning to the Pacific Fleet after completion of the Combined Arms Warfare Course at the Naval War College, Admiral Bresnahan took command of the Military Sealift Command (Far East) and assumed duties as commander of the Seventh Fleet Logistic Task Force Group headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. Upon promotion to Flag Rank, he was appointed commander of Surface Reserve Forces and commander of Naval Surface Group Six, made up of anti-submarine warfare frigates home ported in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast. These commands were recognized with Meritorious Unit Commendations for their service during the Gulf War. Admiral Bresnahan had been serving as president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay since April 1998. Prior to that he served for four years as the college's vice president of external affairs and marine operations. Admiral Bresnahan presided over a dramatic increase in student population at the college and a major campus expansion. He also led the effort to replace the former academy training ship Patriot State with a modern vessel and saw his efforts come to fruition when the newly refurbished training ship Enterprise sailed on her maiden voyage last winter. Total capital improvements to the campus during his watch exceeded $60 million. He expanded the college curriculum and established the academy's first master's degree, an M.S. in facilities management. Admiral Bresnahan believed that one of his most significant accomplishments at the academy was establishing the Emery Rice Scholarship, an award dedicated to academic excellence that is awarded to five incoming cadets each year. Admiral Bresnahan's military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Legions of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Commendation medals, and many other unit and personal awards. Admiral Bresnahan was an active member of the American Bureau of Shipping, Boston Marine Society, Columbia University Maritime Advisory Board, the Naval Reserve Association and the New York Yacht Club and was past chairman of the Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State Colleges and past chairman of the Consortium of State Maritime Academies. He also served as a lay Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville, and was a past member of Kiwanis. Admiral Bresnahan is survived by his wife, Alice; one daughter, Julie Pinero of Sandwich; one son, Maurice Bresnahan III of Columbia, S.C.; and five grandchildren.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, there are few athletes whose names evoke instant recognition and respect with their sport. Johnny Kelly was such a man. Dubbed the ``Runner of the Century,'' he was a three time Olympic athlete, he ran the Boston Marathon 58 times (winning it twice) and was a frequent participant in the Cape Cod Marathon and Falmouth Road Race. A 1999 inductee in the Running Hall of Fame, Kelly carried the Olympic torch and served as a goodwill ambassador for the sport he so loved. He ran with greats like Jesse Owens and Stylianos Kyriakides. Johnny Kelly was one of the Commonwealth's favorite sons--and in his time, a living legend. His passing at the age of 97, means that for generations of Bay Staters a familiar figure will not be at this year's Boston Marathon serving as Grand Marshal. But his inspiring story will live on. On the course, at the base of the third hill in Newton, a statue depicts a 27- year-old Kelley winning in 1935 and clasping hands with an older Kelley finishing in 1991 at 83. A fitting tribute to a man that reminded us all that the spirit of competition isn't just for the young, but the young at heart. I commend to my colleagues the following Cape Cod Times commentary on the passing of this truly great American. [From the Cape Code Times] Two-Time Boston Marathon Champ Johnny Kelley Dead at 97 (By Bill Higgins) Johnny Kelley, one of the most celebrated and decorated distance runners ever, and a name synonymous with the rich history of the Boston Marathon, died Wednesday night. He was 97. Kelley won Boston twice and was woven into the fabric of the event by running the race 61 times, finishing the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston 58 times. Kelley last ran Boston in 1992 at the age of 84 and then presided over the race as its grand marshal. His impact on the marathon was such that there is a statue of him on the course with two Kelleys depicted, one young, one old, running hand-in-hand across the finish line. Kelley died only hours after leaving his home in East Dennis and moving to the Windsor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in South Yarmouth. Kelley was a member of three Halls of Fame and a member of three U.S. Olympic teams. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1980, the first marathoner so honored. The selection committee waived the requirement stipulating that an athlete be retired for at least five years because, they reasoned, Kelley would never retire from running. Runner's World magazine named Kelley its ``Runner of the Century'' for his contributions to the sport. ``Johnny was an icon for all of running, not only the Boston Marathon,'' said Guy L. Morse III of Centerville, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, the race's organizer. ``He preached his gospel of health and fitness and was an inspiration to everyone. `Young at Heart'; wasn't just his favorite song or the title of his book. It was the way he lived.'' Born Sept. 6, 1907, John Adelbert Kelley was the oldest of five boys and five girls growing up in Medford. He ran track first at Medford High School, and later at Arlington High School after the family moved to the nearby town. Kelley ran his first Boston in 1928 and, ironically, dropped out. He failed to finish again in 1932, but he finally got the hang of the marathon. He won his first Boston in 1935 and won again in 1945. He also finished second seven times and one of Boston's famous landmarks, ``Heartbreak Hill,'' was named for Kelley. In 1936 Kelley, thinking that race leader Ellison ``Tarzan'' Brown had exhausted himself by the last of a series of hills in Newton around 20 miles, patted Brown on the back while taking the lead. Incensed by this gesture, Brown soon regained the lead and went on to win. Kelley, heartbroken, faded to fifth. Kelley finished 18th in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He made the Olympic team again in 1940, but the games were canceled because of World War II. In the 1948 London Olympics, he finished 21st at age 40. In 1942, Kelley's wife of three years, Mary, died of cancer and he was soon drafted into the U.S. Army. Private John Kelley came up from Alabama's Fort McClellan for the 1943 Boston Marathon, where his time of 2:30:00, his fastest ever at Boston, left him second again. Another second place followed in 1944. But in 1945, a decade after his first win in Boston, Kelley won again at 37 in 2:30:40. In 1993, the statue ``Young at Heart'' was dedicated in honor of Kelley at the base of Heartbreak Hill. The statue depicts a 27-year-old Kelley winning in 1935 and clasping hands with an older Kelley finishing in 1991 at 83. ``I've had all kinds of citations and awards, but this is just unbelievable,'' Kelley said at the dedication. ``I've had a love affair with the marathon all my life,'' said Kelley, ``and now, I guess, this means I'll always be a part of it.'' Each Memorial Day weekend, races are held in Kelley's honor in Hyannis, with proceeds benefiting Cape Cod Hospital, his favorite charity. Bill Rodgers, a four-time Boston Marathon champion, always called Kelley one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. ``When you think about it, who has done as much as John?'' Rodgers said. ``Some people say Jesse Owens or Jim Thorpe were the greatest ever, but for me, it's Johnny Kelley. Everyone makes lists for the best this, the greatest that. Johnny's on mine. He's my hero.''

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I support the amendment offered by the chairman for the reasons that he has enumerated. I would also make the observation, Mr. Speaker, in line with the points made by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and particularly the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) regarding the ability of law enforcement to identify sexual predators in the aftermath of the efforts made in New York City to reduce that backlog of DNA tests in those boxes that were sitting in that cold storage warehouse somewhere in Long Island. I would remind those that are concerned about removing sexual predators from the streets of our communities in this country, and particularly let me remind our colleagues in government at the Department of Justice, the passage of this bill will undoubtedly lead, not to hundreds but to thousands of rapists and other sexual predators being identified. And as the gentleman from New York indicated, there is a likelihood, particularly in this category of criminals who tend to have a high rate of recidivism, that they are committing these crimes again all over this country. Let me suggest that this particular act, Justice for All, is and will be, if signed by the President, one of the most effective means of reducing the incidence of sexual violence in this country. We have an opportunity here to defend women and others that are victims of sexual predators. I would think that that fact alone would compel those who are in opposition to this bill, whoever they may be, to rethink their position and support it. Let me conclude by saying again to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), this has been a remarkable effort, and to you, Mr. Speaker. This proposal before us today, this resolution, really does reflect a good-faith effort to address concerns raised by victims organizations, lawyers, civil liberties groups, prosecutors, and all those who have an interest in justice. I urge the passage of the manager's amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), my friend and colleague and a leader on the Committee on the Judiciary. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), my friend, who has championed justice throughout his career. And I would point out that it was in Illinois, through the efforts of some students at the Northwestern School of Journalism that first brought this to the attention of the country, and that a former governor in Illinois, George Ryan, had the courage to raise this issue, to make it a national issue and to bring it to the attention of those who are concerned about the search for truth.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who also has been a champion in terms of protecting the victims of rape and making an effort to secure the apprehension of those who perpetrated that particularly heinous crime.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), one of the leaders on the Democratic side on the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), a member of the committee who has championed a particular title in this bill and who has brought to the attention of the Committee on the Judiciary the need to do something about testing for rape kits.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), a distinguished colleague and prominent member of the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) just indicated, this is really the culmination of an extraordinary bipartisan effort towards a common goal. I would echo his kudos for so many Members on both sides of the aisle, as well as staff. My colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) who has been here from the beginning; this has been an odyssey, if you will, of some 4 or 5 years. On our side of the aisle, I want to make particular note of the efforts of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and, of course, my friend who I serve with on the Committee on the Judiciary, my colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green). But it has to be stated that without the efforts of the distinguished chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), we would not be here today. It is really that simple, and I want to acknowledge his Herculean efforts. This comprehensive legislation seeks to repair, if you will, the two sides of injustice when mistakes happen. I encourage my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to consider today that the victims of the criminal justice system do not always look alike; they just get caught in this system in different ways. Think of victims like Debbie Smith of Virginia for whom title II of this bill is named. As she has said, and these are her words, ``It gives no comfort to the victims and their families to know that the wrong person is behind bars and the real perpetrator is free to walk the streets'' and commit that crime again. Debbie Smith is a courageous advocate who has done so much to help her fellow survivors of sexual assault. Yet, it took 6 years for the DNA evidence to be tested in her case, evidence that ultimately led to the capture of that rapist. Only then was she free from what she has called an ``emotional prison.'' And there are other categories of victims in America today, individuals charged with false accusations and imprisoned based on wrongful convictions. Like my friend, Kirk Bloodsworth of Maryland, the first death row inmate to be exonerated by DNA testing after 10 years on death row. Kirk had to convince his lawyer to get the test. DNA established Kirk's innocence, and it also led to the identification and conviction of the real perpetrator, the real murderer, within this past year. Debbie Smith and Kirk Bloodsworth are both among the innocent whom we seek to protect, Mr. Speaker. Think of the human costs when an innocent person is executed or spends long years in jail. Imagine the scars of a victim who waits years to know the identity of their assailant. Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about hypothetical scenarios here; we are talking about real people, ordinary Americans facing the most extreme miscarriages of justice. Just this past week in Michigan, a murder case was thrown out of court after DNA evidence demonstrated that the defendant was innocent. Almost every week there is a news story about the use of DNA evidence to exonerate the innocent. Earlier this year in Texas, DNA exonerated Josiah Sutton. During Mr. Sutton's trial, he asked for a DNA test, but his attorney told him that he did not have enough money to obtain it. Mr. Sutton was convicted on charges of rape and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Four and a half years into that sentence, Mr. Sutton benefited from a moment of serendipity, pure chance, if you will. Listening to the radio, his mother heard about an investigation into DNA testing problems at a Houston crime lab. She called reporters, who agreed to investigate. A UCLA professor conducted an analysis of the DNA evidence and concluded there was no basis for Mr. Sutton's conviction. Since then, he has been fully exonerated, and the crime lab has been shut down. Well, this bill would help the States protect victims. This comprehensive legislation, as the chairman indicated, contains four titles. I will not review them now; the chairman has done a more than adequate job. It also includes the original bill that was filed by myself and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) entitled the Innocence Protection Act. And here, in the final hours of this legislative session, the version of the Innocence Protection Act that is included in this bill, it is not all that we wanted, but it is an important step forward, and as I just enumerated by pointing just to two different cases, it is long overdue. Mr. Speaker, the criminal justice system is about the search for the truth, and like all human enterprises, it is fallible. Judges and jurors and police, eye witnesses, defense counsel and prosecutors are all human beings and all make mistakes. I served as a prosecutor for some 20 years. I made mistakes, and those mistakes are etched forever in my mind. But we have the means now at our disposal to minimize the possibility of error, and especially where lives are at stake, we have no choice, we have no option, we must take advantage of them. Because this bill at its core is about restoring public confidence in the integrity of the American justice system, that system, which really does set us apart, sets our democracy apart among the family of nations, that makes us the viable, healthy democracy that we are. So I would encourage my colleagues to accept the manager's amendment, to pass this bill, and, hopefully, in the course of the next several days, there will be an awakening, if you will, elsewhere in this city, and the bill should be signed before too long, because our system is at stake. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. DELAHUNT

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I can assure the gentleman we will not hear it. Right now it is all about trying to paint a rosy scenario that is absolutely without any foundation, when the reality is it is a disaster.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Again, it is either a deception to mislead or it could be incompetence. But I do not believe it to be incompetence, because no one has ever accused the Vice President of being an individual who does not thoughtfully analyze information. But, again, as Secretary of State Powell concluded, if you have the fever, and he thought that the Vice President had the fever, then you are detached from reality. For the Secretary of State to use the term ``gestapo office'' as an appropriate description of the separate little government that was established in the office of Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, I think says something about the inability of some people to see the world as it really is, as opposed to what you have decided it to be. We hear so much about these rosy scenarios that the President and other members of the administration paint regarding Iraq and what is transpiring there, and yet when we hear the truth as it is reported by individuals who do not have a particular ax to grind, such as a reporter from the Wall Street Journal. The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee) is, I am sure, an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal. That is a publication that clearly is pro-administration, is very conservative. But here is what a reporter by the name of Farnaz Fassihi says in e- mails as recently as the 29th of September. ``Being a foreign correspondent in Baghdad these days is like being under virtual house arrest. I leave when I have very good reason to and a scheduled interview. I avoid going to people's homes, and never walk in the streets. I can't go grocery shopping anymore. I can't eat in restaurants, can't strike a conversation with strangers, can't look for stories, can't drive in anything but a full armored car, can't go to scenes of breaking news stories, can't be stuck in traffic, can't speak English outside, can't take a road trip, can't say I'm an American, can't linger at checkpoints. There have been one too many close calls, including a car bomb so near my house that it blew out all the windows. I am now a security personnel first, a reporter second. ``It is hard to pinpoint when the turning point actually began. Was it April when Fallujah fell out of the grasp of the Americans? Was it when Muqtada al-Sadr declared war on the U.S. military? Was it when Sadr City, home to 10 percent of Iraqi's population, became a nightly battlefield for the Americans? Or was it when the insurgency began spreading from isolated pockets in the Sunni Triangle to include most of Iraq? Despite President Bush's rosy assessment, Iraq remains a disaster. If under Saddam it was a potential threat, under the Americans it has been transformed to an imminent and active threat.''

Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I just think there is a certain level of embarrassment because the Vice President has been proven conclusively to be wrong, not simply out of an investigation conducted by media, by outside parties, but by an independent commission established as a result of action in this body here and in the body across the hall that, if the gentleman remembers, the administration resisted. But to continue to try to justify the rationale for the war, he simply refuses to acknowledge the reality. If only, if only he and others in the administration would accept the admonition of David Kay, who was appointed by the President and the Vice President to search for weapons of mass destruction, if he would just simply concur with David Kay's statement that we were all wrong, we could then hopefully make some progress. But we are not going to get that, and we know that.

Mr. DELAHUNT. I yield to the gentleman from the State of Washington (Mr. Inslee).