Michael Doyle

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DOYLE. Will the gentleman yield? If we're going to have so many new players next year, we might have some extras for you.

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, as manager of the Democratic team, we want to congratulate our friends over on the Republican side in what had to be one of the most exciting games, certainly for the fans to watch, a little less exciting from our perspective. I just want to say our guys, the top of the seventh inning, we were down 8-4, and it was our last at-bat. And it would have been easy to fold. But our guys came back, scored six runs to put this game into the bottom of the seventh inning in one of the most exciting games we've seen. I think parity has finally arrived in the House baseball game. We look forward to playing our friends across the aisle next year. The big winner, of course, is our charities, the Washington Boys & Girls Clubs and the Washington Literacy Council. We have co-MVPs this year. Joe Baca pitched another outstanding performance for the Democrats. And one of our new Members, who caught an outstanding game and who had a hot bat for us, Chris Murphy, was our co-MVP. Once again, if you have to lose to somebody, Joe Barton is the kind of guy you don't mind losing to. He is a great gentleman, a big fan of the game and one of my dear friends. Congratulations, Joe. Congratulations to the Republicans.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Since the oil companies apparently don't want to drill in all of this land that's accessible to them today, and since our friends on the other side of the aisle want so desperately to get oil out in America to lower gas prices, I would ask them to join Democrats in asking President Bush to release 10 percent of its gross 70 million barrels of oil in the economy immediately, not 10 years down the road once we start some new drilling project, but immediately we could have oil in the domestic economy just by releasing 10 percent of the SPR without affecting any national security concerns and gasoline prices could come down. So I hope my friends on the other side of the aisle will join us in asking President Bush to do that immediately.

Mr. DOYLE. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the artistic ability of a young woman from my Congressional District, Manami Kitazawa of Woodland Hills High School. Manami is the winner of the 2008 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania's High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Manami's artwork, an intricately detailed charcoal drawing, was selected from a number of outstanding entries to this year's competition. Fitly works from ten different high schools were submitted to our panel of respected local artists. Manami is an exchange student from Japan who is spending a year attending high school in my district in Pennsylvania. I am certain that her family in Japan and her host family here in the United States are both proud of her artistic talents as well as this accomplishment. Manami's artwork wilI represent the 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the national exhibit of high school students' artwork that will be displayed in the United States Capitol over the coming year. I am certain Manami had no idea that one of her drawings would hang in the U.S. Capitol when she applied to study in the United States. I encourage my colleagues as well as any visitor to Capitol Hill to view Manami's artwork, along with all of the other winning artwork that will be on display in the Capitol tunnel. It is amazing to walk through this corridor and see the interpretation of life through the eyes of these young artists from all across our country--and in Manami's case, from across the globe. I would like to recognize all of the participants in this year's 14th Congressional District High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' I would like to thank these impressive young artists for allowing us to share and celebrate their talents, imagination, and creativity. The efforts of these students in expressing themselves in a powerful and positive manner are no less than spectacular. I hope that all of these individuals continue to utilize their artistic talents. and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Byron Janis, internationally recognized as one of the world's greatest pianists. The story of his life is one of immense talent, dedication and perseverance which has captivated audiences and inspired others across America and around the world. Byron Janis was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1928. At the age of 15, Mr. Janis made his orchestral debut, and by age 20, had made his Carnegie Hall debut in front of a sold-out audience. Later, Mr. Janis was selected to be the first American performer to participate in a cultural exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1960. On November 2, 1960, the New York Times wrote, ``If music could replace international politics, Byron Janis could consider himself an ambassador''. So successful was Mr. Janis' performance that the Soviet government invited him back just two years later for a six-week tour of the country. Since that time, Mr. Janis has performed for American Presidents and received acclaim around the world. Mr. Janis has been honored both in America and abroad with such distinctions as the Distinguished Pennsylvania Artists Award, the Gold Medal from the French Society for the Encouragement of Progress, and the Harriet Cohen International Music Award. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Good Morning America, 20/20 with Barbara Walters, and CNN. Perhaps Mr. Janis' greatest contribution to America lies not in his graceful work at the piano, but rather the tremendous perseverance and unbreakable spirit he has shown in the face of significant adversity. In 1973, be was diagnosed with arthritis in both his hands and wrists, an affliction which seriously threatened his ability to continue practicing the craft he loved. Reflecting his will and determination to rise above the obstacle which was placed in his path, Mr. Janis once said, ``I have arthritis--it doesn't have me.'' For 12 years, Mr. Janis continued performing, often in great pain, while keeping his condition a closely held secret. While announcing his affliction at the White House in 1985, Mr. Janis also declared he was assuming the role of Ambassador for the Arts for the Arthritis foundation. Through his music, he has raised a significant amount of money for the Foundation's work and research. More importantly, however, his story of determination is one which serves as an inspiration and makes Mr. Janis a role model for Americans with disabilities. In spite of his condition, to this day, Mr. Janis is still performing before admiring audiences. Mr. Janis is living proof that the American spirit can and will prevail in the face of challenges large and small. 2008 marks Mr. Janis' 80 birthday as well as the 60th anniversary of his first performance at Carnegie Hall. Each year, Congress honors individuals who have distinguished themselves with acts of courage and determination which capture the essence of the American spirit and serve as an inspiration to those around them. The life and accomplishments of Byron Janis--as a musician, ambassador, and role model--embody the best in American culture and values. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Janis on the occasion of these two noteworthy anniversaries.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. I thank my friend from North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to approve H.R. 3541, the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007. The national do-not-call registry was established in 2003 and is managed by the Federal Trade Commission and enforced by the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission, and State law enforcement officials. Most telemarketers are not allowed to call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint against them with the FTC and they can be forced to pay a fine. The Federal do-not-call registry is one of the most successful government programs ever created. Over 132 million telephone numbers have been added to the registry since its creation. Unfortunately, current regulations require that the registry remove individuals' numbers after 5 years. Consequently, starting in June of 2008, millions of people will begin receiving telemarketing calls again. Many of them don't realize that their listing has expired and that they need to add their number to the do-not-call list again if they want to block telemarketers' phone calls. It makes no sense to force people to sign up every couple of years. Unfortunately, that's just what will happen if action isn't taken. And that's why I introduced this legislation along with my good friend from Mississippi, Chip Pickering, to make registration with the Federal do- not-call list permanent. My legislation, the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, would make the numbers on the Federal do-not-call registry permanent. Under this legislation, someone would only have to sign up for the do-not-call registry once. Without passage of this act, over 50 million phone numbers will be purged from the registry within the next year. The hassle for consumers will be tremendous, with no real payoff. Now, when a consumer signs up for the do-not-call list, they expect a roach motel where their numbers go in and the telemarketers can't check them out. But for those few individuals who are worried that they might change their mind at some future date, I want to make clear that this bill will still allow individuals to take their names off if they choose to, and it gives the FTC explicit authority to scrub numbers that are invalid or don't belong on the list. There is no need to risk Americans being removed from the do-not-call list unless they want to be removed, and the best way to deal with this nightmare is to end it before it starts. As I said when I introduced this legislation, I suspect there are very few people saying, ``Gee, I really miss those telemarketing calls at dinnertime. I wish the Government would just take me off that do-not-call list.'' Well, if this bill is enacted, individuals won't have to worry about signing up for the do-not-call list every 5 years. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the AARP, the Consumers Union, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Consumerist.com, and the American Teleservices Association for endorsing this bill. It's a great day when consumer groups, senior groups, privacy groups, and yes, even telemarketers, can agree on making the do-not-call list better. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation. By signing up with the national do-not-call registry, over 130 million Americans have told telemarketers, ``Don't call us; we'll call you.'' Let's save them the hassle of having to have sign up time and time again. In closing, I want to thank my friend Chip Pickering. I want to thank Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Dingell, Ranking Member Barton, Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush and my good friend Cliff Stearns. And I also want to thank several staffers who have worked so hard on this bill: Gregg Rothschild, Consuela Washington, Shannon Weinberg, Brian McCullough, Will Carty. And finally, I want to thank Hugh Carroll of Mr. Pickering's staff and Kenneth DeGraff of my staff for all of their hard work. I encourage my colleagues to join me in passing this bill and making one of the most popular Federal services even better.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carnegie Mellon University's Tartan Racing Team and its autonomous driving robot vehicle, ``Boss,'' on placing first in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Urban Challenge, held November 3, 2007 in Victorville, California. This contest pitted 11 autonomous vehicles against each other on a course of suburban and urban roadways. Its goal was to help develop robotics technology that can keep military personnel out of harm's way and prevent civilian automotive accidents. Boss was the fastest of the competitors by a large margin, averaging 14 miles per hour over the approximately 55 mile course and finishing 20 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. Carnegie Mellon University's Tartan Racing Team has been working hard to produce revolutionary new robots that can dramatically improve driver safety. To accomplish these goals, Team Leader Dr. William ``Red'' Whittaker has put together a team of researchers, faculty and staff that is unparalleled in the robotics world. I want to recognize each of these outstanding individuals by name. They are Joshua Anhalt, Hong S. Bae, Drew Bagnell, Christopher Baker, Bob Bittner, Thomas Brown, George Clancy, M. N. Clark, Dominic Dagradi, Michael Darms, Daniel Demitrish, John Dolan, Dave Duggins, Dave Ferguson, Tugrul Galatali, Michele Gittleman, Sam Harbaugh, Martial Hebert, Tom Howard, Alonzo Kelly, David Kohanbash, Maxim Likhachev, Bakhtiar Litkouhi, Nick Miller, Jim Nickolaou, Kevin Peterson, Brian Pilnick, Raj Rajkumar, Paul Rybski, Varsha Sadekar, Bryan Salesky, Sebastian Scherer, Ed Schlesinger, Young-Woo Seo, Bob Shafto, Todd Shupe, Reid Simmons, Sanjiv Singh, Jarrod Snider, Spencer Spiker, Anthony Stentz, Josh Struble, Evan Tahler, Chris Urmson, Ziv Wolkowicki, Vincent Zeng, Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang and Jason Ziglar. The Tartan Racing Team's success must also be credited to its relationship with its sponsors. The longstanding Carnegie Mellon-GM Collaborative Research Lab brings hardware integration and system engineering skills to the team, for example. Tartan Racing's other partners include Caterpillar, Continental AG, Intel, Google, Applanix, TeleAtlas, Vector, Ibeo, Mobileye, CarSim, CleanPower Resources, MA/ COM, NetApp, Vector CANtech and Hewlett Packard. I think we can all agree it's hard to beat a team with a bench like that. As the Congressman representing Carnegie Mellon, and as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Robotics, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Tartan Racing Team and Carnegie Mellon University for their innovations in robotics and for their DARPA Grand Challenge Victory.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago, Congress declared the atrocities in Darfur to be acts of genocide. Since acknowledging this genocide, we have implemented unilateral sanctions against the Sudanese Government. We've authorized funds for peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance in the region. We've called for concerted international action to end the abominations in Darfur, yet the genocide continuous. There have been 400,000 people killed, 2.5 million have been forced out of their homes, and 1 million continue to live under the constant threat of bombing, rapes, murder and torture by government troops and the janjaweed militias. International diplomacy has failed to force Sudanese President al- Bashir to stop pursuing his genocidal policies. We cannot afford to fail anymore. Every possible means must be employed to pressure the Sudanese Government to allow the rapid deployment of an international peacekeeping force large enough to protect the civilian population in Darfur.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Or as my colleagues on the Democratic side have referred to me, the former manager of the Democratic team. I want to say that I agree with my good friend, Joe Barton, on one thing: The real winners last night were the charities, the Washington Boys and Girls Club and the Washington Literacy Council. This is a great tradition in its 46th year. It was a hard-fought game. We have this very charitable gift on the Democratic side where we manage to have one inning where we completely fall apart and give the Republicans a bunch of runs. Last night was no exception.

Mr. DOYLE. We had a stellar performance from Joe Baca who walked no batters, struck out four and only gave up one earned run of those five. The other four were compliments of the rest of the Democratic team. I want to publicly apologize to those members who came out to practice every day and didn't get a chance to play. That is the one thing I do feel bad about. We will try to do better next year. Our congratulations to the Republicans. Announcement by the Acting Chairman

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, in the interest of comity, I am going to remove my objection and let the gentleman proceed.

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, could I ask my friend what the subject is?

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the artistic ability of a young woman from my Congressional District, Kristen Hrizo of West Mifflin High School. Kristen is the winner in the 2007 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania's High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Kristen's work, a piece utilizing pencil, ink, watercolors, color pencil, and marker, is entitled ``A Walk in the Jungle.'' Kristen's artwork was selected from a number of outstanding entries to this year's competition. I am certain that her family is proud of her artistic talents as well as this accomplishment. It gives me great pride and pleasure that Kristen's painting will be representing the 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the national exhibit of high school students' artwork that will be set up in the United States Capitol in the coming weeks. The winners of the Congressional Art Competitions held in each Congressional District will be displayed in that exhibit. I encourage my colleagues as well as any visitor to Capitol Hill to view Kristen's artwork, along with all of the other winning artwork that will be on display throughout the next year. It is amazing to walk through this corridor and see the interpretation of life through the eyes of these young artists from all across our country. I would also like to recognize all the other participants in this year's 14th Congressional District High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' I would like to thank these impressive young artists for allowing us to share and celebrate their talents, imagination, and creativity. The efforts of these students in expressing themselves in a powerful and positive manner are no less than spectacular. I hope that all of these individuals continue to utilize their artistic talents, and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors. I want to congratulate all of the participants in this year's 14th Congressional District Art Competition and thank them for sharing their gifts with us.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert L. Pitts, a champion of civil rights, integration, respectful dialogue, and nonviolence in southwestern Pennsylvania, Tomorrow night, the Allegheny County/City of Pittsburgh League of Minority Voters will honor Mr. Pitts for his many contributions to our community. Like the rest of our country, Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania have struggled long and hard with what has been aptly described as our country's original sin--slavery, and all of the racism, disclimination, segregation, and violence that have stemmed from it. I'm pleased to say that a great deal of much-needed progress has been made in the last 50 years--and much of the credit for that progress belongs to civil rights leaders like Robert Pitts. Our region is truly fortunate that this great civic leader has chosen to make Pittsburgh his home for the last 30-odd years. Despite family misfortune and a difficult childhood, Mr. Pitts has made many contributions to southwestern Pennsylvania, and our Nation, in his many different occupations and activities over the last 60 years. He served his Nation in the Air Force and its predecessor, the Army Air Corps, for 20 years. He worked to end racism in the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for nearly 10 years. He worked to promote equal employment opportunities in Pittsburgh as Administrator of the Agency of Western Pennsylvania and as Chair of the Pittsburgh NAACP's Labor and Industry Committee. He served as an elected public official--and notably as the first African-American mayor in western Pennsylvania. He ran his own business and worked as a private sector consultant for a number of years. He has given generously of his time as a volunteer on a number of local boards and organizations. And, finally, he has been a friend, mentor, and advisor to countless men, women, and children throughout his life. In short, he's been a dynamic force for good and an influential community leader for his entire, blessedly long and productive life. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, I want to commend Mr. Pitts and thank his family for sharing him with us.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, as someone who has opposed this misguided version from the war on terror from the very beginning, I believe it is way past time for our country to take stock of where we have been, where we are, and where we are going in Iraq. I think it is important to remember how we got there. President Bush told Congress and the American people that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and was an imminent threat to the United States; that Saddam had ties to al Qaeda and the 9/11 attackers; that the invasion, occupation, and reconstruction would cost us nothing; that Iraqi oil revenues would cover all the costs. So where are we today? We know that Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction and that he posed no imminent threat to the United States. We know Saddam had no operational relationship with al Qaeda. Eighty percent of the Iraqi people want us to leave their country. The invasion, occupation, and reconstruction of Iraq will cost us at least half a trillion dollars, not to mention the cost in human lives and international goodwill. More than 3,000 American soldiers are dead, more than 20,000 American soldiers are wounded. The burden of the Iraq war is being borne exclusively by our children and grandchildren who will bear the debt, and the families of our military personnel, who, at best, experience long separations and terrible worry, and, at worst, lose a beloved family member forever. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has alienated our allies, has called our credibility into question around the world. It has soured Middle Eastern attitudes about the United States and Western democracy. Finally, the invasion of Iraq got us into a long-term bloody occupation of a country with no significant connection to the war on terror and diverted critical military and intelligence resources from the fight against al Qaeda. The recently released National Intelligence Estimate concluded that there is little prospect for political reconciliation in Iraq at this time. So, what should the United States do? What does victory in Iraq mean at this point? Most of us would see victory as any kind of political settlement that ended the violence, but the American people need to hear the truth, and the truth is, there is no happy ending for Iraq as long as our presence allows the Maliki government to avoid making the political compromises necessary for peace in Iraq. Now, the President has proposed a significant increase in the numbers of U.S. troops serving in Iraq. I believe that Congress should oppose this escalation. I don't believe it has any real chance of producing a political solution in the war in Iraq or even curbing the violence in Baghdad. I am not alone in this belief. General Colin Powell, General George Casey, General John Abizaid, General Joseph Hoar, General Barry McCaffrey, Major General Don Sheppard and General James Conway all question this escalation. Now, many supporters of the President's Iraq policy ask what those of us who oppose this military escalation would support instead. This Member of Congress believes that the United States should begin an immediate orderly redeployment of our troops out of Iraq with the goal of completing that redeployment by the end of the year. We should lead and enlist the participation of all neighboring countries in a massive diplomatic surge to help contain the civil war already underway, and that diplomatic surge should include all the countries in the region, including Iran and Syria. The only way to bring stability to that region is through a regional effort. Our troops have performed with courage, compassion, and professionalism. They did everything that was asked of them. Their work in Iraq is done. We gave the Iraqis their freedom. It is up to them to decide what they will do with it. It is time for the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own security. It is time for Iraqis to decide if Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds wish to share resources, share power, and coexist peacefully as one country. America cannot force them to do this, no matter how long we stay there. Only the Iraqi people can decide this. Mr. Speaker, it is time. The American people have known for quite a while it is time, and I believe this week that finally the United States Congress will take the first step to bringing our troops home by adopting this resolution

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent and Oncology Nursing Society Chief Executive Officer Pearl Moore, for her life-long commitment to advancing oncology nursing and helping people with cancer. In January, Pearl will be retiring from her position as the CEO of the Oncology Nursing Society. Ms. Moore has lived and worked in Pittsburgh all of her life, and we are proud to have her as a member of our community. Ms. Moore received both her Bachelor of Science of Nursing and Master of Nursing degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and has been an adjunct assistant professor at the University's School of Nursing since 1983. As a pioneer practitioner, Pearl served at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh as one of the nation's first oncology clinical nurse specialists in the nation. Thirty years ago, Ms. Moore and other oncology nurses founded the Oncology Nursing Society and in 1983 she became its CEO. During her tenure, the Oncology Nursing Society has grown to the largest organization of oncology health professionals in the world, with more than 33,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals. The Society's mission is to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care. The Oncology Nursing Society honors and maintains nursing's historical and essential commitment to the public good by providing nurses and healthcare professionals with access to the highest quality educational programs, cancer-care resources, research opportunities, and networks for peer support. I commend the Oncology Nursing Society's staff and members, especially Ms. Moore, for all that they do and have done to improve the quality of care for people with cancer. Ms. Moore's strong leadership and experience in quality cancer care has been recognized by many organizations. In 1996, the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care presented her with its Distinguished Merit Award in recognition of steadfast and prolific contributions to the art and science of cancer care worldwide. In 2004, Ms. Moore was named a University of Pittsburgh Legacy Laureate, which honors alumni who have been recognized for their outstanding personal and professional achievements. Additionally, Ms. Moore serves as a member of the School of Nursing's Board of Visitors at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the Advisory Board for People to People, and the Johnson & Johnson Advisory Board for the Campaign for Nursing's Future. All of these honors are extremely well-deserved. I understand that despite all of her professional achievements, she is most proud of her role as beloved grandmother of her two grandsons, Niko and Tony. Niko and Tony are lucky young men to have such an accomplished and dedicated grandmother. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District and all people who have or may be touched by cancer, I would like to thank Ms. Moore for her outstanding and innumerable contributions to oncology nursing. As a nurse and leader in the field for almost 50 years, Ms. Moore has made it her life's mission to help others, and she should be applauded for all she has accomplished. Cancer patients and their families have benefited immensely from Ms. Moore's involvement and leadership in cancer care. I am most grateful to Pearl Moore for her ongoing commitment to assuring access to quality cancer care for all cancer patients and their families, and I wish her all the best on the occasion of her retirement.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on September 7, 2006, I would have voted ``nay'' on Rollcall 431 and ``yea'' on Rollcall 433 as pertaining to my support for the Horse Slaughter Prohibition Act, of which I am a cosponsor.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues in the House to act quickly on an issue where literally thousands of lives hang in the balance. I speak, of course, of the situation in Darfur, where the Sudanese Government is pursuing a policy of genocide. This is different than your run-of-the-mill civil war. This is a case in which a government has pursued policies of widespread destruction, rape and murder in order to destroy entire tribes that it considers enemies. The Sudanese Government and its allies consciously target civilians. I do not care which term you prefer, a systematic violation of human rights, violations of international law, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, the undisputable bottom line is that the Sudanese Government is carrying out and supporting acts so reprehensible and so horrible that no one with the ability to try to stop it can, in good conscience, fail to do so. For the last 3 years, the Sudanese Government and its proxies, the Janjaweed militias, have been attacking villages in Darfur; destroying homes, crops and properties; and killing, raping and torturing innocent civilians in a concerted effort to destroy, or at least displace, the tribes most closely associated with the Darfur rebel groups. As a result of this violence and the resulting starvation, exposure and disease, 300,000 people have died, and 2 million more are refugees. A cease-fire agreement was reached in 2004, and the Sudanese Government agreed to monitoring by an African Union force of 7,000 troops. The deployment of this African mission in Sudan, inadequate though it was to oversee an area the size of Texas, forced the Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed militias to be a bit more surreptitious about their genocidal activities, which continued, but at a significantly slower pace. The Sudanese Government and one rebel faction signed a peace agreement this past May. Nevertheless, the killing by government forces and the Janjaweed militias has continued. In fact, the Sudanese Government has launched a major military offensive to finish the job in Darfur before it is compelled by international pressure to allow the U.N. peacekeepers into the region. This is a major violation of the Darfur peace agreement. The mandate of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur is set to expire at the end of September, just over a week from now. At that point there will be no military force protecting the people of Darfur from the central government and the Janjaweed militias, and no official observers to deter the Sudanese military and militias by bearing witness to their acts. The only constraint on the Sudanese Government's genocidal policies will be gone, and many of us are worried that what will follow will rival the level of death and destruction inflicted in Rwanda 12 years ago. Moreover, without the AU peacekeepers in place, humanitarian aid deliveries will grind to a halt, endangering the 3 million people who rely on that aid for survival. Millions of lives are at stake, and the only practical solution at hand is an extension of the AMIS peacekeeping force's mandate. The AU Peace and Security Council is expected to approve the AMIS mandate tomorrow. We need to do our part as well. Recently the other body adopted an amendment to the 2007 defense appropriations bill that would increase funding for the African Mission in Sudan by $20 million. The other body, to its great credit, recognized the fact that only the African Mission in Sudan can prevent the likely deaths of thousands of people. I rise today to urge my colleagues to adopt this provision in the conference report, in this appropriations bill. We have no morally acceptable choice but to act and act quickly. Let us do our part to prevent more deaths in Darfur.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer this resolution honoring the life and accomplishments of the late Robert E. O'Connor, Jr. Mr. Speaker, as you know, the city of Pittsburgh recently lost its mayor, Bob O'Connor, to a rare but deadly form of cancer. He checked into the hospital with what we all thought was flu in early July, and he passed away after a valiant fight against cancer on September 1. Mr. Speaker, every cancer death is a tragedy, of course. What makes this death so significant is the impact that it has had on the city of Pittsburgh. Bob O'Connor was a true son of Pittsburgh. He was born and raised there. He went to church there. He went to school there. He worked in the steel mills in his youth. He went on to great success as a businessman and entrepreneur. And, finally, more than 20 years ago, he began a distinguished career in public service. Now, a record of public service like his deserves recognition in its own right, but Bob O'Connor was not your typical public servant. He was an intelligent, outgoing, charismatic man, widely respected for his ability to bring people together and for his commitment to the city of Pittsburgh. Everybody knew Bob, and I daresay everybody loved him. Our community was excited and enthusiastic about the good things that he and his administration were going to do for the city. That is why his death has been such a blow to the citizens of Pittsburgh. I would like to take some time this afternoon to share a little more about this remarkable man with my colleagues. Bob O'Connor was born December 9, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert E. O'Connor, Sr., a truck mechanic and combat veteran, and Mary Anne Dever O'Connor, a full-time homemaker. He grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1962. For the next 5 years, Bob worked in the Jones & Laughlin steel mill. During that same period of time, he courted his future wife, Judy Levine, who was also a graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School. The two eloped to West Virginia and were married there in 1964, and they enjoyed 41 wonderful years of marriage together. They subsequently had three children, Heidy, Terrence and Corey, of whom they were both very proud. Throughout his adult life, Bob was actively involved in his church and his community. He was active first in St. Philomena's Roman Catholic Church and then St. Rosalia's, and he served on the Board of Directors of Carnegie-Mellon University, Gateway Rehabilitation Institute, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance, The Caring Foundation, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. In 1967, Bob entered the restaurant business with several of his in- laws, and over the next two decades he achieved great success in these endeavors, eventually becoming executive vice president of a regional restaurant chain. In 1990, Bob left his successful career in the private sector to run for public office. He sought and won a seat on Pittsburgh's city council and served on that council with distinction for the next 12 years, serving as council president for four of those years. Bob had a strong, clear vision for revitalizing the city of Pittsburgh, a vision that sometimes was at odds with the agenda of then-Mayor Tom Murphy. Consequently, during his years on city council, Bob ran twice unsuccessfully for mayor in 1997 and again in 2001. He ran strong, competitive races and came very close to winning, losing to Mr. Murphy in 2001 by only 699 votes. In 2003, Bob left city council to serve his community running the Governor of Pennsylvania's regional office covering the southwestern section of the Commonwealth. But he felt so strongly about his vision for renewing Pittsburgh that he left that position after a year and ran for mayor for a third time last year. He won in a landslide, and he was sworn into office as the 58th mayor of the city of Pittsburgh last January. This new administration was welcomed enthusiastically by all of Pittsburgh, and the mayor began to implement his plans for revitalizing our downtown, solving the city's budget woes and stemming the city's ongoing population loss. Even his political opponents wished him well and bore him no ill will. Sadly, earlier this summer, just as Bob's efforts were picking up steam, he was diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma, an extremely rare form of cancer. True to form, Bob opted for an aggressive treatment regimen that his doctors believed offered the best hope for a cure. The initial results of his treatment were promising, but in late August his health took a turn for the worse; and he passed away, surrounded by his family, on September 1. Bob is survived by his wife, Judy, his daughter Heidy, his son Corey, and his son Father Terrence, and three granddaughters, Kennedy, McKenzie and Delaney. I am pleased to note that Judy O'Connor, Heidy Garth, Corey O'Connor, Father Terrence O'Connor, Bob's granddaughters Kennedy, McKenzie and Delaney Garth, his sister-in-law DeeDee Pelled, his niece Maya Beck, and Judy's brothers, Larry Levine and Buddy Klemp, along with close family friends Mike Corey and Bob Jabonowski, are here in the House gallery today to witness consideration of this legislation, which I believe will be approved overwhelmingly. I would like to recognize them and ask them to stand. I would ask that the House give its greeting. Thank you so much for being here. I am pleased that they could all be here in person to see the House honor a man they all loved so deeply. I would like to ask all of the House to vote for this overwhelmingly because Bob O'Connor was not just another elected official. He was a man of great worth, generosity, vision and integrity. He was a successful businessman and a widely respected public servant with a distinguished record of service and a potential for even greater accomplishments. His untimely death at the age of 61, so soon after beginning his first term as mayor, has deeply saddened the residents of Pittsburgh as well as his family and friends. I am proud to claim him as a good friend of mine, and I will miss him deeply. Pittsburgh has lost a promising leader. I have introduced this resolution with my colleague from Pittsburgh, Congressman Tim Murphy, to honor Bob O'Connor's life, mourn his loss, and extend the House of Representatives' condolences to his family, friends and constituents. We felt that it was fitting that the Nation officially recognize his passing in this manner. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in paying our respects to this quintessential American, family man, businessman, man of faith, philanthropist and public servant, and in celebrating his remarkable life. I would like to close by thanking Majority Leader Boehner for his help in scheduling consideration of this resolution in such short order. I would also like to thank Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman for moving this legislation quickly through the Government Reform Committee. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. You are saying that any right-of-way dispute, any right- of-way dispute could be adjudicated at the local level and not have to go to the FCC.

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank my good friend from Maryland for offering a good amendment that is quite similar to the provisions of the Doyle-Dingell amendment that was ruled out of order. No sour grapes. It is a good amendment, worthy of support, but it only goes part of the way. I want to make sure my friends and colleagues understand that settling for the Wynn amendment is like a football team declaring victory right after kickoff. The Doyle-Dingell amendment would have been the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl, and I say that humbly, coming from Pittsburgh. The Wynn amendment gives local governments the right to enforce consumer complaints and outlines an FCC backstop, just like the Doyle- Dingell amendment did. Where this amendment stops is on the enforcement of the rest of the bill. If you agree with Mr. Wynn that the principle of local enforcement and an FCC appeal is a good one, and you should, you should also agree with that same principle for issues like public access and school channels, INETs, public hearings, as well as consumer protection like the Dingell-Doyle amendment would have. While we are on the subject of enforcement, I want to make sure my friends are aware that the House will not debate an amendment to fix the COPE Act's rights-of-way boondoggle. For my friends who have gotten calls and letters from mayors in their districts, resolutions from city councils, this amendment, while good, does not address their larger concerns about their roads, their streets, and their other public property. If local enforcement is such a good idea, and it is, then why should local governments not be allowed to enforce their own laws about their own streets? The COPE Act sends any dispute about streets and sidewalks to the FCC in Washington, D.C. That is a fundamental change. It is so far from how the law works today, and our body needed to debate that point. America's cities and towns and consumers will benefit from the Wynn amendment, and I thank my friend from Maryland for offering it, but it is a 5-yard gain when America needs 80 yards to score. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just conclude by saying that it is better to have someone in the local jurisdiction who understands the problems of local government make these decisions than a bureaucrat down in Washington, D.C. If you want to have every municipality, every mayor, every city council have to hire a Washington attorney to go to the FCC to represent them when there is a dispute about a street opening, then we have not done a good enough job today on this bill. The Wynn amendment is a good idea. It is a good principle. It goes halfway. It is a shame we could not have gone all the way and taken care of all the problems in this bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to today's rule for the COPE Act which blocked many important amendments, including an amendment that was of great concern to the people all of us represent in this body. Each of us comes from cities or towns, many of us were elected to this body from county councils. Some of us were mayors. I have gotten a lot of calls from the cities I represent, and I know my friends on both sides of the aisle have too, but the leadership stands in the way of debating the amendment that answers their calls. This rule hangs up on cities and towns. This rule should be voted down. With the Doyle-Dingell cities amendment ruled out of order, leadership has told our cities, told our towns, told our mayors, told our councilmen that leadership does not care about their concerns. Even though TV revenues are a large part of municipal budgets, even though their citizens rely on public, educational, and government channels for information, even though local governments have a lot to say, the leadership has told local governments they are shut out of this debate. This rule should be voted down. There has been little debate about the COPE Act and what it does to rights-of-way. Proponents say it protects city streets. In reality, it only goes halfway. It allows cities to manage their rights-of-way which include streets, sidewalks and other public property; but that is exactly what America's cities and towns do today. But the COPE Act sends any dispute about those rights-of-way to the FCC. That is such a fundamental change. The COPE Act is so far from how it works today, and our body needs to debate it. This rule should be voted down. If a city like Pittsburgh has an ordinance that prohibits blocking rush-hour traffic on a major road, who is best to determine whether that ordinance is legal under the COPE Act? Is it somebody from the Pittsburgh area, or is it a bureaucrat in Washington at the FCC? Mr. Speaker, the COPE Act sends these disputes to the FCC. Why? We will never know. The leadership is afraid of a debate. They are afraid the voices of cities and towns might actually win this amendment. Our body should debate this change of policy. This rule should be voted down. Today, local governments also enforce the franchise agreements they have signed with cable operators. These franchises include a wide range of other matters. But guess what, the COPE Act takes all other local disputes that used to be resolved locally and it detours them to the FCC. This rule should be voted down. The Doyle-Dingell cities amendment would have saved taxpayers money by allowing local governments to handle these local problems first. It tapped into the infrastructure local governments already have in place to handle these complaints. This rule should be voted down. I want to thank my friends on the other side of the aisle who expressed interest in the Doyle-Dingell amendment. I am sad that their interest in solving problems in a bipartisan manner might have killed its chances from being considered. Mr. Speaker, the Doyle-Dingell amendment was supported by the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, and others. Without our amendment, the COPE Act will create real problems for America's cities. Why should Congress detour disputes about how a city manages its roads away from the local area? Since when does the FCC care about the Pittsburgh public access channel? How fast will the FCC respond to Pittsburgh's institutional network, the I-Net that a city relies on. Why should the FCC be the final arbiter over America's streets? Why is Congress telling America's local governments that they have to hire a Washington attorney to defend their roads? We will never know. We are not allowed to debate this bill. This rule should be voted down.