Rahm Emanuel

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) for yielding me time. Since 2001 the country has lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs. Now, I offered an amendment which was President Bush's 21st Century Job Initiative in an act of bipartisanship. Let me quote what he said on April 5 when he introduced his initiative. ``We are not training enough people to fill the jobs for the 21st century. There is a skills gap,'' the President says, ``and if we do not adjust quickly, if we do not use our community colleges, we are going to have a shortage of skilled workers in the decades to come.'' Now, when you were designing this bill, you did not include the President's initiative on the 21st Century for manufacturing jobs, so I offered it as an amendment. What does the Committee on Rules do? They knock it down and said, forget it. I do not know how many times you are going to show disrespect to the President of the United States when he is trying to help with manufacturing jobs. He did not come up here and lobby for it, though. He did not send anybody here to lobby for his initiative, so I do not really so much think that you are showing disrespect because why should you include something the President does not care about? But it makes sense. Every budget he has proposed, he has tried to eliminate the manufacturing extension program, and we have resulted in 2.7 million jobs lost. On top of that, when the President's economic advisor issued a report, he wanted to redefine flipping hamburgers as a manufacturing job. That is one way America can regain the manufacturing jobs we lost in America. Redefine them. No disrespect to the hamburger flippers in America, but I think there is something critically important about training workers using community colleges to, in fact, add and increase 100,000 workers, as the President of the United States said, in the high technology area of manufacturing. But this bill does not include it. I still will support this bill because I do not believe in making the perfect the enemy of the good, or in this case, the good the enemy of the adequate. And that is all this bill will try to do, adequately tread water. The fact is we have lost jobs over the last 3 years in manufacturing, 2.7 million of them, and the result has been because of basic attitude towards the manufacturing sector of benign neglect. The net result is Americans have lost their jobs, their health care, their retirement and their kids' college education because of it. I tried to offer the President's own initiative for the 21st century, and we will lose those jobs because we are not doing what we should be doing in a bipartisan fashion.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with the Elderly Housing Development & Operations Corporation and the people of Chicago in honoring the late Jerry Prete with the dedication of the ``Appreciation Garden'' at North Park Village in Illinois. A man who committed himself to helping his fellow citizens, Jerry Prete lived life to its fullest. His family, friends and the seniors of the Chicago area are testament to the quality of his character, honor and integrity. Jerry Prete achieved his success through hard work and determination. He dedicated his life to public service and the people of Chicago. An active member of the Christian Family Movement since 1950, he assisted in developing leadership training and motivation for them until the 1970s. In the 1960s, the Chicago Senior Senate was formed and expanded into 400 chapters with Jerry's leadership. In this quest, Jerry united with the National Council of Senior Citizens to submit a proposal to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the funding of subsidized living at North Park Village. Today, the Prete, Senate, and North Park Village Apartments are considered some of the finest senior citizen apartment buildings in the Nation. Jerry made a lifelong commitment towards helping seniors gain access to affordable housing--eventually assisting the implementation of about 30 multiple dwelling units around the United States. He was a champion of many causes for seniors including the expansion of Social Security and Medicare benefits, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, lowering taxes, and working toward the creation of the Circuit Breaker program. Aside from working to help seniors, Jerry was a passionate advocate for the religious community. From the mid-1950s until 1995, Jerry and his wife Anne operated the Alverno Bookstore, which they established to meet the needs of the local Christian community. Mr. Speaker, I join with the Elderly Housing Development & Operations Corporation and the seniors of North Park Village in honoring Jerry Prete. Today, numerous Chicagoans have reaped the benefits of one man's heroic dream. May God bless the Prete family and the memory of a man who was truly loved by his friends, his community and his family.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my best wishes to everyone associated with Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo on the occasion of its Swing! 2004 Zoo Ball. I would especially like to commend the Women's Board of Lincoln Park Zoo for starting what has become the zoo's largest fundraiser. The Zoo Ball is always one of the highlights of Chicago's social scene, and this year's event promises to be no exception. Transforming the Zoo into a 1940's supper club complete with big bands and classic cocktails, the 2004 Zoo Ball will be an event not to be missed. Chicago is proud to be home to one of the finest and oldest zoos in the Nation, serving the community since 1868. With over 3 million visitors every year, the Lincoln Park Zoo is consistently one of the top cultural and entertainment attractions in the city. Located within the beautiful confines of Lincoln Park, the Zoo is not only an attraction within our community, it is also an integral part of our community. The Lincoln Park Zoo is truly a unique cultural institution because it remains free to all its visitors, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the wonders of nature that exist in our world. The Lincoln Park Zoo has earned a reputation as a world-class institution committed to conservation, science, and education. With state-of-the-art facilities such as the newly opened Regenstein Center for African Apes, the Zoo continues to provide the finest facilities for its inhabitants. With four times the size of the old building, the new building allows gorillas and chimpanzees to move freely from inside to outside facilities, and gives visitors an even fuller understanding of the lives of these immense creatures. The facility also serves as a research, training and education center that will enable conservationists and scientists from around the globe to study apes. As with all great institutions, a lot of effort goes into maintaining excellence. The Lincoln Park Zoo is fortunate for the leadership provided by its president, Kevin Bell, and the dedication given by Jay Proops and other members of the Board of Directors. And I would like to particularly thank the Gala's Event Chairs, Josephine E. Heindel and Myra Reilly, and the President of the Women's Board of Lincoln Park Zoo, Debra Clamage. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to honor the hard work and dedication of the staff and friends of the Lincoln Park Zoo on the occasion of its Zoo Ball, and I thank everyone in attendance for ensuring that this jewel of Chicago continues to shine.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, some people like to make experience the issue for the Vice President of the United States of America. Let me ask how much experience does it take to wave the banner ``Mission Accomplished'' and watch another 700 Americans lose their lives and not change their policy? How much experience does it take to watch 44 million Americans without health insurance and have no policy for universal care? How much experience does it take to watch college costs rise by 26 percent and not pass or have any legislation to alleviate the financial pain for middle-class families when it comes to afford college education for their children? How much experience does it take to watch $200 billion worth of retirement savings evaporate and not have a plan for retirement security? How much experience does it take to see household bankruptcies rise by over a third in this country and not have a plan to deal with household bankruptcy? How much experience does it take to watch health care costs rise by a third and not have a plan to deal with the uncontrollable health care inflation in this country? I am not sure we can take this much experience from the Bush-Cheney administration for another 4 years.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from upstate New York for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong opposition to this rule because I had offered an amendment that was to literally add President Bush's own legislative initiative, the Jobs for the 21st Century Initiative. On April 5, President Bush, finally realizing that we had a crisis in America of a loss of manufacturing jobs, offered the Jobs Initiative For the 21st Century. That was on April 5, just a short time ago. He said, and let me quote President Bush, ``We are not training enough people to fill the jobs for the 21st century. There is a skills gap. And if we do not adjust quickly, if we do not use our community colleges, we will have a shortage of skilled workers in the decades to come.'' Now, this is a rare moment of bipartisanship on my side. I agreed with the President, and I thought he was right. Now, what happened? You all craft a piece of legislation, and showing a total disrespect for President Bush, you did not include his own initiative on manufacturing jobs. So I picked up the mantle, and I offered his amendment, his concept, his ideas that he put together; and the Committee on Rules did not think it was worthy of being included. It may not be. Maybe President Bush is not that smart when it comes to manufacturing jobs. He did lose 2.7 million manufacturing jobs under his watch. The other side of the aisle, when they drafted the legislation, did not include it. There was an amendment offered by a Democrat, and they did not include that amendment. I cannot think of anything more disrespectful to the President than what the majority has done by not including his ideas, his concepts of how to prepare American workers for the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, they left it on the editing floor. I gave them an opportunity, and they chose partisanship and politics over the skills of American workers for the 21st century. However, I took a step back and thought about it. It makes total sense to me now that I think about it, because, in fact, the program that we are authorizing, the manufacturing extension program, President Bush has tried to eliminate every year in his budget. As a matter of fact, just a short time ago in his economic plan, his economic advisers said flipping hamburgers should be redefined as a manufacturing job. No disrespect to our hamburger flippers in America, McDonald's and Wendy's and Burger King, they work and do a good job; and we are outperforming Japan and Germany and China in the hamburger-flipping business. But when this administration has an economic strategy that defines hamburger flipping as a manufacturing job, that literally tries to eliminate the manufacturing extension program year after year, and now in their moment of shame, after 3\1/2\ years of being the stewardship of lost jobs, they try to act in this holy picture that they are doing something, not one Republican had the common sense or decency or courtesy to include the President's own plan. And I tried to do it and was shown total disrespect. Mr. Speaker, the President was not even up here, nor were the President's lobbyists up here, trying to get his initiative included. There is a reason we have lost 2.7 million jobs in manufacturing, because the other side of the aisle does not have a strategy for it and does not give a whit for it. Mr. Speaker, I will probably in the end vote for the bill because there are some good things in here, but what has become clear to all of us is the President and this Congress run by Republicans do not care about 21st century jobs and the technical skills and the training that is required to fill those jobs. As the President said, we can add and train an additional 100,000 workers each year, but what did the other side of the aisle do? They left those 100,000 workers and their skills on the editing floor.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to recognize the contributions of the Chicago Historical Society toward preserving our glorious heritage and the legacy of great Chicagoans, on the occasion of its 45th Annual 4th of July Celebration. America has come a long way since the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, and I applaud the CHS for capturing the pivotal moments of this journey in its ``Documents of Freedom'' and ``Free to Vote'' exhibitions. By consistently demonstrating its commitment to historical accuracy and preservation, the Chicago Historical Society has earned its place atop the pillar of Chicago's treasures. Its commitment to this cause makes it the perfect backdrop for a celebration of our nation's history on Independence Day. We make the Fourth of July as the beginning of a revolution to secure those unalienable rights from tyranny, but the struggle began long before that date and would continue to be defended by Americans long afterward. Guided by courage, faith, respect for human dignity, and love of freedom, our forefathers fought valiantly to protect our ideals and liberties. In the two and a quarter centuries that have since passed, America has seen the highest peaks and preserved through some difficult times while the values that gave birth to our country have endured. These values that we hold so dear are preserved for eternity here at the Chicago Historical Society. And as the Historical Society has earned its place as an integral element of Chicago's museum community, the 4th of July celebration has become ingrained in Lincoln Park's culture, and holds a permanent place on the community calendar. Men and women who grew up with their parents here on the 4th of July, now bring their children along with them. And so, these values and traditions will continue to be passed on to future generations. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the leadership of Lonnie Bunch, Hill Hammock, and the other leaders of the Chicago Historical Society on another fantastic 4th of July celebration. I hope that the Historical Society will continue to enrich our lives and educate Chicagoans for many, many more years.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, Inspector General's report released yesterday determined that the Medicare actuary provided accurate cost information about the Medicare bill to a select group of Members of Congress but not to all Members of Congress. This was because the Medicare administrator at the time threatened the actuary, Richard Foster, with the loss of his job if he disclosed the accurate information to all Members of Congress. These Members, the select group, chose to keep this information to themselves from other Members of Congress and, more importantly, from all the American taxpayers who are footing the bill for the $550 billion Medicare bill. When we debated the Medicare bill on this floor, leaders in this Congress told us it would cost $400 billion, and we believed that this was true to the best of their knowledge. It is unfortunate that Members of this House were disrespectful to the taxpayers who are now going to pay an additional $150 billion, and with their colleagues, they withheld essential information about the true cost of the prescription drug bill. Even before a single senior citizen has received the benefit, taxpayers will be hit with another $150 billion bill. This unwelcome surprise could have been avoided if this administration, Members of Congress and the leadership had shared the information they had about this bill.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, as someone concerned with the health of the Great Lakes, I rise in support of H.R. 1856, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amendments Act. I would also like to thank my distinguished colleague from Michigan for offering this bill as well as for his leadership on this and other issues of importance to the Great Lakes. As has been noted, harmful algal blooms are dense patches of toxic algae, which can poison marine life. Harmful algal blooms can also become airborne and cause respiratory problems in humans. Worse still, when the toxic algae decays, it can cause hypoxia, or a condition where all the oxygen in the water surrounding the algal bloom is consumed, resulting in a ``dead zone'' where no living thing can survive. These algal blooms plague the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay and many of the Great Lakes, notably Lake Erie. In fact, a recent report estimates that more than half of the Nation's estuaries experience hypoxic conditions at some time each year. Economic impact of harmful algal blooms in United States average annually $50 million, but individual outbreaks can cause economic damage that far exceed the annual average. Total public health impacts due to shellfish poisoning from harmful algal blooms averaged $22 million between 1987-1992. H.R. 1856 will help us to better understand harmful algal blooms by increasing and updating research programs at NOAA. But, importantly, H.R. 1856 will begin new research into Great Lakes algal blooms, which present different challenges and concerns than their ocean relatives. Indeed, this bill will do a lot to help us better understand just one of the many problems facing the Great Lakes, and ultimately help us to begin to restore the health of one of our greatest national treasures. This bill is a good first step, and I hope it will renew this body's interest in providing resources to conserve our nation's lakes and oceans, including the Great Lakes. For this reason I support H.R. 1856, and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, just last week the American Association of Retired Persons released a study showing that drug prices rose in the last year by nearly 4 percent in the first quarter of last year, putting us on target for what has happened in the last 5 years every year in a row where the price of prescription drugs have risen on average 17 percent each year compounded, growing the cost for our senior citizens, their families that help their grandparents and parents to afford their drugs. And now that we have a prescription drug bill, it is going to also cost our taxpayers continuously more and more money to try to pay for that medication. We have known for the last year prices were going to go up close to about 17 percent; the year before that, 19 percent; the year before that, 20 percent; and the year before that, 18 percent, drug prices had gone up. We passed a prescription drug bill to try to deal with what seniors have said is the number one issue that affected them and their pocketbooks, which is that they could not afford the medications they need that their doctors were prescribing. And let just take one step back. This Congress passed a prescription drug bill designed not with seniors in mind, but with HMOs and pharmaceutical companies. Just take their discount card for a second: all this press around a discount card the government was going to offer, 17 different plans. Some drugs covered, other drugs not covered. And some drugs, when they are covered, could get dropped a week later and people are locked into that plan. Think about it. If one were designing a plan for senior citizens, if one were designing a plan for the customer, would they have designed that plan as is? No. The only reason that plan and the discount card was designed that way was because it was designed to help the pharmaceutical industry and the HMOs that had contributed over $250 million in the last election cycle and hired over 900 lobbyists to lobby that bill. That bill was not designed with senior citizens in mind. It was not designed to try to save them money. That bill, that legislation and the discount card, was designed for the people who paid for it. We have a piece of legislation that was passed here in the House that dealt with allowing people to do what people have been doing and senior citizens have been doing for the last 10 years, to buy the prescription drugs they need from Canada and Europe where prices are 30 to 80 percent cheaper than they are here in the United States, allowing, finally, the United States to have a free market where we have competition and prices come down due to competition. I did a study on my Web site from Costco, a discount retailer in my district and a discount retailer in Toronto, Costco to Costco, Chicago to Toronto; and the prescription drugs and medications at the Costco in Toronto are 40 to 60 percent cheaper than they are in Chicago, the same medications that we can find on the shelves in Costco in Chicago as on the shelves at Costco in Toronto. And why is that? They have lower prices there. And senior citizens, 1 million to 2 million a year, go over the border to buy their medications that their doctors prescribe in Canada, saving themselves thousands upon thousands of dollars. They can do it in Europe where they also provide medications. The same things, the same types of medications that our doctors prescribe here, they get at 50 percent cheaper. Why would we force our senior citizens into higher prices and our taxpayers to pay higher prices to support higher prices when we could allow the free market to finally operate? I understand why the pharmaceutical industry would pay about 200- some-odd million dollars in the last year and would hire 900-plus lobbyists. They have got a sweet deal going. They should fight for the deal they got. But we here fought on behalf of the people who elected us. Eighty-eight Republicans and 153 Democrats in the House voted in favor of allowing reimportation, allowing people access to affordable medications at world-class prices because people from around the world come to America for their medical care; yet Americans are forced to go around the world for their medications. And we here in the House stood up to the special interests. Later this week, the other body is going to take up that legislation. Having failed to deal with the number one issue of price and affordability of prescription drugs, they are now going to take up what we here in the House have done, which is allowing people the access to medications in Canada and in Europe where prices are much cheaper for the same name-brand drugs, name-brand drugs that we find in the shelves over there in Canada that we find here, but 30 to 80 percent cheaper. They are going to take up that legislation because they now have spent months talking to constituents, doing town halls, and they have found out what senior citizens have been telling us for the last 6 years: they cannot afford the medications that their doctors are prescribing. They are forced to pick between the medications and their food. They are forced to give up their month to allow their spouse to buy their medications. They are forced into cutting pills in half. It is time that we allow the free market to operate, bring competition to the pricing of prescription drugs and allow the prices to be driven down to world prices where they are 30 to 50 percent cheaper than they are here in the United States.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday it was reported that the pharmaceutical industries and HMO industries spent $141 million with the prescription drug bill. With the Medicare bill, taxpayers will give HMOs an additional $46 billion and they will give the pharmaceutical industry an additional $139 billion. Where else in America can you invest $141 and get a $185 billion return on your money? The GOP Congress, but of course. By overpaying private insurance companies, denying the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to negotiate for lower prices and blocking the free market from working and allowing Americans to get safe, affordable drugs from Canada and Europe, the Medicare bill is everything the HMOs and pharmaceutical companies paid for and requested. We are doing everything we can in this bill except the things that will actually lower prescription drug prices. Yesterday the Bush administration announced that they will provide drug coverage to patients with some serious diseases, less than 10 percent of them though. They will decide which seriously ill individuals will get their Medicare coverage now by the lottery. There are 600,000 people eligible for medical coverage, but we are denying this coverage to 90 percent of them, cancer patients, people with multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. We can do better in lowering the prices of drugs than by lottery.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, this bill is very clear. With the war on terror going on, what this bill says is that every American has their skin in the game. I have seen my Marine units going. And on the war on terror, not all of America is fighting. So when it comes down to investing in the war on terror, when it comes to making sure that we have access to higher education, health care so our veterans are taken care of, every American has their skin in the game to make sure the 21st century is the American century. And I have seen many, many a wealthy American. I would stop and ask our colleagues to appeal to their patriotism, not just their selfishness. There are patriotic wealthy Americans who are ready to make sure America is safe and secure in the 21st century.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rochester for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) and the Democratic substitute. It would have made incredible common sense to deal with the budget reform before voting on the budget. But that kind of common sense regularly escapes the majority, and that is why there has been a 4- month impasse on their budget between the two Chambers, their party. The truth is this Congress has been on a recess on dealing with the crisis that is facing the American people for the last year dealing with health care costs, college costs, and retirement savings problems. You are scared to be honest with the American people about the fact that you have been on a recess. But given how they feel about this Congress and given the fact that they have given you a failing grade so far, none of these Hail Mary passes is going to confuse them about where you are and what you have done in addressing their health care crisis, their college education crisis, and their savings crisis. This bill ignores the advice of Chairman Greenspan, who said it would be a grave mistake to let go of the PAYGO budget rules. This bill even ignores the advice of the gentleman from Iowa, chairman of the Committee on the Budget, who said just 2 years ago the PAYGO rules contributed to obtaining the deficits. The chairman voted for those rules in 1997. That vote ensured that we made choices, lived within our means, and were accountable for what we do. Maybe with maturity over the last 2 years, he has decided to change his view on that. It is possible. Or maybe like the rest of us, he got the disease that is rampant in Washington where one is firm in one's opinions, but very flexible on one's principles. That is a possibility too. The 1990s were good economic times. We created 22 million jobs, raised income for all levels, had more access for the uninsured to health care. College was more accessible to more Americans, and savings were up. We balanced the budget and accumulated surpluses reaching nearly $300 billion. And what we did not do was say that every tax cut is good or every tax cut is bad. We made choices. We made choices on spending. In the 1993 budget, we cut taxes for the middle class, and we also reduced spending. In 1997 we cut taxes for people earning $100,000 and, yes, gave them the first-ever $500-per-child tax cut. And we made choices by investing in children's health care, investing in the environment, investing in Medicaid, and also investing in people's retirement and strengthening our Social Security system. But your economic plan has led to $3 trillion in additional debt, an annual budget deficit of $500 billion, 44 million Americans without health insurance, 2 million more middle-class families who have moved from the middle class to poverty, and the highest rate of foreclosures in the last 3 years on personal bankruptcy. You have turned your back on what worked in the 1990s. And let me add one additional point. The majority party in the 1990 budget did not vote for it. It took Democratic votes that put us on the path to fiscal discipline. The majority party in 1993 contributed not a single vote that built on the 1990 agreement that also reduced the deficit and put us on the path to a balanced budget. You did not become a player in deficit discipline until 1997 with that agreement, which was the last yard. So let us not rewrite history here. Some of us do not have a foggy memory of what happened in the 1990 agreement, the 1993 agreement. We made choices and difficult choices, and some sat on the sidelines and were really good critics. Mr. Speaker, this so-called budget process bill says hands off when it comes to making the tough choices, and it says that we do not have the political courage to make those choices. We must make choices when it comes to tax cuts and spending and be honest with the American people, but it takes both to deal with putting our fiscal house back in order.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican smokescreen. It makes infinitely more sense to debate budget reform before voting on a budget, but that kind of common sense regularly escapes this majority and it is why there has not been a budget agreement for over 4 months. In fact, this House has been on a session-long recess when it comes to addressing the health care crisis, educational crisis and retirement security crisis in America. That is because the majority is scared of being honest with the American people. This is a smoke screen, none of which is going to fool the American people that you are responsible for $3 trillion in additional debt and an annual deficit of $500 billion dollars. This legislation ignores the advice of Chairman Greenspan, who said it would be a grave mistake to let pay-as-you-go budget enforcement rules expire. This bill even ignores the advice of the gentleman from Iowa, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, who said just 2 years ago that pay-as-you-go contributed to taming the deficits. The chairman voted for those rules in 1997. They were good in 1997; they are good now. That vote ensured we made choices, lived within our means and ensured we were held accountable for what we do. Those who voted for the bill in 1997 made sure that we lived within our means, that we made choices as we governed. The 1990s achieved record economic times: 22 million more jobs; health care and tax cuts for middle class families; 10 million more children without health insurance got insurance; college doors were opened; Social Security was secure. Those are the choices we made and we did it and balanced the budget while we cut taxes for middle class families. Those are the right economic times. Today, what do we have? Health care costs have gone up by a third. College costs have gone up by 26 percent in the last 2 years. Personal bankruptcies are up by a third since 2000, and in fact, you all want to lay the sign ``mission Accomplished'' above the economy. This economy is not working for the American people and your budget and your $500 billion worth of deficits are the results that the American people have to turn to their children and make them pay their way out of it. We turned our back on what we learn in the 1990s. If you are in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz testified before Congress yesterday that he did not plan or expect an insurgency in Iraq. This observation, from one of the war's architects, whose record includes ridiculing former General of the Army, General Shinseki, by saying his troop estimate was ``way off the mark.'' Now there are 150,000 Americans in the Iraqi theater. He said that Iraqi oil would pay for reconstruction. U.S. taxpayers have been tabbed $20 billion to rebuild Iraq. Secretary Wolfowitz could not remember how many troops had been killed in Iraq. At that point he guessed about 500. In fact, there had been 734 at the time. He was off by 30 percent. Now he says he could not comprehend and did not plan for an Iraqi insurgency. How many times do you have to be wrong in this administration and still have your job? Maybe Ahmed Chalabi did not tell him to plan for insurgency. Now he is telling us that our stay in Iraq could last years. With a record like that, Mr. Wolfowitz, do not give us any more of your judgment calls.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I commend our colleagues for working in a bipartisan manner towards recognizing the historic agreement in April on some of the most important issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This resolution puts Congress on record today to express unwavering support for the position we took in response to the ongoing failure of the Palestinian authority to crack down on terrorist attacks, dismantle terrorist organizations, or achieve political reform inside the PA. We join with Israel in this fight and we will do all that we can to root out threats to our mutual security and allies in the Mideast. This resolution says to the people of Israel and to the rest of the people of the Mideast that the United States will never leave Israel's side as a friend, as we have since 1948 been the best friend America has in that area. We will remain united by a common bond of common values, of mutual love for both freedom and liberty. Mr. Speaker, this resolution and the principles of the Mideast peace initiative will help preserve both of our Nations as unwavering symbols of freedom where intolerance and terrorism still threaten liberty and peace.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 658, which recognizes National Homeownership Month. Owning a home is a central part of the American dream, and I am pleased that this dream is within reach of more families than ever before. Home ownership is now at a record high in the United States, with 68.6 percent of all American families and over half of all minority families owning their own home. Buying a home is the largest personal investment many families will ever make. Homeownership provides economic security for American families by helping them build wealth over time. Expanding home ownership also helps strengthen communities, as owners feel a greater stake in their local schools, civic organizations, and churches. We have a lot to be proud of in the expansion of home ownership throughout our communities, but there is still work to be done. We must recognize and strengthen the working partnerships between the public, private and non-profit sectors in promoting home ownership, and we must provide greater support to FHA and related programs which help provide the means for lower income families to buy their first homes. Mr. Speaker, owning a home is becoming a reality for more American families, and we must use National Homeownership Month to continue working towards providing this piece of the American dream to all Americans. I thank the gentleman from California for introducing this important resolution and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, finally, today, the State Department will release the complete and authoritative report on the ``Patterns of Global Terrorism,'' a correction requested by our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman). The original report issued by Secretary Powell claimed terrorist incidents hit their lowest level in 34 years; but, in fact, terrorist attacks were at their highest in 20 years. A funny thing happened on the way to the printer. Unfortunately, this is not the first, second, or even the third time, for that matter, that a Bush Cabinet Secretary is having to rewrite a report from their own department. Time and again, Bush Cabinet Secretaries have been forced to abandon their own report after public scrutiny. Whether it is a State Department report on terrorism, inaccurate reports published by Health and Human Services on racial disparities in health care, the cost of the Medicare prescription drug bill, or the EPA's mercury report, each time one thing in common happens: the first draft reflects the administration's ideology and political objectives, and the rewrite reflects the facts. The final draft reflects the facts, and as Ronald Reagan used to say, facts are a stubborn thing. It appears that a pattern exists of either gross incompetence or gross political manipulation, and neither is worthy of a Cabinet Secretary. Mr. Speaker, today we welcome Secretary Powell's report in coming clean on the true facts on the war on terrorism.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, due to a family commitment, I was not present in the chamber on Friday, June 18 to cast my votes on rollcalls 267 through 275. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 267; ``nay'' on rollcall 268; ``yea'' on rollcall 269; ``nay'' rollcall 270; ``yea'' on rollcall 271; ``yea'' on rollcall 272; ``yea'' on rollcall 273; ``yea'' on rollcall 274; and ``yea'' on rollcall 275. Due to unavoidable travel delays, I was not present in the chamber earlier today to cast my votes on rollcalls 276 through 278. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on each measure.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of two bills enacted by the House that will go a long way to helping our troops and providing some comfort and peace of mind to their families. I was pleased to vote for H.R. 4323, which helps the Department of Defense speed up the delivery of critically important equipment like bulletproof vests and armored vehicles to our troops in the field. Our brave men and women in uniform depend on these resources to carry out their mission and minimize loss of life. I have heard from many deeply concerned families in my district about equipment deficiencies. One of my constituents, Dr. Donald W. Walsh, is the father of a soldier in the 933rd MP Company. Like so many parents, Dr. Walsh is very proud of his son but he is also worried about his son's safety due to the shortage of body armor and armored Humvees. Given all the strains on the troops and their families as a result of overextended tours and uncertainty, the last thing they need is to worry about their loved ones engaging in hostilities with outdated vehicles and insufficient body armor. I am glad that Dr. Walsh came to me with his concerns. I promised him that I would do all I can to help his son. Supporting this legislation is a step in that direction. Also, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 260, which recognizes and honors the service of non-active duty personnel who participate in funeral honor guards for deceased veterans. In times of war, there are not always enough active duty honor guards available to perform funeral services for our distinguished military personnel. These services are very important to the families of the deceased, and we should honor those who volunteer their time to provide these patriotic services. In recognition of their contributions, the House recently passed this bill with unanimous support. Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to these dedicated men and women who bring comfort and honor to our deceased veterans and their families.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend John H. Bryan of Chicago on being presented the Restore America Hero Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Save America's Treasures, and Home & Garden Television at their Second Annual Preservation Gala. Mr. Bryan epitomizes the principles on which this award is bestowed. His meaningful involvement to maintain America's historic and cultural treasures provides future generations the opportunity to experience American history. Mr. Bryan continues to distinguish himself through his relentless commitment and leadership to the preservation of historic American landmarks. While Mr. Bryan is a Mississippi native, he has spent much of his time in Chicago, serving as the Chairman and CEO of the Sara Lee Corporation. It was in these positions that he helped instill the value of community involvement into the corporate world. Mr. Bryan, changed the paradigm of Sara Lee, creating the notion that it was in the best interest of the company and society at large for a business to involve itself in the community. The result at Sara Lee is a community of people that enjoy volunteering with civic and social organizations. Sara Lee additionally donates five percent of its net income to charities. Mr. Bryan also sits on the board of Goldman Sachs, Bank One Corporation, British Petroleum, and General Motors where his vision and leadership are recognized as essential assets to company and community growth. Mr. Bryan has also donated tremendous amount of time and energy to the arts. He is affiliated with many non-profit organizations and has had the opportunity to serve as a trustee of the University of Chicago and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago. Because of his appreciation and love of Chicago, Mr. Bryan was appointed to the Board of Directors of Millennium Park by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. In this role Mr. Bryan has worked to change the urban landscape of Chicago, by dedicating his time to developing this uniquely Chicago treasure. Under his guidance, $200 million, or one half of the funding needed to erect the park, was raised from Chicago's business community. Mr. Bryan was able to communicate to these two groups that the opportunity to create a lasting legacy in Chicago was in their hands. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois and indeed all of Chicago, I am privileged to congratulate John H. Bryan, one of Chicago's great benefactors, on receiving the Restore America Hero Award and recognize the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Save America's Treasures, and Home & Garden Television for bestowing this award on such an admirable recipient. I wish him, his wife, and their four children continued happiness and success in the future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Honorable Milton I. Shadur of Chicago on his career accomplishments as a Senior Federal Judge on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Judge Shadur's commitment to the judicial process has earned him a tremendous amount of admiration from his colleagues, and I am proud to congratulate him on his continuing commitment to the law, and his service in pursuit of justice. Judge Shadur graduated from the University of Chicago with both a bachelors of science in mathematics and a graduate degree in law. In between his undergraduate and graduate studies, Judge Shadur served his country with distinction during World War II as a Lieutenant in the Navy as a radar officer stationed on aircraft carriers. During law school, he served as editor-in-chief of the law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. This. excellence in education was acknowledged as Judge Shadur graduated, ranked first in his class with the highest scholastic average ever obtained at the University of Chicago Law School. Even while attending Law School, Judge Shadur's legal skills were recognized by the finest legal minds in the country. Two of his law review notes were cited and quoted by the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, by special leave of the court, Judge Shadur argued his first case before the United States Court of Appeals before being admitted to the bar. One day after his admission to the bar, Judge Shadur argued his first case before the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Shadur practiced law in the private sector for 31 years, first joining the law firm headed by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg. During his career in private practice, Judge Shadur established himself as a highly skilled and even-minded lawyer. His dedication to the law extended beyond his law firm as he served terms as director of both the Chicago Bar Foundation and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago. He additionally held many important positions with the Chicago Bar Association. On May 23, 1980 President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge Shadur to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where he still currently serves. In this position, Judge Shadur has ruled on both civil and criminal cases, authoring over 8,000 opinions. In 1992, Judge Shadur was named a Senior Judge, where he maintains a full civil and criminal calendar, as well as sitting by invitation with several Courts of Appeals around the country each year. Judge Shadur has also been very active as a community leader, serving as a trustee of the village of Glencoe and as vice president of the American Jewish Congress, where he has pledged to defend the rights of minorities in the United States. He has also been very active with the Ravinia music festival, spending many years serving on its Board of Trustees. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois and indeed all of Chicago, I am privileged to congratulate Milton I. Shadur, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, for his impressive career accomplishments in the law. I join his wife Eleanor, their three children, three grandchildren, and two great- grandsons in wishing him continued happiness and success in the future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, just yesterday President Bush in the cabinet room said, ``This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda.'' Really? Let me read what National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said in September, 2002, ``We clearly know that there were in the past and have been contacts between senior Iraqi officials and members of al Qaeda going back for actually quite a long time.'' Mr. Speaker, 1 year later the National Security Adviser in September 2003 said, ``We have never claimed that Saddam Hussein had either direction or control on 9/11.'' On Monday night, Vice President Cheney, who has long maintained and repeatedly has asserted that a collaborative relationship existed between Iraq and al Qaeda said he, Saddam Hussein, ``was a patron of terrorism'' and that he had ``long-established ties with al Qaeda.'' This is the fourth or fifth time he has asserted this relationship, or members of the administration have. There is at least one thing we know about the Vice President: He is consistent, he is wrong, and he has been consistently wrong on this subject.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, later today the House will vote to solve a $4 billion tax problem with a $150 billion solution. My Republican colleagues actually wonder why they lost the South Dakota and Kentucky special elections. This legislation and the energy bills we just passed have two things in common: They are filled with tax breaks and giveaways to the biggest special interests and donors in this town. While corporate tax rates are at their lowest level in decades, and as our workers are experiencing the slowest wage growth since World War II, this bill is a special interest gift that keeps on giving. Here are some of the handouts: $14 billion to the energy, big oil companies; $10 billion for a Federal buyout of tobacco; $519 million for small aircraft companies; $92 million for suspension of duties on ceiling fans; $169 million for makers of Puerto Rican rum. Mr. Speaker, think about this, $10 billion for a tobacco buyout, and we cannot finish a highway and mass transit bill that puts millions of Americans to work. Maybe what we should do is pave the roads with tobacco around here. All the while, Americans are suffering with rising health care costs and college tuition that has increased by a third. We owe the American people better than what we are going to do today.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Florida, the Vice President reasserted that there were connections between Saddam Hussein, he said, long established ties between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. This has been proven wrong, and woefully wrong, many times. But as recently as this morning, the 9/11 Commission issued a breaking story saying it is now clear there is no connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda as it relates to 9/11. I do not know how the Vice President of the United States of America can be so sorrowfully misinformed or has decided to misinform the public. Neither quality is worthy of the Vice President of the United States of America. Now, I do not know what it is going to take to help the Vice President shake him of this delusion. I know in this town in Washington some people are firm in their opinions and flexible on their principles, but it is now time for us to acknowledge there is no connection between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. The war in Iraq was a war of choice.