Denny Hastert

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of rhetoric at times like this when we talk about taxes, when we talk about Social Security, when we talk about our future. But we need to also talk about promises and commitments that we make to people. The fact is, every dollar in a trust fund of Social Security is tied in that trust fund. And every promise we make not to cut benefits and not to raise taxes on Social Security is a commitment that we have made. It is there. It is there for a long time. The real issue that we are talking about today is a commitment that this House made to cut taxes of American working people and to keep a strong economy and trying to make commitments so this economy will work. I have heard a lot of rhetoric. Some try to bring class warfare into this whole issue. That is not the right thing to do, in my opinion. But let us set the record straight. On September 30 of this year, less than 6 months ago, we paid down $450 billion in public debt. This Congress said, ``We are going to do it.'' This Congress did exactly that. We also said that we think American working people ought to have a fair tax break. We said that if you are a married couple, it is not common sense, it is not fair to be taxed $1,400 more if you are married than if you are single. Are we going to say, we are going to do that now, now you see it, now you don't? Nine years from now that is going to disappear and you are going to be taxed more just because you are married rather than being single? We also made a commitment that if you are raising a family, if you have four children, you are going to get a $1,000 tax credit instead of a $500 tax credit. That is important. You are buying shoes and paying tuition, putting gas in the car to get kids back and forth to school and to practice and those types of things. That is important to an American family, an American family that punches a clock every day, an American family that brings a paycheck home every other week. Are we going to say that 9 years from now we are going to raid, we are going to do away with, we are going to take that $4,000 deduction, that tax credit that that family gets? Is that fair? Does that make common sense? No. We know that we have this limit because we have to deal with the other body. It is their rules, and they did not have 60 votes to change it. So we live with that. But we do not have to live with it forever. We do not have to tie the American people down to a now-you-see-it-and- now-you-don't promise. What about the family that spent their whole life building a small business, not taking vacations so that you put a little extra money and capital into that business so you can build it up, and you want to pass it on to your kids and your grandkids? If you do it and that thing slides down, if you do it 9 years from now, you can pass that on to the next generation; but if it is 10 years from now, you will not be able to do it. The Federal Government will come in and confiscate 52 percent of that business. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about common sense. If this tax break that we passed is good for the American people, it is good for families, it is good for small business, it is good for American farmers. If it is good today and good tomorrow and next year, it ought to be good 10 years from now. It is a promise. It is a commitment we made to the American people. We need to live up to that commitment. We will do that. Pass this legislation this afternoon.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Girl Scouts of the USA in recognition of their 90th anniversary. From the small beginnings of a group of 18 girls gathered in Savannah, Georgia, Girl Scouting has grown to a membership of 3.8 million women and girls worldwide. For 90 years now, Girl Scouts of the USA has been encouraging young women to develop and meet their full potential. As a former high school teacher, I can attest that the positive values learned in the Girl Scout program will help these girls make sound decisions throughout their lives. The Girl Scouts of the USA teaches girls to contribute to society and, through their interaction with the community around them, develop a strong sense of self- confidence and a willingness to take on responsibility. These qualities create a strong foundation, which will enable them to grow into quality citizens and effective leaders. While Girl Scouting provides opportunities for community service to girls of all ages, senior Girl Scouts are able to build upon their service experience in the Gold Award program. The Girl Scout Gold Award program encourages senior Girl Scouts to use their leadership skills, career interests and personal values to meet an expressed need in their community. The Girl Scouts of the USA have done an exceptional job of cultivating a positive atmosphere that allows young women to develop confidence in themselves, as well as a desire to serve their communities. I applaud them for their commitment to our nation's children, and am hopeful they will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of young adults for years to come.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the President's budget, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this budget as well. The budget process helps the Congress to decide the spending priorities of this Nation. I am disappointed that some folks on the other side of the aisle have decided not to propose a real substitute. Instead of making tough decisions, some would rather complain from the sidelines. This Congress has a responsibility to govern. I believe that this budget fulfills our responsibilities to our constituents and to our Nation. I want to congratulate our budget chairman for a job well done. I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle). Our first responsibility is to defend our Nation. Folks, we are at war. We must spend money to win this war. This budget contains a historic increase in defense spending. Our troops need this money so that they have the weapons, the supplies, the equipment to do the job. Some say that there is not enough money in this budget to fight this war. I assure you if the President needs more money to fight this war, this Congress will make sure that any man or woman who wears the uniform of the United States military and puts themselves in harm's way, they will have the training, the equipment and the weapons and whatever they need to win. This budget also contains the necessary money for homeland security. On September 11, we found out that terrorists can attack in the most unconventional way. We do not know where they will strike next. We do not know, but we have to be prepared. This budget helps our Nation prepare for these contingencies. This budget also helps prepare our Nation for other challenges on the domestic front. It includes money to implement the President's ambitious education agenda, so that our schools will teach our children better. It includes the largest financial commitment to a prescription drug benefit in our Nation's history. We reserve $350 billion to Medicare and prescription drugs for seniors in this budget. It also includes important funding for our Nation's veterans and for our Nation's farmers. The President's budget sets the right priorities for our Nation. My friends on the other side of the aisle, some have criticized our budget with great enthusiasm; but they have failed to offer a real alternative. Why did they not offer an alternative? Some would like to play politics with Social Security. Any realistic budget would have to confront the fact that the surplus disappeared because of the economic slowdown, because of the war and certainly because of domestic terrorism in this country and our willingness to prepare ourselves for it. Folks, we made a real decision last year. I heard some of our friends talk about surplus. We had a great surplus. We made a conscious decision to take some of that surplus off the table, because we thought moms and dads and local people who make money, punch a time clock, own their small business, they make better decisions with that money in their pocket than the Washington bureaucrats. We also made a conscious decision to pay down debt. During this period of time, we paid down over $450 billion of public debt. I think that is probably better than having that surplus sitting there and being tempting for people here in Washington. I know people have big plans, big thick books on how to spend that money. But times have changed. We must prepare this Nation to continue to fight the fight that we are in. We must prepare our people for domestic violence and prevent people from coming into this country and have terrorist attacks across this Nation. We need to take care of our senior citizens. We need to take care of our veterans. We need to take care of farmers. This budget does exactly that. I ask you tonight, put politics aside, put demagoguery aside, and vote for this budget so that we can move forward and this Congress can get its work done.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I think today we have a bill that I hope we can vote for on both sides of the aisle. At least, that sounds like the debate that we have had. Two or 3 weeks ago, we had a bill on the floor that basically did the same thing. We also had health care provisions. Last Monday, I received a letter from the minority leader that said ``I don't want UI and health care benefits put together in this bill.'' We took it out. Now we have a bill that basically has UI benefits. We have three things that I think are important for this country, not only helping those people who are out of work, and they need help, but also, most people who are out of work will tell us one thing: They want a job. It is our job to help create jobs in this country. There are some fundamental things we can do. First of all, all American families that work have accumulated some kind of wealth, either through 401(k)s or mutual funds or savings accounts or pensions. They lost value after September 11. Luckily, that value is starting to come back, and people are seeing that their savings are starting to be restored. But that is a valuable asset that we have in this country. That is a valuable asset for every American family. We need to get confidence in those markets that people will put money back in again and see that value rise. The second thing that we needed to do is get confidence in consumers, because what this Congress has done over the past 3 years is paid down $450 billion of public debt, so we do not have the Federal Government out there competing with the private sector for capital. We have helped keep interest rates low. I say ``helped keep'' because the Federal Reserve has helped us, but they have been able to help us because we have done what we have done. With low interest rates, we read that housing starts are up 6 million last year, unprecedented in a time of recession, but this helped keep the economy going. The auto industry is going. A lot of things are starting back up. We have helped that happen. This bill will give consumers confidence, also. The third thing that we needed to do, and we will do in this bill, is to help amass capital in very crucial spots so that money will be invested in creating jobs. Creating jobs is not a hocus-pocus, or it is not something where we wave a wand over and it just happens. We have to create it. We have to make sure that there is capital amassed so people invest in new ideas, new construction, new capital equipment, and the ideas that create jobs in this country. That has been this Nation's strength. We do it in this bill. We are going to be successful in the bill because 2 weeks ago we did not wave a white flag and say, ``We will just pass UI and we will roll over dead.'' We fought back, we got a good piece of legislation. I think that the Senate ought to pick this legislation up and pass it.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues on this side of the Chamber, and to my colleagues on this side of the Chamber, I first want to say that yesterday was an incredible day. It was an incredible debate. Reformers came to this Chamber. They changed some of the rules on how we do things, how we elect our officials. This House worked its will. That is the way it should be. But now we need to look at other needs. We need to look at the needs of the American people. We are in recession. We are in a war. We are in a time of terrorist threat within this country, within our own Nation as well as around the world. In October, we passed an unemployment compensation extension. In December, we passed a stimulus package. We knew that people were out of work. We knew that people were losing jobs. What we tried to do during this time frame was to do three simple things. Number one, because every American family who had some substantive savings, wealth in 401(k)s and the stock market, to get the confidence back in the stock markets, to get the confidence back in people putting money in those securities. This bill helps do that. We also said that we needed to be able to get some consumer confidence. When you talk about the Fortune 500 companies, they said we need people with money out there to start buying our products. This bill does it. It puts money in people's pockets right away. Finally, there are people out there who lost their jobs. They need unemployment compensation. They need health care. It is in this bill. But they also, more than that unemployment compensation check, they would like to have a job. And so you need to concentrate that capital where companies are putting that money back into creating jobs, building buildings, buying machinery, putting money in new ideas. This bill does it. I heard the previous speaker say, ``Don't hold these people hostage. Don't hold New York hostage.'' We are not. We take care of New York in this bill. We are not holding the unemployed hostage. We take care of them in this bill just as we have done two times previous. But, ladies and gentlemen, let us not hold America hostage. Let us get this legislation done. Let us give people confidence in the markets. Let us give people confidence that they are going to get a paycheck. Let us give them the confidence that they can have a job so that they can pay their house payment and their car payment. It is time to get this job done. It is time to quit playing political games. It is time to get a stimulus package for the people of the United States. Vote for this motion.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, today, as we commemorate President Ronald Reagan's 91st birthday, we remember the significant impact he had on our lives here in America. When our country was struggling through the cold war and a suffering economy, he had the ability to lead us with courage and hope, not fear or disappointment. When he gave his first inaugural speech in January 1981, he said, ``I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.'' These words alone explain the perseverance that Reagan possessed throughout his presidency. These words also taught Americans that it is important not to give up during difficult times. The Great Communicator is a title that we all remember him by. He earned this name because of the way he conveyed his messages to all people, because he spoke from his heart with passionate words, words that resonate in people's hearts and minds for generations to come. When I think of President Reagan, I think of how important it is to work hard with determination. He re-ignited American patriotism, and what it means to be an American. He taught us that education is the foundation for a successful future, and that everyone has the opportunity to achieve his or her dreams. He made us understand why everyone, no matter what background, can be a hero. Reagan also helped us remember that the purpose of government is to serve the people, not the other way around, and that we should cherish our freedom because not every nation guarantees it. As a former high school teacher, I have long believed that history is what makes us remember our past so that we can fully understand who we are and why. President Reagan often stressed the importance of history because he also believed that by learning from our past, we could better appreciate our forefathers who sacrificed their lives to preserve the freedom that we have here in America today. I want to commend President Bush for his actions in making President Reagan's boyhood home a National Historic Site by signing the bill into law today. As the author of this legislation and the Congressman who represents the little hamlet of Dixon, IL, where Ronald Reagan grew up, I could not be more proud. There will now be a lasting, living legacy to our 40th President who won the cold war and returned America to greatness in the late 20th century. With the preservation of Reagan's boyhood home, we are protecting American history and paying tribute to a good man and great President who truly believed in American values, American principles, and most of all, the American spirit. President Reagan, congratulations on the 52nd anniversary of your 39th birthday. Godspeed.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the accomplishments of the first session of the 107th Congress. I am proud of this House of Representatives and how it has risen to the challenges of this very turbulent year. We started this session after the closest Presidential election in our Nation's history, with an evenly divided Senate and a closely divided House. We conclude it with an admirable track record of accomplishments in the face of a Nation that has utterly changed in a time of war. The themes we focused on at the beginning--economic security, retirement security, national security, and education--still occupy our attention at the end. We started this session debating economic security. Should we take the steps necessary to jump-start our economy? The Congress, amid great debate, considered the President's campaign pledge to return $1.35 trillion of the taxpayers' money to the taxpayers themselves. We started in the House with the principle that it is wrong to penalize married people with a higher tax rate. We passed legislation to get rid of the marriage penalty. We believed it was wrong to tax people when they die, so we got rid of the death tax. We believed that all Americans deserved some tax relief, so we passed broad, across-the- board tax relief, which included a refund check for all Americans who pay income taxes. We believed that families needed help to raise their kids and to send their kids to school. We doubled the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000 to give parents more money at home to take care of diapers and school supplies and braces and all the other things that kids need. We also passed tax-free education savings accounts to encourage parents to save money for their children's education. To improve retirement security, we included monumental IRA/401(k) reform so that people could save more money tax-free for their retirement. Tax relief is the best remedy for a slowing economy, and there is no question in my mind that we did the right thing by passing the tax relief package early enough to soften what could have been an even greater economic blow to our country. The President signed this legislation on June 7. He kept his promise to the American people, and we kept our commitment to economic security. But tax relief was not our only accomplishment in this historic session of this Congress. The President promised to work on a bipartisan basis to reform education, to improve our education system so that no child is left behind. As a former teacher and coach, I understand how important education is to our Nation's future and how complicated school reform truly is. We worked on legislation that would do the following: children from the third to eighth grades would be tested annually in such important subjects as reading and mathematics so that we could make sure that they are learning. States and school districts will have more freedom to decide the most effective way to spend Federal dollars. And they will be held accountable for their decisions. Federal funds will be put in the programs that have the most positive impact on children, programs, for instance, that make sure that all our kids are reading by the third grade. Parents will be empowered with information about the quality of their children's schools and their teachers so that parents can make the best decisions for their kids' education. And parents with children in failing schools will be able to use Federal funds to pay for private, religious, or community-based after-school tutoring. Last week, the House passed the conference report and the Senate completed its work and the President will sign this legislation in early January. From the beginning, we planned on tax relief and educational reform. But the Congress showed it was able to respond to an immediate crisis. On September 11, the American people were deliberately and viciously attacked by terrorists who hijacked four airplanes, crashing two of them into the World Trade Towers, one of them into the Pentagon. The fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after a heroic struggle by crew and passengers that led to the crash of that airplane. Many of us believe that the terrorists planned to crash that plane into this very Capitol of the United States of America. Those people who stopped those terrorists from their dastardly deed did a great service not only to the people who work here, the people who serve here, but certainly to the American people themselves. We hold those deeds in the greatest and highest honor that I think this country can bestow. This disaster changed the character of Congress and the face of this Nation. I am proud of how this House has reacted. From the moment we sang ``God Bless America'' on the steps of the Capitol building, we sent the message to the world that we are united in fighting this new war on terrorism. We immediately got to work on a series of initiatives to go after these murderers and safeguard our Nation from future attacks. Three days after the attack, Congress passed a bill providing $40 billion to fund September 11 recovery efforts and to combat terrorism. On the same day, we passed a resolution authorizing the President to use force against those who played a role in these attacks. In the days that followed, we passed legislation vitally important to fighting this new war and in protecting America from further attack: An airline recovery bill to help those airlines struggling after the attack on our Nation. An antiterrorism bill to provide our law enforcement officials with the tools they need to track terrorists and bring them to justice. An aviation security bill to improve safety at our country's airports for travelers and airport employees. For bioterrorism, to protect our Nation from this growing threat, which we hope the Senate will complete this week. The terrorist attacks pushed an already struggling economy into a recession. The House responded by passing an economic stimulus package. Unfortunately, the other body was unable to pass similar legislation. Our bill was a fair and balanced bill that would have helped workers who lost their jobs keep their health insurance. Most importantly, it would have helped those workers get back to work. It looks today that the other body will not complete work on our legislation. I think that is a shame. One of the biggest frustrations this year has been the lack of production from our friends on the other side of the Rotunda. The House has led the way in implementing the President's agenda, but on too many occasions the Senate has dropped the ball. Here is the long list of items that passed this House but that the Senate has left for next year: We passed the President's faith-based initiative, to give religious organizations the same rights as other groups to use Federal funds to help America's less fortunate. We passed a comprehensive energy bill to step up energy production here at home, reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy, and make energy cleaner and cheaper and more dependable for years to come. Not only does this bill set us on a more secure road for the future, it helps our economy by creating another 700,000 American jobs. We passed a bill that banned human cloning for reproduction and research to uphold the sanctity of life, as well as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which makes it a Federal crime to harm or kill an unborn child during a violent attack against a pregnant woman. We passed Trade Promotion Authority for our President so that he could open new world markets for American goods and services, grow our economy, and open up 1 million new jobs by the year 2006. We passed election reform, to restore the American public's confidence in the democratic process and ensure that America's voting system is the very best in the world. Clearly, the other body has much work to do in the next session of the 107th Congress. We also must complete action on the President's issue that he said in his election that he wanted every American to have access to health care. The Patients' Bill of Rights legislation was passed in this House earlier this year. The bill has been stuck in conference since August. It is time to get that legislation finished. The bill we passed in August aims to improve care to expand patient protections, make health care more affordable for the many families that lack coverage, and hold HMOs accountable, allowing patients to challenge their insurance plans if they fail to deliver quality coverage. We will have other initiatives. We must authorize the historic Welfare Reform Act, first passed in 1996. We will consider proposals to strengthen retirement security, including making prescription drugs more affordable and available to America's seniors. We must also help our President in this historic fight against terrorism. Whether it be providing more resources for homeland security and getting more money for our armed services, whether it be the effort to prepare our Nation for biological and chemical terrorism, or our efforts to reform our insurance laws so that our Nation will be adequately prepared for the consequences of terrorist attacks, this Congress will do the right things for the American people. Looking over the events of this last year, I cannot help but note the passing of several important Members of Congress: Joe Moakley, a great American from Massachusetts; Norm Sisisky, a wonderful person who served this House from Virginia; Floyd Spence, from South Carolina; and Julian Dixon, from California, all served their country with distinction, in different ways, but with the same sense of patriotic duty. They will be sorely missed in this House of Representatives. In conclusion, let me report to you, Mr. Speaker, that this House of Representatives has served the people in a year of turbulence and war with distinction. I am proud of our efforts, and I look forward to an equally successful year in the second session of the 107th Congress. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not thank the people who make this Congress work, who are here day in and day out, in the wee hours of the morning, who enroll our bills, who make this institution a great institution; and also those people who in the times of terror and terrorist attack spent countless hours and days and weeks making this place available to the American people so that this Congress could do its work. I thank you. God bless America.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to praise the efforts of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Their work encourages schools, youth programs, attorneys, judges, and police departments to work together to form and expand diversionary programs. These programs, known as Youth Courts, are where juveniles, under the supervision of representatives from the education and legal communities, determine sentencing for first time Juvenile offenders who are charged with misdemeanors or minor infractions of school rules. The program displays that as a sentencing option, community service can serve both the offender and the community.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, first of all, this Congress has come through an extraordinary year, a year where a lot of us never thought that the challenges and problems and probably the grief that many Americans have faced we would have to deal with, but we did. I want to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for facing up from time to time, standing tall and getting things done that were important to the American people. We have stood together. We have faced problems. We have done those things that secured this Nation. But there is one more problem. We also see an economic downturn. We can discuss why that happened. Whether it was the result of September 11 or it was in the mix a year ago, we do not know; but we know it is here. And we know when this country faces problems, this is the body that the American people look to to find solutions. And somehow from time to time we, as Americans, we, as elected people here, pull together our collective strength and find solutions to those problems. We are human, and solutions many times are not perfect. I remember a conversation I had with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt). He was concerned when we did the airline bill and we did a couple other things so that American workers were taken care of, because at that time there were people out of work. But today there is a lot more people out of work. And those people out of work are on unemployment compensation. We want to extend that unemployment compensation. This bill does it. It does it to the tune of $30 billion and gives these people a lot of hope and a lot of time to get back on their feet and to find that new job. The problem is, too, some of those people do not have health care. They do not have the COBRAs opportunity. If you have COBRA that means you have to go out and pay 102, 103 percent of your premium. We tried to find a solution to that problem too. We tried to find it together. In finding it together, we said there is a couple of ways to do this. But the way you do it quickest is give people that little code, that little voucher if you want to say it, I hate to use that word, that you can take and say here is my voucher. Here is my number. I am certified. Here is a check for 40 percent of my health care to your employer or to your insurance company, it depends on what State you are in. You know that. And in 38 States for people who are not covered by COBRA, are not in one of those big corporations, do not want to have one of those Cadillac health care bills, they also have the ability to have many COBRAs. Because you can take that there to small businesses that are not covered by COBRA and extends that insurance coverage. We do something else. There is another group of people out there that work for companies that do not offer insurance. And they have the ability in this bill to take that code number and a check for 40 percent of their coverage and take it to buy where they buy insurance every day, whether it is down at the Main Street insurance office or some cooperative, people that they buy and do business with every day. But this bill does more than that. It also puts money in people's pockets. If we are going to change this economy, if we are going to change this system that we have today, we have to get consumer confidence back. And we do that. We also say every family in this country that works has had some type of security, some types of wealth that have given us a safety net, whether it is a 401(K) or whether it is a savings plan or it is a mutual funds of some kind. And almost every family since September 11 has lost that wealth or some of that wealth. We are saying let us kick that market and let us get it going. Let us do some of those things that spur this economy and people's confidence of putting money back in the market. Let us bring that wealth back to American families, every family that has a pension or a savings account or a 401(k) is tied to securities. We need to get that done. Finally, the engine in this country that creates jobs is the magic of people taking capital and creating wealth, taking capital and creating jobs, building buildings, buying machinery, investing in ideas, and you have to have the capital to do that. And this bill also does that and brings that capital into a place where people can invest it and create the jobs and restore this country back to where it should be. Now, do we do it this way or that way? Is this a perfect way? Well, I say it happens to be a centrist way, because folks on both sides on the aisle, on both sides of the rotunda have basically come together and said this is what we should do, and we should do it. We should do it for this Nation. We should do it for our people who are unemployed. We should do it for the victims in New York because we addressed that too. It is time to get it done. We have heard a lot of rhetoric. The hour is late. I know this has been a stressful couple of weeks, tempers flair and we get on edge. But I think as this Congress we have done a pretty good job over the years and over the last year, especially. I thank the Members for their help and support when we needed to have that. There is one more time that we need your help and support, not just us, the American people need it. Here is the solution. Here is the ability to do it, and now is the time to do it. I thank Members for their attention. I thank Members for their consideration. Let us vote this bill and get it done.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, Dick Armey has been one of my closest friends in the Congress, and his contributions to the House of Representatives have been enormous. Dick Armey is not a natural politician, but he is a natural leader. Dick came to the Congress with the idea that this institution could work better for the American people; that it could be more responsive to the people's wishes; that it could be more responsible with the taxpayer's money; and that it could be play a more balanced role in the lives of the American people. He will leave at the end of his term with the knowledge that he has made this Congress a better place. I am proud of Dick Armey; I am proud of his ideas; and, I am proud of his achievements. I know that he will continue to fight for his constituents and for the American people every day that he remains in this institution.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, it is always an honor to take this floor. It is an honor to have these debates because, let no one be fooled, this is one of the defining debates of this Congress. The gentleman who stood up and spoke before, just prior to my taking the floor, is a person who leads the other side of the aisle, a person who I have a great deal of respect for. We do not always agree. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of times we do not agree. But some of the things he talked about today I do agree with. We talked about unemployed workers. We have seen 700,000 workers in this country lose their jobs since September 11. We need to stimulate our economy. We need to support those things that make this economy work. And one of the ways to do that is to be aggressive, something that we have not been able to do for a number of years; go overseas, make the agreements, make the deals that we have to, sell our products, put our people to work, create jobs in this country, and stimulate and pass legislation that gives the President of the United States the abilities to go out and make those agreements. We have talked about maybe this bill does not have all of the good things in it maybe other bills did. We have talked about the Jordan trade agreement we just passed a short time ago. But I can tell you, this bill has those agreements in it that were in the Jordan trade agreement. The issues of workers, the issues of environment are put into this agreement, put in this bill. They talk about being able to negotiate on the international property rights. I understand the problems of trading with China and trading with other places that do not quite have the laws that we have. But unless you have the structure so that our administration and others can go forward and negotiate and lay down the agreements so that we can protect ourselves with international property rights and others, we will never get them, because you cannot do it by waving a wand and you cannot do it by coercion. You have to do it by negotiation, and you have to have the ability to do that. I stood on this floor 5 years ago to give then President Clinton the ability for Fast Track authority. I did that because I thought it was the right thing to do. I did it because I thought the President of the United States, regardless of party, ought to be able to go out to make agreements and negotiations and then bring them back to this Congress for us to agree with or to disagree with. Today I rise in support of this legislation giving a new President Trade Promotion Authority. And I urge all of my colleagues to do it. As I said, this is a defining vote for this Congress. This Congress will either support our President, who is fighting a courageous war on terrorism and redefining American world leadership, or it will undercut the President at the worst possible time. David McCurdy, a former member of this body, now head of a high-tech trade group, said, this vote is every bit as important as our vote to give the President the authority to fight the war on terrorism; this vote is being watched today closely by our allies and by our adversaries. Ironically, there is more at stake here if we fail than if we succeed. If this vote prevails, the President has the authority to negotiate further trade agreements. That is it. The President still has to bring those agreements back to Congress for approval. If we do not like those deals we can still reject them. But if we vote down this legislation, we send a terrible signal to the rest of the world. We say to the world that the Congress will not trust the President to lead on trade. We say to the world that Congress is not interested in promoting trade. We say to the world that we fight a war around this world on terrorism, that we would rather retreat to splendid isolationism than engage in the world economy. That is the wrong choice. The world keeps spinning without us. There are 170 free trade agreements around the world that have been negotiated in the last several years. We have been party to two, two, T-W-O, two, one, two, of those agreements out of 170. That means that we have not engaged. We are not there. We can either watch from the sidelines or we can get in the game. Our high-tech communities, our farmers, our manufacturing sectors, our sectors, they all want us to be in the game. They understand that American leadership on trade means more than American jobs and a better standard of living for our workers. Many of you are concerned about your constituents. You have a right to be concerned about your constituents. But the constituents in this Nation want us to take steps now to promote long-term economic security now and for the future. American leadership on trade means better economic security for our workers. Let me conclude by simply saying, reject isolationism, reject protectionism. Vote instead for the American leadership. Vote for American jobs. Vote for better economic growth. Vote to support the President this time, especially in a time of war. Vote for Trade Promotion Authority.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation which would name the national cemetery in Saratoga, NY, the ``Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.'' This is a fitting tribute for my friend and our former colleague. I would like to thank Chairman Smith, my colleague from Illinois Mr. Evans, and the Veterans Affairs Committee for allowing this important legislation to move so quickly. As the sponsor of this legislation, I would also like to thank the numerous cosponsors, especially Mr. Gilman and all the members of the New York Congressional Delegation. I had the honor and privilege of serving with Jerry Solomon during many of his 20 years of service in the House. We all remember Jerry as someone who fought for what he believed in. He was your most tenacious advocate when he was on your side and a ``pit bull'' of an opponent when he wasn't. He was truly a man of principle, and you always knew where he stood. Before being elected to Congress in 1978, Jerry Solomon had an impressive career of public service. He was, among other things, a U.S. Marine, successful businessman, volunteer fireman, scoutmaster, and a member of numerous organizations such as the National Rifle Association, the American Legion, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, and the Korean War Veterans Association. When Jerry was elected to Congress, he took on several important issues. For starters, Jerry Solomon spent many years devoted to ending the scourge of drugs, where I had the opportunity to work closely with him. In this capacity, he successfully championed many pieces of legislation requiring random drug testing and penalizing users and sellers of illegal drugs. He was a strong believer that illegal drug use is one of the most pressing issues facing our Nation's youth and fought it wherever and whenever he could. In addition, when Republicans took control of the House, Jerry Solomon served as the Rules Committee chairman, where he presided over sweeping reforms in the way the House operates. Among other things, his committee abolished proxy voting, opened all meetings to the media and the public, and made Congress subject to the same laws that the American people live under. These were important reforms that fundamentally changed the way this House conducts its business. In addition to this important work, Jerry served as ranking member on the Veterans Affairs Committee, where, as a veteran of the Korean war, he understood firsthand the importance of meeting the needs of our military veterans to the fullest extent possible. In this capacity, Jerry made sure that veterans were heard and represented when he sponsored the bill that created a cabinet level Department of Veterans Affairs. And, of course, he made certain that we remembered our country's military veterans when he fought for 15 years to see that the Saratoga National Cemetery was established. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. This country cannot and should not forget the efforts of those like Jerry Solomon who by word and deed made this country a better place.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution expressing the gratitude of the U.S. House of Representatives to the General Accounting Office for their assistance during the relocation of member offices. On September 11th, terrorists attempted to weaken our great nation. They failed. In the aftermath of the attacks, the United States continues to stand strong and wave its flag proudly. We are perhaps stronger now, than we were before. The American people have come together in a way never before seen, to support their country and help those affected by the attacks on our country. The Comptroller General and the employees of the General Accounting Office are no exception. When the Capitol and member's offices were assaulted with anthrax, the Comptroller General and the GAO employees generously shared their office space with the members of the House of Representatives and their staffs. GAO employees made quite a sacrifice in doing so. Many were displaced from their own offices in order to provide the House of Representatives with workspace. Because of the selflessness of these employees, the House of Representatives was able to continue to do their work on behalf of the American people and help our nation fight against the evils of terrorism. Today, I am pleased to join my colleagues in thanking the Comptroller General and the GAO for their assistance. They have been a great help during this very difficult time and their assistance will be remembered.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 400 which would establish the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site in Dixon, Illinois. This legislation would allow the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Reagan boyhood home from the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Foundation to ensure that this important historical structure is protected and maintained in perpetuity. First, I would like to thank Chairman Hansen, Chairman Radanovich, Ranking Member Rahall, and Ranking Member Christensen for their hard work on behalf of this legislation. I would also like to thank the 154 cosponsors of this legislation, including every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. In my mind, and in the minds of all my colleagues from Illinois, there is no doubt this important property deserves federal recognition. Preservation of properties of historical significance is a necessary and important function of government. Ronald Reagan occupies a special place in the heart of Northern Illinoisans, to say nothing of the rest of the country. We take great pride in the record of our native son. As our 40th President, Ronald Reagan steered this country through some very difficult times. I am sure many of us can recall the atmosphere in America when he took office in 1981. We were mired in recession, in the midst of a Cold War with the Soviet Union, and there was a real sense that America had seen its better days. By the time President Reagan left office, we were in the middle of unprecedented economic growth, peace and freedom were on the rise in every corner of the globe, and we had experienced a re- birth of the American spirit. Ronald Reagan's belief in limited government, lower taxes, and individual freedom had transformed American politics and re-ignited our spirit of optimism. Many of us believe that his success as president stems in no small part from his upbringing in Illinois. And, while his path to greatness took him to many places, I believe what he learned growing up in Illinois never left him. Although born in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Reagan has always considered Dixon his hometown. In his youth, as it is today, Dixon represents a traditional, rural, Midwestern town. In Dixon, Ronald Reagan attended school, played football, worked as a lifeguard, and developed the values that would shape his future life in politics. In fact, many of the images of Reagan in his youth, which we are all familiar with, were taken in Dixon and the surrounding area. The history of Ronald Reagan's life in Dixon is typical of most raised in small Midwestern towns. His parents, Nelle and Jack, instilled in him a sense of fair play, duty to others, and a respect for hard work. Ronald Reagan was thirteen when he entered Dixon's Northside High School. At Northside, ``Dutch'' Reagan played football and basketball, ran track, and performed in school plays. Athletic achievement and theatrical performances in school plays increased his popularity at Northside, and in his senior year, Reagan was elected student body president. As was the custom of the time, yearbooks generally included mottoes written by the student to describe attributes or perspective outlooks. Ronald Reagan's reads' ``life is just one grand sweet song, so start the music.'' Ambitious, full of life, and ready to take on the world, Reagan graduated from Northside High School in 1928. After High School, he was admitted to Eureka College on a partial football scholarship--he lettered in football all four years. Reagan washed dishes at his fraternity house and at the girl's dormitory on campus for spending money. Reagan worked as a lifeguard and swimming coach in the summer months as well. As a freshman, Ronald Reagan was already a proven leader--he organized and led a student strike in protest of the decision by college administrators to reduce the number of courses offered. The demonstration resulted in the resignation of the college president and a return to the old curriculum. While at Eureka he also made it possible for his older brother Neal, who was then working at cement plant, to go to college by getting him a job, a partial scholarship, and a deal deferring his tuition until after graduation. The Depression hit Dixon, Illinois especially hard. The Reagan's were forced to sublet their home and live in one room. Jack and Nelle's next-door neighbor at times cooked for them, and handed meals through the window. The Depression had an enormous impact on Ronald Reagan--he often recalled the uncertainty of the times by re-telling the story of his father expecting a bonus check and instead being fired on Christmas Eve 1931. The trying times of the Great Depression touched the lives of every American and the Reagan's were no exception. The charitable kindness received and practiced by the Reagan's helped them to survive and thrive when hard times came. After college, Ronald Reagan set out on a one-day swing of nearby small-town radio stations where he was offered five dollars and round trip bus fair to broadcast a University of Iowa football game. Early in 1993, World of Chiropractic radio (WOC), a subsidiary of WHO radio in Des Moines, hired him as a full timer announcer for $100 a month--a lot of money at the time. He had enough money to help his parents and send $10 a month spending money to his brother Neil while he finished college at Eureka. At first, Reagan's oratory was neither polished, nor very professional but he learned to rehearse and sound spontaneous. As we all know, Reagan's weakness became one of his trademark virtues. From his job at a small radio station in Iowa Reagan went on to serve in the Army during World War II, become a movie star, president of the Screen Actors Guild, a traveling spokesman for General Electric, Governor of the state of California, and ultimately, President of the United States. Wherever he went, however, he carried the lessons he learned growing up in Dixon, Illinois with him. I believe that, as a Nation, we must preserve and protect places of historical interest for future generations. The affection, we as a Nation, have for the 40th President of the United States is demonstrated by the fact that so many important things now bear his name--the airport which serves the nation's Capitol, a federal building, and the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. In my mind, however, there is another important piece of Reagan's life that deserve preservation. I believe that Reagan's life in Dixon, Illinois is critical to understanding the man and the presidency. But don't take my world for it--Take the word of the tens of thousands of visitors who tour his boyhood home every year. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Ronald Reagan's boyhood home of Dixon, Illinois in Congress and I am proud to sponsor legislation that will ensure that the opportunity to experience the place where he was raised will be available to all Americans for years to come. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001, a bill appropriately named after my good friend Jerry Solomon, who passed away last month. Jerry was a fine man who truly cared about NATO and the leading contenders for NATO admission. I support this bill, because I support the further enlargement of NATO alliance, as well as the inclusion of those seven countries that are candidates for NATO admission. If these democracies are willing to meet their responsibility of membership, I see no reason why they should not be able to enter this defensive alliance, and join their fellow members in preserving peace, freedom and democracy. These seven worthy nations are our friends, and I look forward to the day we can welcome them as members. I would now like to introduce a speech I made in March to the Lithuanian Parliament, in which I made the case for Lithuania's inclusion into NATO. Speaker J. Dennis Hastert Addresses Lithuanian Parliament, March 2001 Mr. Chairman, Members of the Seimas, distinguished guests: I am deeply honored to be here today. Two years ago, just a few months after I became the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, you were kind enough to invite me to address this Parliament. The opportunity to speak to you was one of the first honors given to me by another government. What made it even more special was the fact that it was an invitation from you, the representatives of the People of Lithuania, a people, like my own countrymen, who love freedom and know its heavy price. Last month I was traveling in the State of Virginia--a part of my country that was the home of some of America's most famous ``Founding Fathers.'' One was a man named Patrick Henry. The school children in the United States are taught a famous line from one of Patrick Henry's fiery speeches which he gave during our War of Independence. In just six simple but passionate words he summed up the resolve of a people struggling to be free when he said: ``Give me liberty, or give me death!'' Patrick Henry's Comrades in Arms, went on to sign a Declaration of Independence where they pledged to each other, ``our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.'' Most of us who serve in the Congress of the United States, and many of you who serve here, have never had to risk our lives to preserve our liberty. But many men and women, on whose shoulders we stand, have done so, on battlefields around the world and even in the streets of our own capitals. Once again today, while entering this Parliament Building, I passed the spot where some of you literally manned the barricades and stood your ground to defend the right of the Lithuanian people to govern themselves. As Speaker, I often ask my members to make difficult decisions and cast difficult votes. But I have never had to ask them to risk their very lives as some of you have done. To those of you were served in this body during those dark and difficult days, let me thank you on behalf of freedom loving men and women everywhere, for your courage and your example. Some things have changed since I was last here. Your ``new'' President is now a successful veteran and you have held Parliamentary elections. The political landscape in the United States, too, has changed. We now have a ``new'' President and a new Congress. But one thing has not changed. The bond of friendship between the people of Lithuania and the people of the United States remains strong. Our admiration of Lithuania's struggle for freedom and democracy remains constant. You can count on America's lasting friendship. As our new President develops his legislative agenda and as the new Congress works to implement it, there are significant differences between the political parties, differences we debate peacefully, but with great passion. For example, my party, the Republicans, believe in a smaller federal government, leaving more power to the States and local Governments and most importantly to the people themselves. We support a tax policy that leaves more money in the pockets of the people who earned it so they can spend it as they see fit, rather than government collecting it and then spending it. Our worthy opponents, the Democratic Party, have a somewhat different view. We respect our differences because the struggle of ideas is the heart of a true democracy. But one place where we do not disagree--where our Congress is united--is on the subject of NATO expansion. Democrats and Republicans alike believe in the ``open door'' policy of NATO enlargement and both strongly endorsed the process begun at the 50th NATO Summit held in Washington. Candidate Bush, now President Bush, supports the idea that another around of invitations for membership be issued at the Prague Summit in 2002. He made that clear in a letter to President Adamkus last May. No democracy in Europe that is prepared to meet the responsibilities of membership should be denied full participation in NATO. And no nation should fear the expansion of a defensive alliance which has done so much to encourage freedom and democracy and preserve the peace on this continent. That is why it is worth remembering that the Helsinki Act of 1975--a document heralded as a cornerstone for European security and cooperation--declares that ``the participating states . . . have the right . . . to be or not to be a party to bilateral or multi-lateral treaties, including the right to be or not to be a party to treaties of alliance.'' Our friends in Russia, who are signatories to the Helsinki Act, should not fear Lithuania's membership in a defensive alliance like those sanctioned by the accord. I pledge to you that if Lithuania invests the resources necessary to meet the requirements of NATO membership, I will do all in my power to bring Lithuania into the alliance in 2002. I intend to work side-by-side with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld to make this a reality. Lithuania has further to go to achieve NATO membership, but we must not forget how far Lithuania has come in 10 short years. This nation has already taken essential steps on the road to full NATO participation. Lithuania continues to be a reliable member in the Partnership for Peace, an important testing ground for compatibility with NATO forces; Lithuania has employed the NATO Membership Action Plan to focus defense resources and establish military priorities; And Lithuania played a pivotal role in making the ``Vilnius-9'' process one of cooperation, rather than competition. In addition, you are to be commended on your commitment to national defense spending. Your Prime Minister's reaffirmation of the government's plan to dedicate 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product on defense by 2002 is a critical benchmark. Now, the members of this body must make the difficult choices to ensure your national budget reflects this priority. And while budget choices are never easy, the longterm benefits of today's national security expenditures will certainly pay off for years to come. On regional security questions, too, Lithuania has shown a high level of commitment. Your efforts to seek common ground with Russia regarding Kaliningrad and your relationship with Belarus continues to be handled with great finesse. You and Poland have built a strong partnership. And Lithuania's continued good relations with Baltic and Nordic nations are vital. Some are too quick to forget the tortured years Lithuania endured as a captive nation. For five decades, the shackles of totalitarianism bound Lithuania. But you never gave up. And for those 50 years, America steadfastly refused to acknowledge this illegal and immoral Soviet action. It would be equally wrong now, for NATO to fail to embrace the wishes of freedom loving Lithuanians. During my last visit to Lithuania, I had the opportunity to visit your KGB museum. I must tell you it was a very moving experience to see firsthand the brutal methods employed by the Soviet secret police and the sinister tactics designed to strip this nation of its unique identity and proud history. We all pray that this terrible period in European history has been relegated to museums and history books along with the fall of Soviet communism. But, sadly, as we witnessed in the Balkans, Europe was not rid entirely of the cancer of aggression. Today in the southern Balkans, as ethnic tensions simmer, Lithuanian troops stand shoulder-to-shoulder with US forces, keeping the peace. Clearly this is another example that Lithuania already is supporting the collective security of all Europe. But the American-Lithuanian relationship is not--and should not be--based solely on the traditional definition of mutual security. Our growing economic bond is critical to our continued good relations. And with Lithuania's economic reorientation toward the West--helping to slash inflation from 1,163 percent in 1992 to less than one percent in 1999--there is no doubt that more U.S. investment will follow. Lithuania rightly looks toward America and Europe, while not disregarding Russia, for its increased economic integration. Further, Lithuania's entry in the World Trade Organization and progress toward European Union membership--which I support--are critical steps in your efforts to broaden trade relations. I read recently that the joint Wall Street Journal-Heritage Foundation Index for Economic Freedom called the Lithuanian economy ``the most improved economy in the history of the index''. With a record like that, I have no doubt that Lithuania can achieve every economic goal she sets for herself. The people of Lithuania and the people of the United States are bound by a love of freedom, by a desire to defend democracy, and by a faith in the free-market system. We are also bound together by the one million Lithuanians who now call America home. Many of the Lithuanian-Americans live in my home state of Illinois, in the great city of Chicago. In fact, it was in Chicago where I first met many of your political leaders, including your President, Val Adamkus. Earlier today, I was honored by President Adamkus as he awarded me the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas (pronounced

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, the GRAMMY Foundation recently announced that Larkin High School, located in my district, has been named a GRAMMY Signature School. Determined on the basis of a scoring system applied by a panel of top music educators and professionals, Larkin High School was chosen as one of 100 high schools from across the country to receive a certificate of recognition based on its high level of commitment to music education. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on this outstanding achievement. As a former high school teacher, I can attest that music education enhances intellectual development and enriches the academic environment for children of all ages. In addition, music educators greatly contribute to the artistic, intellectual, and social development of American children, and play a key role in helping children to succeed in school. Larkin High School has done an exceptional job of cultivating their arts programs and I applaud them for their commitment to music and arts education programs. These make a positive difference in the lives of young adults.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our northern neighbors, the people of Canada. Next week, I will be addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ottawa, Canada. While there, I will have the high honor of meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and my colleague in the Canadian House of Commons, Speaker Peter Milliken. With both great leaders, I will express our heartfelt thanks for their tremendous support during these challenging times. At this time, I would like to submit for the Congressional Record two documents sent to me from Speaker Milliken. The first is a letter he wrote to me detailing ``the profound sorrow and sympathy'' Canadians have for the families and friends of the victims in September 11th's harrowing attack. The second is a Resolution passed in the House of Commons on Monday, September 17, 2001, that in part reads: the people's body of Canada reaffirms ``its commitment to the humane values of free and democratic society and its determination to bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack on these values and to defend civilization from any future terrorist attack.'' In closing, I look forward to my meetings with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly so I can personally deliver America's thanks to the leaders of the free world, especially our friends across our northern border, the people of Canada. House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada, September 19, 2001. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all members of the House of Commons of Canada, I would like to convey to you, and to the Members of the House of Representatives of the United States, the profound sorrow and sympathy of the Canadian people for the families and friends of the victims of the September 11th attack on the United States of America. At this most difficult time, Canadians and Americans have found solace in the strength and endurance of their friendship. On September 14th, a National Day of Mourning in Canada, I stood with my colleagues from the House, shoulder to shoulder with 100,000 Canadians on the lawn of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, grieving the incalculable loss the world has sustained. Throughout our country, in similar ceremonies. the citizens of Canada echoed, and shared, the sadness of the American people. The United States and Canada have often taken their relationship for granted; somehow, today, that seems right. There is, after all, much comfort to be had in the unwavering support of our friends during dark times, In fact. former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once said: ``The friendship between our two countries is so basic, so non-negotiable, that it has long since been regarded by others as the standard for enlightened international relations.'' In the difficult days that lie ahead, I trust you will continue to count on that friendship, as we count on yours. I have attached the resolution that was adopted by the House of Commons on September 17th, 2001, and signed by the Clerk, as well as the day's Hansard, the transcript of the Commons' proceedings. I hope they will serve to convey to you some of the sentiments expressed by your Canadian colleagues in the House of Commons, as well as their heartfelt hope that the United States will draw strength from its many friends and allies around the world. Yours truly, Peter Milliken, The Speaker. Resolution Resolved,--That this House express its sorrow and horror at the senseless and vicious attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001; That it express its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the American people; and That it reaffirm its commitment to the humane values of free and democratic society and its determination to bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack on these values and to defend civilization from any future terrorist attack.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I agree with the minority leader that we need to ensure that the safety net is strong and secure for all working Americans. And it is. Displaced workers need access to financial assistance as they work to get back on their feet. They have it. They need to be able to maintain their current health coverage without being thrown into the individual insurance market. Under current law, they can keep their same coverage. And for those workers unlikely to make it back to their old jobs, we need to ensure that they have access to adequate training programs. And we have. As the leader knows, due to the bipartisan progress over the years in this Congress, those pledges are secure. But that does not mean that we should not consider proposals to do even more. The leader and I have discussed ways to address the unique health care needs of these working Americans as they seek employment. The committees of jurisdiction have already been examining proposals to assist in this area. We will take a comprehensive look at the health care needs of these displaced workers and work together to bring an appropriate legislative response to the floor as soon as possible. In the meantime, working Americans should know that the safety net is there, it is strong, and it is working.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, which authorizes the President to use all force necessary to bring to justice those nations, operations, and people responsible for the cowardly act that was perpetrated upon this Nation on September 11, 2001. The Constitution of the United States, the document that protects the freedoms of all Americans, gives the Congress certain responsibilities. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution says the Congress shall have power to provide for the common defense and the power to declare war. Earlier today, the Congress exercised its responsibility to provide for the common defense by passing the supplemental spending legislation. Now we give the President the congressional authority to use all necessary force to bring to justice those who attacked our Nation. This is the most solemn responsibility that this Congress can undertake. We do not do so gladly or with a bitter sense of revenge. We do so because we must in order to preserve freedom and democracy in this Nation. These are the times that try men's souls. On September 11, we lost thousands of people, with thousands more injured, and with two symbols of the strength and vitality of our democracy, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, destroyed or badly damaged. A sworn enemy that dares not confront us in the open attacked us in the most cowardly way, by targeting innocent citizens of this great Nation. This enemy operates in the shadows, hates with an unnatural passion, and practices political fanaticism that glorifies violent death and condemns innocent life. For too long, this enemy has been protected and supported and sheltered by rogue nations. The friends of our enemies are also our enemies, and they will bear equal responsibility. We must defend our Nation. We must defeat these enemies once and for all. We must eliminate the scourge of terrorism. This will be the great challenge for our generation. It may take years. It may cost additional lives. It may require greater sacrifices for our citizens. But great challenges have made us stronger in the past. On July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers decided to challenge tyranny. After we won our freedom, we constructed the world's greatest constitution, and created a stable, thriving democracy. We faced dark days when our Nation was torn asunder in the Civil War, and we came together after that war between the States to become the savior of Europe in the First World War. The empire of Japan deliberately attacked us on December 7, 1941, and we emerged as the greatest defender of the free world. We faced down communism in a painful Cold War and emerged as the world's sole superpower. Now, after this greatest of American tragedies that we have faced here on American soil, we face the greatest of challenges. I am comforted by the work of the President and his team. They are assembling a worldwide coalition of civilized nations. These nations look to the United States for leadership, and they want to join us in this great crusade. We will provide that leadership. We have a job to do in this Congress, and this authorization for the use of force is an important part of that responsibility. I ask my colleagues to vote for this authorization and to join with me in supporting our President, in supporting our Constitution, and in supporting the American way of life.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental spending measure and I urge all of my colleagues to support it as well. When a poet said that these are the times that try men's souls, he could have been describing the scene before us today. We have thousands of people lost, thousands more injured, and symbols of the strength and vitality of our democracy--the World Trade Center and the Pentagon--destroyed and damaged. We have a sworn enemy that dares not to confront us in the open. This enemy operates in the shadows, hates with an unnatural passion, and practices political fanaticism that glorifies violent death and condemns innocent life. We must defeat this enemy once and for all. The Constitution of the United States of America, the document that protects the freedoms of all Americans, gives us in the Congress certain responsibilities. Article I Section 8 of the Constitution says that the Congress shall have power to provide for the common defense, and the power to declare war. With this supplemental spending measure, the Congress is exercising its responsibility to provide for the common defense. In a later resolution, we will address the issue of authorizing the President to use force. The money we provide today--$40 billion--could very well be the down payment for our ultimate investment in this great endeavor. And what a great endeavor it is. To make America and the world a safer place by defeating once and for all these sworn enemies of common decency and the American way of life. No payment that we make today can really make up for the loss of life that occurred on September 11, 2001. Those poor innocent souls, those husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters, parents and children will not be coming back from the treachery of our enemy. But we can start the process of rebuilding, of healing, and of preparing our nation for this greatest cause of this newest century. We must eliminate the scourge of terrorism. The American people have faced great challenges in the past. On July 4, 1776, our founding fathers decided to challenge tyranny. After we won our freedom, we constructed the world's greatest Constitution and created a stable and thriving democracy. We faced dark days when our nation was torn asunder in a civil war. We came together after that War Between the States to become the savior of Europe in the First World War. The Empire of Japan deliberately attacked us on December 7, 1941, and we emerged as the greatest defender of the free world. We faced down communism in a painful cold war and emerged as the world's sole superpower. And now, after this greatest of American tragedies, we face the greatest of challenges. I am comforted by the work of the President and his team. They are assembling a worldwide coalition of civilized nations. These nations look to the United States for leadership and want to join us on this great crusade. We will provide that leadership. We have a job to do in this Congress, and this supplemental spending bill is an important part of that responsibility. I ask my colleagues to join with me in supporting our President, in supporting our Constitution, and in supporting the American way of life. Vote for the supplemental spending bill and do your job as a representative of the American people.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my grief and sorrow with the victims and the families of Tuesday's tragedies in New York, Washington and Western Pennsylvania. As a nation, we must stand strong together to denounce these cowardly acts of War against our people, our nation, and our civilization. As a united people, we must show our colors to those with sinister hearts and minds throughout the world that we will not be deterred. As Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to join Minority Leader (Dick) Gephardt, Mrs. (Jo Ann) Emerson, and Mr. (Ike) Skelton on this resolution urging our fellow Americans to fly the American flag for the next thirty days outside their homes, their businesses, public buildings, and places of worship. By doing so, we provide a physical tribute from coast-to-coast and around the globe in memory of those we lost and to show publicly our solidarity, resolve and strength as a Nation that these terrorist actions will not stand. I know that ever since Tuesday morning our lives and our nation have been changed forever. And from that time forward, many Americans have asked how they can help. No matter where you live, by flying Old Glory on the Main Streets of Geneva, Illinois and Rolla, Missouri to big cities like Seattle, Washington and Miami, Florida, you will be sending a strong signal to millions of people here at home and abroad that the red, white and blue represents freedom and democracy and those ideals will live on.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the American people were viciously and deliberately attacked by terrorists. My heart goes out to those victims and their families. But make no mistake, this was an act of war. The American people, as represented by the Members of this Congress, will take all appropriate action to protect its citizens and to win this war against these terrorists. We have entered into a new era of our history. As of yesterday, how we live, how we work, how we play have been changed for as long as we will be able to see, in our children and our grandchildren. Terrorists flout international law and standards of common decency. They target the American people because we are strong and because they are weak. These terrorists are cowards and they will be punished. Some say that we cannot be the world's policeman. Well, if we do not enforce the rules of common decency, if we do not take steps to protect our citizens from these lawless and evil bandits, no one else will. This is a new kind of war, and we must be prudent in how we prosecute it. All those nations who harbor, who train, who support, who fund these terrorist groups bear equal responsibility for the actions of these terrorists. We must dedicate the proper resources to deal with them in the appropriate way. Terrorists may be able to run, but they can not hide from America's steely determination and justice. Let me say a few words about the American people. Many of those who died were dedicated public servants, members of our armed services, firefighters, police officers, people dedicated to serving and protecting the American people. They have died in the line of service to their Nation. Others were citizens dedicated to living the American dream, people who had wives and husbands, children and parents who loved them and who will miss them dearly. These people were innocent victims in a war conducted against America by political extremists, people who live in the shadows and never come out except when they attack. The civilized world is with us. I was touched this morning by the visit of Mr. Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, who sat in our Chamber to show his solidarity with the American people. The speaker of the Russian Duma, Mr. Seleznev, sent me a letter where he said the people who ordered and carried out this outrageous crime must be found and punished. Our allies across the world have expressed their horror at this unprecedented attack. My friends, the civilized and free world must stand together and stamp out this terrorist scourge. My deepest condolences go to the families of the victims. May God protect them in this time of trouble and may God bless America.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Madam Speaker, it is my sad duty to announce to the House of Representatives the death of the late Honorable Floyd Spence of South Carolina on August 16, 2001. His funeral was held in Columbia, South Carolina, on August 21, 2001. Later today, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), the dean of the South Carolina delegation, will offer a resolution in memory of our beloved colleague. Members are invited to contact the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) or the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) if they wish to participate in this tribute. Members will be advised of plans for a subsequent Special Order in memory of Floyd Spence. I think we will all remember Floyd Spence for his love of this Nation, his love of this House, and his strong and spirited defense always for the armed services members of this country. It is also my very sad duty to announce to the House the death of our Chaplain Emeritus, James David Ford on August 27, 2001. Jim Ford had been the beloved Chaplain of the House for 21 years, from 1979 until his retirement in the year 2000. A memorial ceremony honoring Chaplain Ford's life and his service to this House will be held on Tuesday, September 11, at 1 p.m. in the Cannon Caucus Room. I extend my personal condolences to Chaplain Ford's family and his many friends during this time of bereavement.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the President's faith- based initiative and urge all of my colleagues to vote for it. This is a bipartisan bill. I worked last year with President Clinton to do the urban renewal on a bipartisan basis. This idea is not new. When the urban renewal bill was moved last year, I think it almost had unanimous consent on both sides of the aisle. Why, and why is this important? As we walked through this situation, and I kind of led the antidrug effort, at least on this side of the aisle for a couple of years before I got another job, we found that when we walked into drug treatment organizations that were usually government-run, we had recidivism rates of 95, 96, and 97 percent. When we walked into faith-based organizations to see what their results were, we had recidivism rates as low as 24 and 25 percent. It works. When people care about people and offer their time and their faith and their hard work and their commitment and devotion to change people's lives, it works. Not only does it have the net result of changing people's lives, allowing people to live a better life, allowing their children and their grandchildren to live a better life, it is also one of the things that, as we look around here, is a little cost effective. If we have recidivism rates of 95, 96, and 97 percent and then turn around and have an answer where recidivism rates are a third of that or less than that, then that is a good idea. It is something we ought to look at. I believe we need to put the protections in. We need to have the safeguards, and we are trying to do that. I think the good faith of the sponsor says he will do that. This is a good idea. It is not a new idea. It is part of President Clinton's urban renewal that we did just last year. It is something that works, something that is eminently good common sense. So let us move forward with this. Let us pass it. Let us get it into the Senate. Let us work through the process. Let us lead. Let us do what is right for America. I commend the sponsor and those who support it, and I appreciate the gentleman from the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), who has worked on this as well. I have walked a lot of districts, both Republican and Democrat districts. I walked with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) in Chicago, and have talked to people who have been able to change people's lives. Let us give them a chance to do a better job.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to congratulate Father Jacob Angadiath, who will head up the newly created diocese in Chicago to serve Syro-Malabar Catholics in the United States and Canada. The consecration of Father Angadiath as bishop of the diocese will take place on July 1st. Earlier this year, Pope John Paul II created the new diocese to serve the Syro-Malabarians of North America. The Syro-Malabar Archiepiscopal Church is an Eastern Catholic Church with more than 3 million faithful, and they trace their roots to St. Thomas the apostle, who brought the Gospel to Southern India. Though the vast majority of Syro-Malarbians live in India, about 75,000 live in North America, including about 7,000 in Chicago. The creation of the new St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese of Chicago is truly a recognition by Pope John Paul II of this faithful community, which refers to itself as ``oriental in worship, Indian in culture and Christian in religion.'' It is the first Syro-Malabar diocese outside of India. I want to again congratulate Father Angadiath, and wish him the best of luck as he takes on his new responsibilities as bishop. The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese will provide a spiritual home for the Syro-Malabar Catholics outside of India, and it will be a wonderful addition to Chicago's many other religious communities.