Maurice Hinchey

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Anyone who thinks back just a few years would remember how this administration and the Members of the Congress who were so complicit with them has been able to falsify information and get this country into such deep trouble. The situation in Iraq has got to come to mind. All of the deep problems we have there, based upon the falsification of information. That is what we are seeing here again, falsification of information. The Republicans are alleging that no one wants the oil companies to be able to drill for oil offshore when the fact of the matter is that the oil companies already have leases on 68 million acres, half offshore, half on the dry land of this country, and they are not using those 68 million acres. So what the Republicans want to do, at the request of this White House, is to continue to do what this administration has been doing since the meeting of Dick Cheney with the heads of the big oil companies in this country to continue to have an energy policy that is not in the interest of America but in the interest of the big oil companies. What they want them to do is to be able to get more land, more land, more public land, and hang on to that public land and not produce anything on it. What we are saying in this bill is use it or lose it. You already have the leases on 68 million acres of public land. Start using it. You want to drill, start drilling. We want you to drill. Drill on the leases that you already have. Don't pretend that you have nothing on which you can drill. You have 68 million acres. What the Republicans want to do is just put more public land in the hands of the oil companies so that they can more completely and over a longer period of time control all of the energy resources, oil and natural gas, that the people of our country own and possess. They want the oil companies to possess them for long periods of time, not to use them. They are not drilling on what they have. So pay attention to this bill, and vote for it. Use it or lose it. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend James Childs for a distinguished career in the ministry that has spanned 50 years. As Reverend Childs transitions from head pastor to his role as Senior Pastor of Pointe of Praise Family Life Center in Kingston New York, I would like to recognize and thank him for his tremendous leadership as one of our region's most respected and passionate men of faith. I also wish to congratulate him on the occasion of his 70th birthday, another significant milestone. Raised by his grandparents, Jim graduated from Kingston High School and began his professional career with IBM. His drive, determination and unwavering faith helped him to advance from mail clerk to department manager. During the ensuing years, Jim served his country, married his lovely wife Dorothy, became a father, deepened his spirituality and found the strength to enroll in the Nyack Missionary College to pursue his devotion to God. I have even had the distinct pleasure of watching as Reverend Childs has grown even beyond his eloquent sermons and commitment to ideals to become a man of action. His involvement in our community is extensive. He has worked tirelessly to address disparity in many segments of our society including housing, education, and healthcare. He has served on numerous boards and his ministries have assisted migrant workers, food pantries and the youth of our towns and neighborhoods. Reverend Childs has been a tremendous force, powered by his sense of deep commitment to being a living example of what he preaches. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate Reverend Childs and his family on his 50 years in the ministry. I offer my very best wishes to him and his wife Dorothy as they begin this new chapter in their lives, along with my deep appreciation for his inspiration, dedication and hard work for the past 50 years. As the new Senior Pastor of Pointe of Praise Family Life Center, I am confident Reverend Childs will continue to contribute in many ways to the church and community as a whole.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor posthumously Mrs. Mary Bailey Whittington ``Whitt'' Davenport for her invaluable contributions in the areas of education, the arts and historic preservation in Ulster County, New York. For more than 70 years, Whitt Davenport was the epitome of generosity and benevolence. Her pioneering spirit is directly responsible for the creation of a consolidated school system in the Rondout Valley and the construction of Marbletown Elementary School. One of her most notable efforts was advocating for the establishment of Ulster County Community College, where her husband went on to serve as its first president. Whitt Davenport was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on June 3, 1911 to William and Anna Whittington. Her father, a lawyer and cotton planter, also had the distinct honor of being a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 28 years. Whitt met Kenneth Davenport during her tenure as a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. They married shortly after her graduation in September 1933. Once the Davenports took up residence in their historic home in Stone Ridge, Mrs. Davenport quickly become an active member of her newly adopted community. As a native Southerner, she retained her distinctive accent and brought a sense of Southern charm to all of her endeavors. Over the years, she opened her home for the many parties needed to support her philanthropic efforts and was often honored for her volunteerism. Whitt Davenport was well known for her interest in books and volunteered at the Stone Ridge Library, going on to serve as both a librarian and president of the library board. Her commitment to the arts remains unparalleled, and she has even been called ``Queen of the Arts.'' She served on the Board of the Ulster Performing Arts Center, Music in the Mountains, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. After the death of her husband in 1982, she, along with her family, established the Kenneth Davenport National Competition for Orchestral Works. Her drive and determination helped save the landmark Luke Kiersted House in Kingston's Stockade District from the threat of Urban Renewal demolition and she planned the restoration of the gardens at the Senate House Historic site. Mrs. Davenport gave her time to many other organizations, lending them her sense of purpose, strength, and wisdom. Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure of knowing Whitt Davenport over the course of many years. Her work on behalf of her community was inspiring and commendable. In fact, Whitt Davenport was a force to be reckoned with. It is with sorrow that we mark her passing and with pride and gratitude that we remember her grand accomplishments.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, as the initiator of this resolution, I would first like to take a moment to thank Chairman Dingell for supporting the resolution and for bringing, being instrumental, rather, in bringing it to the floor today. I would also like to thank Speaker Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer for their determination in bringing this measure to the floor during National Women's Health Week, despite the very crowded legislative schedule. I would also like to thank Chairman Pallone and all of the fine members of the Health Subcommittee and their resolve in getting this through the committee and to the floor. Finally, I'd like to thank my good friends, Congresswoman Lois Capps and Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack for taking the lead with me on this resolution for the third time in a row. This resolution has the bipartisan sponsorship of 114 Members of this House. Also, the National Council of Women's Organizations fully endorsed this bill on behalf of their 230 member organizations who represent 11 million women across our country. National Women's Health Week begins annually on Mother's Day. This year marks the 9th Annual National Women's Health Week. National Women's Health Week is a week celebrated across America. During this week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups work together to help educate women about steps that they could take to improve their physical and mental health, and to prevent various disease. This week is also used as an opportunity to educate our population about important health issues that women face. This resolution recognizes the importance of several things, including preventing diseases that commonly affect women; federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on common diseases in women, and it also calls on women to observe National Women's Checkup Day by receiving preventive screenings. It is vitally important that women have knowledge about the health risks that confront them, and that they know they can greatly reduce those risks through preventive measures such as a healthy lifestyle and regular medical screening. Healthy habits should begin at a young age. It is imperative that we take the time to educate young girls on the benefits of exercise and eating right. If these habits start at a young age, it is more likely that they will continue through their life. It is important and essential we do everything we can to prevent disease. In this spirit, I encourage women to use this week to focus on the necessary checkups and preventive screenings from their health care providers so that they can live long, healthy and productive lives. I urge full support and passage of this very important measure on behalf of the women of our country.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Ann Sakac, president of Mount Saint Mary College, in Newburgh, New York, as she prepares to retire on June 30 after 31 years as president, and nearly 40 years of service to this excellent college and to the Hudson Valley region of New York State. Over the past four decades, Sister Ann has nurtured and enhanced the educational environment of Newburgh and the Hudson Valley. The Mount Saint Mary College board of trustees appointed her as the fourth president of the college in March 1977; she had been named acting president the previous August. When she became president, enrollment stood at 877; today some 2,600 men and women attend and benefit from the college. Sister Ann is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, formerly the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, who founded the college in 1959. She came to the Mount Saint Mary College in 1969 to teach English. She also served as assistant dean of students. During her presidency, the college has added programs in accounting, business management and administration, computer science and communication arts as well as graduate programs in education, nursing, and business. The Mount has incorporated technology into the classroom, its library and the operation of the college. Under her leadership, the college has engaged in an extensive building and renovation program for new academic, residential and recreational space, including a new Mathematics, Science and Technology Center, the William and Elaine Kaplan Recreation Center, the renovation of Guzman Hall and Founders Chapel, the construction of a mid-rise student residence and the renovation of the College Courts residence halls. Mount Saint Mary College has invested more than $75 million in its campus since 2002 and seen its annual operating budget expand from $3.5 million in 1977 to $54 million today. Sister Ann has also made a tremendous impact off campus. Many organizations have absorbed her wisdom and expertise for their boards. She served as president of the Associated Colleges of the Mid-Hudson Region and is former chair of Pattern for Progress, Inc. She was a trustee of St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital from 1981-1999 and served on the board of trustees of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities. She has received many awards, including an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from Providence College in 2003. The New York State Senate named her a Woman of Distinction in 2006. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to honor and thank Sister Ann for her distinguished career as president of Mount Saint Mary College and for her service to higher education and the community. I congratulate and salute Sister Ann, who has become synonymous with the identity of Mount Saint Mary College, on her dedication to teaching and her commitment to improving the lives of so many individuals.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi; and to Chairman John Dingell for bringing to the floor of this House of Representatives the most productive and forward-looking piece of energy legislation that we have seen in this Congress now in 30 years. We are increasingly dependent upon energy from outside of America. In our country, we possess less than 3 percent of the known oil reserves around the world; yet on a daily basis, day after day, year after year, we are using 25 percent of that which is used, and that number is increasing. As a consequence of all of that, the price of energy has gone up to heat American homes, making it more and more difficult for the economic circumstances of families all across America and for transportation. Over the course of the last 7 years, the price of gasoline has increased by more than four times. It has more than quadrupled over the course of the last 4 years. And a lot of that has to do with the energy legislation that has been produced by the minority party over the course of that time in connection with the White House. This legislation begins to alter all of that. It begins to move us to a point where we can begin to be more energy independent by focusing our attention and our resources on renewable, alternative forms of energy, particularly solar energy. It's interesting that Thomas Edison, one of the first energy producers in our country, made the observation that solar energy is the most productive, the most sustainable, and the one that we are going to have to depend on. And he said that an awfully long time ago. It ought to be clear to us now--he was right then, he is more right now. And that's what this legislation does. It moves us toward energy independence. It allows people and corporations to produce energy through alternative means, particularly solar. That, in and of itself, is going to mean a huge economic improvement for our country and the production of hundreds of thousands of jobs. Let's all pass this legislation. It is very much needed.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Independent Living, Inc., based in Newburgh, New York, as it celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its founding. For the past two decades, Independent Living has championed the cause of equal rights, access, and opportunity for persons with disabilities, and has worked throughout the Hudson Valley region to enhance the quality of life for these individuals and their families. Founded in 1987, Independent Living currently provides services and assistance to more than ten thousand people annually. Through the hard work, vision and leadership of founder and Executive Director Douglas J. Hovey, Independent Living has continued to develop and expand its programs and advocacy for persons with disabilities, increasing its staff to more than two hundred. Independent Living continues to make progress towards the goals of eliminating physical and attitudinal barriers for all persons with disabilities and ensuring that these individuals have universal access and opportunity in every aspect of community life. The organization's programs include information and referral services, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, and independent living skills training. Independent Living provides critical assistance with housing, education, employment, medical needs and personal attendant services, as well as advocacy for needed public policy changes at the local, state and federal levels of government. Independent Living has systematically worked to reduce barriers for persons with disabilities by consulting with and educating family members, educators, service providers, public officials and representatives from the business community. The organization is operated by people with disabilities who clearly understand such barriers and can work effectively to resolve these obstacles. Through their diverse programs for individuals with disabilities, Independent Living also has helped to foster motivation, independence, self- direction, employment, social integration, and community participation. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to honor Independent Living for its 20 years of committed and distinguished service. I congratulate and salute Doug Hovey, the board of directors and the staff and supporters of this organization for their very positive and lasting impact on the lives of so many individuals and families. I offer my appreciation to Independent Living, Inc., which continues to serve as a strong model for similar efforts throughout our Nation.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the State University of New York's (SUNY) dual diploma program in conjunction with the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK). This unique and highly successful international higher education effort has partnered nine top-tier Turkish institutions with nine SUNY campuses. Two of which, SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Binghamton, are located in the district that I represent. This program and others like it are particularly important in the face of our country's current challenges in the Middle East and throughout the world. The SUNY system, comprised of 64 campuses, provides first-class higher education for over 417,000 students and is the largest comprehensive university system in the nation. Tasked with increasing the number of international students on SUNY campuses, SUNY's Office of International Programs has initiated a broad series of programs to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world. The dual diploma program with Turkish universities highlights SUNY's commitment and leadership in international education. Evolving from initial talks held in 2000, the first cohort consisting of 33 Turkish students arrived on SUNY campuses in 2003. These students spend half their undergraduate education at a SUNY campus, half at a Turkish university, and receive a diploma from both. Through committed efforts and diligence, the program now boasts more than 1,500 students in 24 programs and has graduated 100 students. This year the Institute of International Education recognized the program with the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education Partnerships. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to acknowledge SUNY's leadership, the Office of International Programs, SUNY and Turkish partnership institutions, and all those who have worked to ensure that New York State's system of higher education provides the international components that are critical to higher education, our nation's competitiveness, and our image abroad. Furthermore, I am deeply honored to represent two of SUNY's host institutions, SUNY Binghamton and my alma mater, SUNY New Paltz. Each of these universities' contributions in education and efforts at globalizing their campuses benefit their communities in many broad and profound ways and it is my pleasure to recognize them during International Education Week 2007.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my longtime staff member and dear friend, Wendy Darwell as she prepares to embark on the next adventure in her life. Wendy has served the people of New York's 26th and now 22nd congressional district with great distinction for the past 13 years, holding several positions of responsibility in my office, most importantly as my chief of staff. Wendy's tenure in my office has been defined by a deep commitment to serving the people of New York and a dedication to the operation of our organization, working to ensure efficient and effective service to the residents of my congressional district and the people of our country. Wendy Darwell originally hailed from the Village of Tivoli in Dutchess County, New York. She attended American University here in Washington and began working in my office as an intern while taking undergraduate courses in 1995. Wendy quickly established herself as an effective member of my staff and quickly worked her way through many positions in my office; first as a legislative correspondent, then as a legislative assistant, press secretary and finally, for the past seven years, as my chief of staff. She is well-known for her grace under pressure, her leadership, and her professionalism and courtesy. Wendy has overseen many significant projects and initiatives that have benefited the country as a whole. But most importantly, she embraced every opportunity to improve the lives of the constituents I represent and did so with compassion and energy. I would not have been able to serve the people of the New York congressional districts I have represented as effectively without the extraordinary leadership and skill contributed by Wendy Darwell. Madam Speaker, it is with a deep sense of gratitude that I rise today to thank Wendy Darwell for her many years of dedicated service to me, to the people of New York's 26th and 22nd congressional districts, and to this country. She leaves behind a long list of accomplishments and a staff and a congressman who will miss her deeply. I wish her well in her new endeavors and look forward to staying in close contact with her.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the news that one of America's greatest thinkers has passed away, my friend and constituent William T. Golden. Although his name may not be well known to many Americans, his influence on our government, scientific community and countless charitable causes is broad and deep. Mr. Golden was born in New York in 1909, the son of a wool trader who later went on to become a banker. He was raised in Washington Heights, but left New York to study English and biology at the University of Pennsylvania with the intent of becoming a physicist. After finding that he disliked mathematics, he attended Harvard Business School for a year and then followed his father's footsteps to Wall Street. He went to work with a Harvard acquaintance, Harold Linder, who became a lifelong friend, neighbor and colleague. In an interview with the New York Times, Mr. Golden said of this period of his life, ``The idea was to make a lot of money on Wall Street and then do interesting things.'' He set about achieving that goal with great zeal. On the brink of World War II, he joined the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, spending most of the war in Washington where he developed a reputation as a great strategic thinker, as well as an inventor. He spent time at sea testing a device of his own invention that controlled antiaircraft machine guns. After the war, his experience in government led to his appointment as assistant to Lewis Strauss, a member of the fledgling Atomic Energy Commission. He served in that capacity for three years, traveling around the world to atomic test sites, bringing together the finest minds in American science, and becoming a skilled operator in how to get things done in government. These efforts led to perhaps his greatest achievement in government, the creation of a national science advisor to the president. In 1950, on the eve of the Korean War, Mr. Golden was asked to advise President Truman on the reactivation of the wartime Office of Scientific Research and Development. In a pattern often repeated in his storied career, he set out to gather the information from the most distinguished scientists in the public and private sectors, traveling across the country and interviewing more than 150 people. Upon returning to Washington, he concluded that a new OSRD would be an impediment to the work of the many new research-oriented agencies established in the post-war period, including the AEC, the Office of Naval Research and the National Institutes of Health. Bill Golden offered President Truman an alternative: the establishment of a presidential science advisor, who would coordinate all of this groundbreaking work and make direct recommendations to the commander in chief. Although meeting initial resistance from the National Science Foundation--an agency that he was instrumental in founding--and the Pentagon, he employed his political skills to pacify the objectors, expanding his original proposal to make the president's science advisor the chairman of a committee that would include the heads of the existing research agencies. The presidential science advisory committee went on to become extremely influential in the 1950s, providing critical information to President Eisenhower on the Cold War arms and space races. Although Mr. Golden left government and returned to New York after this achievement, this was not the end of his contributions to government and science. Among his accomplishments, he is responsible for decades of service to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where he established a congressional fellowship program to send scientists to Capitol Hill and whose headquarters are named for him. As a leader of the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology and Government, he orchestrated private, biannual meetings of the science advisers of the G7 nations. He also remained, throughout his life, a strong supporter of his brainchild, the presidential science advisor, and published numerous books and articles about science policy over the years. For all of these efforts, Mr. Golden is credited as a key figure in the development of our national research triumphs in the 20th Century. As John Gibbons, science advisor to President Clinton, told the New York Times, ``Without people like him, there would be no infrastructure, no research.'' Mr. Golden, of course, was not content to rest on his laurels. As his financial career flourished, so did his philanthropy. He was an active and engaged leader of nearly 100 nonprofit organizations and institutions. Among those to which he was most devoted were the American Museum of Natural History, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which he helped to establish, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the New York Academy of Science and the Hebrew Free Loan Society, which had lent his Lithuanian immigrant father money to get started in America. I had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Golden because of his love of the great outdoors, which led him to purchase a weekend home in Olivebridge, New York, in the district I represent. He continued his activism there, donating land for a local park and becoming involved in the community. One of the great achievements of his later life was saving from development the Black Rock Forest in the Hudson Highlands, which is now preserved in perpetuity as a field station for scientific research, education and conservation. I consider it a great privilege to have known and had the opportunity to work with Bill Golden, one of the greatest minds of our time and one of the most important figures in American science. Although he will be truly, deeply missed by his hundreds of friends and colleagues, and most especially by his wife, Catherine Morrison and his daughters Rebecca and Pamela, his legacy lives on.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friend and constituent John C. (Jack) Macauley on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday. Jack has dedicated most of his adult life to serving his country and his community. It is with great pride and respect that I join in recognizing Jack's accomplishments and celebrating this amazing milestone. Jack Macauley was born in Brooklyn on October 23, 1917. Like so many young men of his generation, he enlisted in the military in March 1943 and was assigned to duty in the 17th Airborne Division, 513th Parachute Infantry, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion. Jack served with distinction and was ultimately promoted to platoon staff sergeant. During his tour of duty in the European theatre, Jack participated in the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity, fought in the German Rhineland and throughout Central Europe and, during a critical campaign, parachuted into Wesel, Germany. Jack was honorably discharged on October 20, 1945 after earning his Paratrooper Wings, Combat Infantryman Badge, three Silver Stars, a Bronze Arrow, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and a Presidential Unit Citation. After serving with distinction in the Army, Jack returned to the United States to continue his service to his country. In 1946, he joined the New York City Police Department where he was eventually promoted to Detective, Second Grade. In the course of 20 years of service in the NYPD, Jack was recognized for outstanding performance on many occasions, earning him the Combat Cross, three Honorable Mentions and thirteen other citations. Jack's career in the police department was highlighted when he was voted ``Policeman of the Month'' in November of 1953. Jack retired from the New York City Police Department in 1966 and took a civilian job as a manager with the United States Postal Service, where he served with pride until his retirement in 1981. Jack is fortunate to be married to Cecelia Marr Macauley. Together they've had three children, three grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Earlier this year, Jack attended the final reunion of the 17th Airborne Division as part of a ``Farewell to a Distinguished Association''. Jack joined many of his surviving brothers in arms to celebrate the heroism and accomplishments of the 17th Airborne and all of the brave men who served our Nation during World War II. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that I rise in this chamber to honor my good friend, Jack Macauley, for a lifetime of heroism and accomplishment and to wish him well as he celebrates his ninetieth birthday.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, this date, October 10, 2007, marks the fifth anniversary of one of the most tragic decisions ever made by this House of Representatives. It was a decision that was also followed in the same way the following day, October 11, 5 years ago, by the United States Senate. That decision was based upon a request by this Bush administration to authorize the military invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq. And that request by this administration and the subsequent authorization by this Congress was done based upon false information which was presented by various members of that organization. After the attack of September 11, 2001, which was carried out by the al Qaeda network, this administration began to press the idea that Iraq was involved in that invasion. They began to try to manipulate the intelligence that was presented by our legitimate intelligence agencies. They began to press various parts of those intelligence operations to try to get them to provide some information upon which they could somehow justify the idea that Iraq was involved in that attack of September 11, 2001. That never really happened. The legitimate aspects of our intelligence agencies never produced that information. Nevertheless, this administration provided that form of intelligence in an internal way within their own operation, evidence that they used to suggest initially that there was a relationship between Iraq and the attack of September 11th. They then began to make allegations that Iraq was a very dangerous country and we needed to engage them in a military invasion, and that military invasion was necessary based upon their assertion that Iraq possessed substantial amounts of so-called ``weapons of mass destruction.'' They were alleging biological and chemical weapons. Those allegations, of course, were based upon the fact that the first Bush administration and the Reagan administration, back in the 1980s, had, in fact, provided biological and chemical weapons and other forms of weaponry to the Iraqi Government of Saddam Hussein. They believed that perhaps some of those weapons were still in existence in Iraq in spite of the fact that they were told over and over again that that was no longer the case. So they continued to press the idea that we should justify the invasion of Iraq. Unfortunately, the majority of the Members of this House and the Senate apparently bought into that idea and voted to authorize that invasion. Those of us who voted against it had access to information that everyone should have had access to, I believe that most people did, that there was no connection between Iraq and the attack of September 11; that whatever chemical and biological weapons had been sent into Iraq in the 1980s were no longer there; and that there was no justification for the assertion that was made by many members of this administration, including the President himself, that Iraq was engaged in the production of nuclear weapons. On October 7, just several days prior to the vote here in the House of Representatives, the President made a speech in Cincinnati, Ohio. That speech, in part, was in response to growing evidence that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. President Bush, like other members of his administration, Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney, and others, used the phrase ``mushroom cloud.'' He said, ``You do not want the evidence of weapons of mass destruction to be in the form of a mushroom cloud.'' That, of course, was designed to create that image in the minds of the American people that we were confronting a nation that was likely to use nuclear weapons against our country and against others, all of which was completely false. So we know now that all of the justification for that invasion was false, and this Congress now has the responsibility to engage in actions to correct it. We need to set a specific date for the withdrawal of our military forces from Iraq. We also need to take action for a specific provision which will deauthorize that invasion which was authorized on October 10, 2002. We need to do that as soon as possible.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think all of us know by now that the military occupation in Iraq, which is referred to as a war but is really a military occupation, is an increasing disaster. We all know that now more than 4,000 military personnel have lost their lives, tens of thousands have been injured. We ought to be taking decisive action to put an end to that illegal, disastrous military occupation. This bill is presented as a means of attempting to do so. But it is a false presentation. It does nothing to that effect. This bill, if it is passed and signed into law, would simply require a plan to be developed within 60 days after that signing and then another 90 days an additional plan, another 90 days an additional plan. So what we are likely to see, unless this Congress is able to take more decisive, more progressive, more positive action, is four, five, maybe even six plans coming out of this administration and no responsible action taken with regard to the disastrous circumstances that occur on the basis of this illegal military occupation. This legislation does nothing productive to deal with this very difficult, dangerous, and disastrous situation. The circumstances for the security of this country have worsened as a result of this illegal invasion and the subsequent military occupation, and that worsening continues. One of the other things in this legislation is also, frankly, very interesting. Congress finds, it says, the following: that the President has the ability to use the Armed Forces as the President determined necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq at that time, at the time that that resolution was passed back in October of 2002, which a number of us voted against. What this suggests is that that was the proper thing to do at that time. It was not the proper thing to do in October of 2002. It would have been much more proper if this Congress realized at that time what I believe most of us realize now: that the alleged justification for the illicit, illegal invasion of Iraq, the idea that there was a connection between Iraq and the attack of September 11, that Iraq had so-called weapons of mass destruction, that there was an alleged nuclear weapons development program in Iraq, and that there was some connection between Iraq and al Qaeda, all of which was false. Now, many did not realize that at that time and subsequently they voted for it. Many of us did realize it and voted against it. We should not have anything asserting in any legislation that comes before this House anything that suggests that what was presented at that time to justify that resolution authorizing this administration to engage in this illegal invasion and the subsequent disastrous occupation of that sovereign country was true when it was all falsified, intentionally and purposefully falsified. So I could appreciate what some people may think they are doing here, and I certainly have a great deal of respect and affection for the Members who are the sponsors of this legislation. But I tell you, you look at this and you will say to yourself if this legislation passes, what it will authorize is a continuing falsified plan, much of which can be classified, coming from this administration, plan after plan, and the remaining military forces will be in that country until sometime after January of 2009. This doesn't do what we are supposed to do. We shouldn't be passing it.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have no more than 4 minutes to address the House.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Orange County Chamber of Commerce in Montgomery, New York as it celebrates two significant events in the history of its organization. The Chamber is marking the 10th Anniversary of the merger of Orange County's two major chamber organizations, which united to form the current Chamber of Commerce on this day in 1997. Additionally, the Chamber is commemorating the 125th anniversary of the formation of one of the predecessor chambers in 1882. In recent years, Orange County has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing counties in New York State. As this growth has occurred, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce has provided critical leadership in creating and supporting an environment in which business will succeed while also working to enhance the quality of life throughout Orange County's communities. The Chamber continues to serve as a consistent and effective advocate for businesses throughout Orange County and the Hudson Valley region. Through their committed efforts and diligence, the Board of Directors and staff at the Chamber have expanded its membership to nearly 2,400 businesses and individuals, making it one of the ten largest in the State of New York and the largest between Long Island and Albany. This strong network of community and business leaders coupled with the technical support, expertise and promotional services provided by the Chamber has contributed to the ongoing expansion of business opportunities in Orange County. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to salute the Orange County Chamber of Commerce on the anniversary of these important milestones. I'd like to congratulate Chamber President John A. D'Ambrosio, outgoing Board President Kunwar Nagpal, and incoming Board President Jim Smith for their leadership and hard work. I'd also like to recognize the Board of Directors, staff, and members of the Chamber for their dedicated efforts to make Orange County, New York a better place to live, work and visit.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. I express my appreciation to my friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Arcuri) for putting this amendment out so that we can have an opportunity to discuss it. As we have just heard, this amendment is supported strongly by the Governor of New York, and in fact, it is supported essentially by every Governor across the States. Why is that? Because this amendment makes it clear that the issue of eminent domain constitutionally belongs in the hands of the State, not the Federal Government, and it simply says that there is no impediment about these lines but decisions with regard to eminent domain should be placed in the hands of the State and the State government. People should have a right to be able to protect their private personal property rights, and issues involving transmission lines and others that may require the use of private property are to be dealt with in a reasonable and lawful way, and this is what this amendment simply does. It's very straightforward, very direct, and in no way impedes anything that is going to be injurious to any issue involving electricity or anything else. It simply asserts the rights of private property.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to my dear friend and colleague for providing me with this time to say a couple of things in opposition to this amendment. I think the person who is proposing this amendment simply does not understand what is being done here. The agricultural industry is a very important part of the economy of New York State, one of the most essential parts of the economy of New York State. The grape industry is an important part of the agricultural industry. This Grape Genetics Research Center, which has been established as a result of legislation which was put forward by Mr. Walsh and myself and others in 2005, is an important part of the way grape production is advancing in the United States and becoming a more important part of American agriculture. It is providing jobs for our citizens, and it is providing more and more economic growth in a number of parts of our country all across our country. It enables grape growers to deal with the cold winters in the Northeast and enables grape growers to deal with the arid circumstances that they confront in certain parts of southern California and the other forms of diverse issues that need to be dealt with by grape growers in many places across the country. This means of searching into this industry and providing better ways of doing it is an important part in the way in which we are protecting and growing our agricultural economy. I would hope that the offeror of this amendment would spend a few moments to look more closely at these circumstances, because I think if he does, he might begin to understand the value of agriculture and the value of this kind of genetics research.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. HINCHEY. I yield my time to Mr. Obey.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. amendment offered by mr. mc henry to the amendment offered by mr. gingrey

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I want to make it clear that there are many dozens of organizations that are focused on health care and constitutional rights across the country; not just in those 12 States, but in a lot of other places, as well, who have endorsed this idea and support this amendment. They include the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Medical societies all across this country have endorsed this amendment because they know it is in the best interests of people suffering from diseases such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and others that can be relieved of pain and suffering and be of assistance in recovering from the debilitating aspects of these diseases. It simply makes good common sense for us to authorize this amendment. I hope that the majority of the Members in this House of Representatives will now take this opportunity to support good health care for Americans and also support this basic provision of the Constitution. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I am introducing an amendment that is designed to protect States' rights and to provide people across our country in these 12 States that have passed laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes to have access to that medical use. It is a very simple, very serious proposal. The Constitution of the United States is very clear. It authorizes States' rights in every other area that is not specifically designated to the Federal Government. One of those main areas is health care. The States have the authority to take care of their own people and to make sure that they have access to the best possible health care. The amendment is supported by a number of other important organizations across the country, in addition to organizations in those 12 States of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington that have passed laws authorizing the medicinal use of this product. Two of those States have passed it through their legislatures. The other 10 have passed it by means of referendum. In other words, the people themselves have passed this in referendum. This is an amendment that really should be adopted. It doesn't do anything to stimulate any violations of the law. It just says those States ought to be able to determine how to take care of their own people. There are a variety of ways in which that can be done to make sure that they get proper attention. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to point out that the people who are opposed to this amendment, including the gentleman who just spoke, apparently do not understand what we are doing here. This amendment does not affect States, other than those that have passed laws with respect to medical marijuana, only those 12 States. This amendment would not require or encourage other States to adopt medical marijuana laws. This amendment would not stop law enforcement officials from prosecuting the illegal use of marijuana. This amendment does not encourage drug use in children. Teen use of marijuana has declined in States that have passed medical marijuana laws, and in some of those States it has declined dramatically. The purpose of this amendment is to allow these States to give relief to people suffering from horrific diseases without fearing Federal intervention or prosecution. At stake in this debate is who should be deciding what is best for patients: Should it be the patients themselves, the doctors, or should it be arbitrarily somebody in the Federal Government? Support this amendment and support States' rights and compassion. Doctors in these 12 States know what is best for their patients. The Federal Government should not stand in their way. I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee.