Pete King

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1680, as amended, reauthorizing the Defense Production Act of 1950. The language we are considering today makes some important decisions to the text the Committee on Financial Services passed last spring. Reflecting input from the Senate, the legislation adds studies on the effect on the economy of defense offsets, not only on prime defense industry contractors but on subcontractors, and on the U.S. capacity to produce military-grade radiation-hardened electronics. The legislation extends the DPA authorities for 5 years as requested by the administration. Mr. Speaker, this Chamber rarely considers legislation as important as the DPA. In peacetime and in war, it allows for the priority production of equipment and material necessary for national security and the public health; and with the addition of the language suggested by the Senate, now it will specifically authorize the act to be used to protect our critical infrastructure as well. The act also allows the careful tightly targeted use of Federal funds to ensure there is an adequate industrial capacity in this country to produce certain vital military equipment or material that otherwise would not be available. Mr. Speaker, it is important that the House act swiftly to send this amended legislation back to the Senate and that the other body quickly pass this compromise so that the authorities, which expired at the end of last month, are available to civil and military authorities. It is inconceivable that the priority production powers in the DPA not be available if needed for use in the case of a devastating hurricane or earthquake or in the unthinkable event of a terrorist's biological weapons attack or to speed up the production of equipment for our troops in Afghanistan or Iraq or elsewhere in the world. The authorities were used after the September 11 attacks to speed the delivery of targeting sensors for the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle by nearly 2 years, to speed the delivery of equipment for airports that detected explosives, and to speed up production of new high-tech bulletproof vests. Mr. Speaker, this 5-year reauthorization of the DPA will provide the necessary time for a much-needed study and reform of the DPA so that Congress may remove obsolete language and clarify or update other language. It has been impossible for nearly a decade to reform the act on anything other than a piecemeal basis because the reform efforts always coincided with reorganization. Decoupling them will finally give us the breathing room to do some thoughtful work on the act itself. I ask all Members to join with me to pass S. 1680, as amended, and then join me in the next couple of years for a thoughtful update of the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1680) to reauthorize the Defense Production Act of 1950, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding me this time. I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his very generous remarks today. I am really proud to stand in support of this legislation. At the outset, let me commend Councilwoman Mary McCaffrey from the Oyster Bay Town Board in Nassau County, Long Island. She is the one who initiated this proposal with me and has worked tirelessly with me and also the Hickey family to bring about this day. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, we saw the greatest rescue operation in the history of the world; 25,000 people were rescued from the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan that day. This was brought about because of the heroic efforts of the New York City Fire Department, the police department, the rescue services, the emergency workers, all of whom answered the call, put their lives at risk, many of whom lost their lives that day to save so many of their fellow citizens, fellow Americans, and people who just happened to be in the World Trade Center that day. Because of the 343 men of the New York City Fire Department, because they were willing to put their lives on the line and die that day, 25,000 others were rescued. That is something we can never fittingly thank and show our appreciation to those who laid down their lives and thank them for what they did that day. More than 100 people in my district were killed, many police officers, firefighters; but no one symbolized the heroism more that day than Brian Hickey. He was a member of the New York City Fire Department for more than 20 years. He was a captain. He commanded Rescue Company 4 in Queens. As was pointed out, he lost several of his colleagues several months before that in a terrible accident on Father's Day, and he was back on the job only several days before he went into the south tower, led his men into the south tower, unquestioningly, unflinchingly, went in and did what had to be done. That was really typical of Brian Hickey. He was a man who was wounded many times during his career with the fire department, but never, ever once did he back away from the challenge. Never once did he not show bravery and courage, which really does symbolize the FDNY. It is very fitting that the post office facility in Bethpage be named in his honor, because Brian Hickey was raised in Bethpage. He met his wife, Donna, while attending high school in Bethpage. He raised his four children in Bethpage. He was a member of the Bethpage Volunteer Fire Department and was elected a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners. So he really is a man of Bethpage. And to me it is so appropriate and so fitting that when people walk past the postal facility on Hicksville Road, they see the name Brian Hickey, that it reminds them of what Brian Hickey did and also what all of the members of the FDNY did on that terrible day back on September 11. Mr. Speaker, the attack on the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, that was really the first great battle and the first great war of the 21st century. Now we almost take it for granted that the right thing was done in responding to that. We take for granted so many of the men and women charging into the Twin Towers to rescue their fellow human beings. But the fact is, suppose they had not? Suppose there had been a sense of panic or caution, or just a moment's hesitation. Think of the signal that would have sent to the world. But instead, the signal that went out from the Twin Towers was one of indomitable courage on behalf of the American people. So really, what Captain Brian Hickey and the other firefighters and rescue workers did that day was send a message to the world that America was going to fight back, that America was in no way going to be cowed or intimidated by what was done by this terrible attack. So as horrific as the attack was, the bravery of the men and women that went into the Twin Towers was unsurpassingly greater than that. They showed the true essence of Americanism. Brian Hickey, those who knew him knew what a gutsy guy he was, what a courageous guy he was. He often told his wife that he would rather die in a fire tragedy than have some long illness. This is what he wanted to do, was to be there with the other firefighters entering whatever call they were given, responding whenever they had to, doing what had to be done. That is the FDNY. That was Brian Hickey. Twenty years of his life he gave to the FDNY, and then he gave his entire life to the world by surrendering that life in such a valiant cause on September 11. So on behalf of Donna Hickey and her four children and all of the constituents of the 3rd Congressional District, I want to thank all my colleagues who bring this to a vote today. I urge a speedy adoption. I can assure you if anyone deserves to be honored, it is Brian Hickey.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1900, and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1900) to award a congressional gold medal to Jackie Robinson (posthumously), in recognition of his many contributions to the Nation, and to express the sense of the Congress that there should be a national day in recognition of Jackie Robinson.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, regarding the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) and the courage he has shown, I think it is important for the record to state that back in the years when Jackie Robinson was playing in the World Series against the New York Yankees, I was rooting for Jackie Robinson, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) was rooting for the New York Yankees. In spite of that, we do believe in the ultimate power of redemption; we are glad the gentleman is attempting to atone for his sins today by advancing this legislation, and we certainly welcome him as we welcome all sinners who return to the fold. Seriously, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) touched on many of these issues regarding Jackie Robinson. He was a man who served the United States Army during World War II, he was an All- American athlete in a number of sports at UCLA. He played any number of positions, and started all of them. He showed enormous talent and ability while he had this tremendous burden on him, the incredible pressures, the hatred being launched against him; but despite that, he continued to excel as an outstanding ball player throughout his career. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have listened to statements today in support of this legislation, in support of this great honor being awarded to a great man, Jackie Robinson, with number 42 on his uniform, but who certainly was first in the hearts of so many Americans. I want to again emphasize my gratitude to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) for his efforts in bringing this forward and also express the personal honor it is to me. When I was a kid growing up in New York, I never thought I would have the opportunity to be supporting legislation for one of my childhood heroes. So it really is a great moment for this country, and I can speak on behalf of the many millions of New Yorkers who lived during the 1940s and 1950s who were thrilled by Jackie Robinson's excellence on the ball field. But more important than that, I can speak for tens of millions of Americans who will always be in his debt and will always have tremendous gratitude to him for being such a pathfinder, for being so courageous, for having the guts to go forward when very few others would. I ask that this bill be passed. I include in the Record a statement of Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Statement of Baseball Commissioner Alan H. Selig I have often said that Jackie Robinson's entry into the Big Leagues was Baseball's proudest moment and most powerful social statement. Today, the United States House of Representatives codifies the historic importance of Jackie Robinson's legacy by awarding, posthumously, its prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Jackie. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I express my gratitude to the House of Representatives for enacting this legislation, to Congressmen Neal (D-MA) and King (R-NY) for proposing the bill, to the nearly 300 House co-sponsors, and especially to those members who worked hard to achieve the bill's passage. Before America's Armed Forces were integrated and before the United States Supreme Court struck down segregation, Jackie Robinson became the first black man to step onto a Major League ball field. That memorable day in 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, our National Pastime truly achieved greatness. And people of color felt the promise of greater freedoms to come. In April of 1997, it was my great honor to retire Jackie Robinson's Number 42 in perpetuity. It was the first time in any sport that such a gesture was bestowed upon an athlete. It was a recognition that Jackie Robinson was an exceptional man who fought racism by exhibiting athletic greatness on the ball field and grace off the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, Jackie's wife, Rachel, his children Sharon and David, and Jackie's millions of fans, I thank the United States House of Representatives for this special and appropriate tribute to a great ballplayer and an even greater human being.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a piece of legislation which is long overdue. If there was anyone over the past half century that has warranted the Congressional Gold Medal, it is Jackie Robinson. The reason this legislation is on the floor today, the reason it has advanced this far is because of the efforts of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), the man who initiated this legislation, who has worked relentlessly to get the amount of support necessary to bring it to the floor. I commend the gentleman for it, and I thank him for giving me an opportunity to sign onto the bill as the lead cosponsor. I have a personal interest because as a young kid growing up in New York, Jackie Robinson was certainly one of my heroes. I was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, I attended many games at Ebbets Field, and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) thinks I fantasize these things, but these are true. As a kid, there is probably no ball player who excited New York in that era more than Jackie Robinson. He really just caused all attention to be focused on himself, both through his ability and also because of his dynamism. The first game I went to, Jackie Robinson scored the winning run in the 10th inning. I saw him play a number of positions. He was on six World Series teams with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a major player when they won the World Series in 1955, he was a perennial All-Star in the National League, and he really excelled as a ball player. And after he retired, he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Of course, he was not just an outstanding ball player; he will go down in history for the fact and what he did in breaking the color barrier in the United States. When he broke into organized baseball in 1946 in the minor leagues and in 1947 in the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers, baseball truly was the national pastime. All attention was focused on organized baseball, and there were no African Americans whatsoever allowed into organized baseball. When Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, he really broke barriers throughout the country and set an example and a standard that our country has been attempting to live up to ever since. I mentioned that as a kid I used to follow Jackie Robinson as a ball player. It is only as I became older that I realized the solitary anguish he must have been going through as a ball player during those years for a while when he was the only African American ball player at all. And even after other black players came into the major leagues, it was Jackie Robinson against whom so much of the hatred and venom was aimed. What he had to go through, the way he was attacked and criticized in stadium after stadium, it took enormous courage on his part to stand up to that, and he did. He always showed class and dignity. He was always tough, but he always lived up to the highest ideals of Americanism. Because of that our society has advanced as much as it has. In awarding the Congressional Gold Medal, we try to single out those individuals who have really made special contributions; and I cannot think of anyone, whether in the world of sports, the civil rights movement, or emerging American society, who has done more to make contributions than Jackie Robinson. On a personal note, as great as it was for me to watch Jackie Robinson, I also had the anguish as a high school student from my high school window watching them tear down Ebbets Field. To many people, that marked the destruction of the Brooklyn Dodger image and tradition. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, they could tear everything down, but no one could ever tear down the image of Jackie Robinson; no one could ever tear down the lasting impact that he has had on American society. So this is, as I said, a resolution which is long overdue. It is legislation that is long overdue, but it is something which is fully warranted and deserved. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I am proud to rise in support of this legislation. At the outset, Mr. Speaker, let me extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for the leadership he has shown on this issue and being in the forefront of putting forth the Walsh visas, which have done so much, not just on a very practical level of providing training and opportunity for Catholics and Protestants, Republicans and Loyalists, Nationalists and Unionists from the north of Ireland and also from the border counties on the northern border, but also for making it clear the United States retains a lasting commitment to the peace process in the north of Ireland. Several years ago, none of us would have thought that we would see the resolution, or almost the resolution, of the centuries-old struggle that has been going on among the Irish and the British and so many of the forces on the island of Ireland. But today we have gone so far. We are approaching what I believe will be the ultimate resolution of the struggle in Northern Ireland. This legislation, providing the Walsh visas, providing economic opportunity, and letting the people in those areas know that the United States remains committed to peace and justice and to the peace process really is worth its weight in gold. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) referred to this as low-risk, high-investment. That could not be more true. This is so important to the peace process. It is so important, really, to the image of the United States around the world. It is so important to the people who have suffered for so many years on both sides of the divide, on both sides of the border, those who have lived in poverty, those who are struggling to work their way up. This is such an important symbol to them. It also has the practical effect of providing the training they need. So, Mr. Speaker, with that, I am proud to support it, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of Taiwan's bid for membership in the United Nations (UN). For the 32nd consecutive year, the U.N. convenes its annual General Assembly without the membership of Taiwan and once again its 23 million citizens will be denied a voice in vitally important global matters. Although Taiwan has long been a significant player in world affairs with a GNP and population larger than three quarters of U.N. member countries, it has repeatedly been denied membership. The transformation of Taiwan from an impoverished State into an industrial powerhouse, and from a one-party dictatorship into a multi- party democracy, is among the most impressive economic and political marvels of our time. Free and fair elections are held at all levels of government. Taiwan's constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and it is a strong supporter of human rights. Already, Taiwan is an active participant in international organizations as exemplified by its membership in the Asian Development Bank, its admission as a full member to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group, and its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Taiwan has also used its successes to become an active contributor to international humanitarian efforts. It has made significant donations to countries devastated by natural disasters and war including relief efforts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iraq, to name a few. Taiwan is well prepared and quite willing to actively support U.N. endeavors. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to have parallel representation of divided countries in the U.N. such as the case of East and West Germany before German reunification in 1990. This type of representation currently exists with respect to the membership of both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. By large margins, both Houses of Congress have endorsed Taiwan's desire for participation in the United Nations. Taiwan, a country seeking peace and stability in its region, deserves the right to membership in the United Nations.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, at the outset let me thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for the assistance they have given in formulating this legislation and for the efforts they have made in helping to rebuild New York and in all they have done since September 11 working together as a united force to bring people together and to focus attention on the tremendous heroism that was demonstrated on that day in New York, at the Pentagon, and, of course, on Flight 93. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation is to commend those who died in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. It is almost axiomatic today to say that our lives will never be the same since September 11, and they have not. But in many ways from the terrible ashes of death and destruction that occurred on September 11, our country today is stronger than it ever was before. It is stronger morally, it is stronger spiritually, it has a great sense of moral clarity and resolve. One of the reasons for that is at the time of the attack when America could have fallen back, when America could have retreated and gone into a state of bewilderment, it united immediately and fought back. One of the reasons it did that was because the eyes of the country and the eyes of the world were on the Twin Towers of New York, they were on the Pentagon, and they saw what happened in the fields of Pennsylvania on Flight 93, and they saw those in the eye of the storm fought back. In New York, we saw the police officers and the firefighters rushing into the Twin Towers. Over 343 firefighters were killed, and many police officers from the Port Authority were killed. I believe it was 37. There were 23 police officers from the New York City police department, all of whom were killed, all of whom, without any hesitation, went into the burning towers to effectuate the largest evacuation in history. More than 25,000 people were evacuated that day, and it was done because of the incredible heroism of those who answered the call, those in the fire department, those in the police department and those from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the police officers who demonstrated their courage. In addition, there were the EMS workers and the construction workers who went into the Twin Towers to bring people out; that set the tone for our country. That brought us together when the eyes of the world were watching. Just suppose if they had been watching and instead of seeing firefighters rush into the building, they saw them dispersing. Suppose they had seen a state of panic or people being left in those buildings to burn while firefighters and police officers stayed below, but they did not. All of us in New York have suffered the loss of constituents, of friends, relatives, neighbors, and in many ways the list is too long to begin to enumerate. Certainly in my own community, the Haskell brothers, Tom and Tim, were killed. There was Lieutenant John Perry who was killed. From the adjoining community of Farmingdale, Pete Ganci was the chief of the department, and he was killed. Father Michael Judge, the chaplain of the department was killed. Michael Boyle was killed, as was David Arce. I can go down the whole list of names of people that we knew, people that were friends and neighbors, people who dedicated their lives to the police department, to the fire department. There was a police captain from the Port Authority, Cathy Mazur, who is responsible for saving untold numbers of lives. She was on the main floor of the World Trade Center, and when people could not get out, she took out her revolver and blew out the windows, and that alone enabled hundreds of people to escape. She was later killed. But that is typical of the type of courage that was shown that day, the type of determination that was shown that day. There were similar acts of courage at the Pentagon. God knows there were tremendous acts of courage on Flight 93 which, as so many have said, probably saved our lives, saved the lives of those in the White House that day by bringing that plane down. So I believe that it is important that, as a body, Congress speak on behalf of the American people to really try to begin a down payment on the debt that we owe to all those who gave their lives on September 11. In saying that, in no way should we be diminishing those who were not part of the uniformed services who were killed that day, men and women who went to work, who were doing their job, people at Cantor Fitzgerald, all those firms, they were almost wiped out on September 11, also performed acts of heroism, most of which will never be known because it was not recorded, but we know when the World Trade Center was attacked back in 1993 how heroic those people had been. There is no doubt that it was done again in 2001. We are singling out and specifying the uniformed services and the rescue workers for what they did; but at the same time we are acknowledging the tremendous sacrifice of those who were killed just doing their jobs that day and who were targeted. They were targeted by Osama bin Laden because they symbolized the United States. The people in the World Trade Center symbolized the American economy. The people in the Pentagon symbolized the American military. They were targeted. These were not accidents that they were killed that day. They were killed for a reason. That is why the addition of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) to this bill, which provides the commemorative coin to everyone who was killed that day, to me really brings this together in the unity that our country needs, the rescue workers and those who were killed because they were working that day; the country working together, Democrats and Republicans, the House and hopefully the Senate standing together to acknowledge those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001, and whose memory will always be with us. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was going to yield time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), but he has agreed to defer to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), so I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of September 10, 2003, I call up the bill (H.R. 1538) to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to government workers and others who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and perished and to the people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers and caused the plane to crash, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America, recognizing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation, and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me, in conclusion, once again thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for the tremendous effort she has made over the past 2 years in doing all she can and working with me in a bipartisan way to move this legislation forward. Let me thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), who is one of the first who authored a bill after September 11 commemorating those who died on that tragic day, and also has worked so closely with us, all of us trying to put egos aside, and we did definitely put partisan interests aside to move this forward. I think that really in many ways symbolizes the very best of September 11. We realize there is something more than our own narrow parochial interests, that there is a larger cause. So I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for the way they have conducted themselves, for the assistance they have given me and for the dedication they have to this matter. I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Oxley), who has been cooperative throughout. I want to thank the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the minority leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), for agreeing to bring this legislation forward on September 11. To me it is the most fitting day of all it could be brought on. Also, I would say that as we remember those who died, as we honor those who died in the line of duty that day, that we realize that their families are still going forward. So as we honor those who died, let us not forget those who survived them who still, every day, must confront the dilemma of going forward, the emptiness, the sorrow, the tragedy that occurred to them on September 11 and will be with them throughout the remainder of their lives. We should just try to put ourselves in their position, to understand some of the terrible trauma that was inflicted on them. In doing that, that should give us more momentum to make sure this bill not just passes today, but also to work with the Senate to find a way to get it through. Mr. Speaker, this is not just passing a bill for the sake of passing a bill. I think it is a real duty and obligation on the Congress of the United States that we record and let it be known the way we feel and the respect and the honor that we have for those who died in the line of duty on September 11. And by awarding a Congressional Gold Medal, that is the way that we can pay that tribute, not just to them, but to history, so that history will record exactly what they did and the extent to which we thought about it. And, in doing that, out of that twisted steel and burning rubble of the World Trade Center, out of the terrible destruction at the Pentagon, and out of the plane that was literally obliterated in the fields of Pennsylvania, from those horrible moments will come a greater America and a lesson for future generations to realize what people should do when confronted by crisis. Because all of us in this House, we can all talk a good game, but the reality is, no one ever knows what they will do when they are really put to the test. On September 11 we had so many hundreds of people, if not thousands of people, who were put to the test, and they all passed the test. So by them passing that test that day, by them showing the courage and determination that they did, that has allowed us to go forward as a Nation. So let us go forward from this bill today, standing together behind our President, behind the united leadership of the House and the Senate, committed to America. We can have partisan differences, we can have differences on tactics, but we should never, ever again disagree on the overriding goal of America destroying the forces of international terrorism, protecting our borders, and doing all we can to ensure that a September 11 will never again occur, and that these men and women did not die in vain. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, as I stated yesterday, President Bush's adversaries--both in the political arena and the media--have chosen to ignore or distort the facts regarding Iraq's pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. To counter the numerous inaccuracies created by too many people who should know better, I am including in the Record the second half of the declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate released by the White House this past Friday. State/INR Alternative View . . . acquire nuclear weapons. Iraq may be doing so, but INR considers the available evidence inadequate to support such a judgment. Lacking persuasive evidence that Baghdad has launched a coherent effort to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program, INR is unwilling to speculate that such an effort began soon after the departure of UN inspectors or to project a timeline for the completion of activities it does not now see happening. As a result, INR is unable to predict when Iraq could acquire a nuclear device or weapon. In INR's view Iraq's efforts to acquire aluminum tubes is central to the argument that Baghdad is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program, but INR is not persuaded that the tubes in question are intended for use as centrifuge rotors. INR accepts the judgment of technical experts at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) who have concluded that the tubes lraq seeks to acquire are poorly suited for use in gas centrifuges to be used for uranium enrichment and finds unpersuasive the arguments advanced by others to make the case that they are intended for that purpose. INR considers it far more likely that the tubes are intended for another purpose, most likely the production of artillery rockets. The very large quantities being sought, the way the tubes were tested by the Iraqis, and the atypical lack of attention to operational security in the procurement efforts are among the factors, in addition to the DOE assessment, that lead INR to conclude that the tubes are not intended for use in Iraq's nuclear weapon program. Confidence Levels for Selected Key Judgments in This Estimate High Confidence Iraq is continuing, and in some areas expanding its chemical, biological, nuclear and missile programs contrary to UN resolutions. We are not detecting portions of these weapons programs. Iraq possesses proscribed chemical and biological weapons and missiles. Iraq could make a nuclear weapon in months to a year once it acquires sufficient weapons grade fissile material. moderate confidence Iraq does not yet have a nuclear weapon or sufficient material to make one but is likely to have a weapon by 2007 to 2009. Low Confidence When Saddam would use weapons of mass-destruction. Whether Saddam would engage in clandestine attacks against the U.S. Homeland. Whether in desperation Saddam would share chemical or biological weapons with al-Qa'ida.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, in light of the incessant barrage of attacks of inaccurate and baseless charges being made against President Bush by his political opponents and their allies in the media, I thought it important to include in the Record the declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate released by the White House this past Friday. This NIE clearly states the consensus view of our intelligence agencies that Saddam Hussein was attempting to reconstitute his nuclear capacity. The first half of these documents are being submitted today and the second half tomorrow. I commend these documents to all willing to approach this vital issue with an open mind. [From October 2002 NIE] Iraq's Continuing Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction We judge that Iraq has continued its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs in defiance of UN resolutions and restrictions. Baghdad has chemical and biological weapons as well as missiles with ranges in excess of UN restrictions; if left unchecked, it probably will have a nuclear weapon during this decade. (See INR alternative view at the end of these Key Judgments.) We judge that we are seeing only a portion of Iraq's WMD efforts, owing to Baghdad's vigorous denial and deception efforts. Revelations after the Gulf war starkly demonstrate the extensive efforts undertaken by Iraq to deny information. We lack specific information on many key aspects of Iraq's WJMD programs. Since inspections ended in 1998, Iraq has maintained its chemical weapons effort, energized its missile program, and invested more heavily in biological weapons; in the view of most agencies, Baghdad is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Iraq's growing ability to sell oil illicitly increases Baghdad's capabilities to finance WMD programs; annual earnings in cash and goods have more than quadrupled, from $580 million in 1998 to about $3 billion this year. Iraq has largely rebuilt missile and biological weapons facilities damaged during Operation Desert Fox and has expanded its chemical and biological infrastructure under the cover of civilian production. Baghdad has exceeded UN range limits of 150 km with its ballistic missiles and is working with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which allow for a more lethal means to deliver biological and, less likely, chemical warfare agents. Although we assess that Saddam does not yet have nuclear weapons or sufficient material to make any, he remains intent on acquiring them. Most agencies assess that Baghdad started reconstituting its nuclear program about the time that UNSCOM inspectors departed--December 1998. How quickly Iraq will obtain its first nuclear weapon depends on when it acquires sufficient weapons-grade fissile material. If Baghdad acquires sufficient fissile material from abroad it could make a nuclear weapon within several months to a year. Without such material from abroad, Iraq probably would not be able to make a weapon until 2007 to 2009, owing to inexperience in building and operating centrifuge facilities to produce highly enriched uranium and challenges in procuring the necessary equipment and expertise. Most agencies believe that Saddam's personal interest in and Iraq's aggressive attempts to obtain high-strength aluminum tubes for centrifuge rotors--as well as Iraq's attempts to acquire magnets, high-speed balancing machines, and machine tools--provide compelling evidence that Saddam is reconstituting a uranium enrichment effort for Baghdad's nuclear weapons program. (DOE agrees that reconstitution of the nuclear program is underway but assesses that the tubes probably are not part of the program.) Iraq's efforts to re-establish and enhance its cadre of weapons personnel as well as activities at several suspect nuclear sites further indicate that reconstitution is underway. All agencies agree that about 25,000 centrifuges based on tubes of the size Iraq is trying to acquire would be capable of producing approximately two weapons' worth of highly enriched uranium per year. In a much less likely scenario, Bagbdad could make enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon by 2005 to 2007 if it obtains suitable centrifuge tubes this year and has all the other materials and technological expertise necessary to build production-scale uranium enrichment facilities. We assess that Baghdad has begun renewed production of mustard, sarin, GF (cyclosari), and VX; its capability probably is more limited now than it was at the time of the Gulf war, although VX production and agent storage life probably have been improved. An array of clandestine reporting reveals that Baghdad has procured covertly the types and quantities of chemicals and equipment sufficient to allow limited CW agent production hidden within Iraq's legitimate chemical industry. Although we have little specific information on Iraq's CW stockpile, Saddam probably has stocked at least 100 metric tons (MT) and possibly as much as 500 MT of CW agents--much of it added in the last year. The Iraqis have experience in manufacturing CW bombs, artillery rockets, and projectiles. We assess that they possess CW bulk fills for SRBM warheads, including for a limited number of covertly stored Scuds, possibly a few with extended ranges. We judge that all key aspects--R&D, production, and weaponization--of Iraq's offensive BW program are active and that most elements are larger and more advanced than they were before the Gulf war. We judge Iraq has some lethal and incapacitating BW agents and is capable of quickly producing and weaponizing a variety of such agents, including anthrax, for delivery by bombs, missiles, aerial sprayers, and covert operatives. Chances are even that smallpox is part of Iraq's offensive BW program. Baghdad probably has developed genetically engineered BW agents. Bagbdad has established a large-scale, redundant, and concealed BW agent production capability. Baghdad has mobile facilities for producing bacterial and toxin BW agents; these facilities can evade detection and are highly survivable. Within three to six months* these units probably could produce an amount of agent equal to the total that Iraq produced in the years prior to the Gulf war. Iraq maintains a small missile force and several development programs, including for a UAV probably intended to deliver biological warfare agent. Gaps in Iraqi accounting to UNSCOM suggest that Saddam retains a covert force of up to a few dozen Scud-variant SRBMs with ranges of 650 to 900 km. lraq is deploying its new al-Samoud and Ababi-100 SRBMs, which are capable of flying beyond the UN-authorized 150-km range limit; Iraq has tested an al-Samoud variant beyond 150 km--perhaps as far as 300 km, Baghdad's UAVs could threaten Iraq's neighbors, U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf, and if brought close to, or into, the United States, the U.S. Homeland. An Iraqi UAV procurement network attempted to procure commercially available route planning software and an associated topographic database that would be able to support targeting of the United States, according to analysis of special intelligence. The Director, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, U.S. Air Force, does not agree that Iraq is developing UAVs primarily intended to be delivery platforms for chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents. The small size of Iraq's new UAV strongly suggests a primary role of reconnaissance, although CBW delivery is an inherent capability. Iraq is developing medium-range ballistic missile capabilities, largely through foreign assistance in building specialized facilities, including a test stand for engines more powerful than those in its current missile force. We have low confidence in our ability to assess when Saddam would use WMD. Saddam could decide to use chemical and biological warfare (CBW) preemptively against U.S. forces, friends, and allies in the region in an attempt to disrupt U.S. war preparations and undermine the political will of the Coalition. [Corrected per Errata sheet issued in October 2002] Saddam might use CBW after an initial advance into Iraqi territory, but early use of WMD could foreclose diplomatic options for stalling the US advance. He probably would use CBW when be perceived he irretrievably had lost control of the military and security situation, but we are unlikely to know when Saddam reaches that point. We judge that Saddam would be more likely to use chemical weapons than biological weapons on the battlefield. Saddam historically has maintained tight control over the use of WMD; however, he probably has provided contingency instructions to his commanders to use CBW in specific circumstances. Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or CBW against the United States, fearing that exposure of Iraqi involvement would provide Washington a stronger cause for making war. Iraq probably would attempt clandestine attacks against the U.S. Homeland if Baghdad feared an attack that threatened the survival of the regime were imminent or unavoidable, or possibly for revenge. Such attacks--more likely with biological than chemical agents--probably would be carried out by special forces or intelligence operatives. The Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) probably has been directed to conduct clandestine attacks against US and Allied interests in the Middle East in the event the United States takes action against Iraq. The US probably would be the primary means by which Iraq would attempt to conduct any CBW attacks on the US Homeland, although we have no specific intelligence information that Saddam's regime has directed attacks against US territory. Saddam, if sufficiently desperate, might decide that only an organization such as al-Qaida--with worldwide reach and extensive terrorist infrastructure, and already engaged in a life-or-death struggle against the United States--could perpetrate the type of terrorist attack that be would hope to conduct. In such circumstances, he might decide that the extreme step of assisting the Islamist terrorists in conducting a CBW attack against the United States would be his last chance to exact vengeance by taking a large number of victims with him.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material thereon on S. 709, the Senate bill just passed.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, as the lead republican sponsor, I rise today in full support of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. Two months ago, Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest by Burma's ruling junta after a bloody clash between her supporters and thugs of the military regime. For the last fifteen years, Suu Kyi has waged a struggle against one of the world's most oppressive governments. Burma's military regime has committed widespread human rights abuses, including forced labor and the use of rape as a weapon against insurgences by ethnic minorities. In addition, this regime supports international narcotic trafficking and provides a safe haven for drug traffickers targeted by the United States for prosecution. That is why I am proud to be a part of this legislation which will authorize a number of sanctions against the Burmese government and its entities, unless a series of democratic conditions are met. I want to thank the Gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos for his tireless work on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this needed measure.

Mr. KING of New York

Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Financial Services be discharged from the further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 709) to award a congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.