Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I welcomed legislators from Central American countries to discuss the perils of CAFTA. I submit my opening remarks for the Record. Thank you all for coming to this important briefing on how the Dominican-Republic Central American Free Trade Agreement was passed in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. I would like to thank Congressman Becerra for hosting this briefing with me, and of course, the Central American legislators for traveling up here to share their experiences with us. There are innumerable reasons to oppose CAFTA, in the United States and in Central America. Governments will have little to no control over the investments of foreign companies, and foreign investors will not have to comply with International Labor Organization standards when they invest in Central American business ventures. Workers' rights will be undermined, especially for women workers, farmers and maquilla workers. The current labor rights abuses prevalent in some Central American countries will run rampant under CAFTA's weak labor provisions. Countries will enjoy greater tariff benefits for goods made by workers whose rights have been denied. Family farms in Central America will fall victim to CAFTA, which will threaten locally grown produce and undermine food security for Central Americans. Basic public goods and services, such as education, health care and water will become privatized, as governments will lose the flexibility to subsidize these services. Expensive brand-name drugs will have expanded patents, and inexpensive generic medicines will have greater restrictions. Poor people will not have access to life-saving pharmaceuticals. Yet these concerns could not be fully considered or debated by lawmakers in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. CAFTA was brought up suddenly, in the wee hours of the morning, with no public notice, and many lawmakers did not get the chance to investigate what they were voting on. Is this how far-reaching legal reform bills should be considered? Of course not. And the real story of how CAFTA was pushed through the legislatures of Central American countries will undercut any legitimacy its ratification may have. Please join me in welcoming the lawmakers who opposed CAFTA in their respective legislatre assemblies when it was considered, and who have traveled here to continue to oppose CAFTA. Let me introduce: Diputada Doris Gutierrez, from Honduras; Diputado Victor Manuel Sales, from Guatemala; Diputado Hugo Martinez, from El Salvado; and Diputado Salvador Arias, from El Salvador.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Bradley amendment because my hometown, Cleveland, is losing 1,100 jobs. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DFAS, which is the fourth largest employer in Cleveland, is shifting these jobs to DFAS facilities in Columbus; Denver, Colorado; and Indianapolis. The NASA Glenn Research Center will also lose 50 civilian military research jobs as a part of BRAC. The Army research laboratory at Glenn is losing the vehicle technology directorate. And, finally, the Navy Corps Reserve Center in Cleveland will close and lose 25 jobs. The Secretary of Defense is required to consider the economic impact on existing communities in the vicinity of military installations. In this case, the Department of Defense erroneously states that a 0.1 percent job loss in the Cleveland metropolitan statistical area has minimal economic impact. However, the Department of Defense failed to take into account the current economic position of the Cleveland area. Cleveland has been labeled as the poorest city in the country today. Its poverty rate of 31.3 percent is the highest in the Nation, according to the most recent Census Bureau data from 2003. Cleveland's number one ranking in poverty rate results from the significant job losses in the steel and manufacturing industries over the past several decades. These job losses continue. For example, the current 2006 budget recently passed by Congress would slash up to 700 high-paying Federal jobs at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The economy around Cleveland is stagnating. It is inconceivable that the Department of Defense thinks that 1,100 more job losses will not have a major impact on the city of Cleveland. If the process used to cut these jobs is flawed, I have no choice but to vote for a fix to disable the BRAC process.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me time. The reason I am rising to support her amendment is because I think that we have come to a time in the war in Iraq where Democrats and Republicans alike need to consider all the events that have transpired, to do it in a way that is compassionate for the decisions that were made to send us into war, and to do it without recriminations, without challenging each other's integrity, without challenging each other's love for our country or support for the troops. Democrats and Republicans came together to send this country to war. We can only come together to take this country out of Iraq. You start to see the signs that make it so apparent that the time is near. The time is near when this Congress must consider the reality facing our troops, the reality of the circumstances which sent our troops into battle. And we need to do this as colleagues who may have started from different points of view on Iraq. I certainly have a different point of view. I voted against the war. But now we are starting to see people who voted for the war coming forward and expressing their concerns. We have to have that capacity for rational reflection and an ability, not to say so much that we were wrong, but to say we have new information and we therefore have a right to reappraise the situation and take a new direction. The Woolsey amendment gives us a chance to do that, and it sets us on a path. So whether it is the Woolsey amendment or something that happens in the next few weeks and months, Democrats and Republicans are going to have to come together to help the President get out of the mess that this country is in. So I think we can proceed in a spirit that is amicable. We do not have to be beating each other up on this. We do not have to have a war about war, or certainly a war about a peaceful withdrawal. So the Woolsey amendment is an important step in the direction of setting this country on a path towards extricating ourself from Iraq. For that reason, I support it, and I want to commend her for her activity on behalf of it.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, why should a family risk losing everything they have worked a lifetime for because one of their family members gets sick? Right now, one of the major economic crises in this country is the lack of accessibility to affordable health care for the American people. There are 45 million Americans without health insurance, and those who have health insurance are finding that their premiums, copays, and deductibles are putting a tremendous financial burden on their families. It is time for this Congress to come up with a solution. There is a solution at hand. It is H.R. 676, a bill to establish Medicare for all. A universal, single payer, not-for-profit health care system, which takes the resources of our system and makes it possible for people to be covered for all medically necessary procedures: for vision care, for dental care, for mental health care, for long-term care, and a prescription drug benefit. It is time that we recognize that the people of this country are suffering from a health care system which is not responsive to their needs. It is time for Medicare for all, universal single payer, not- for-profit health care, H.R. 676.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring the following article to the attention of my colleagues. We must continue to challenge the FDA's assumption that all genetically engineered food is safe. [From the Independent, May 22, 2005.] Revealed: Health Fears Over Secret Study Into GM Food (By Geoffrey Lean) Rats fed on a diet rich in genetically modified corn developed abnormalities to internal organs and changes to their blood, raising fears that human health could be affected by eating GM food. The Independent on Sunday can today reveal details of secret research carried out by Monsanto, the GM food giant, which shows that rats fed the modified corn had smaller kidneys and variations in the composition of their blood. According to the confidential 1,139-page report, these health problems were absent from another batch of rodents fed non-GM food as part of the research project. The disclosures come as European countries, including Britain, prepare to vote on whether the GM-modified corn should go on sale to the public. A vote last week by the European Union failed to secure agreement over whether the product should be sold here, after Britain and nine other countries voted in favour. However, the disclosure of the health effects on the Monsanto rats has intensified the row over whether the corn is safe to eat without further research. Doctors said the changes in the blood of the rodents could indicate that the rat's immune system had been damaged or that a disorder such as a tumour had grown and the system was mobilising to fight it. Dr. Vyvyan Howard, a senior lecturer on human anatomy and cell biology at Liverpool University, called for the publication of the full study, saying the summary gave ``prima facie cause for concern''. Dr. Michael Antoniu, an expert in molecular genetics at Guy's Hospital Medical School, described the findings as ``very worrying from a medical point of view'', adding: ``I have been amazed at the number of significant differences they found [in the rat experiment].'' Although Monsanto last night dismissed the abnormalities in rats as meaningless and due to chance, reflecting normal variations between rats, a senior British government source said ministers were so worried by the findings that they had called for further information. Environmentalists will see the findings as vindication of British research seven years ago, which suggested that rats that ate GM potatoes suffered damage to their health. That research, which was roundly denounced by ministers and the British scientific establishment, was halted and Dr. Arpad Pusztai, the scientist behind the controversial findings, was forced into retirement amid a huge row over the claim. Dr. Pusztai reported a ``huge list of significant differences'' between rats fed GM and conventional corn, saying the results strongly indicate that eating significant amounts of it can damage health. The new study is into a corn, codenamed MON 863, which has been modified by Monsanto to protect itself against corn rootworm, which the company describes as ``one of the most pernicious pests affecting maize crops around the world''. Now, however, any decision to allow the corn to be marketed in the UK will cause widespread alarm. The full details of the rat research are included in the main report, which Monsanto refuses to release on the grounds that ``it contains confidential business information which could be of commercial use to our competitors''. A Monsanto spokesman said yesterday: ``If any such well- known anti-biotech critics had doubts about the credibility of these studies they should have raised them with the regulators. After all, MON 863 isn't new, having been approved to be as safe as conventional maize by nine other global authorities since 2003.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. H.R. 810 is the safest, most ethically and morally sound way to proceed with this potentially life-saving scientific advancement. This debate is not about whether or not embryonic stem cell research should occur. The Administration is not stopping private embryonic stem cell research. It just opposes the expansion of public stem cell research. The private sector is not restricted from such research. The private sector currently uses frozen embryos which would otherwise be discarded. Corporate entities already have access to 125 new and better embryonic stem cell lines, created after August 9, 2001, when the President announced his new stem cell policy. H.R. 810 expands the number of frozen embryos to be used for stem cell research by the Federal Government. Federally sponsored research is subject to greater oversight and safeguards and higher ethical standards. Ethical controls over privately funded research are limited. Recent scientific breakthroughs have demonstrated that embryonic stem cell research has life saving potential. It could result in saving millions of lives. It could be the answer to the prayers of those who suffer from Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating conditions. Recent studies have set back the case for the efficacy of adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research will continue with or without the federal government. This bill expands federal research, which will be subject to greater oversight and safeguards.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, this week I will offer an amendment to the defense authorization bill, cosponsored by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), which will reaffirm the policy of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, signed into law by President Eisenhower, that it is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind. This amendment will reaffirm that it is U.S. policy to preserve peace in space by not deploying space-based weapons. Today's New York Times states: ``Congress and the administration need to assess whether a multilateral treaty to ban space weapons might not leave the Nation far safer than a unilateral drive to put the first weapons in space.'' Please support my amendment, cosponsored by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) to keep space devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind; and support H.R. 2420, now cosponsored by 28 Members of the House, which sets the stage for a multilateral treaty to keep space devoted to peaceful purposes.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Milton Wolf, a friend and a great leader in the Greater Cleveland community and around the world. Ambassador Wolf led a multifaceted life that included time as a soldier, meteorologist, educator, real estate developer, fund-raiser, philanthropist, humanitarian, peacemaker, and family man. He grew up in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, the son of Cleveland policeman Sam Wolf and his wife Sylvia. His father worked for a time as a vice detective under Eliot Ness, then the Cleveland safety director. The outbreak of World War II coincided with Milton's graduation from Glenville High School. Young Milton enlisted right away into the Army Air Corps where he served as a meteorologist. Upon his return from the war, he resumed his studies, ultimately earning his doctorate in economics from Case Western Reserve University. His early career focused on real estate development, but he also became interested in politics and raised money for political campaigns, including Jimmy Carter's successful presidential race in 1976. In 1977, President Carter appointed him as ambassador to Austria, a post he kept until 1980. During his service there, he received Austria's Great Gold Medal of Honor with Sash for ``most distinguished and successful contribution toward the enrichment of Austro-American relations.'' Ambassador Wolf played a key role in arranging details of the meeting in Vienna between President Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, for the signing of the Salt II Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. Ambassador Wolf was decorated in 1997 with the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art First Class in recognition of his scholarly work in economics, his strong ties to the diplomatic community and his philanthropic activities. Ambassador Wolf was strongly committed to local and international institutions. He recently made major endowments to Cleveland Clinic's heart center and to a faculty chair at Cleveland State University. He served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University where he oversaw the university's $500 million investment program in the early 1990s. He served on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Ambassador Wolf also served as chairman of the Council of American Ambassadors, governor of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, and member of the board of directors of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. He served as president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, overseeing $70 million in assistance for needy Jews and others in more than 50 countries. In 1994, the committee honored him with its Raoul Wallenberg International Humanitarian Award. Ambassador Milton A. Wolf will be greatly missed in Greater Cleveland and around the world. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Roslyn. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring and remembering Ambassador Wolf. Please also join me as I offer my deep condolences to his son, Leslie, his daughters Caryn, Nancy, and Sherri, his brother Sanford, his five grandchildren, and his extended family and many friends.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Central Ohio Singers' 36th Song Festival, to be held this year at the World View Community Church, and later at the German Central Foundation in Olmsted Township, Ohio. Since 1803, when Ohio was officially instated into the union, groups of German singers have journeyed throughout the State, offering melodies that connect the new world with the old, and preserving culture and history of their German homeland along the way. Organizations such as the World View Community Church and the Donauschwaben German American Cultural Center serve a vital role in promoting and preserving German traditions for each new American generation. Americans of German heritage have been, and continue to be, a vital component of the diverse cultural fabric that adorns the entire State of Ohio. Places like the German American Cultural Center are havens of memories and tangible bridges extending to every corner of the world, and are also places of real support and services for newly settled immigrants. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and tribute of every member of the Central Ohio Singers Association, past and present. These talented and dedicated singers have culled a legacy of cultural and historical preservation through melody and song, warmly reflecting their German heritage. This music of the heart adds color and depth to the American landscape, and serves to uplift our entire community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, more than ever before, our wastewater treatment systems are failing. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants is contaminating our rivers with chemicals like Triclosan--a germ toxin added to countless consumer products; hormones such as the active ingredient in estrogen therapy; the insect repellant DEET; and an anti-epileptic drug (Environmental Science and Technology, 36 (6), 1202-1211, 2002 http://pubs.acs.org/cgibin/jtextd?esthag/36/6/html/ es011055j.html). As these chemicals are released from treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and oceans, they are finding their way into the natural resources on which we heavily depend. New studies show that they are starting to show up in our drinking water (``Pollutants in New Jersey's Drinking Water,'' Environmental Science and Technology, December 8, 2004 (http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2004/dec/ science/pt_nj.html); ``Pharmaceutical Data Eludes Environmental Researchers,'' Environmental Science and Technology, March 16, 2005). A Baylor University study in Texas found a prescription drug in fish tissues (``Frogs, fish and pharmaceuticals a troubling brew'' November 14, 2003 (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/11/14coolsc.frogs.fish/ ). At the same time that these new challenges are emerging, we are still trying to overcome the well-established wastewater contaminants from aging and broken sewer systems that continue to contaminate water with E. coli and other water borne diseases. By EPA's 2003 estimate, the need for sewer upgrades alone is so great and so widespread that the funding required to alleviate it is $181 billion (``Wastewater Treatment: Overview and Background,'' Congressional Research Service, February 7, 2005). In fact, the infrastructure is so old in many places that when it rains, wastewater treatment plants can't handle the increased volume. The result is that untreated or poorly treated sewage flows into our waters, causing our beaches to be closed in order to protect public health. Forty three percent of the communities dealing with this are on the Great Lakes, which holds 20% of the world's fresh water supply. So what is the solution proposed by this Administration and Republican leadership in Congress? Reduce funding for wastewater infrastructure by $350 million. Ohio alone would lose $20 million in revenue and roughly 650 jobs from FY 05 if the proposed cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund come to pass. While the need to upgrade our wastewater infrastructure to deal with emerging problems increases, the proposed cuts in this bill take us in the opposite direction. Lets improve our health and the environment, not make it worse. I urge my colleagues to support the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Obey amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Howard W. Broadbent, dedicated family man, friend and mentor to many, talented attorney and United States veteran. Mr. Broadbent was born in Cleveland and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. His studies at Ohio State University were interrupted for the call to duty during WWII, where he served as a Lieutenant and Amphibious Boat Officer in the United States Navy. After the war, he completed his studies at OSU, and ultimately earned a law degree with honors from Case Western Reserve University Law School. Mr. Broadbent began working at the law firm of James M. and John J. Carney, and specialized in zoning and real estate. He eventually formed the Carney & Broadbent Law Firm, specializing again in real estate and corporate matters. As an expert regarding zoning issues, Mr. Broadbent was consistently sought out for his advice and opinion by mayors, council representatives and planning and zoning board members from across the county. He also served as law director for Middleburg Heights, and served as substitute judge for the Rocky River Municipal Court. Additionally, Mr. Broadbent served on the Board of the Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Howard W. Broadbent. He was married for fifty-five years to his beloved wife, Dorothy, who passed away in 2003. His friendship, commitment to his family, and his dedicated service to our country will be remembered always. I offer my condolences to his daughters, Diane and Kitty, and son Jack; his grandson, Douglas; his brother, John, and his many extended family members and friends.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the idea behind environmental justice is simple. People of color and people of limited means bear more than their fair share of environmental problems--like exposure to pollution--and are denied more than their fair share of environmental benefits--like access to natural areas or clean water. It is also important to point out that if you were to look at both race and poverty to see which one would best predict locations of environmental contaminants in the air or water, you would find race to be the better predictor, according to studies dating back to 1987. Here's another way to look at it: Many studies have found that middle-income people of color live near more contamination than low- income white people. Enforcement of environmental laws is also less prevalent and weaker in communities of color. Penalties for hazardous waste violations were found to be roughly 500 percent higher when those violations happened in mostly white communities than when they happened in communities of color. In 1992, then President Bush created an Office of Environmental Justice in the EPA precisely to begin to deal with this problem. In 1994, President Clinton expanded the directive's scope and applicability, again, in recognition of the seriousness of the problem. But now, the Executive Order and the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice are being ignored to death by the Administration. The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council is withering away. The EPA Inspector General in 2004 found that the EPA failed to comply with the Executive Order and changed their interpretation of the order to avoid an emphasis on people of color and low-income people. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found in 2002 that federal agencies did not incorporate environmental justice into their core missions as directed by the Executive Order. Congress must step in to restore these efforts and take them to the next level. The Hastings amendment would do exactly that. Every community, every person deserves equal access to clean air, clean water, natural areas, and healthy food. I urge my colleagues to support the Hastings amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Emerson Batdorff, a friend and colleague from my early career in journalism at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ``Bat'' was a reporter, columnist, and entertainment editor who started the Plain Dealer's Friday magazine. Fellow Plain Dealer reporter Bill Hickey called him ``the ultimate newspaperman. `` And he was right. Batdorff, who was inducted into the Cleveland Hall of Fame Press Club, covered police, courts, and other city beats before becoming a fixture in the features department. Bat started his career in journalism before serving in World War II. After the war, he started with the Plain Dealer's Akron bureau in 1946 before transferring to the Cleveland newsroom in the 1950s. Computers came easily to him. He was known for waving a red flag to alert editors and reporters when the system was about to crash so that they could save their work. When he became entertainment editor, he had a lot of young writers working for him. He always made the effort to point out their mistakes in a friendly and constructive way. Bat retired from the Plain Dealer in 1984. Emerson Batdorff served in the Army in World War II where he was a platoon leader with the Third Infantry Division, a liaison officer in the 30th Infantry Regiment, and historian with the XV Corps Headquarters in Europe. He received the Bronze Star Medal for valor and a Purple Heart. Bat remained in the Army Reserve and was recalled for duty as a military historian during the Korean War. In 1977, while in his late 50s, a would-be robber mistook Bat for an easy mark one late night after work. But Bat, who held a black belt in karate, scared off the attacker with a few deftly executed self defense moves. Bat was a past president of the local chapter of the Newspaper Guild. He was also a past president of the Mensa Cleveland chapter. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering condolence to Bat's wife Judith, his son Lee, his daughter Ilo, his brother, and his grandchildren.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Air Traffic Manager, Gary M. Klingler, upon the occasion of his retirement after nearly forty years of outstanding federal service with the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center. In 1970, Mr. Klingler began his career as an air traffic controller at the Youngstown, Ohio Control Tower. He also served as a Navy flight instructor at the Advanced Jet Training Command. Mr. Klingler's federal service is framed by expertise, integrity and unwavering focus on safety, and has improved standards and procedures in all areas of flight operations in many Airport Control Towers throughout our country, including Flint, Michigan; Jackson, Michigan; Springfield, Ohio; Washington, DC and here in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Klingler is the recipient of numerous commendations and awards from the FAA, including the ``Manager of the Year'' award, ``Above and Beyond'' award, and the ``Wings of Excellence'' award. His efforts in enhancing the overall safety at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport were recognized by the White House with a ``Hammer Award.'' Beyond his professional excellence, Mr. Klingler is an exemplary role model, citizen and friend. His many years of community involvement has enhanced the foundations of our Cleveland community, as well as the communities of Detroit and Saline, Michigan. He has served on many civic boards and organizations, including the Far West Detroit Civic Association and the Cleveland Federal Executive Board, and continues to lend his assistance to others in need. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering my friend, Gary M. Klingler, our appreciation and admiration on his significant service and accomplishments with the FAA--an exemplary career that spans nearly forty years. His vision, expertise and focus on air safety has served to enhance the security in our travels across the skies above Cleveland, Ohio, and across the country. Additionally, his concern for the people of his community continues to have a positive impact within many levels of our society. I wish Mr. Klingler and his entire family many blessings of peace, health and happiness, today and throughout the coming years.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Congressman Sherrod Brown, for his distinctive service to the people of Ohio's Thirteenth Congressional District. Having served in the House for 13 years, Brown has continually been an advocate for laborers and manufacturers. He has battled for America's working families by protecting overtime pay, advocating for an increase in the minimum wage, and extending long-term unemployment benefits. Brown has constantly been a leader in fighting against trade agreements. We have worked together in opposing the Central America Free Trade Agreement. He has shown dedication in opposing this legislation and has made his stance very clear until provisions are added to protect workers, the economy, and the environment. He is persistent on protecting the rights of all workers, not just in northeast Ohio. Beyond his outstanding service to his constituents, Brown has formed solid bonds with community leaders and agencies in his district. It is easy to see why Brown is so popular in Northeast Ohio. He has hosted press conferences covering a range of issues--from prescription drugs and the healthcare bill of rights to unemployment compensation extension. In 2002 my colleague received the Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year award from the American Public Health Association, the Nation's largest public health organization. Brown's commitment to his constituents is evident in everything he does. He travels to Ohio every weekend to host town hall meetings on social security, attend community events and speak with both college and high school students. He also donated all the proceeds of his latest book, ``Myths of Free Trade,'' to RESULTS and Cleveland Jobs with Justice, two organizations committed to social and economic justice. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of one of Ohio's hardest working and most dedicated Congressmen. His exceptional work on behalf of the people of Northeast Ohio should be an inspiration for all of us. His integrity and expertise has helped him to be a successful Congressman for Ohio's 13th District.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mayor Norman Musial, upon his retirement as Mayor of the City of North Olmsted. His years of leadership and public service, first as council member and then mayor, are framed by integrity, vision and concern for every resident within this community. Born in Toledo into a blue collar family, Mayor Musial cultivated a deep appreciation for family, community and hard work. Reflecting personal values of integrity and public service, Mayor Musial's commitment to the betterment of his community reflects across all levels of government within the City of North Olmsted. As a longtime resident and civic leader in North Olmsted, Mayor Musial has successfully led the effort to improve, uplift, and renew all facets of the community, including vital areas of safety, residential services, recreation, streets and sidewalks, transportation, and senior citizen programs. Mayor Musial worked his way through the University of Toledo, and graduated with a degree in engineering in 1954. He transferred from NACA to NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, in 1955. While working at NASA, Mayor Musial attended Cleveland-Marshall Law School and graduated with a law degree. Equipped with an innovative mind and energetic spirit, Mayor Musial worked in the NASA Patent Office, and soon became the Chief Patent Counsel. He became an inventor himself, and holds a patent on the Heat Flux Measuring Device. Beyond his roles as public servant and beyond a profession that extended from the sciences to law, Mayor Musial continues to hold his family and community closest to his heart. In 1953, he married his wife, Patricia. Together they raised four children: Mark, Jon, Lisa and Todd. Besides inventor, lawyer and elected official, Mayor Musial can list Boy Scout Leader, Indian Guide Leader and Webelos Leader as titles of supreme importance, reflecting the caring and dedication he has for his family. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in offering my good friend, Mayor Norman Musial, our appreciation and admiration on his significant accomplishments within the City of North Olmsted. Moreover, his kind nature and compassion for others has allowed the true spirit of community to flourish within the city limits and beyond its borders. I wish Mayor Musial, his wife Patricia and their children and grandchildren, blessing of peace, strength and happiness, today and throughout the coming years.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, for her many lifetime achievements as a Representative from Ohio's Ninth Congressional District. Kaptur was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982. She struggled forcefully to gain a seat on the prestigious Appropriations Committee. As the senior Democratic woman on the Appropriations committee she has always been a fighter for Ohio's farmers--protecting one of the state's most important resources. She is also the first Democratic woman to serve on the House Defense Appropriations Committee. Congresswoman Kaptur has had the opportunity to work on many committees while in Congress, including Budget; Banking Finance and Urban Affairs; and Veterans Affairs. Her array of experience on many different committees and subcommittees has allowed her to pursue her keen interests in economic growth, seniors issues, the environment and the economy. Kaptur's accomplishments include introducing legislation for Washington, D.C.'s World War II Memorial. Although it was a 17-year process, her hard work finally paid off in the spring of 2004 with the opening of the new memorial. The World War II Memorial honors the more than 400,000 people who died in the war as well as the 16 million people who served in the armed forces. Kaptur's dedication to seeing this memorial built shows her commitment to all veterans. Because of her work on the memorial, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selected her as the first woman in history to receive the organization's Americanism Award. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to serve in the House of Representatives with Congresswoman Kaptur. She is an inspiration to the people of Northwest Ohio who are lucky to have her as their representative for more than 20 years. Please join with me today to honor the many achievements of my friend and colleague Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur--the longest serving Democratic woman currently in Congress--a woman with a dedicated mission to her constituents.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on May 12, 2005, I made the following statement during a hearing in the House Committee on Government Reform on ``Securing Our Borders: What We Have Learned from Government Initiatives and Citizen Patrols'': Good afternoon. Thank you, Chairman Davis, for holding this important hearing and thank you to the witnesses. We can all agree on the tremendous importance of securing our border. But frankly, I am not confident in how our government has been handling border security one bit. I have two concrete examples of deficiencies on the part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that my office has been investigating that I'd like to highlight--that I think are representative of a much greater problem. The first case involves how U.S. Customs has handled an investigation into slave labor allegations regarding a product that we import into the U.S.--as you know, importing products made with slave labor has been illegal since 1930. Allegations of slave labor used in the production of pig iron, in the Para state of Brazil, came out in the summer of 2004. As the United States reportedly imports 92 percent of the pig iron produced in Brazil, most of which is produced in Para, it is highly probable that this importation violates section 1307 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, which states, ``All goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labor or/land forced labor or land indentured labor under penal sanctions shall not be entitled to entry at any of the ports of the United States, and the importation thereof is hereby prohibited.'' I sent a letter to U.S. Customs to ascertain what actions had been taken in response to this violation of law. After six months, I finally got a response, which said that Customs had opened a file on the case in July 2004, and had referred it to the FBI Attache Brasilia for further investigation. The rest of the letter explained how logistical difficulties had prevented even a single investigator from visiting Para for a site visit. One excuse: ``The Amazon Basin in Brazil is in a remote area where the majority of the roads to this area are only accessible via 4-wheel drive vehicles.'' The Trans-Amazon highway, an important route for the economic development in that area, runs right through Para. It can carry the pig iron out of Para, but can't take our investigators into Para. And frankly I would be surprised if none of our FBI investigators in Brazil had access to a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The inaction of the investigators in this case is highly unsatisfactory, and I am deeply disturbed by the broader implications of such inadequacies. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, along with FBI Attache offices, are responsible not only for investigating violations of tariff law, but they are also responsible for keeping terrorists out of our country. I believe the inefficiencies highlighted in this case reflect the greater threat to the national security interests of the United States. Furthermore, I am disturbed to think of the possibility that trade motivations are hidden behind the inadequate investigation in this case. I can assure you that all the American miners forced to compete with slave labor would also be disturbed by that possibility. The second case involves the presence of an international terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles, in the United States, and his recent application for asylum. Posada, a CIA- trained Cuban exile, was responsible for organizing the bombing of a Cuban civilian airliner flying from Bermuda to Venezuela. The bombing killed all 73 people on the plane on October 6, 1976. In addition to the civilian airline bombing, Posada was implicated in the 1976 Washington, DC assassination of former Chilean government minister Orlando Letelier. Letelier, a prominent opponent of the Pinochet dictatorship, was killed along with the American Ronni Moffit in a car bombing, which was at the time, one of the worst acts of foreign terrorism on American soil. Carter Cornick, a retired counterterrorism specialist for the FBI who worked on the Letelier case, said in an interview that both bombings were planned at a June 1976 meeting in Santo Domingo attended by Posada in addition to others. Mr. Cornick said that Posada was involved ``up to his eyeballs'' in planning the attack. A newly declassified 1976 F.B.I. document has confirmed this. Furthermore, at the time of the bombings, Venezuelan police found maps and other evidence in Posada's Venezuelan home that tied him to the terrorist killings. Posada was imprisoned in Venezuela, but escaped while waiting for an appeal in 1985. In 1998, he admitted to the New York Times that he was responsible for organizing a number of bombings in tourist locations in Cuba, including hotels, department stores and other civilian targets during the summer of 1997. The bombings killed an Italian tourist and injured 11 other people. In November 2000, Posada was arrested in Panama for preparing a bomb explosion in the University of Panama's Conference Hall where Fidel Castro was going to speak. Hundreds of people were expected to attend the event there, and had intelligence not uncovered the plot beforehand there would have been massive civilian casualties. Our nation's policy against terrorism is unequivocally clear. President Bush defined this policy when he said on September 19, 2001, ``anybody who harbors a terrorist, encourages terrorism, will be held accountable. I would strongly urge any nation in the world to reject terrorism, expel terrorists.'' The National Security Strategy, released in 2002, further defined this policy with, ``no cause justifies terror. The United States will make no concessions to terrorist demands and strike no deals with them. We make no distinction between terrorists and those who knowingly harbor or provide aid to them.'' Back in 1989; when the Justice Department was considering the deportation of Orlando Bosch, one of Posada's associates, Joe D. Whitley, then-Associate U.S. Attorney General said, ``The United States cannot tolerate the inherent inhumanity of terrorism as a way of settling disputes. Appeasement of those who would use force will only breed more terrorists. We must look on terrorism as a universal evil, even if it is directed toward those with whom we have no political sympathy.'' Mr. Whitley, now General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security has declined to comment on the Posada case. Posada supposedly crossed the U.S. border six weeks ago, and is presently here. His Miami lawyer, Eduardo Soto, confirmed at a news conference last month that he had arrived clandestinely into the United States. Orlando Bosch said in a recent interview broadcast in Miami that he had spoken by telephone with Posada, who, ``as everybody knows, is here.'' Yet the U.S. government has not even acknowledged it. Roger F. Noriega, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the State Department said he did not even know whether Posada was in the country. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in a recent press conference, ``In terms of where he presently is, I think it's fair to say we don't know.'' The U.S. government has not sent teams of investigators into South Florida to find Posada--or if they have, the investigators haven't done a very good job of finding him. No bounties have been offered to recover Posada. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is responsible for securing our border, and preventing terrorists from crossing it, yet a known international terrorist--who committed an act of terrorism on U.S. soil that killed an American citizen--crossed it, and the U.S. government hasn't done a thing. It just isn't a political priority. I hope this hearing and the series of hearings on border security that this Committee intends to hold will shed some light not only on the two cases I described, but on the larger problem that those cases represent: major deficiencies on the part of the U.S. government to investigate Customs and Border violations, when it frankly isn't in the political interest of the United States. That is unacceptable. We cannot pick and choose when to apply our laws and our policies; they must be applied in universal situations. And when they aren't, it compromises our national security. Thank you.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on April 29, 2002, Rep. Raul Grijalva and I sent the following letter to Salvadoran Ambassador to the United States, Rene Antonio Leon Rodriguez regarding police brutality against Salvadoran government officials: Dear Ambassador Leon: It has just been brought to our attention that Salvadoran diputados Dr. Salvador Arias and Zoila Quijada were victims of police brutality yesterday while defending protesters of the Social Security Doctors Union (SIMETRISSS). The protesters were members of the doctors union who were upset about the unjust decision to deport Dr. Pedro Bachon Rodriguez, an Ecuadorian doctor and adviser to the doctors union who has been a legal resident of El Salvador for the past 8 years. Diputado Arias and Quijada stepped in to mediate between the doctors union and the police an to defend the protesters, and the police responded by beating them too. They identified themselves to the police as members of the Legislative Assembly, but the police continued to beat them. Fortunately their bodyguards stepped in to protect them before the were terribly injured. We disapprove of in the strongest terms the use of police violence against the government officials. This unconscionable violation of human rights and democracy threatens the 1992 Peace Accords and could lead to grave consequences. Furthermore, we strongly disapprove of the police violence against protesters. This violence has been increasing recently with anti-CAFTA protests in El Salvador. The Salvadoran Interior Minister endorsed the police violence against protesters that occurred on April 14 and wrongfully called the protesters ``terrorists.'' This is not acceptable. This will not go unnoticed by the United States and by international human rights movements. Be assured that, we will pursue an investigation into this matter to the fullest. On May 3, 2005, Ambassador Leon sent the following reply: Dear Representative Kucinich: We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 29, 2005 in which you express your concern on the apparent use of police force against two congresspeople of the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly, Dr. Salvador Arias and Dr. Zoila Quijada, while seemingly defending members of the Social Security Doctors Union (SIMETRISSS). To that respect, we have proceeded to send your letter to the pertinent authorities in El Salvador who are already aware of your preoccupation and will soon deliver you their response. Please accept Mr. Representative Kucinich the assurances of our consideration and esteem.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on May 17, 2005, during a Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on High School Reform I gave the following statement: I am pleased we will today hear from the Governors of Massachusetts and Iowa on what measures they have found useful in reforming high schools in their own states. I am especially pleased that Governor Vilsack has highlighted the importance of vocational education and its role in high schools. High school reform is an important piece of the puzzle ensuring that our nation's young adults are able to succeed in their chosen career path. The goal of high schools should be to prepare students for the next step in their lives, whether that be continuing on to college or beginning a vocational training program. First, we must work to ensure that students graduate from high school. Recent statistics reported by the Harvard Civil Rights Project show that only 68 percent of students who entered the 9th grade graduated in the 12th grade. Minority students were even less likely to graduate. In today's economy, a high school diploma has increasingly become a minimum requirement for workers. We must address issues that keep students from graduating and get diplomas in their hands. Students, regardless of background, should also know the options they have after graduation. The knowledge of training programs, entry requirements for universities, and financial aid options is invaluable for both students and their parents. Course work must effectively engage and challenge students, continuing their academic growth and building upon their foundation of skills. Students of all levels should make progress in their studies. Our nation is diverse and so are the students in our high schools. There is no ``one size fits all'' for high schools or the students in them. Reforms for high schools should both recognize and employ that fact and aim to ensure that all students graduate from high school and are prepared for the next step in lives.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Salvatore J. Chilia, as the State of Israel Bonds is honoring his decades-long commitment and work in supporting and protecting the American worker. Mr. Chilia began work as an electrician with an apprenticeship in 1967. His service to workers began in 1977, when he was elected as an officer of Local 38's examining board Mr. Chilia served seventeen years on the executive board, including nine years as chairman. In 1989, he was elected president of Local 38, working on behalf of 2,200 active members and 850 retirees. Throughout his tenure as board member, president and chairman, Mr. Chilia maintained an unwavering focus on the rights and welfare of workers and their families. His ascension through the union ranks is reflected by the numerous successes for members, including the protection and promotion of workers' safety, compensation, benefits and pensions. Mr. Chilia created strong bonds of trust and respect throughout the union community and was elected to the office of Business Manager of the Cleveland Electrical JATC. His expertise and commitment has been sought out nationally as well. In 2001, Mr. Chilia was elected as a member of the 36th Annual IBEW International Convention's executive council, representing members in the areas of construction, manufacturing, broadcasting, utilities, maintenance and railroad workers. Beyond his service to workers, Mr. Chilia has a deep and abiding dedication to his family and community. Mr. Chilia and his wife, Arlene, maintain an unbreakable focus on their children and grandchildren. His love for children extends outward into the community, where he is actively involved in children's charities, including the Children's Museum of Cleveland and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Golf Tournament. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Salvatore J. Chilia, upon this worthy tribute by the State of Israel Bonds, for his outstanding service on behalf of the workers of our Cleveland community and beyond. His work continues to serve as a shield of strength, protecting the heart of our nation--the American worker.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Beth Israel--The West Temple, in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. Beth Israel was organized in April 1954 by Abe Silverstein, an early director of the NASA Lewis Research Center and 25 founding families, to provide a religious center for Reform Jews living on Cleveland's west side. The congregation's first service, Rosh Hashanah, was on September 27, 1954, at the First Universalist Church in North Olmsted. For the next three years, services were held at either the Universalist Church or the North Olmsted Community Club House. Following the merger with the West Side Jewish Center in October 1957, Beth Israel occupied the Center's newly completed building at 14308 Triskett Road in Ohio's 10th Congressional District. The building was dedicated on May 11, 1958. The congregation continues to worship there today. For its first seven years, Beth Israel was served by a succession of six student rabbis from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Among them was Daniel Litt who became Beth Israel's first full-time rabbi, serving from 1961 to 1965. The year 1965 also brought the construction of a new eight-room, two-story wing and the first of two Cleveland Foundation library grants. The library and its volunteer staff have provided services for the congregation as well as colleges, schools, and churches throughout western Cuyahoga County. By 1995, the library contained more than 6,000 volumes and audio-visual materials. Beth Israel draws its members from Cleveland's west side and western suburbs in Ohio's 10th Congressional District. It prides itself on its commitment to education and social action. Its school, staffed by volunteers, covers preschool through grade 12 and has more than 100 students enrolled. Among its alumni is Sally Priesand, who went on to become the first woman ordained to the rabbinate in the United States and to serve as Beth Israel's rabbi. As an outgrowth of the temple Social Action Committee, Beth Israel's members found the Cleveland Council on Soviet Anti-Semitism. Council founder Lou Rosenberg became a leader in the national movement to assist Soviet Jewry. Beth Israel's current rabbi, Alan Lettofsky, remains active in local affairs and has spoken out at interfaith rallies to save local hospitals and on other issues of concern to the people of Ohio's 10th District. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Beth Israel--The West Temple for its 50 years of service to, and a center of worship and community for, my Jewish constituents on Cleveland's west side and western suburbs. Please join me in marking this auspicious occasion.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, I, as the Ranking Minority Member for the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations made the following statement during a hearing on ``Fostering Democracy in the Middle East: Defeating Terrorism With Ballots'': Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and good morning to the distinguished witnesses that are here today for this important hearing. We have much to learn from the experts who are here with us, and we must listen and use this knowledge to correct the disastrous foreign policy road that this Administration has embarked upon--a policy which has already taken the lives of over 1,600 U.S. soldiers and wounded thousands more. Congress can help save many more lives by changing these failed policies immediately. As the journalist Thomas Friedman wrote recently, ``you can't build a decent society on the graves of suicide bombers and their victims.'' Our policy is greatly misguided and also misrepresented. During the President's 2005 State of the Union address there were Iraqis in the audience who held up ink-stained thumbs in a symbol intending to convey that democracy had reached finally reached Iraq--thanks to the U.S. Their hope was to send the message that even though WMDs were never found, the victory of bringing democracy to Iraq was worth the cost in blood and treasure. But before we congratulate ourselves, I must admit that I am skeptical of the Administration's policy of promoting democracy. The United States does not have a history of bringing democracy to nations out of pure altruism. Rather there is usually something we have to gain by overthrowing a nation and the promotion of democracy is the excuse we use to do it. Or in the case of Iraq, it was our fall-back excuse. The war to eradicate WMDs quickly transformed into the war to bring democracy to Iraqis--once the world discovered that WMDs did not in fact exist in Iraq. Perhaps the greatest argument against this vision of pure altruism is that when it is in our interest to leave undemocratic governments alone, we do. Examples of this argument are the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries have well-known horrendous human rights records and have serious impediments to democracy. According to the State Departments 2004 Report on Human Rights Practices, ``Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with limited civil rights. . . . the December 26 elections fell significantly short of international standards for democratic elections . . . the executive branch heavily influenced the courts and did not ensure due process . . . Government's human rights record remained very poor . . . police and National Security Service forces tortured, beat, and harassed persons . . . the Government restricted freedom of religion and movement . . . the Government severely restricted fundamental worker rights.'' These conditions are more or less present throughout the other Central Asian states. Yet the U.S. has not taken firm steps to encourage reforms. There have been provisions to condition aid based on progress in democratization and respect for human rights, however when the State Department decided to cut aid to Uzbekistan {or failure to meet these conditions (equal to $18 million), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that Uzbekistan would receive an increase of $21 million in military aid. Furthermore, the aid condition in Kazakhstan is allowed a presidential waiver. This ``soft-line'' approach is probably in large part to the strategic location of these states. The Central Asian states offered overflight and other support when the U.S. went into Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases. In 2003, Uzbekistan endorsed coalition military action in Iraq and Kazakhstan provided about two-dozen troops for rebuilding. Our policy is convenient, not consistent. We talk about building democracy in the Middle East out of one side of our mouth, while we keep authoritarian regimes in power on the other side. The world is watching closely what the U.S. does in Iraq, and we are hopeful that a legitimate democracy will flourish there and throughout the region. I am hopeful other Arab nations will eventually hold elections. But it must be on their timetable, not ours. Our presence in Iraq is only slowing any hope for genuine democratization. Violence against Iraqis is only increasing as time goes by. The country is becoming even more destabilized. But this Administration has not yet presented an exit strategy or any kind of timetable of bringing our troops home. Instead, we are pouring billions of dollars into the probable construction of long-term military facilities in Iraq so that we can have a permanent presence there, as well as in the surrounding countries, none of which could be called democratic. So, Mr. Chairman, I hope that this hearing will go beyond self-congratulation and beyond merely illuminating the desire for democracy by people in the Middle East. Rather I hope that this hearing will illuminate how our missteps are hindering democracy, so that we can correct a failed policy.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today 20 Representatives sent to President Bush the following letter regarding the asylum application of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles and the extradition request from Venezuela: Dear Mr. President: We are writing to urge you to oppose the application for asylum by Luis Posada Carriles, and to support the request for extradition to Venezuela, where he is a fugitive from justice. Posada, a CIA-trained Cuban exile, is one of only two prime suspects in the bombing of a Cuban civilian airliner, which killed all 73 people onboard on October 6, 1976, according to FBI investigators and declassified documents. The plane had originated in Caracas and was bound for Cuba, with a stop in Barbados. The bomb went off as the plane was leaving Barbados. In addition to the Cuban airline bombing, Posada is implicated in an act of terrorism that took place on American soil, here in Washington, DC. On September 21, 1976 former Chilean government minister Orlando Letelier and his American associate, Ronni Moffit, were killed by a car bomb near Sheridon Circle. The bombing was one of the worst acts of foreign terrorism on American soil to that date. Carter Cornick, a retired counterterrorism specialist for the FBI who worked on the Letelier case, said in an interview that both the airline bombing and the Letelier bombing were planned at a June 1976 meeting in Santo Domingo attended by Posada in addition to others. Mr. Cornick said that Posada was involved ``up to his eyeballs'' in planning the attacks. At the time of the bombings, Venezuelan police found maps and other evidence in Posada's Venezuelan home that tied him to the terrorist acts. Furthermore, a recently declassified 1976 F.B.I. document confirms Posada's presence at two meetings in the Anauco Hilton Hotel in Caracas where the airline bombing was planned. Posada, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Cuba, and a former Venezuelan intelligence agent, was jailed in Venezuela for the airline bombing, but then escaped from prison in 1985 while awaiting trial. After escaping prison, Posada continued to terrorize civilians, and even boast publicly about his crimes. In a 1998 interview with the New York Times, he claimed responsibility for organizing a series of bombings aimed at Cuban hotels, department stores and other civilian targets during the summer of 1997. The bombings killed an Italian tourist and injured 11 other human beings. Perhaps realizing he had not helped himself or his cause, Posada later retracted his statements. In November 2000, Posada was arrested in Panama for preparing a bomb to explode in the University of Panama's Conference Hall, where Fidel Castro was going to deliver a speech. Hundreds of people were expected to attend this event, and had Cuban intelligence not uncovered the plot beforehand, there would have been massive civilian casualties. Posada was convicted in a Panamanian court only to be pardoned by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso just days before she left office in August 2004. Moscoso's successor, Martin Torrijos, criticized the pardon, aptly noting, ``For me, there are not two classes of terrorism, one that is condemned and another that is pardoned. `` Similarly, in 1989, when the Justice Department was considering the asylum request of Posada's fellow Miami militant, and suspected co-conspirator in the Cubana bombing, Orlando Bosch, then-Associate U.S. Attorney General Joe D. Whitley said, ``The United States cannot tolerate the inherent inhumanity of terrorism as a way of settling disputes. Appeasement of those who would use force will only breed more terrorists. We must look on terrorism as a universal evil, even if it is directed toward those with whom we have no political sympathy.'' Aside from the United States' foreign policy regarding Cuba, our stated, official national security policy against terrorism is unequivocally clear. On September 19, 2001, Mr. President, you eloquently reaffirmed our national policy against terrorism: ``Anybody who harbors a terrorist, encourages terrorism, will be held accountable. I would strongly urge any nation in the world to reject terrorism, expel terrorists. `` On August 26th, 2003 you said, ``If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorists.'' The National Security Strategy of the United States, released in 2002 stated, ``No cause justifies terror. The United States will make no concessions to terrorist demands and strike no deals with them. We make no distinction between terrorists and those who knowingly harbor or provide aid to them.'' Not only must the United States reject the asylum application of Luis Posada Carriles, a known international terrorist, but Posada should also be returned to Venezuela for a proper adjudication of the case against him. Posada was a dual citizen of Venezuela and Cuba, he plotted terrorist crimes from Venezuela, including the bombing of the civilian airline flight that had originated in Venezuela, and he escaped from a Venezuelan prison. As a sovereign nation, Venezuela has the right to pursue justice in this case. Posada's lawyer Eduardo Soto has objected to his client's return to Venezuela, arguing that he could be tortured there. To satisfy such concerns, the United States should abide by its standard policy on these matters, which according to William Haynes II, general counsel of the Defense Department, ``is to obtain specific assurances from the receiving country that it will not torture the individual being transferred to that country.'' If this policy is applied in the transferring of prisoners to Syria, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan, all countries whose abusive practices have been documented and condemned by the State Department's annual human rights report, then the United States must surely apply this policy to Venezuela, a nation with a Constitution that specifically prohibits torture and provides for the prosecution of officials who instigate or tolerate torture. Many innocent victims who happened to be Cuban died at the hands of Posada, in a crime similar to that which killed innocent American victims on September 11, 2001. It is not only inconceivable to imagine the possibility of granting this terrorist asylum, but also of denying justice to all of the victims of his crimes. Such actions would go against everything that your Administration has claimed to stand for in the ``War on Terrorism.'' It is our hope that for the sake of all the families of terror casualties in the United States and around the world that Luis Posada Carriles is not granted asylum in the United States, and that he is rightfully extradited to Venezuela where he will finally face justice. Sincerely, Dennis J. Kucinich, Raul M. Grijalva, Jose E. Serrano, Barbara Lee, Cynthia McKinney, Maurice Hinchey, John W. Olver, Bobby L. Rush, James P. McGovern, Edolphus Towns, Donald M. Payne, Sam Farr, Lane Evans, Bennie G. Thompson, Carolyn B. Maloney, Ed Pastor, Tammy Baldwin, Sheila Jackson Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Maxine Waters.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I commend my friend and colleague, Representative C. L. ``Butch'' Otter, as well as Elizabeth Barker Brandt, Professor of Law at the University of Idaho, for their excellent article recently published in the Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy, Notre Dame Law School. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Congressman Otter's Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2005 (SAFE Act) that rolls back the most alarming provisions of the Patriot Act. The article, Preserving the Foundation of Liberty, is an important critique of the federal government's expanding prosecutorial powers in the wake of the terrorist events in September 2001. Preserving the Foundation of Liberty