Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, last night the House passed a $28.9 billion supplemental appropriations bill, $14.5 billion of which was for military funding. Today the House has authorized another $10 billion for an undefined war on terrorism. Barely a day goes by where we do not see reports that the administration is in the advanced stages of planning a preemptive military strike against Iraq. H.R. 4547, the Cost of War Against Terrorism Authorization Act, would authorize over $480 million for chemical and biological defense as well as $598 million in funding for a Tomahawk missile conversion. Is this military hardware needed in Afghanistan or are these funding priorities directed at preparing the United States for war with Iraq?

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer the Value of Human Life Amendment. I believe that all human lives are equal. Our founders said as much when the Declaration of Independence was drafted: ``All men are created equal.'' Whether young or old, born last year or next year, no one person is worth more money than the other intrinsically. I think that nearly all of my colleagues in the House would agree with me on this point. Unfortunately, the Office of Management and Budget has been acting in a way contrary to this deeply held principle of human equality. When the Office of Management and Budget goes through a regulatory review, it expects that an agency has completed a cost-benefit analysis. As part of the cost-benefit analysis, sometimes, human lives are included. For example, the arsenic rule that was accepted by the EPA last year will result in a savings of many human lives that otherwise, if exposed to a higher exposure to arsenic, would have been lost. For the cost- benefit analysis for that rule, all of the lives that would have been saved were added up in dollars at a rate of about $6.1 million per person. In the cost-benefit analysis, EPA included the total figure, in dollars, as part of the total benefits of lowering arsenic levels in the drinking water. Now, what if, instead of being worth all the same, many lives were valued at a much lower level, say $1.1 million. This is exactly what an outside group, the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies did in its study. It did not want to see arsenic levels in drinking water lowered, so it employed the tactic of human discounting. Human discounting is when a discount rate is applied over a time period to reduce the dollar value of the human lives that are saved. So instead of calculating the number of lives saved at the same value, human discounting artificially reduces the dollar value of human lives. By reducing the value, it makes the benefit appear smaller. AEI-Brookings assumed that the cancers caused by arsenic would not apply for 30 years, so it applied a discount rate over 30 years. Applying these calculations, it estimated the value of a life at $1.1 million instead of the EPA's estimate of $6.1 million. The impact of using discounting on the value of human life was enormous. Relying upon the AEI-Brookings study, the Washington Post ran a series criticizing EPA, and the Administration held off on the rule for 8 months, accepting it only after enormous public outcry. The use of human discounting is a tactic used to distort the benefits of a policy. Instead of having a discussion of saving lives, it allows opponents to reduces lives to dollars, and then reduce the dollar value. Human discounting is literally, a discount on life. It places a reduced value on a human life. Human discounting cheapens life. Human discounting says, a person is not worth as much next year as he is today, and the dollar value or his or her head is less next year than it is today. For tangible objects, like buildings or machines, the concept of discounting makes sense. We employ depreciation rates all the time. Capital things depreciate, and that can be reasonably measured. But is it just to or even reasonable to employ depreciation rates for people? Congress has never allowed it before. Since 1992, when the OMB presented Circular A-94 that specifically advised agencies to use a 7 percent discount rate, it has continued to issue guidance and communications to agencies to apply this discount rate to human lives. However, there is no statute that Congress has passed that tells agencies to sue a discount on human lives. There is no statute that even permits it. Yet OMB has advised agencies that discounts should be applied to human lives when cost-benefit analyses are completed. Ending human discounting is the ethical thing to do by refusing to put different dollar values on different people. If OMB advises agencies to discriminate between different ages of people, what is to stop it from putting different values on people based on income, race or gender? I urge OMB and other agencies to stop this practice and use the same value for all human lives.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I rise in support of the Roemer amendment. Mr. Chairman, 3,000 Americans died on September 11, and I think that the gravity of this situation requires the kind of an approach that the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) has taken in asking for the creation of a national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States. I have been listening to this debate both in the Chamber and from my office, and as the ranking Democrat on the oversight subcommittee that has jurisdiction over national security, I well understand the concerns that have been articulated here this evening regarding an intelligence failure, but I will also say to my friends who have advanced that position here tonight, that they can support this amendment even if they strongly believe in the capabilities of our intelligence community. As a matter of fact, I am certain that the Roemer amendment does not stem from lack of appreciation for the work of the men and women of the CIA and the FBI. I happen to believe that our FBI and our CIA are actually very competent, and it may be and they may be working under constraints which would be of interest to the American people which could be determined by this kind of a commission. So this debate does not have to be interpreted as an attack on our intelligence community, and I do not seek to attack those agencies. It would be helpful to determine how they can function more effectively. One of the things that I would hope that would come from not only this debate but also the Roemer amendment, if passed, is a renewed sense of what we can do to help heal our country because I think one of the things we have to come to a conclusion about is that Americans do not need to attack each other. We have already been attacked. Let us not attack each other. If there have been failures, we can face those. We are strong enough. One of the things that has concerned me, Mr. Chairman, is there seems to have been some kind of a disconnect on matters of causality relating to 9/11. There are people who seem to have an aversion to looking at the actual reasons behind 9/11, and in a sense, the homeland security bill, which this House will vote on, has been brought to this House without a strategy, without a risk assessment, but with a raft of legislative initiatives preceding it such as the PATRIOT Act and acts that deal with cyber security which have caused broad-based restructuring of criminal justice principles in our society and in a challenge to civil liberties themselves, even without the analysis that a commission could offer. So I certainly think that such a commission is warranted. And then maybe we can take another look at proposals to create a national spy network through the TIPS program, the proposal that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) fortunately rejected for a national ID card through drivers licenses; raise questions about cameras that have been put all over this campus and in other cities; questions about barricades that go up everywhere; questions about military tribunals and suspension of habeas corpus. I mean, our way of life has been dramatically changed, and we have lacked a sufficient evaluation as to whether or not those changes have been essential to be able to challenge the root causes of 9-11. The approach has been totally reactive. Now, I say America is a Nation of strength, and it is weakness which does not seek to know the truth. America is a Nation of courage, and it is fear which seeks not to know the truth. America is a Nation of light, and it is darkness where the truth is not asked. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Freedom is what we seek. Freedom is what we seek to protect, freedom is what we seek to reclaim, and we will reclaim our freedom when we have a commission that will enable us to get to the truth.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of esteemed author Ivan Miletic, who co-authored: From the Adriatic to Lake Erie. A History of Croatians in Greater Cleveland. Through the research and writings of Mr. Miletic, an accomplished historian, and equally esteemed historians and educators--Dr. Ivan Cizmic and Dr. George J. Prpic-- the public now has permanent access to understanding the significant impact that Croatian Americans have had upon the Cleveland community. This important book chronicles the history and evolution of Croatian immigrants, and their individual and collective influence in the Northeast Ohio region--from the first wave of Croatian immigrants seeking opportunity and freedom, to modern-day Americans of Croatian descent--all of whom have added to the rich cultural fabric of Cleveland. Croatian Americans have positively defined, and greatly contributed to, all aspects of our community--from religion, culture and the arts, to politics and law, to education and the sciences. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honor and tribute of author Ivan Miletic, who, along with authors Dr. Ivan Cizmic and Dr. George J. Prpic, have succeeded in the eloquent and adept historical account of Croatian immigrants, and their profound collective impact on all aspects of the Cleveland community. Moreover, as an American whose grandfather emigrated from Croatia, I am honored that my family, and my own public service, was noted in this book. The struggles, hardships and injustices that many immigrants have experienced, and overcome, are significant aspects of American history, that deserve an accurate and permanent historical account--to be learned from for generations to come--as is noted in From the Adriatic to Lake Erie: A History of Croatians in Greater Cleveland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on July 6th when I began the trip from Cleveland, I caught a glimpse of a misty rainbow, evanescent in a nearly cloudless western sky. It is one of nature's paradoxes that you do not need rain to have a rainbow. A many colored, broad spectrum reality can be perceived at any time if we train ourselves to look for that light. When a storm does occur, the rainbow is nature's gift. How brilliant is a rainbow against a very dark sky. Hope informs us to look for light in all situations, under all conditions, in all persons, in all nations. How important it is at this time in our nation's history that we attempt to comprehend the light which shines in the darkness. How important it is that we grasp how a shaft of light can spring from the luminous nature of our own hearts and light a new path for ourselves, our loved ones, the nation we love and a world so in need of love. Today, even as we celebrate the red, white and blue, our nation is bathed in the off colors of threat levels of conjured attacks. We are cautioned to be ever on the alert, to beware the stranger, to travel warily, to watch the crowds, to watch the skies. We are offered the strange solace of nuclear weapons we should never wish to use, missile systems which do not work, metal detectors, bomb sniffing dogs, war planes patrolling our major cities, the FBI marching parade routes and attending religious services. And we are told to have a nice day. The projections of a menacing external environment breeds fear which percolates paranoia which becomes withdrawal and isolation. Americans know intuitively fear is not our home. Indomitability fostered Independence. Courage created a Constitution. Fearlessness birthed freedom. Francis Scott Key's Star Spangled Banner gave insight into the American character when, in the closing lines he asked: ``Oh say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the Free and the home of the Brave.'' Key made a connection between freedom and bravery. At Gettysburg, Lincoln declaimed we were ``conceived in Liberty'' and asked whether a nation so conceived could endure a Civil War. It is worth asking today if a nation conceived in Liberty can long endure. A war on terrorism, where fear and democracy are at odds. It is worth contemplating the cost to liberty in the face of assertions that the only way we can protect our freedoms is to become more dependent on the armed power of government, or to give up some of our constitutional rights. It is only courage which can meet the thief at the door or the terrorist in the crowd. It is only courage which gives us the ability to recite resolutely Lincoln's prayer that a ``government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish''. It is only courage which can enable us to see with our heart the possibilities which still exist for America as the nation of our dreams, as a beacon of hope for the world. So today let us begin the work of summoning all the love and courage we have in our hearts and send it out as a stream of brilliant light to lift the darkness which has dropped like a shroud over the consciousness of some of our countrymen and women. Today let us envision a new role for America in the world. Let that vision be informed by the immortal intimations of our founders. Let that vision spring from our spiritual intuition. Let that vision be expressed in our every word. Let that vision leap from the golden chalice of our hearts. Let that vision be incarnated through our hands. Let us fashion a new nation through a new vision, filled with new hope from which new possibilities arise. Let America begin anew in Afghanistan. Stop the bombing. We have no quarrel with the Afghan people. The Taliban are overthrown. Al Queda has fled. Bin Laden has vanished. And yet the bombs still drop, indiscriminately. Is there any American who has not been shaken at the mere thought of the horror of U.S. warplanes bombing a wedding celebration in the village of Kakrak, killing dozens of innocent civilians? Whatever moral authority our nation had at the beginning of the conflict is rapidly being lost. This act does not represent America. Democracy does not wed terror. This act must not be cloaked in the irresponsible and inhuman euphemism of ``collateral damage''. Stop the bombing. Let an international police force continue in Afghanistan. Let the humble people of Afghanistan be spared friendly fire issued from skies. Enough of bombing the villages to save the villages! Stop the bombing! Let America begin anew in Iraq. Stop planning for an invasion. The lives of a quarter of a million young American men and women must not be placed in jeopardy. Put a renewed emphasis on preventive diplomacy instead of pre-emptive strikes. Practice deterrence. Practice containment. Do not practice war in Iraq. Practice instead humanitarian aid to children who are dying because hospitals lack medical supplies. If Saddam Hussein would visit destruction upon his people let us not compound their woes. Let America begin anew by putting an end to the Bomb as the ultimate metaphor. Let us lead the way towards the abolition of nuclear weapons. Let us set aside plans for a missile shield. Let us end the manufacture of new nuclear weapons. Let us stop the testing of nuclear weapons. Let us disavow any right to a nuclear first strike. Let us begin again to work toward nonproliferation worldwide and secure the goal of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty which is a world free of nuclear threats. Let us put an end to the bomb as the ultimate metaphor. Let America once again confirm its leadership and secure its position as a righteous nation among nations by fully participating in the global community through treaty-making and upholding international law. Let us reinstate the ABM Treaty, so that all nations who possess or would possess nuclear weapons can trust the United States will not try to gain advantage. Let America fulfill a half century commitment to the use of outer space for peaceful purposes by setting aside plans to weaponize space and leading the way to ban all weapons in space, which is the purpose of HR 3616. Let America commit to the Kyoto Treaty to protect this planet earth and to assure all nations that we recognize our responsibility to limit the production of greenhouse gases. In this we demonstrate an understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. In this we ensure the life of the planet far into the future. In this we show confidence in the future. In this we show a love of life. Let America spare this planet and its people the scourge of biological and chemical weapons by leading the way toward world-wide agreement of the Biological and Chemical weapons conventions. Let America commit itself to the Landmine Treaty and the Small Arms Treaty. Let America pledge itself to justice everywhere by supporting the International Criminal Court. Let us bring a new awareness to America. One which speaks and listens compassionately to those with whom we disagree. One whose power derives from the morality of our principles, not the armaments of our military. Let America lead the way for a world at peace through inclusionary governance, upholding human rights, protecting workers' rights everywhere, assuring sustainability through enabling renewable energy resources to be brought forth. Let America replace its principles of perpetual war with new organizing principles which protect the natural world, and affirm the interconnectedness of all life. Let us make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society through the creation of a Department of Peace. Let us be the generation which began the work with people of all nations which leads to the day when war itself becomes archaic. ``Not to believe in the possibility of permanent peace is to disbelieve the godliness of human nature'' said Gandhi. We can evolve. We can understand that war, violent death, the arms race, threats, terror, environmental destruction, adverse global climate change, corporate corruption, poverty, ignorance and sickness are not our ultimate destiny. Our eternal home is not eternal darkness. We are made for something better, a higher purpose, a higher calling here and now. The world's ills represent conditions which are not beyond our understanding nor beyond our control, but which yield to human intelligence, the wisdom of the human heart and the aspirations of the human spirit. As we face uncertain times, let us call upon our capacity for love. Let us call upon our capacity for hope. Let us call upon our capacity to believe in ourselves and in each other. Let us call upon our capacity to make a difference. Let us call upon our capacity to evolve as a nation. Let us call upon our recognition of the power of unity which brings us here, and which enables us to envision the America of our fondest dreams.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Blackie Howlett, United States Veteran, pilot, devoted husband, father and grandfather, and dear friend to many. Mr. Howlett was born Jack J. Howlett Il eighty-two years ago in his parents' home on Cleveland's Westside. After attending John Marshall High School, he attended Baldwin-Wallace College. During the 1930's, Howlett learned to fly open-cockpit planes here in Cleveland, from the Cosby Brothers, who were local stunt pilots. Mr. Howlett was an expert aviator, and utilized his skills and knowledge for the protection and service of the United States. As a U. S. Marine, Mr. Howlett was part of the military crew that helped to build an airport in Kinston, NC. During that time, renown pilot Charles Lindbergh visited the base to train pilots. Mr. Howlett was one of Lindberg's students. Toward the end of WWII, he was stationed on Wake Island in the Pacific, as a Commanding Officer of the Marine detachment. Mr. Howlett accepted the surrender of Japanese troops on Wake Island. Later, he remained in the service and was in command of an airport at Osaka, Japan. Several years after WWII, Mr. Howlett left the military, and had achieved the status of Major. After his imilitary tenure, Mr. Howlett joined Irving Cloud Publishing, where he founded Aviation Equipment and Maintenance Magazine. Later, he founded Howlett and Associates, a consultancy company, for aviation publications located around the globe. Mr. Howlett maintained his involvement and participation in aviation throughout his life. During his senior years, he founded the local chapter of the Silver Wings Fraternity, an organization comprised of senior pilots. In addition to his passion for flying through the air, Mr. Howlett had a life-long interest in flying across the ice. He was an active speed skater in his youth, and was an original member of the Lake Erie Speed Skating Association. He also helped organize the United States Luge program, and was a team manager for the United States Luge Team in the Olympics. In 1989, Mr. Howlett was inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Howlett's beloved wife, Dorothea, passed away in 2000. He was the beloved father of Jeffrey, Carrie and Jennifer, and one grandchild. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Blackie Howlett was an extraordinary pilot, accomplished businessman, dedicated citizen, and devoted family man. Mr. Blackie Howlett will be greatly missed by all who knew him well, yet his legacy of living life to its absolute fullest--a man who dared to soar where sunlight settles on the highest cloud, a man whose energy and spark belied a gentle nature--will live on for generations to come.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Paul Voinovich, devoted husband, father and grandfather, successful businessman, and trusted friend to many. Following his graduation from Ohio University, Mr. Voinovich, followed in his father's footsteps by taking over the family architectural business, once known as the Voinovich Companies. Mr. Voinovich was an intuitive and savvy businessman, and was highly adept at the art of the deal. He was a loyal colleague and business mentor to many, and a treasured friend as well. He warmly embraced life, and possessed a generous spirit. Mr. Voinovich was known to frequently help others in need, and did so in a quiet way away from the spotlight. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Paul Voinovich will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and trusted friend to many. Although he will be deeply missed, his devotion to family, kind nature, generous spirit, and great zest for life will live on through all who knew him well.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Francis Scott (Frank) Cwiklinski, U.S. Military Academy graduate, Persian Gulf War veteran, executive editor of the Cleveland State Law Review, and trusted friend to many. Following his graduation from Valley Forge High School in 1985, Mr. Cwiklinski attended West Point Academy, and graduated in 1989. Following his college graduation, he served in the Army as a First Lieutenant during Operation Desert Storm. Mr. Cwiklinski worked on renovating rental properties in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood prior to attending law school. Besides writing for the Law Review, Mr. Cwiklinski was a columnist for The Gavel, the official newspaper of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was ranked in the top ten percent of his class, and was scheduled to graduate this December. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Cwiklinski's endless energy, quick smile, and friendly demeanor greatly enriched the lives of all who knew him, especial his family, friends and colleagues, and though he will never be forgotten, he will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of June Allison McCormack, community and political activist, successful businesswoman, beloved mother, grandmother, and trusted friend. Mrs. McCormack was an extremely kind soul with a generous spirit, who was always looking for ways to help others. She traveled frequently to points across the globe, looking for ways to improve the environment for children living in impoverished areas. Mrs. McCormack donated her time and money to several worthy charitable organizations, and encouraged others to do so. Instead of accepting holiday and birthday gifts from families and friends, she requested that they donate to the charity of their choice. Besides her philanthropic work and commitment to volunteerism, Mrs. McCormack possessed a sharp sense for business, and successfully operated June McCormack Realty for 25 years, before retiring in the mid-eighties. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honor and remembrance of June Allison McCormack, beloved wife of the late Earl Patrick McCormack, devoted mother of four, and devoted grandmother of ten. Mrs. McCormack leaves behind a legacy of a generous spirit and devotion to helping others, especially children, and she will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman for yielding. With all due respect to my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), I do not think we need to worry about Blue Cross/Blue Shield withdrawing because of the imposition of government cost accounting standards, because, in effect, Members should know that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is already complying with government accounting standards in Medicare and also the Tricare program which serves our veterans. Furthermore, for my friends who indicate that a statutory moratorium would be required, the statement of administration policy has indicated that a statutory moratorium is not required, as existing law provides for an administrative process to exempt or waive classes or categories of contracts from any or all CAS requirements. So you do not need to go to the authorizing committee. My friends who indicate that government cost accounting standards are not appropriate for FEHBP health plans should know that cost accounting standards are certainly appropriate for such plans if not more so than any other Federal contractors. The cost of health care is increasing, which makes it even more important for health care plans to account for the cost increases. Hewitt Health Care Resources reported last June that HMO premiums may increase 22 percent in 2003 and Congress should not be allowing health care plans a waiver from accounting for these types of dramatic increases. Finally, where my friends indicate that government cost accounting standards are incompatible with the already existing accounting system used by the health care industry, they should know that any other government contractor faces the same issue whether it has government as well as commercial clients, that this argument is not unique to health plans. Moreover, health plans have had more than 3 years to make the necessary changes in order to abide by the government cost accounting standards which, I might add, Mr. Chairman, is plenty of time. So if cost accounting standards are truly a legitimate problem, Congress has already established a cost accounting standards board to determine if a waiver is appropriate. This board is staffed by experts who have knowledge and expertise to make that determination. Allowing a blanket exemption by statute puts the FEHBP health plans above the law.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, this Congress has spoken at long length on the floor of the House about corporate accountability. If there is one thing that we have learned, it is that we must have standards and the companies must abide by them. Why then in this bill are health insurance companies in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program exempted from cost accounting standards? Has Congress not learned from Enron, not learned from WorldCom? My amendment would strike section 513 in this bill, which is the section which grants a waiver from complying with governmentwide cost accounting standards. This is a special exemption from Federal accounting standards. By granting this waiver, it exposes the government to increased risks from fraud and abuse. Federal employees, unions, the administration, and even some of the insurance carriers themselves have opposed this special exemption. Given the public's lack of confidence in corporate accounting standards, it makes no sense for Congress to give an exemption for accounting standards to contractors participating in its own health care program, especially when these same accounting standards apply to every other Federal contractor. Cost accounting standards are designed to prevent fraud, overcharging and abuse. They serve as an important safeguard to save taxpayer money. They allow the government to track the cost of goods and services provided under specialized contracts when there is no market price available. These accounting standards apply when Federal contractors charge the government based on negotiated cost-based pricing arrangements, and ensure that costs are properly calculated. If an exemption is truly needed and warranted, there is a process that Congress established in case such a situation arose. The Cost Accounting Standards Board, CASB, includes accounting experts for this very purpose. Last year the statement of administration policy on this bill stated, ``The administration opposes section 513 which would continue the 1- year moratorium on the application of cost accounting standards under the FEHBP. A statutory moratorium is not required as existing law provides for an administration process which allows the CASB to exempt contracts from any or all CAS requirements.'' There is no reason that FEHBP contractors should get a special pass around the board. Congress created the Cost Accounting Standards Board specifically to deal with such issues. By allowing this waiver, it places insurance carriers of the FEHBP above the law. These carriers report charges annually to the FEHBP of billions of dollars, and when they do so, they report them in the manner of their own choosing and design. When they report their costs go up 10 or 15 or 20 percent, or even more, Congress has no way of effectively verifying those claims, or whether they may be losing millions of dollars to fraudulent claims. In the current climate when health care costs continue to increase, it makes the exemption for FEHBP health plans even more egregious. The second largest participant in the plan, First Health, opposes this exemption. First Health, which has been in FEHBP for over 20 years and includes 1 million participants, recently wrote to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), ``I urge the Committee on Appropriations to not include language prohibiting the imposition of cost accounting standards to the FEHBP in the fiscal year 2003 Treasury-Postal appropriations bill.'' Clearly even the companies who benefit from the exemption understand the importance of abiding by government cost accounting standards. Now is not the time to be exempting companies from accounting standards. Enron and WorldCom have done enough. Other industries do not need Congress to give them a hand. Support the Kucinich amendment to strike section 513.

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

Mr. KUCINICH. I want to say what a pleasure it is to be able to do that on behalf of the administration.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, if the gentleman would yield for a question.

Mr. KUCINICH. Would the gentleman recount the title of amendment No. 8.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.

Mr. KUCINICH. Reclaiming my time under my reservation of objection, could the gentleman again give the title of amendment No. 18 at this point, then.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to claim time in opposition.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Synder).

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) and the committee for focusing in on that point because certainly it was not the intent of that committee to have that used for anything other than what is in the resolution of September 14 which, Mr. Speaker, I voted for. I want to say that while I know that is the intention of the committee, I would be very concerned about people in the administration who may interpret it to say, as it reads, that the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks. It is no secret when we look at the events of the last few weeks, we see headlines such as: ``Bush to Formalize a Defense Policy of Hitting First,'' New York Times, June 17. ``U.S. Plans Massive Invasion of Iraq,'' UPI, July 10. ``U.S. Capable of Quick Iraq Strike,'' Associated Press, July 10. ``We could have a situation where on Monday it first looks like there will be a war, on Friday troops are in Kuwait, and by the next Thursday they are in Baghdad.'' John Pike, Defense Analyst. Associated Press, July 10. ``U.S. Says Iraq Would Target Troops,'' Associated Press, July 13. ``According to officials who spoke to UPI, three dates are being discussed as possible times to launch the attack. The first would be before the November elections.'' UPI, July 10. ``U.S. Worries Iraq's Chemical and Biological Weapons Would Target Invading American Troops, Israel.'' Associated Press, July 13. One of the things that concerns me, Mr. Speaker, is notwithstanding the assumption which the honorable gentlemen have here about how this money is going to be spent, I have here the House markup with the actual breakdown of the amount of moneys that are going to be used per category in the cost of the war. I think it is more than interesting that we see for a war supposedly in Afghanistan an amount of almost a half a billion dollars is going to be used for chemical and biological defense. An amount of nearly $600 million would be used for conversion of Tomahawk missiles. An amount of $3.5 billion would be used for an operations fund. An amount of over a half a billion dollars would be used for combat air patrols. I think that is interesting because when you take that in the context of a New York Times report of a preliminary Pentagon planning document in an article written by Eric Schmitt, it suggests, according to the Times, that the military brass is considering a large scale air and ground assault involving as many as 250,000 American troops. Indeed, that has been the reportage that we have seen. This report goes on to say in an editorial that such a Pentagon plan for an invasion of Iraq would be backed by hundreds of warplanes. It goes on to say that Saddam Hussein may not be as easily deterred from using his hidden stocks of anthrax, botulinum, toxin and VX nerve gas. So when you put this document together with the report of the preliminary Pentagon planning document, I think this is one of those cases where one plus one equals an invasion of Iraq, notwithstanding the September 14 language or the fine work of our committee. I want to express that as a concern because there is some symmetry here on the issue of congressional oversight. Members of our Committee on Armed Forces fought very hard to assure there would be congressional oversight. Yet we have a fund of about $10 billion which is largely going to be beyond congressional control. The administration has repeatedly been trying to escape congressional oversight. That, Mr. Speaker, has really been the tenor of the debate we have had over the homeland security bill itself. I spent 15 hours in our government oversight committee. Much of the discussion had to do with the authority of Congress to have oversight over budgetary items and to have oversight over other areas which involve Congress' constitutional responsibility. I rise here because when I look at this report that is from the Congressional Research Service, we see an increase from the original May 1 markup to the July 18 markup of almost a total of $6 billion. I think that the facts that we are here late at night, it is a quarter to midnight, and most Members of Congress are on their way home or are already asleep, we really need to have the kind of full-fledged debate about this, because when you see the administration moving in a direction towards war with Iraq and certainly not being able to finance that war unless they brought a resolution specifically to do that before this Congress, the fact that this amount of money is available ought to be of concern to all Members of Congress, because notwithstanding the fine work of our committee, we have had people connected to the administration as well as our own Members of Congress state openly that this resolution of September 14 already gives the President the authority he needs to do what he may want to do and has said he wants to do in Iraq. I know what the bill says and I congratulate our fine members for doing that work, its due diligence, but I feel that this is an appropriate time to kind of stop the music and focus on this, because all around this country, people are expecting this Congress to step up to its responsibilities under article 1, section 8 of the Constitution with respect to Congress' war- making authority. I voted for the resolution on September 14. But it was my intention in voting for that to see a focused response and now we hear our good chairman and ranking member speak in terms of a global war against terrorism but yet on one hand if it is a global war against terrorism, then it would appear that the administration would then be authorized to go beyond Afghanistan. Yet if it is only Afghanistan, then we ought to be very certain in our interpretation that that is exactly what it is going to be. But as I stand here at a quarter to 12 on this evening, I can say that based on information that we have had from the New York Times and information that we have from our breakdown from the Congressional Research Service, I have real concern that the administration could take this money and will take this money and use it to prosecute a war against Iraq. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.