Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Wikileaks released 92,000 previously secret documents, totaling 200,000 pages, any one of which could conceivably be a case for a congressional hearing, which demonstrate that Congress has not been given a true account of the war by either the military or by two administrations. It would be good if Congress had announced hearings once WikiLeaks documents came forward. But what we've learned is this: our troops are being placed in mortal peril because of poor logistics, countless innocent civilians killed by mistake, an Afghanistan Government which is hopelessly corrupt, Pakistan intelligence collaborating with the Taliban against the U.S., the Pentagon understating the fire power of the insurgents, a top Pakistani general visiting a suicide bombing school monthly. Will we go deeper in this war in Afghanistan despite an abundance of information that it's time to get out? We need to make the decision now. Today, vote against the supplemental.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. With all due respect to my friend from California, special operations troops are inside of Pakistan right now. Three troops have died. Maybe they didn't intend to be hostile, but somebody intended hostilities towards them. There is no question about the hostile climate. What I am trying to do here, with the help of Mr. Paul, is to stop expanding the U.S. forces' footprint in Pakistan so that we stop an expanding war. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).

Mr. KUCINICH. I want to introduce into the Record a Gallup poll that revealed that 59 percent of Pakistanis view the U.S. as their biggest threat, and that 67 percent of Pakistanis polled were opposed to military operations in their country. Now, Mr. Speaker, if putting our troops inside the borders of Afghanistan, if we're not putting them in a hostile environment, with those poll results, I don't know what would be hostile. [From Al Jazeera, Aug. 13, 2009] Pakistanis See US as Biggest Threat (By Owen Fay) A survey commissioned by Al Jazeera in Pakistan has revealed a widespread disenchantment with the United States for interfering with what most people consider internal Pakistani affairs. The polling was conducted by Gallup Pakistan, an affiliate of the Gallup International polling group, and more than 2,600 people took part. Interviews were conducted across the political spectrum in all four of the country's provinces, and represented men and women of every economic and ethnic background. When respondents were asked what they consider to be the biggest threat to the nation of Pakistan, 11 per cent of the population identified the Taliban fighters, who have been blamed for scores of deadly bomb attacks across the country in recent years. Another 18 per cent said that they believe that the greatest threat came from neighbouring India, which has fought three wars with Pakistan since partition in 1947. But an overwhelming number, 59 per cent of respondents, said the greatest threat to Pakistan right now is, in fact, the US, a donor of considerable amounts of military and development aid. Tackling the Taliban The resentment was made clearer when residents were asked about the Pakistan's military efforts to tackle the Taliban. Keeping with recent trends a growing number of people, now 41 per cent, supported the campaign. About 24 per cent of people remained opposed, while another 22 per cent of Pakistanis remained neutral on the question. A recent offensive against Taliban fighters in the Swat, Lower Dir and Buner districts of North West Frontier Province killed at least 1,400 fighters, according to the military, but also devastated the area and forced two million to leave their homes. The military has declared the operation a success, however, some analysts have suggested that many Taliban fighters simply slipped away to other areas, surviving to fight another day. When people were asked if they would support government- sanctioned dialogue with Taliban fighters if it were a viable option the numbers change significantly. Although the same 41 per cent said they would still support the military offensive, the number of those supporting dialogue leaps up to 43 per cent. So clearly, Pakistanis are, right now, fairly evenly split on how to deal with the Taliban threat. Drone anger However, when asked if they support or oppose the US military's drone attacks against what Washington claims are Taliban and al-Qaeda targets, only nine per cent of respondents reacted favourably. A massive 67 per cent say they oppose US military operations on Pakistani soil. ``This is a fact that the hatred against the US is growing very quickly, mainly because of these drone attacks,'' Makhdoom Babar, the editor-in-chief of Pakistan's The Daily Mail newspaper, said. ``Maybe the intelligence channels, the military channels consider it productive, but for the general public it is controversial . . . the drone attacks are causing collateral damage,'' he told Al Jazeera. A senior US official told Al Jazeera he was not surprised by the poll's findings. The US has a considerable amount of work to do to make itself better understood to the Muslim world, he said. And it would take not only educational and economic work to win over the Pakistani people but also a concerted effort to help the Pakistani government deal with ``extremist elements'' that are trying to disrupt security within Pakistan, he added. Nearly 500 people, mostly suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, are believed to have been killed in about 50 US drone attacks since August last year, according to intelligence agents, local government officials and witnesses. Washington refuses to confirm the raids, but the US military in neighbouring Afghanistan and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are the only forces operating in the area that are known to have the technology. The government in Islamabad formally opposes the attacks saying that they violate Pakistani sovereignty and cause civilian casualties which turn public opinion against efforts to battle the Taliban. Lieutenant-General Hamid Nawaz Khan, a former caretaker interior minister of Pakistan, told Al Jazeera that US pressure on Pakistan to take on the Taliban was one reason for the backlash. ``Americans have forced us to fight this `war on terror'. . . whatever Americans wanted they have been able to get because this government was too weak to resist any of the American vultures and they have been actually committing themselves on the side of America much more than what even [former president] Pervez Musharraf did,'' he said. Pakistani leadership The consensus of opinion in opposition to US military involvement in Pakistan is notable given the fact that on a raft of internal issues there is a clear level of disagreement, something which would be expected in a country of this size. When asked for their opinions on Asif Ali Zardari, the current Pakistani president, 42 per cent of respondents said they believed he was doing a bad job. Around 11 per cent approved of his leadership, and another 34 per cent had no strong opinion either way. That pattern was reflected in a question about Zardari's Pakistan People's party (PPP). Respondents were asked if they thought the PPP was good or bad for the country. About 38 per cent said the PPP was bad for the country, 20 per cent believed it was good for the country and another 30 per cent said they had no strong opinion. Respondents were even more fractured when asked for their views on how the country should be led. By far, the largest percentage would opt for Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party, as leader. At least 38 per cent backed him to run Pakistan. Last month, the Pakistani supreme court quashed Sharif's conviction on charges of hijacking, opening the way for him to run for political office again. Zardari `unpopular' Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, received only nine per cent support, while Reza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, had the backing of 13 per cent. But from there, opinions vary greatly. Eight per cent of the population would support a military government, 11 per cent back a political coalition of the PPP and the PML-N party. Another six per cent would throw their support behind religious parties and the remaining 15 per cent would either back smaller groups or simply do not have an opinion. Babar told Al Jazeera that Zardari's unpopularity was understandable given the challenges that the country had faced since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. ``Any president in Pakistan would be having the same popularity that President Zardari is having, because under this situation the president of Pakistan has to take a lot of unpopular decisions,'' he said. ``He is in no position to not take unpopular decisions that are actually in the wider interests of the country, but for common people these are very unpopular decisions.'' I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul), who is the cosponsor of this resolution. I want to express to him my gratitude for his patriotism. (Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady, for whom I have the greatest respect, for her concerns about the resolution. But I would like to respectfully suggest to her that the danger that's presented here is that this Congress ignores the WikiLeaks documents that point out a connection between Pakistani intelligence and the Afghanistan Taliban where they're actually helping the Taliban against our troops. We have to pay attention to that. I didn't create this resolution in order to link it with the Afghanistan war, but the Pakistan intelligence has created the link with the Afghanistan war because they are actually helping the Taliban. They created the link. I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Woolsey), who has been a strong advocate for peace in this Congress.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire as to how much time each side has remaining.

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield the gentleman another minute.

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

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield myself an additional minute. The U.S. poured billions of dollars of military aid into South Vietnam to prop up the increasingly weak government and prevent the ostensible expansion of communism in the world. Now does this scenario sound familiar? Well, it should, because it's exactly what is happening in Pakistan and why I am glad that the gentleman from Texas and I have been able to affect this debate. I yield to my friend.

Mr. KUCINICH. In closing, I want to thank the gentlelady from Florida for her commitment to this debate and for her passion to make sure American foreign policy always receives a very strong and ringing endorsement. I want to thank the gentleman from New York and also the gentleman from California for this. And I want to thank Mr. Paul, who has been a very powerful voice in this country to talk about the limitations of power. People have been asking why this resolution and why now? Because I strongly believe that we should nip in the bud an expansion of U.S. ground presence in Pakistan. We need to do this to keep our troops out of harm's way. Now, it's no secret the administration ordered hundreds of drone attacks in Pakistan just this year resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians. It's not been widely discussed until today that we had over 120 U.S. military in the country ``training'' Pakistani security forces. We have to appreciate the Wall Street Journal's reporting on this where they covered the fact that there was an increase in the U.S. forces in Pakistan who are there to train Pakistan military forces, and it's a force comprised of the tribal regions. I want to say that the recent reports released by WikiLeaks and published in The New York Times and the Guardian on the war in Afghanistan confirmed to us what we already know: that 9 years on we're still uncovering an abundance of information that our presence in Afghanistan is counterproductive. And now we want to further expand attacks, drone attacks in the presence of U.S. Special Forces in Pakistan? The WikiLeaks reports also reveal that while we're in Pakistan spending billions to support them in their efforts to fight, to reshape their environment and also to fight the Pakistani Taliban, Pakistan is in Afghanistan to help the Taliban fight us. Now, regardless of one's support for or opposition to the way that the global war on terror has unfolded, this resolution has been about securing an open and meaningful debate, about the expansion of war into Pakistan. Mr. Speaker, Article I, section 8 puts very firmly in the hands of Congress the war powers. We have seen a series of imperial Presidencies and some that were not so imperial but, nevertheless, took this war power as their own, basically nullifying the position of Congress that has been with us since the founding of this country that it's Congress that's supposed to restrain the dog of war. This resolution is the way to put Congress back into the debate over whether or not America commits troops anywhere in the world. I support the President, but I don't support sending more troops, for whatever reason, into Pakistan. I don't support sending more troops into Afghanistan. I don't support sending more troops into Iraq. I support bringing them home. That's the way you can support the troops, in my view. Other Members here, in conscience and rightly, understanding the world in a different way, have a different point of view. I respect that. But it's time that Congress has a say in this.

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Cleveland Police Officer Emil Cielec, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend to many and lifelong guardian and protector of the people of the City of Cleveland. Officer Cielec retired from the Cleveland Police Department less than two years ago. He left behind a legacy that will forever reflect excellence, honesty and bravery.- Mr. Cielec was raised by parents who came to America from Poland in search of a better life for their family. Growing up on the west side of Cleveland as one of eleven children, he learned early on the significance of hard work and community. He lived his life in dedication to his family and to his Roman Catholic faith. Mr. Cielec graduated from Lincoln High School and then served our nation in the United States Army. He was working on the production line at General Motors when he learned that the City of Cleveland Police Department was hiring. He immediately applied and diligently studied for the test. In 1957, Mr. Cielec was sworn in as a Cleveland Police officer and served with honor until his retirement in 2008. Officer Cielec had a stellar reputation as an officer who treated all people with dignity, fairness, and respect. He was tough, yet compassionate and honorable. During his tenure with the Cleveland Police Department, Officer Cielec saw twenty-two Police Chiefs come and go. He weathered many storms--on the streets and in City Hall. His reputation was known throughout the department, and he was often approached by other officers seeking his insight, wisdom and expertise. Beyond the job, his family was his foundation and his greatest love. His devotion to his wife, Dorothy, to his sons, Kevin and Alan, to his daughter Sandy, and to his grandchildren was unconditional and unwavering. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Police Officer Emil Cielec, who lived life with great love and devotion to his family and to those he served. Officer Cielec's work made our Cleveland community a better place to live. He will be remembered and honored forever.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4213, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Act of 2010. This legislation extends unemployment benefits to millions of Americans in need through November and retroactively restores benefits to those that recently lost theirs due to Congressional inaction. Unemployment in Ohio is at 10.5 percent. It is the number one request when I talk to my constituents at home. Even with passage of this important legislation, many of my constituents in the greater Cleveland area will continue to suffer. Many will be ineligible for the benefits provided by this bill because they have exhausted the emergency temporary assistance granted by Congress. Still others are at a greater disadvantage than most; according to the latest unemployment statistics from the Department of Labor, members of the African-American and Latino communities continue to experience disproportionately high long-term unemployment rates at 15.4 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively. While Congress endeavors to provide direct help to those needing it the most, we must also focus on creating jobs. Our domestic manufacturing sector has been decimated under the weight of the economy, bad trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA, and policy neglect. We cannot have a strong American economy without a strong industrial manufacturing sector. We need a coordinated Federal policy that puts the manufacturing sector back in its rightful place as an engine of the American economy. In recognition of that need, I authored H. Res. 444, which says that the steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping industries are vital to America's national and economic security. Extending unemployment benefits alone will not address the needs of all Americans currently looking for work across various employment sectors, but it can serve to shore up our local communities and our economy. I urge passage of H.R. 4213, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Act of 2010.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Anthony Zielinski, devoted and much-loved father, son, brother and friend, whose public service continues to raise the Parma community onto a platform of strength, viability, unity and opportunity. Mr. Zielinski grew up in the City of Parma and continues to call Parma his home. He attended Parma public schools and graduated from Cleveland State University with advanced degrees. His public service reflects integrity, expertise, dedication and most importantly, it consistently reflects heart, compassion and sincere concern regarding the needs of others. Because of his vision and leadership, Parma has resources and opportunities for residents of all ages. Mr. Zielinski served as councilman in Parma's Ward 8 neighborhood for nearly 8 years. As councilman, he served as Majority Leader and Finance Chairman, working energetically on behalf of residents and creating strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. He served on the City of Parma's Zoning Board of Appeals, and was appointed to the position of Treasurer of the City of Parma in 2005, and elected to serve another term in 2009. His outstanding work as Treasurer is framed by integrity, expertise and dedication to protecting the public trust by making wise investments to obtain the highest return on taxpayers dollars. In addition, Mr. Zielinski has a rare ability to bring people and departments together--unifying the community for the common good--with a special commitment to the children of Parma. He led several student- government programs, and was instrumental in organizing the Leadership for Tomorrow Program, which allows every fifth grade student to experience, in person, the workings of city government. Though humble, Mr. Zielinski's volunteer efforts have been noticed by others. He was named the Parma Democrat of the Year; and was honored as the Pride Award Recipient by the Parma Chamber of Commerce. Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of my friend, Mr. Anthony Zielinski. Mr. Zielinski's work and approach to city government continues to create strong bonds between residents and city hall. He is a role model as a man, a father, a son, and a friend. It is Mr. Zielinski's warmth, heart, honesty and willingness to help others that enriches and strengthens the lives of all us--his family and friends in Parma, Ohio and throughout our community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the United States House of Representatives that Gerry Nelson has been awarded the honor of Democrat of the Year in Lakewood, Ohio. An unreconstructed, New Deal Democrat, Gerry Nelson has long stood for the values of dignity for workers, jobs for all, health care for all, and peace. Gerry Nelson has demonstrated a lifetime of service to her community. She has long been active with railroad retirees, where she has taken lessons from a long career of work into a sphere where she continues to protect the rights of working men and women to a secure retirement. Gerry Nelson is also a stalwart supporter of the activities of the Northcoast AFL-CIO. In addition to her commitment to the rights of workers, Gerry Nelson has become a champion of senior citizens, especially in Lakewood, Ohio. She has been their advocate, their voice, a person who will carry seniors' concerns to every level of government to ensure their health and safety. Gerry Nelson performed outstanding service as a member of the 10th District Congressional staff, doing case work and field work with equal excellence. She became a popular figure in the community because she always seems to be at the right place at the right time whenever people need help. That Gerry Nelson should be recognized as the Lakewood Democrat of the Year is a culmination of a life of service to the Democratic Party and to the Lakewood community. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating Gerry Nelson not only for her work in Lakewood, Ohio, but because she represents a lifetime of dedication to others which makes her a great American.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank my colleague and all Members for their support of this bill: Mr. Davis, Mr. Chaffetz, and my colleague Ms. Sutton. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer today H.R. 5390, which renames the post office located at 13301 Smith Road in Cleveland, Ohio, as the ``David John Donafee Post Office Building.'' I would like to thank Chairman Lynch for his efforts to bring H.R. 5390 to the floor of the House. David John Donafee was a lifelong northeast Ohioan who committed his life to family and community. He was born and raised in Brook Park, Ohio, and graduated from Polaris High School in Berea. He served northeast Ohio as a postal carrier for 14 years. His coworkers knew David for his geniality and positive spirit, his sense of humor and willingness to go out of his way for anyone. One coworker remarked, ``He was the guy that made the place a little better.'' David was well known in the local hockey community for his support of and involvement in his son's youth hockey league. He announced and scored the games. He was the ``heart of all of the teams,'' according to his wife, Sandi. Mr. Speaker, on February 14, 2008, Valentine's Day, David Donafee was walking his mail route in Parma Heights, Ohio. He was delivering the mail to people on his route just like he did every other day, but this day was different. He was struck by a car while in the line of his duties as a postal worker, as a mail carrier, and he was killed. His tragic death resounded in the community and resounded with his coworkers. He left behind his wife, Sandi, and their two sons, Derek and Liam. And my thoughts and the thoughts of the people in the community continue to be with the Donafee family as they adjust to life without their beloved David. In honoring David John Donafee by naming a post office building after him, we actually honor all of those who deliver the mail, showing that when something like an unexpected tragedy happens, that this Congress does appreciate the work of those who make it possible for the commerce of the country to move by virtue of the mail. So I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of David John Donafee and honoring his legacy. I urge passage of H.R. 5390. [From cleveland.com, Sept. 4, 2008] Southwest Brewfest To Benefit Family of Deceased Letter Carrier David Donafee (By Damon Sims) Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night kept David Donafee from his appointed rounds. Nor could a little foul weather keep the 42-year-old letter carrier from scoring his son's Padua High School hockey games, or from the Friday night beer-and-bull session with his buddies at the Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse in Strongsville. ``It was like `Cheers,' '' said Donafee's wife, Sandi. ``My husband was kind of the life of the party, but in a quiet, gentle way.'' That all changed on a gloomy Valentine's Day this year. Donafee, a postman for 14 years, was making his rounds about noon when he was struck by a car and killed while crossing York Road near Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights. The driver, a 19-year-old Cleveland man, was questioned. No charges have been filed, and the accident remains under investigation. Donafee, of Brunswick, is survived by his wife, Sandi, and sons, Derek, 15, and Liam, 11. His death also left a void in the youth-hockey community, with his postal-worker colleagues and with his friends at the Brew Kettle, who remember him as a fun and convivial companion. ``He was one of the happiest, most positive people I've ever met,'' said the Brew Kettle's owner, Chris McKim. ``When the world loses a grouch, it's sad. When it loses a guy like Dave, a guy who was always upbeat and always on his A-game, it's a tragedy.'' The different forces that helped define Donafee's life-- good friends, good music, good beer--are coming together Saturday for an event designed to honor his memory and help his family. McKim has organized the first Southwest Brewfest, a charity craft-beer festival at the Chalet near the Cleveland Metroparks' toboggan chutes in the Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville. The festival will feature beer from brewers in Cleveland's southern and western suburbs: Brew Kettle, Rocky River Brewing Co., Cornerstone Brewing Co. and Buckeye Brewing. Musicians David Fayne, Woody Leffel and the Armstrong Bearcat Band will provide the soundtrack to the event, which takes place from 1 to 7 p.m. The $30 ticket will include a commemorative glass along with 10 four-ounce beer samples. Proceeds will help the Donafee family with Derek's $8,300 annual tuition at Padua, a Catholic preparatory school in Parma Heights. The annual event will also help send Liam, now a sixth- grader, to Padua. Leftover money will go directly to Padua to benefit other students. That would have meant a lot to Donafee, who said Derek's experience at Padua turned around his son's academic career, according to McKim, himself a Padua graduate. Donafee's death didn't escape the notice of the powers- that-be. Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich paid tribute to the mail carrier on the floor of the House. Sandi Donafee has the congressman's words inscribed on a plaque in her living room. ``May his life be an example of how we should lead our own,'' Kucinich told colleagues. And what would the genial mailman have thought of all the attention? ``It would have made Dave smile,'' McKim said with a chuckle.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and works of Harvey Pekar. Best known for his work as an underground comic book writer, Mr. Pekar was an artist and critic of many talents. His brilliance touched the lives of many in his native Cleveland home and throughout the world. In 1976, Mr. Pekar self-published the first issue of what went on to become his most famous comic series: American Splendor. In this series, he depicted the trials and tribulations of a mundane working class life in Cleveland. This raw depiction of the modern human condition slowly attracted a readership within the underground comic book scene and peaked with a circulation of 10,000 in the early 1990s. In 2003, his American Splendor series was adapted for film, receiving wide critical acclaim. His artistic and critical talents were reflected in far more than just his defining series. Harvey Pekar was a distinguished essayist, jazz critic, and he collaborated on musical theatre productions. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of the artist Harvey Pekar. Pekar's talent and works are unparalleled in his field. The world has lost a great treasure in his passing. He will be missed by those who knew him and knew of his work, especially his wife Joyce Brabner and his adopted daughter Danielle.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Gerald ``Gerry'' Trafis, a devoted father to Matthew and Brian, friend, and community leader on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Early in his life, Mr. Trafis learned the importance of faith, family, and hard work. He grew up in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland, and graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School. He then enrolled and graduated from the University of Dayton and earned his CPA license shortly thereafter. As a longtime resident of Seven Hills, Ohio, Mr. Trafis continues to dedicate his time and focus toward improving the community. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Trafis served as Director of Finance for the City of Seven Hills. In 1995, he was elected to serve as Mayor, where he served for nearly ten years until 2003. He then served one term as a Council Representative in Seven Hills until 2005. Mr. Trafis also served as the CFO for Creativity for Kids and Megas Beauty Care. He was entrusted to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Regional Income Tax Agency and is founder and president of Pleasant Valley Estates Association. Mr. Trafis is an active member and leader within many organizations, including the Seven Hills Democratic Club, St. Columbkille Holy Name Society, St. Peter Chanel High School Hall of Fame, and the Pulaski Franciscan Community Development Corporation. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Mr. Gerald Trafis, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. His dedication to family, friends and community continues to uplift the lives of many throughout the Cleveland area. I wish my good friend Gerry a very happy birthday and health, peace and happiness in the coming years.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Joseph Sadie of the Cleveland Police Department. For 43 years, Captain Sadie rose through the ranks of the Cleveland Police Department, tirelessly protecting and defending our local communities. In addition to his dedicated police service, Captain Sadie ran a local program called Cops & Kids. In the last 20 years, this program provided clothes, toys, food, appliances, and other necessities to 20,000 families in need. Captain Sadie's passion for helping the community had him on call all year round; people close to him said his phone never stopped ringing. Despite the overwhelming need and number of requests, Captain Sadie always came through. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Captain Joseph Sadie of the Cleveland Police Department. Captain Sadie's leadership, kindness, compassion, and concern for others have made the local communities in and around Cleveland a better place. The impact of his dedication will carry on in the lives of all of those he helped.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Bob Fritz, as he celebrates his retirement after nearly 40 years of unwavering leadership, kindness and devotion as CEO of Avtron Manufacturing, Inc., of Independence, Ohio. The son of Dwain and Carolyn Fritz, founders of Avtron Manufacturing Inc., Bob Fritz's parents instilled within him a strong work ethic and values. He graduated from Shaw High School and enrolled at Carnegie Melon University, where he graduated with honors and a degree in physics. He later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was awarded a National Honorary Fellowship. Mr. Fritz's intellect is matched by his kindness, ability to relate to others, and build upon a new vision. Within a few years of becoming CEO, Avtron soared to new levels in the areas of sales, product development, and a renewed focus on the welfare of employees. In the past 36 years, Avtron increased its number of employees from 100 to 400, 95% of whom live in Cuyahoga County. During his tenure, Avtron was honored numerous times, including three North Coast 99 Awards for being one of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio. Mr. Fritz has also volunteered his time as both a member and a leader of several community organizations, including Vistage, an organization of CEOs that focus on guiding, mentoring and assisting struggling businesses. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Bob Fritz on the occasion of his retirement as leader of Avtron Manufacturing, Inc. His devotion to his family, employees, and community serves to strengthen the foundation of greater Cleveland. I wish him, his wife Linnet, and their entire family an abundance of health and happiness as he journeys onward.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the staff and volunteers of the Westside Vet Center of Parma, Ohio. Their dedication to providing quality health care services to the men and women who have sacrificed for our nation deserves the deepest gratitude. The lives of many veterans and their families have been improved by the outreach efforts of the Westside Vet Center. The Center provides vital resources, including services and assistance focused on their emotional, psychological, medical, financial, and employment needs. The quality support provided by the Westside Vet Center is the least that can be done for the veterans in our community--our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers--thousands of whom have suffered great personal loss resulting from their service. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and tribute of the staff and volunteers of the Westside Vet Center as they celebrate the Westside Vet Center's Annual Freedom Celebration. Their service and sacrifice will always be remembered and honored.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Patricia A. Dorr, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Mrs. Dorr was also a community activist who served for many years as a Councilwoman representing the City of Berea. Mrs. Dorr created a warm and inviting home for her family, friends and neighbors. She was an active participant in the lives and special events of her family. Her unwavering devotion to her family was reflected in the close relationships she shared with her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Dorr's strong sense of faith was a source of strength throughout her life. She was a devoted and loved member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Berea, Ohio. Patricia was known for her kindness, energy and dedication to community. Following her dedicated service as Berea City Councilwoman, Mrs. Dorr remained active and participated in numerous community events and fundraisers. Her dedication to making a difference in the lives of others remained constant throughout her life. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and memory of Mrs. Patricia A. Dorr, whose energetic spirit and joy for living will endure within the hearts and memories of those who loved and knew her best. I extend my deepest condolences to her children, James, Cynthia, Robert, Brian, Mary, and Brigitte; to her twelve grandchildren and special grandson; and to her extended family members and many friends.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. There are some numbers that bear reflection right now that came out of the marketwatch.com report today that the Labor Department estimates 3.3 million people could lose extended unemployment benefits by the end of July if they're not renewed. And all together, 9.2 million people were collecting some type of unemployment benefits in the weekend of June 12. It goes on to say that the 4-week average of initial claims rose by 3,250, to 466,500, the highest level in almost 3 months. And then it says the claims data, however, had little impact on the U.S. stock market. So there's a separation between Wall Street, which is still doing well, because the taxpayers bailed out Wall Street, and Main Street, which, in many places across the country, is falling apart. Now, I've traveled my district at countless meetings and events, parades and church services, festivals; and I hear the same thing. People are calling out from crowds asking for help. And this unemployment compensation issue is huge because people are having trouble putting food on the table. We're going to give them a lecture about the budget? Who among us, if our brother asks for a loaf of bread, we give him a stone instead? This Congress this afternoon is due to appropriate $33 billion to keep the war in Afghanistan going. And yet the amount of money we're asking here for the unemployed workers of America, for those who are trying to support their families, almost an identical amount, about $34 billion. And we're saying, well, we can't afford that. But you don't hear many people saying we can't afford the war, because the truth is we can't afford the war. We have to afford to put people back to economic sustenance and pass the unemployment compensation bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman for yielding. In Cleveland, where I come from, unemployment is devastating our community. People are demanding that their government, our government, recognize the suffering of families who have lost jobs and can't find work. Will Washington tell my constituents and people like them all over America: We have money for war but no money for the unemployed? We have money for military contractors but no money for the unemployed? We have money--billions--for corrupt foreign governments but no money for our unemployed in the United States? We have money for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans but no money for the unemployed? Hundreds of billions for Wall Street but no money for the unemployed? Instead, the out-of-work poor and middle class, they get lectures on balancing the budget, lectures on pay-fors. But what else are people supposed to do when they don't have budgets because they don't have money, when they can't pay for food, shelter, clothing? Yes, we need jobs, but people out of work can't find a job, and they have to survive. People need unemployment benefits because they have to pay for their mortgage, their rent, their utility bills, because so many Americans are hanging on by their fingertips. Some exhort our constituents, Pull yourself up by your boot straps. What if you don't have money to buy boots?

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that the base text of funding the war originated in the Senate and that article I, section 7 of the Constitution says: all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. Now, one of General McChrystal's top aides was quoted as saying, ``If Americans started paying attention to this war, it would become even less popular.'' The question is, when will Congress finally begin paying attention to this war, which is being waged with our consent; when will Congress realize that we've lost more than 1,200 troops too many; that we've spent $300 billion too much; that the deaths of our brave soldiers cannot be justified, that their service is sacred but the mission is not; that the death of every innocent Afghan citizen is a blot on our national conscience. When will Congress cut off funding? When will the requirements of our failing domestic economy of unemployment, factory closings, business failures, foreclosures, loss of savings, bankruptcies, failing infrastructure, and failing energy policy cause us to look homeward? Or should we cut social and economic programs to balance the budget to pay for the war? We went to war in Iraq based on lies. More than 1 million innocent Iraqis have died. We've lost more than 4,000 of our troops. The long- term cost will be close to $3 trillion. Our presence in Afghanistan is an unmitigated disaster. The war is a cesspool of corruption. Billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars are being stuffed into suitcases and flown out of Kabul. The counterinsurgency strategy is a failure. U.S. tax dollars are going to support warlords who end up shooting at our troops. Security contractors bribe insurgents to shoot at our troops to demonstrate the U.S. needs more security services. Professional killers from Blackwater are now contracted to guard our embassy in Afghanistan. Drug production has skyrocketed during the U.S. occupation. U.S. tax dollars are going to build villas in Dubai, and our country is falling apart with a failing economy.