Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. I rise in support of the resolution, June 8 as World Ocean Day. But for the past 50 days, and for the next 6 months at least, every other day is going to be ``ruin our oceans day.'' We like to think, well, this is all about BP. I think we have to go a little bit further. We have to understand that we have been pursuing a way of life that is not sustainable. It's not sustainable for us as human beings; it's not sustainable for our planet. So we can be here today to talk about the oceans, and we should; but we have to keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, that our oceans receive billions of gallons of runoff flows, pesticides, metals like mercury and lead, massive amounts of fertilizer, volatile organic compounds, countless other chemicals. Even before the Deepwater disaster, this runoff caused the single biggest dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Our oceans are absorbing the malfeasance of oil companies who are not only responsible for at least three separate major oil gushers as we speak, but are responsible as being one of two major contributors causing climate change. And we are subsidizing them with taxpayers' money. Our oceans are absorbing the malfeasance of coal companies, the other major fossil fuel contributor to climate change. For decades the oceans have been our repository for the greenhouse gases that come mostly from the burning of fossil fuel. The result is that oceans have grown more acidic. Coral is dying; underwater temperature patterns are shifting, undermining entire ecosystems. There are signs our oceans have reached the limit. Some studies indicate oceans won't be able to absorb any more, if any, greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. That only increases the urgency with which we must act to achieve a carbon-free and even nuclear-free energy portfolio. But the ultimate challenge that we have about upholding the environmental integrity of our oceans comes because we have really disassociated ourselves from nature. We see nature as being out there. We see nature as not even being a part of us. And because we are avoiding our responsibility to protect God's creation, the price we are going to be paying in the future will keep getting higher: oceans that are poisoned, a planet ruined, and all of life threatened with extinction. So we can keep temporizing about what's going on in the gulf, but the fact of the matter is that sooner or later we must come to an accounting with the kind of energy that we are using and the damage it does to the environment and to the human race and all other life on the planet.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Church of North Olmsted, Ohio, as they celebrate 175 years of spirituality rooted in diversity and a deep sense of community. The First Universalist Church of Olmsted was founded in 1834. The founding members included early leaders of North Olmsted such as the Coes, Kennedys, Roots, Stearnses and Fitches. In 1847, church members built the first building at the corner of Lorain and Butternut Ridge Roads. Cast in 1851, the large bell in the belfry continues today to act as a symbol of inclusion and emancipation. Before and during the Civil War, the bell tower was used as a station on the Underground Railroad to hide escaping slaves and their families. In 1963, this historic landmark structure was moved to its current site at Porter Road in North Olmsted. More than a thousand Unitarian Universalist churches exist throughout North America. They operate autonomously, with each congregation having the right to decide its own worship styles and ministers. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the congregation and ministry of the Unitarian Universalist church of North Olmsted as they celebrate their 175th anniversary. May this church continue to act as a beacon of spiritual truth, tolerance, and diversity for the people of Greater Cleveland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in sympathy with the families of those killed in the sinking of the Republic of Korean ship (ROKS) Cheonan. I stand in solidarity with the people of the Republic of Korea in the aftermath of this tragic incident. However, I have serious concerns with language in H. Res. 1382. While it appropriately expresses sympathy to the families of those killed in the attack, it also appears to express support for possible military action against North Korea. North Korea announced yesterday that it is severing all relations with South Korea, further exasperating an already contentious relationship. This resolution ``urges the United States'' and ``its allies . . . to take appropriate actions in response to the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and other hostile acts of North Korea.'' The resolution also ``urges the international community to provide all necessary support to the Republic of Korea as the Government of the Republic of Korea prepares to respond to the actions committed by North Korea, which led to the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.'' State Department officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have also made public statements vowing that the attack will not go unanswered. Congress and the Administration can better express support for the people of the Republic of Korea by recommitting to promoting dialogue between the two nations. The expression of congressional support for a possible military response to North Korea's actions can only serve to heighten the likelihood of a military confrontation. Military action in retaliation to North Korea's attack on the South Korean ship can only result in the further loss of life. I believe strongly in the power and necessity of diplomacy. The United States has a responsibility to utilize its unique role as an ally of South Korea to bring the nation closer to resolution with North Korea.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Gary S. Adams as he is named by the Cleveland-Marshall Law School Association a 2010 Alumnus of the Year in recognition of his continued entrepreneurship, hard work and business achievement. Mr. Adams grew up in the Cleveland area. As a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, he has consistently utilized his legal expertise to help support, promote and grow the auto industry throughout Greater Cleveland. In addition, he has maintained a special focus on locally owned dealerships, employees and customers. For many years, Mr. Adams served as the President of the Greater Cleveland Auto Dealerships' Association and is now the President of the annual Cleveland Auto Show which draws tens of thousands of visitors every year. Mr. Adams is an expert in his field. He has an unparalleled knowledge of many aspects of the auto industry, including government policy, public relations and consumer rights. Moreover, Mr. Adams is known as man whose kindness, integrity and generosity match his competitive spirit. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognition of Gary S. Adams upon being named as a 2010 Alumnus of the Year by his alma mater, the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Adams' leadership, expertise, integrity and dedication to supporting the economic base of our community have made it a better place to live.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Mayor Frank Jackson as he is named by the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association as a 2010 Alumnus of the Year for his work and leadership on behalf of those who live and work in the City of Cleveland. Mayor Jackson has lived in Cleveland his entire life, and today resides in the same neighborhood in which he grew up. He began his formal schooling in the Cleveland Public Schools. He moved on to Cuyahoga Community College, where he earned an associate's degree. Subsequently, he earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Cleveland State University and later earned a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Mayor Jackson was elected to the Cleveland City Council in 1989, where he led the charge to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Mayor Jackson is also a United States Veteran, having served our country in Vietnam with honor. Mayor Jackson continues to work on issues such as jobs, the foreclosure crisis and affordable housing. He remains a public advocate for the homeless members of our society and he is the first Mayor to attend the annual Homeless Memorial Day event and other events organized by homeless citizens. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Mayor Frank Jackson as he is being recognized by the Cleveland-Marshal Law Alumni Association for his tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Cleveland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Detective Donald Malloy as he celebrates retirement after nearly thirty years of excellent service to the City of Cleveland Police Department. Detective Malloy was appointed to the force on August 7, 1981, and he began as a patrol officer in the 4th District. During his career, Detective Malloy completed the Ohio Fire Academy program, became a certified finger print examiner and worked in the Crime Scene Records division. He spent the majority of his career in the Financial Crimes Unit, investigating and assisting in the arrests of numerous perpetrators. Detective Malloy has been honored with commendation for his service, including awards from the City of Shaker Heights, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the former Mayor of Cleveland, Mike White. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Cleveland Police Detective Donald Malloy, whose dedication, expertise and concern for the people of the City of Cleveland has helped to protect our community. We are grateful for his service. I wish Detective Malloy, his family and friends health and happiness.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Commander Deborah Washington as she celebrates retirement after nearly thirty years of exemplary service to the City of Cleveland Police Department. Commander Washington started as a patrol officer in the 3rd, 4th and 5th districts after she was appointed to the force on June 1, 1981. She worked in the Juvenile/Gang Unit, Complaint Unit, Community Relations Division and the Financial Crimes Unit. On April 30th, 1999, Deborah Washington was appointed to the position of Commander of the City of Cleveland 5th District. Commander Washington has been honored with numerous awards for her service, including commendations from Playhouse Square, Aftercare Residential Center, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, the United States Secret Service and Judge Ronald Adrine's office. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and gratitude of Commander Deborah A. Washington, whose service and leadership has helped protect the citizens of our community. She has helped keep our streets safe and strengthened the bonds of unity within the Cleveland Police Department. I wish Commander Washington, her family and friends health and happiness.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1391, a resolution congratulating Israel on its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Membership in the OECD, which includes the United States and most of the nations in the European Union, will yield greater stability and security for Israel. However, like many Israelis, I believe that true long-term stability and security for Israel depends upon a peaceful relationship with its Palestinian neighbors. The OECD stated values include ``a commitment to pluralist democracy based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights.'' As such, the body has a responsibility to ensure its members uphold and comply with those values. Absent from the debate on this resolution was the revelation that the economic data submitted to the OECD for membership included Israeli citizens living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in violation of OECD's own values and international law. The submission of this data did not thwart Israel's acceptance into the OECD; however, continued illegal settlement building in the Occupied Territories and the debilitating blockade of Gaza does thwart Israel's long-term security. The acceptance into the OECD despite this data sends a signal to members of the international community that they can violate international law and be rewarded for it. Furthermore, it threatens to undermine the fragile proximity talks facilitated by U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell, as settlement building continues to be a main obstacle to progress. Stability is not secured solely through economic growth. Anyone truly supportive of Israel must work with the Israeli government to bring it closer to a just and peaceful resolution with its Palestinian neighbors. I support a strong Israel. I believe that Israel's position in the international community can be strengthened by a demonstrated commitment to human rights and international law.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Judge Ann Aldridge, an accomplished jurist who served as Federal District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio and helped to pave the way for all women lawyers. Judge Aldridge had a joy for life and a passion for service. She lived around the world, but she found her final home in Northeast Ohio. After World War II, she volunteered to rebuild rail lines in Yugoslavia. She graduated second in her New York University of Law class, in which she was the only woman. She would go on to her earn master and doctoral law degrees from NYU as well. She worked in Washington D.C. for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Federal Communications Center (FCC). Later, representing the United Church of Christ, she sued the FCC to make it easier for minorities in the south to own radio stations. Judge Aldridge moved to Shaker Heights to join the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where she became the school's first tenured woman professor. She taught one of the nation's first environmental law classes and helped develop minority outreach programs. She was first appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Carter in 1980 and served as an accomplished jurist until her retirement in 1995. She was the first female federal district court judge in Ohio, and even after her retirement she continued to remain active in the law. Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and remembrance of Judge Ann Aldridge, a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the law and enriched our nation through her deft interpretation and application of the law. I offer my condolences to her four sons, James Mooney, Allen Mooney, Martin Aldrich, William Aldrich, and her eight grandchildren.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, I rise today in honor and recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), celebrated on May 19, 2010 in Washington, D.C. For seventy years, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, a non-partisan organization, has sought to raise awareness of the interests and concerns of Ukrainian Americans and the people of the Ukraine. The UCCA has worked on many initiatives, including a law adopted by Congress in 1948 which allowed more than 110,000 Ukrainians to be admitted into the United States. The UCCA has worked on the establishment of Ukrainian language radio programs with Voice of America and Radio Free Liberty. The UCCA also successfully lobbied both the House of Representatives and Senate to construct a monument in honor of Taras Shevchenko, the bard of Ukraine, which was unveiled by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1946. Throughout the Cold War, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America spoke out against human rights violations and advocated for the liberation of Ukrainian political prisoners in the former USSR. The grassroots efforts of the UCCA continue to focus on encouraging members of Congress to support the process of democratic development in the Ukraine and to promote the needs and concerns of Ukrainian Americans. Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of the members of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America as they celebrate their 70th anniversary. For seven decades they have brought the issues and concerns of Ukrainian Americans to the forefront of American government and society. As United States citizens whose origins span the globe, we must work to promote bonds of friendship, support, and goodwill here at home and in the nations of our origin.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, I rise today in honor and recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Croatian American Association, which was celebrated on Saturday, May 15th in Chicago, Illinois. For twenty years, the Croatian American Association, a non-partisan organization, has sought to bring the interests and concerns of Croatian Americans to the attention of Congress and the Administration. The Croatian American community is vibrant and strong in Cleveland, Chicago and throughout our nation. Croatian Americans have made significant contributions to all levels of culture and society and have made our nation a better place. The Croatian American Association is focused on rallying members of Congress to support the process of democratic development in Croatia, and providing education to the American people on the significance of supporting democracy in Croatia. For twenty years, members and leaders within the Association have created vital partnerships with Congressional and Senate leaders, with members of the press, and with leaders of numerous cultural and political organizations throughout the country. Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of all Americans of Croatian heritage, and the members of the Croatian American Association, as they celebrate 20 years of advancing democracy in Croatia. As United States citizens whose origins span the globe, we must work to preserve and foster bonds of friendship, support, and peace here at home and in the nations of our origin.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society upon the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Police Memorial Commemoration. Today, we remember the men and women in blue who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the citizens of our community. In 1985, a group of police officers gathered after the funeral of a fellow officer killed in the line of duty. They discussed forming a union of officers, family members and citizens, and together they formed the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society. The mission of the Society is to honor those peace officers who have sacrificed their lives to protect others in the Greater Cleveland area. The Society adopted the motto: ``In Honore Casorum,'' Latin for ``Honor Our Fallen.'' The Peace Officers Memorial Society provides support and assistance to the family members of officers who have died in the line of duty. They also provide support and assistance to police officers injured in the line of duty and work in tandem with law enforcement agencies and leaders with the planning and implementation of Line of Duty funerals. They also establish scholarship funds and work on strengthening police- community relations and community outreach initiatives. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognition of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society as they continue their mission to honor the fallen, support the families of slain officers, and strengthen and promote bonds between police and community. We must recognize and remember every peace officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their selfless service and sacrifice, and the great sacrifice of their families, will not be forgotten.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of T. Boone Pickens, who has made a major impact on our world through his advocacy and philanthropic missions. Mr. Pickens was born on May 22nd, 1928 and raised in the Great Plains of Holdenville, Oklahoma during the Great Depression. His father, Thomas Boone Pickens, and mother, Grace Molonson Pickens, both worked in the oil industry. He grew up across the street from his grandmother, Nellie Molonson, and an aunt, Ellie Reed, both of whom were extremely influential in teaching him the importance of responsibility, self- sufficiency and accountability. Mr. Pickens began his working at the age of 12 with a paper route. His route started out small, yet quickly grew from a customer base of 28 to nearly 130 customers. The business principals of expansion and acquisition, combined with his strong intellect, work ethic and unwavering drive to succeed, elevated Mr. Pickens to the stature of one of the wealthiest oil moguls in the world before he was forty. Mr. Pickens' great financial success in the oil sector has allowed him to recommit his work toward lowering greenhouse gas pollution. Mr. Pickens' philanthropic efforts have totaled more than a billion dollars. He created the Pickens Foundation, the mission of which is to improve lives by providing funds for the creation of programs in the areas of medical research, athletics, education and the environment. Both Mr. Pickens and his wife, Madeleine Pickens, are also lifelong animal rights activists. They have led the effort to outlaw the slaughter of horses in America, and recently, they have focused on saving and protecting the tens of thousands of wild mustang horses and their natural habitats. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of T. Boone Pickens, whose focus on innovation and public service has contributed significantly to our nation.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011. This legislation authorizes $725.9 billion for defense programs this year, including $159.3 billion specifically for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called ``war on terror.'' Once again, the House of Representatives easily approves billions of dollars for war, while a bill that would provide genuine assistance to our constituents gets watered down by the demagoguery of fiscal responsibility. Our national security is not preserved or furthered through the military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. Our presence in the region continues to foment resentment toward us and undermines the human rights of the Iraqi and Afghani people. To date, more than 4,000 U.S. servicemembers have lost their lives in Iraq, and more than 31,000 have been wounded. As the number of troops in Afghanistan surpasses the number in Iraq, over one thousand U.S. troops have been killed thus far. With the continuation of the wars, we are creating a new generation of Americans that will experience the trauma of war, like Vietnam veterans before them. According to the United Nations, air strikes continue to be the leading cause of civilian deaths in Afghanistan, despite the Administration's claims that avoiding civilian casualties is a cornerstone of the Afghan strategy. Innocent Afghanis are killed, detained or threatened in frequent night raids conducted by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, while Afghan President Hamid Karzai buys million-dollar villas in Dubai. This bill also authorizes $4.9 billion for ammunition and weapons systems, including for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles--or drones--that conduct indiscriminate attacks against suspected militants in Pakistan. According to a study conducted by the New America Foundation, three civilians die for every suspected militant killed by a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drone in Pakistan. I am also concerned about a number of the amendments adopted in the bill that I believe have no place in a bill that is intended to address our national security. Language addressing sex-offenders and language that has considerable implications on our foreign policy was included as part of an en bloc amendment that addressed a significant gap in the health care services provided to our veterans pre and post-deployment. An amendment was also adopted that would allow the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct defense-related pilot programs with the Department of Defense (DOD). I have fought for years to keep NASA separate from DOD in order to preserve NASA's mission integrity and therefore, longevity. While I oppose the underlying bill, I supported an amendment that would lead to the repeal of the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' (DADT) military policy. For the past 17 years, DADT has forced our service men and women to hide who they are as they selflessly sacrificed their lives for our country. The amendment would repeal DADT following the receipt of recommendations from a Pentagon working group tasked with formulating the implementation of the repeal and certification from the President and Secretary of Defense that the Department of Defense is prepared to implement its repeal. Since the implementation of this discriminatory and misguided policy in 1993, almost 14,000 service members have been fired because of their sexual orientation. The United States is well behind many of our allies in allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Policies, like DADT, that create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust among colleagues serving side-by-side have no place in the military. I applaud the repeal of DADT and believe it is a significant step toward ensuring equality in our military and securing rights for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. I urge my colleagues to reflect on the policies and fiscal implications included in this legislation. As the country struggles to pull itself out of one of the worst economic recessions in history, we must commit to our priorities here at home--protecting our environment, keeping people in their homes, and getting people back to work.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. The theologian Thomas Barry wrote that the great work of our lives is to reconcile with nature, to come to establish a communion with every living species on the planet--with all humans, all animals and plants, with the land, the air, and the water. As children of a common Creator, we are part of every living thing. This requires reverence for the natural world. When we look at the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, we learn how far we must journey to reconcile with nature. The false doctrine of subduing the natural world puts us in danger of extinction because it ultimately attacks the precondition of human existence and because it separates us from an understanding of the essential interconnectedness of all life. So we're lulled into distancing ourselves from the oil disaster, from its effects on the natural world, from its effects on future generations. Nature's God is not just up there, but it's in all of us. And only when we truly understand the deep significance of the Deepwater Horizon disaster will we be prepared to take a new direction not only with our energy policies but with our way of life.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Polish Army Veterans, Kosciuszko Post 152, of Cleveland, Ohio. Post 152 of the Polish Army Veterans was initiated on May 9th, 1935. On January 18, 1968, Post 152 selected Polish General T. Kosciuszko as the patron of their organization. They elected their first Post Commander, Joseph Lecznar Sr., in 1982. Shortly thereafter, the Post petitioned former Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla to appoint Reverend Lucjan Stokowski as their Chaplain. In 1988, the Post purchased a building on Warner Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio. A monument was built on that site, and every Memorial Day, members return to the site to pay tribute to the memory of fellow veterans. They also acknowledge and honor other veterans' organizations such as the American Legion Post 304 and the VFW Post 4545. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Polish Army Veterans, Kosciuszko Post 152, of Cleveland, Ohio. We honor the memory of departed members and celebrate the accomplishments and service of Polish Veterans.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. We are now in the 36th day of a man-made environmental disaster which is fast becoming an ecological apocalypse for countless species of marine life. The ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico cannot survive wave and wave of toxic substances hitting the beaches. The ultimate surprise is not that it happened. Oil companies, Democratic and Republican administrations, refused responsibility and rejected alternatives. In this privatization of the natural world, damage to sea life is the cost of doing business. The ultimate horror is that we can't stop the flood of oil, won't stop consumption of oil products, and fail to admit the limits of technology. This is a morality play writ large as environmental collapse becomes the new normal. Can we realistically look to Washington alone to protect the natural world? More permits for offshore drilling have been issued. We must look to the consequences of our own demand and consumption: the energy we use, the kind of cars we drive, the products we buy, the food we eat, and our individual impact on the natural world. We can seize this moment. We as individuals can begin a green wave of sustainability to save the planet and ourselves.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Charles Nunzio DelPizzo, a Veteran, a baker, a business owner and a locomotive engineer. Most importantly, he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Mr. DelPizzo was the sixth of nine children born to Guiseppe and Angelina DelPizzo. As a young man, Mr. DelPizzo and his siblings were raised with the values of faith, family and hard work. He and his four brothers served in the military during World War II. Mr. DelPizzo earned the rank of Corporal in the United States Army, where he served as a baker in the 107th Quartermaster Bakery Company. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. DelPizzo combined his talent for baking with his entrepreneurial spirit. He and his young bride, Palma Antonia Santoro DelPizzo, started their own bakery in Garfield Heights. In addition to running his bakery, he also worked as a locomotive conductor and engineer with the Nickel Plate and Norfolk & Western Railroads. Mr. and Mrs. DelPizzo were married for 63 years before her passing in 2006. Together, they raised their daughter, Paula, and welcomed their son-in-law, Andrew, into the family. Mr. DelPizzo was a loving grandfather to Angela, Melissa and Andrew, and was the great ``grumpy'' to Anthony, Talia and Larissa. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Charles Nunzio DelPizzo, a man whose joyous life was framed by a love for family and a love of life. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Ohio Chapter on the occasion of their Eighth Annual Civil Rights Banquet entitled ``A New Era of Hope.'' CAIR is a nationwide, nonprofit organization whose mission is to ``enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.'' For the past eight years, CAIR Ohio has played an instrumental role in helping to bridge the divides between Greater Cleveland's diverse communities. CAIR Ohio's Eighth Annual Banquet will provide a platform for vibrant discourse led by this year's distinguished speakers: Shahid Buttar, Esq. of the Bill of Rights Committee; Imam Mahdi Bray of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation; and Nihad Awad, National Executive Director of CAIR. I commend these speakers for their efforts to promote civil liberties and social justice. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio Chapter for their eight years of outstanding achievement. May their efforts to promote dialogue and create a more inclusive world continue to endure.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of my friend Artha ``Lady Artha'' Woods, of Cleveland, Ohio, whose joyous life was dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities for women and minorities. Ms. Woods was a valedictorian at Cleveland Central High School. She won several academic awards, including a district-wide award as a Latin scholar. Streetwise yet elegant, articulate and refined, Ms. Woods was an unyielding activist. She served as a Cleveland Councilwoman, representing the people of Cleveland's east side with a strong and effective voice. She is credited with the expansion of two of Cleveland's premier institutions: Playhouse Square and the Cleveland Clinic. Moreover, she served as a leader in organizing residents to demand improvements to the deplorable living conditions in the Woodhill Homes public housing units. In 1941, after protesting for equal opportunity, Ms. Woods became one of 18 African-Americans who broke the color barrier at Ohio Bell. After becoming an employee, Ms. Woods boycotted the cafeteria which helped end segregation between black and white women. She rose to the level of public relations manager at Ohio Bell and stayed with the company for many years. While serving on the City Council, Ms. Woods ran her own businesses and founded one of the first-ever modeling and charm schools for African-American women. She managed the careers of two local boxers and she owned and operated the Cedar Avenue Millinery Shop, where she sold hats to celebrities. She founded the Fairfax Area Community Congress and created the Starlight Cotillion for female graduates of neighborhood public high schools. Additionally, Ms. Woods was designated an honorary Italian by Holy Rosary Church of Cleveland and was blessed by Pope Paul VI in Rome for her work with local Catholic leaders. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, gratitude and remembrance of my friend, Artha ``Lady Artha'' Woods. Ms. Woods was the loving mother of the late Eloise and Arthur. I offer my condolences to her grandchildren: Gaile, (Dominic) and Deborah (Richard); to her great-grandchildren, Dominic, Monique, Olivia, Joshua, Lauren and Richard; to her devoted companion, Stanley Tolliver, Jr.; and to her extended family and friends.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Day 2010 and to celebrate the many cultural and societal contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout Northeast Ohio. Asian/Pacific American Heritage Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the numerous achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout Northeast Ohio and across the nation. Cultural diversity is a foundation of our community and it has allowed our residents to experience traditions from around the world. The heritage of Asian Americans has been preserved and reflected by each generation. It shows the spirit, hope and courage of all of our ancestors who braved treacherous journeys along the road to freedom and opportunity in America. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Day and honoring the contributions of all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our Greater Cleveland community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5327, the United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act of 2010. This legislation authorizes $205 million dollars for the development and implementation of the Iron Dome--a missile defense system--that will be placed on Israel's borders with Gaza and Lebanon, and professes support for the security of Israel. I strongly support that. However, like many Israelis, I believe that Israel's security depends upon a stable and peaceful relationship with its Palestinian neighbors. H.R. 5327 proposes that the means to achieve security for Israel is through investing in a missile defense system. I do not support that, and neither should anyone truly supportive of the security of Israel. Physicists have amply demonstrated that missile defense systems do not work. They can't hit a missile with a missile without rigging the tests in ways that are not simulations of realistic operation conditions. The missile system offered in H.R. 5327 will not stop any missiles, except by sheer luck, coming from Gaza or Lebanon. This missile defense system will give a false sense of security to the Israelis, and it will serve to threaten countries in the region. The missile system proposed in H.R. 5327 will cause more destabilization, not less. It will cause nerves in the Middle East to become more frayed, not less. It will bring about the prospect of a military conflict more than it will bring about peace and reconciliation in the region. I am also concerned that 43 years of military occupation in the West Bank, and the crippling siege of Gaza that has entered its fourth year, continue to undermine Israel's security. Investment in a missile defense system will not eliminate the need to address these issues that are a fundamental part of securing Israel's future. Last week, U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell announced the beginning of proximity talks that require him to address the concerns of both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government prior to an attempt to restart direct negotiations on the final status issues. The United States has a responsibility to act in good faith as an honest broker. Negotiations will not be successful as long as the United States continues to stand by idly as illegal settlements continue to be built in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Furthermore, 1.5 million people in Gaza continue to suffer without basic services and Palestinians in the West Bank are denied the freedom of movement and prosperity by the separation barrier and hundreds of check points. The United States can better demonstrate its strong support for Israel by helping it move toward good-faith negotiations that ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for Palestinians as well.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the Creator gave us a paradise; and we, appropriating the power of nature's God, are turning our planet into a smoking, glowing, oily mess, through plundering Mother Earth of her treasures and through refusing to recognize the growing evidence that our reliance on oil, coal, and nuclear threatens our health, our security, our economy, our Nation and the world. It is not as though there are no alternatives. Markets and industries have conspired for years to shelve the massive introduction of wind and solar technologies. Thousands of barrels of oil each day billow from the ocean floor, covering nearly 20 percent of the gulf, heading towards the Florida Keys and the Atlantic coast. Must we wait until all coastal areas are ruined, all fish, all birds, all animals are injured and killed before we realize that drilling presents a threat to the fragile ecology of life? We cannot afford to passively witness the destruction of our natural environment because written in the oily sands of the gulf is the degrading of all life on the planet. Our world exists through fragile interconnected systems of life. Our survival depends upon reconciliation with, not exploitation of, the natural world.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Afghan President Karzai is in Washington this week seeking another $33 billion to keep the war going, meeting with the White House to present his so-called ``peace proposal'' to allocate $160 million from international donors to fund new government bodies, pay off insurgents who agree to stop fighting, and to undermine efforts to establish local governance. Ranked the second most corrupt government in the world, only behind Somalia, Mr. Karzai's blatant government corruption, his ties to Big Oil, and his ties to Afghanistan's most notorious drug pushers, including his own brother, is no secret. While he's being treated as royalty in Washington, millions of dollars shuffle through Kabul Airport, unaccounted for, as Mr. Karzai builds villas in Dubai. Meanwhile, I have constituents in Cleveland who are struggling to stay in their homes. The longer this charade of nation building and counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan continues, the more U.S. soldiers and innocent Afghan civilians die. He wants $33 billion for war to continue in Afghanistan. Here at home, Americans need jobs and access to education and health care. Billions would be better spent rebuilding America than sending it to Afghanistan to continue a war. Bring our troops home. End the war.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, (VBOB) Ohio North Coast Chapter XXXVI. Their individual and collective courage, sacrifice and service on behalf of our nation will be forever remembered. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest land battle of World War II and one of the deadliest battles in American history. By the end of the battle, nearly 20,000 American soldiers were dead and more than 80,000 were wounded. The German surprise attack on American troops began on December 16, 1944 in the snow-covered Ardennes Mountains of Belgium and Luxembourg. It ended with an Allied victory. This courageous stand by American troops proved to be a major turning point in the war; it contributed to the defeat of the Nazis and the liberation of Europe. The VBOB Chapter XXXVI was chartered on July 16, 1994. Forever connected by their shared experience, Veterans from throughout northern Ohio gathered to meet on a regular basis. Though the Chapter is now disbanding, its members were active. They held annual commemoration dinners in honor of their friends who lost their lives and led the effort to construct a memorial in honor of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. That monument, located in The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio, was dedicated on June 6th, 2002. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of and gratitude to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation. I also stand in honor of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the Ohio North Coast Chapter XXXVl. The heart and grit that each young soldier exhibited in the midst of that battle will be honored forever.