Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. We've heard the economic reports, over 10 million Americans out of work, 7.2 percent unemployment. Some say that unemployment could go to 10 percent. We could be looking at 12 million Americans out of work. The productive capacity of this Nation is not being used. It's withering. We have to put America back to work. Our program actually is pretty simple. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Put people back to work with good paying jobs. How do you do that? You go back to that old time religion of FDR reflected in the New Deal. He rebuilt America. There's over $1.6 trillion in infrastructure needs that are unmet, that can't be met by local or State governments. The stimulus package that we hear discussion about does want to do something about addressing infrastructure. That's significant. We should support that. But we also have to look at our experience, and we don't want to be TARPed again in this Congress; because this Congress voted for a $350 billion bailout of banks. I didn't vote for it, but the House and the Senate voted for it. And it resulted in the banks using the money, not to help people stay in their homes, but in using the money to buy other banks, take over other banks. They hoarded the money. There is a credit freeze. We cannot--we must take notice of that. I know Chairman Frank, Barney Frank, is going to do that with the next tranche of TARP money, try to make sure money goes to keeping people in their homes. That's a positive step in the right direction. But Congress must take note of its experience in the bailout when we're fashioning a so-called stimulus package because we want to make sure that the money gets to the people who need it the most and it gets to people quickly. Now, some say that you can do that through tax cuts. Well, actually, with people being afraid of the economy getting worse, they're holding on to their money. Look at the Christmas retail returns. Sales are down dramatically. People don't want to spend if they have it. So how do you get the economy moving again? Tax cuts, tax carry forwards, giving businesses that made bad choices a chance to get more money so they can hold on to it? No, we have to prime the pump of the economy. And the way you prime the pump of the economy is that you create millions of jobs. Putting people back to work, rebuilding our roads, our bridges, our water systems, our sewer system, that's infrastructure. But there are some broader issues here we have to look at. The banks have shown that they can't be trusted with the American economy. That's generally been the case, but now it's out in the open, $350 billion later. In 1913, the money power of the country was taken away from the people. By constitutional privilege it belongs with the Congress, but it was given up in the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve is no more Federal than Federal Express. But yet it has the power to determine the direction and use of money in our economy. If we could take that power back and put the Federal Reserve under Treasury, we start to be in a position of being able to control monetary policy on behalf of the United States people. We also have to address the issue of the fractional reserve system, which is how banks create money out of thin air. And then, as they do that, they've created the conditions where we've had this kind of Ponzi scheme collapsing, banks and the hedge funds working together. So we have to halt the banks' privilege to create money by ending the fractional reserve system. Past monetized credit would be converted into U.S. government money, and banks would act as intermediaries, accepting deposits and loaning them out to borrowers. Fine. But then, with the ability to control our fortunes, we then, once we control money again, we spend the money into circulation on infrastructure; not just the fiscal infrastructure, but also on health care. We not only can address housing needs, rebuilding America's infrastructure, but we can also get people the health care they need in this country. We can enable children to stay in school or to go back to school. We really have the opportunity to take control of our own destiny again. But we can't go back to the same old same old. Trickle-down economics, the trickle never gets down. The invisible hand of the marketplace is in the pockets of the American taxpayers. The invisible hand in the marketplace is in the pockets of the American taxpayers. Let's rebuild America. Let's reclaim our economic destiny, and let's do it as a Congress--united, working with the new administration.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. In 1968, I believe it is, Congress passed a Civil Rights Act, and we saw still that there had been over a period of 40 years racial discrimination in America. In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, and yet we know there was wage discrimination over a period of more than 40 years affecting women. This Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step in eliminating the gap that exists between the compensation of men and women. It is a travesty that in 2009 we even have to address this issue, but the fact of the matter is, the unfortunate reality is that a compensation gap has existed for decades and persists to this day. Women receive less compensation than their male counterparts do for the same work. This bill is going to close the legal loopholes that employers have exploited to avoid compensation discrimination lawsuits. It will treat gender discrimination on par with other types of discrimination. We are about to have an economic stimulus package. We have to make sure that women are able to fully participate in the gains that we hope to see in this economy. Thank you, Rosa DeLauro, for standing up for economic justice.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. In Gaza the United Nations gave the Israeli Army the coordinates of a U.N. school, and the school was then hit by Israeli tank fire, killing about 40. The U.N. put flags on emergency vehicles, coordinating the movements of those vehicles with the Israeli military, and the vehicles came under attack, killing emergency workers. The Israeli Army evacuated 100 Palestinians to a shelter, and then bombed the shelter, killing 30 people. Emergency workers have been blocked by the Israeli Army from reaching hundreds of injured persons. Today's Washington Post: ``100 survivors rescued in Gaza from ruins blocked by Israelis. Relief agencies fear more are trapped, days after neighborhood was shelled.'' Today the U.S. Congress is going to be asked to pass a resolution supporting Israel's actions in Gaza. I'm hopeful that we don't support the inhumanity that has been repeatedly expressed by the Israeli Army. The U.S. abstained from a U.N. call for a cease-fire. We must take a new direction in the Middle East, and that new direction must be mindful of the inhumane conditions in Gaza.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman. I support Israel's security and its right to exist in peace, without the fear of rocket attacks from Hamas. And I abhor the violence which has been visited upon the people of Israel who are subject to such attacks. However, I would submit that the resolution, which this Congress will vote on, is in incomplete, that it doesn't sufficiently take sufficiently take notice of the Arms Exports Control Act, which the United States is governed by in terms of its transmittal of arms to Israel, nor does it take notice of the humanitarian conditions sufficiently, nor establish a true path towards peace. And for that reason, I will oppose this resolution. Israel is an established democracy and a firm U.S. ally. It's also signed agreements governing the use of U.S. military assistance. The Arms Export Control Act of 1976, which governs shipments of weapons from United States to foreign nations, requires that each Nation receiving a shipment of arms from the United States must certify that the weapons are used solely, solely for defensive purposes, not increase the escalation of conflict, nor prejudice the development of peace agreements. And I think in each case, the Israeli use of arms given by the U.S. has failed that test. Israel has had Gaza under a punishing blockade. A blockade is in itself an act of war, at which time Israel has had complete control of access to Gaza. The Israeli government even made a truce with Hamas in bad faith, because at the same time it was making the truce, it was preparing to attack Gaza, to pursue its policy of regime change, an all-out attack on Hamas to oust Hamas, without any regard to the law and to the consequences to the civilian population of Gaza. The people of Gaza have no army, no navy, no air force. Israel using F-16 jets and Apache helicopters acquired from the United States is engaged in a military offensive inside Gaza, escalating the conflict in Gaza, and prejudicing the development of peace agreements, contrary to the letter of the stated policies and purposes of U.S. military assistance to Israel. Now, we know from news reports that the United Nations gave the Israeli Army the coordinates of U.N. schools and that schools have been hit by Israeli tank fire, killing dozens. The U.N. put flags on emergency vehicles and coordinated the movements with the Israeli military, and those vehicles came under attack, killing at least one emergency worker. The Israeli Army evacuated 100 Palestinians to a house, and then bombed the house, killing 30 people. They don't have bomb shelters in Gaza. Emergency workers have been blocked by the Israeli Army from reaching hundreds of injured persons. Today's Washington Post headline documents that. We all want peace, but we're not going to get peace until we recognize that there are two parties to this dispute and that we have to also review Israel's conduct as well. That path to peace has to begin with stopping the war, having a cease-fire, constructing a truce, ending the blockade, getting humanitarian assistance through to all the people, rebuilding the infrastructure of the Palestinians, rebuilding their economic possibilities, bringing Hamas and Israel together for talks, using that as the basis to the path for peace in the Middle East. This resolution is, therefore, incomplete and I will oppose it, but I urge this Congress to take these concerns up again next week so that we can address the humanitarian issue and, by doing so, open up the possibility of this Congress playing a more constructive role in helping to achieve peace in the region by reaching out to all the parties, notwithstanding the devastating conflict that has been visited on both sides.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Wake up, America. We have trillions for a war machine and the banks, while our government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians. Here's today's Washington Post. It says, The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday that it found at least 15 bodies and several children, emaciated but alive, in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza Strip and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for 4 days. Twelve corpses lying on mattresses in one home, along with four young children lying next to their dead mothers. That's a quote. Today, U.S. tax dollars, U.S. jets and U.S. helicopters provided to Israel are enabling the slaughter in Gaza. The administration enables Israel to press forward with the attack against defenseless civilians, blocks efforts at promoting a cease-fire at the U.N., and refuses to make Israel comply with conditions that armed shipments not be used for aggression. Israel is going to receive $30 billion in a 10-year period for military assistance, without having to abide by any humanitarian principles, international laws or standards of basic human decency. Wake up, America.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, we cannot truly celebrate a new year, a new Congress and a new administration if all we see is the same old destruction in the Middle East with U.S. weapons being illegally used to kill children. I oppose Hamas' rocket attacks on Israel. The rocket attacks, even to try to end the blockade, have no moral justification, are illegal, and must stop. But how can Israel claim self-defense when it bombs Gaza, which has no army, no air force, no navy, and has been under a constant blockade? How can Israel claim self-defense when its bombs destroy U.N. schools, killing children? The children of Palestinians and the children of Israel both deserve life. But the lives of the children of Gaza are cynically discounted as human shields. Massacres are being rationalized. Israel's ``moral high ground'' in Gaza, a growing pile of small bones in a graveyard. The administration knows Israel is using U.S. weapons, paid for by U.S. taxpayers, with disproportionate force, creating a collective punishment of Gazans, assuring an escalation of conflict, clear violations of the Arms Export Control Act. Israel was given U.S. weapons on condition they would not be used for aggression or escalation. This outgoing administration must finally stand for the rule of law, not the rule of force.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to working with you in this upcoming session of Congress and working with Mr. Issa. I want to thank you for bringing this bill forward. If we truly have government of the people, then there has to be transparency. And not only must Presidents be accountable, but former Presidents must be accountable. And a system of transparency will ensure accountability, particularly with respect to Presidential records. Now this legislation will make it impossible for Presidential records to be buried. It's going to set strict time frames in which information has to be released to the public. It is not going to permit former Presidents to have unlimited, broad authority to be able to claim through the existing President executive privilege, and it is not going to enable designees of Presidents to assert claims of executive privilege after the death of a former President. So this is a very important moment where transparency in government trumps the assertion of executive privilege. That can only be good for democracy. I want to thank once again Mr. Towns for his leadership in bringing this forward as one of the first bills of the 111th Congress.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of COL Stephen Greene, and in recognition of his outstanding service to our country. Colonel Greene is retiring after 39 years of service in the U.S. Army. Colonel Greene boasts a successful and diverse military career, beginning when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as an active duty enlisted airman from 1969 to 1973. During that time, he traveled throughout South east Asia and remained in the USAF reserves until 1975. The following year, Colonel Greene graduated from nursing school to become a registered nurse (RN). A number of years later, in 1981, he graduated from Basic Airborne School Fort Benning, Georgia, and from the Cleveland Clinic School of Nurse Anesthesia. He served as a certified RN anesthetist in the USAR 156th General Hospital, located in Parma, Ohio, and later had tours in Honduras, Panama, Kentucky, Colorado, Texas, Georgia and Germany. From 1998 until his retirement at the end of this year, Colonel Greene completed multiple tours caring for severely injured combat soldiers in Germany and Afghanistan. Colonel Greene was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Army in November of 2001 and boasts over 20 awards and badges from his service to our country. The Bronze Star, Joint Service, Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Expert Field Medical Badge are just a few of the awards and badges he has received throughout his 39 year career. Colonel Greene served as a senior nurse anesthetist (NA) at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center for 7 years, prior to working as an NA at the Cleveland Clinic at Hillcrest Hospital, where he has been the last 7 years. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of COL Stephen Greene as he retires from 39 years of service in the U.S. Army, and in recognition of his outstanding dedication and service to our country, and to all the men and women who have served along with him.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Ed Hauser, an activist who is well known to the people of the Northeast Ohio as ``Citizen Hauser.'' Ed passed away early Friday morning at the age of 47. Ed Hauser expressed his love for Cleveland by dedicating his time, love, passion, energy, and strong intellect toward preserving all of Cleveland's beautiful, recreational and historic sites. Ed was an engineer and worked in the steel industry in Cleveland until his layoff at the former LTV Steel Company 10 years ago. Since that time, he devoted his engineering training and skills to challenging the local powers. He worked toward the preservation of Cleveland's historic engineering wonders, including steelmaking facilities for a steel museum and the Hulett Ore Unloaders which graced Cleveland's lakeshore for a hundred years. But Ed's passion was not limited to steel. Whenever the Department of Transportation, the Port Authority, the city, the county, or any powerful private or government forces proposed projects which would jeopardize local amenities, historic structures or places, Ed Hauser paid attention. He gathered the facts and made sure that all available resources were brought to bear. Ed was an expert in using our nation's laws to defend the public interest by protecting important places. If the structure had important historic value, no one knew more about invoking the National Historic Preservation Act to protect it. If there were implications for the natural or human environment, and the federal government were involved, Ed Hauser could be counted on to organize the people around the National Environmental Policy Act calendar. Ed understood that these laws were meant to protect the people and their sacred places. He took all appropriate actions to save Whiskey Island, the Cleveland Marina, the historic Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and other structures threatened by proposed work on the Cleveland Innerbelt and the Huletts. Ed was so closely associated with his activism and his knowledge of civic activism tools, that he was featured in a Public Broadcasting System special entitled ``Citizen Hauser,'' which was featured at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of Ed ``Citizen'' Hauser, a true Cleveland treasure who dedicated his life to the people and places in his community. I am saddened by his untimely death. There will be no one like Ed Hauser, but we can hope that others will step up to help fill the huge void in Cleveland's civic life with his loss.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Theodore N. Tanczuk, as he retires after 26 years of service in the U.S. Army, and in recognition of his outstanding dedication to our country. CSM Theodore Tanczuk was born in Cleveland on December 6, 1948, a few years after the end of World War II. In 1971, while in his early twenties, he enlisted in the Army. Commander Sergeant Major Tanczuk quickly moved through the ranks and graduated from nursing school, becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). In 1982, his vision and dedication to developing the medical department in the U.S. Military led him to set up a nursing school program through the U.S. Army and local nursing schools in Northeast Ohio. The program was sponsored and funded by the U.S. Army, and students who completed the program graduated in one year. 65 of the 68 people who completed this program went on the graduate from nursing schools and work as LPNs in Ohio. Commander Sergeant Major Tanczuk served as a guide and mentor to each of the students throughout the entire process, until they too went on to serve our country in local hospitals all over northeast Ohio. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of CSM Theodore N. Tanczuk, and in recognition of his outstanding service to our country. May his work as an LPN and mentor to other military servicemen serve as an example for all of us to follow.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Congregration Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood, Ohio as they commemorate the seventieth anniversary of Kristallnacht--The Night of Shattered Glass. Kristallnacht was a series of events that began on the night of November 9, 1938 in which the Nazi Third Reich in Germany and Austria destroyed over 200 synagogues, thousands of stores, hundreds of homes and a number of Jewish community centers in what is widely considered to be the beginning of the Holocaust. I stand with the members of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah and all members of the Greater Cleveland Community in marking November 9, 2008 as the official 70-Year Remembrance Day of Kristallnacht. I also rise in recognition of the organizers of this important interfaith program as all members of our community join in remembering the lives of those lost during the Holocaust and in commemorating this historical night. Their contributions exemplify the diversity and culture that our community is so fortunate to possess. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembrance of Kristallnacht and in honor of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah as they join with members of our community in commemorating this historic event.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady. I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bill. The underlying proposition is this: Should the United States have an auto manufacturing industry? That is really what we are deciding here. Because if this rule and/or bill goes down, we are faced with an untenable condition which will lead to the collapse of our automotive making capacity, and, according to some economic policy analysts, the elimination of over 3.3 million jobs across the economy, jobs that are affected directly and indirectly by the automotive industry. I think it is important for us to step back and look at the context of this. Are we intending to stay a great nation, a world power, or are suddenly we retreating from the world stage? Because an America without an automobile industry is also going to be an America without a steel industry. We are already seeing our aerospace and our shipping industry affected. It is time for us to have a national economic policy which says that the maintenance of automotive, steel, aerospace and shipping is vital to our national security; not just to our economy, but our security. Sixty-seven years ago, when the United States was attacked, it was those industries which enabled us to be able to defend ourselves. Now, I am a person who stands for peace, but I also believe in preparedness. To me, it is unthinkable that a United States which was able to mobilize its productive capacity would suddenly throw it away. We have to remember that our ability to make things is vital to being a great nation, and we have to remember that this is a moment that we should be able to rise to this occasion. It is a tragedy just that we have to debate something that is a proposition about whether or not we remain a strong Nation.

Mr. KUCINICH. I appreciate that. You are actually talking about only 2 percent of the amount of money given for the Wall Street bailout, which I spoke against and voted against. This is an altogether different proposition. We cannot totally reject industrial capitalism and remain a great nation. There are a lot of questions about finance capitalism which the $700 billion bailout has brought out. But we have to have the ability to make things. And we cannot ask auto workers to work for nothing. We have to have the ability to make things, and we also have to have the ability to see automotive in the scheme of a broader industrial policy. Let's remember who we are as a nation. With all of our troubles, trials and tribulations, this is still the greatest nation in the world. What keeps us there? Our ability to make things; to make cars, to make steel, to make planes, to create ships. That is what helps to make America great. Let's not give that up. Let's not let this moment pass and decide, well, this is just a trivial matter of $14 billion or $15 billion. This is a question of who we are as a nation. Let's be strong. Let's vote for this bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. We are expected to be able to see into the future. People elect us to be able to hold in our hands their lives, their jobs, their economic freedom. We cannot fail them in this moment. We cannot let this industry go bankrupt. We cannot let America descend to a second-rate power. We must be strong. I will be introducing in the next Congress the National Industrial Manufacturing Act, which is going to say that steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping are deemed to be vital to our national defense. And we need a whole new direction. Let's start today by showing we can move towards economic recovery by saving our automotive industry.

Mr. KUCINICH. I would like to enter into the Record an article from the Economic Policy Institute which says that the shutdown of one or more U.S. automakers could eliminate up to 3.3 million U.S. jobs. [From the Economic Policy Institute, Dec. 3, 2008] When Giants Fall: Shutdown of one or more U.S. automakers could eliminate up to 3.3 million U.S. jobs (By Robert E. Scott) The U.S. motor vehicle industry is one of the largest, most complex and highly integrated sectors of the U.S. economy. The bankruptcy of one or more of the U.S. automakers and a collapse of the domestic auto assembly industry could eliminate up to 3.3 million U.S. jobs within the next year. The collapse of just one company, General Motors (GM), would lead to an estimated reduction of 900,000 jobs. Using the range of job-loss estimates, unemployment would rise by 3.0 to 8.9 percentage points in the nine hardest hit states in the United States. Jobs losses would be widespread throughout the U.S. economy. After the U.S. auto market recovers from the current historic recession the U.S. trade deficit could rise by at least $110 billion per year as imported vehicles displace domestic brands, increasing the deficit by 16% and putting additional downward pressure on the U.S. dollar and living standards. In addition to its finding that a bankruptcy-related shutdown of the U.S. motor vehicle industry could cost up to 3.3 million U.S. jobs, this study finds: The 900,000 to 3.3 million jobs lost nationwide would be distributed among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the biggest losers, in numeric terms: Michigan (112,500 to 407,300 jobs lost), California (84,500 to 305,900 jobs), Ohio (60,500 to 219,100 jobs), Texas (55,200 to 200,000), Illinois (42,800 to 154,900), Indiana (40,700 to 147,300), and New York (39,900 to 144,600) (Table 2a). The hardest-hit states, as a share of total state employment, are: Michigan (up to 407,300 jobs, 8.9% of state employment), Indiana (up to 147,300 jobs, 5.0% of employment), Kentucky (up to 75,000 jobs, 4.2% of employment), Alabama (up to 76,100 jobs, 4.0% of employment), Tennessee (up to 106,400, 4.0% of employment), and Ohio (up to 219,100 jobs, 4.0% of employment) (Table 2b). Between 113,900 and 412,600 jobs would be lost in the motor vehicle and parts industries alone. Other hard hit manufacturing sectors include fabricated metal products (up to 60,500 jobs lost), primary metals (up to 33,700 jobs lost), plastic and rubber products (up to 23,600 jobs lost), non-electrical machinery (up to 19,800 jobs lost) and computer and electronic parts (up to 16,800 jobs lost) (Table 4). Service industries would also experience massive job losses including wholesale trade (up to 96,400 jobs lost), retail trade (up to 86,600 jobs lost), transportation (up to 69,6500 jobs lost), finance and insurance (up to 30,300 jobs lost), professional, scientific, and technical services (up to 76,300 jobs lost), and administrative support and temp help services (up to 55,300 jobs lost) (Table 4). Jobs in the auto industry are some of the best paid in the economy, and when workers spend those wages they generate (on average) about 1.7 additional jobs for each job supported in the auto and related sectors. Thus, an auto industry shutdown would eliminate between 576,700 and 2.1 million ``re- spending'' jobs in the domestic economy (Table 4). These would constitute the bulk of the jobs displaced by an auto industry bankruptcy. If the Big Three auto firms shut down, the U.S. trade deficit would rise by $109.3 billion, a significant (15.6%) increase in the U.S. goods and services trade deficit relative to 2007 levels. This increase would substantially exceed the combined U.S. goods trade deficit with Japan and South Korea in 2007 ($95.7 billion), which was second only to the U.S. deficit with China. Overall U.S. motor vehicle exports would fall by 61%, total imports would rise by 21%, and the U.S. auto trade deficit would rise from $123.5 billion to $232.8 billion (88%). Conclusion The bankruptcy of one or more U.S.-based automakers would lead to the shutdown of significant portions of the U.S. motor vehicle industry. This would, in turn, cause a wave of plant closures and bankruptcies throughout the manufacturing and services sectors of our economy. Under this scenario, as many as an estimated 3.3 million U.S. jobs would be eliminated, with thousands of jobs lost in every state. Massive increases in unemployment would result. But this would just be the first wave of consequences of an auto industry bankruptcy. Massive job loss and community disruption would result. Increased government payments and tax losses alone would exceed $150 billion in the first three years following bankruptcy of all three domestic auto companies, according to Code et al. (2008). An airline-style (Chapter 11) bankruptcy re-organization is not an option for U.S.-based automakers. They have already extensively restructured product lines and labor contracts. Academic experts (Helper and MacDuffie 2008) and the industry itself have put forth restructuring plans that include independent oversight committees and regular performance benchmarking tied to future funding. These plans provide the foundation for a rebuilt, restructured domestic auto industry that is ready to compete and deliver good, sustainable U.S. jobs for the future. The alternative is simply too destructive to contemplate. We have to understand that the implications of the failure of this legislation means that there are many industries across America that are going to be adversely affected, including tens of thousands of jobs in plastics, in rubber products, in primary metal, in fabricated metal products, in machinery, in computer and electronic products, in semiconductors, in wholesale trade and retail trade, in transportation, in finance and insurance, in professional, scientific and technical services, in companies and enterprises, in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services. We're not just talking about some small boutique industry here. We're talking about something that is vitally connected to the entire American economy. Now, we may have agreement about the management of the automotive industry, but there shouldn't be any disagreement that the American workers make a good product when they are able to make their product. We have to have confidence in our Nation. We have to have confidence in our ability to make things. We, as a Congress, should take a proprietary interest in the fact that America can make cars and that we can make steel and planes and that we can build ships. This is what made our country great. We cannot maintain any credibility in the world community if we see our automotive industry collapse. And steel will not be far behind. Sixty-seven years ago, when this Nation was attacked, the ability to respond and defend America depended on the very industry which is facing this Congress today begging for help. But they're not begging for help for themselves. Think of millions of Americans who are watching our deliberations asking, do we have any sense about what the impact of the failure of this legislation would mean?

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the LaTourette amendment. Transparency is vital to the success of the congressional action with the TARP, and we know that when Congress intended to get help for consumers, unless you have transparency, you don't know if consumers are actually going to be helped. The LaTourette amendment resolves that question. I thank him for introducing it, and I urge its approval.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Herb Score, revered pitcher and announcer for the Cleveland Indians, and in recognition of his contributions to the Cleveland Community. Herb Score was a legendary left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians who was admired for his pitching records as much as his humble character. During his rookie season with the Indians in 1955, he secured his place both in baseball history and in the hearts of Cleveland baseball fans when he was named American League Rookie of the Year. He won 16 games and struck out a total of 245 batters, a record he would surpass during his second year as pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, when he struck out 263 batters. Herb would hold this record until 1984 and was the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year in 1955. Following an eye injury he sustained during a game against the New York Yankees in 1957, Herb went on to play for the White Sox and the Chicago Cubs before retiring at the age of 30 and returning to Cleveland as an announcer for the Indians. Just as he was cherished by fans for his astounding pitching abilities, so too was he loved for his unique announcing style. He remained a play-by-play announcer for the Indians for 34 years and was inducted into the Broadcaster Hall of Fame in 1998. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of Herb Score. He will forever hold a place in the hearts of Cleveland Indians fans and in the Greater Cleveland Community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mayors for Peace and in recognition of their 2020 Vision Campaign as they continue their efforts to promote the international abolition of nuclear weapons. Mayors for Peace is an international organization comprised of over two-thousand cities around the world in over one hundred and thirty countries who are dedicated to raising awareness on the need to eliminate nuclear weapons, affirm international human rights, and promote environmental justice and peace. The organization supports the proposal of the former Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan--Takeshi Araki--who in 1982 proposed an international solidarity program that would focus on the abolition of nuclear weapons during the second United Nations Special Session on Disarmament following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign is an Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons by the year 2020--the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The campaign continues to affirm the need to abolish nuclear weapons and promotes good faith negotiations toward nuclear non-proliferation in all states and cities around the world. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Mayors for Peace, and in recognition of their dedication to promoting true peace and international solidarity. May their efforts serve as an example and inspiration for all of us to follow.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and in recognition of their dedication to educating and engaging parliamentarians around the world to promote nuclear non-proliferation. PNND is an international non-partisan network devoted to establishing channels of communication between parliamentarians around the world and to providing them with current nuclear weapons policies in order to raise awareness for the need to abolish the use of nuclear weapons. Currently, PNND's membership consists of over 500 parliamentarians from over 70 countries worldwide who are engaged in nuclear non- proliferation initiatives. This year, PNND marked the 40th anniversary of the International Non-Proliferation Treaty with the Nuclear Weapons Convention initiative--a declaration presented by the European Parliamentarian section of PNND. The Nuclear Weapons Convention is an initiative dedicated to promoting multilateral negotiations that would lead to the elimination of nuclear weapons. I join with the members of PNND in supporting this important initiative. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and in recognition of their dedication to promoting disarmament and international human rights.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the wonderful life of Angelo Russo, upon the joyous occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Russo was born on November 11, 1908, in the beautiful village of Caserta, Italy, where he farmed his whole life. In 1933, at the age of 25, he married the love of his life, the late Michelina. Together they raised four children, one girl, Giovanna and three boys, Andrea, Gennaro and the late Mario. Angelo and Michelina were married for forty years until her passing in 1973. With an unwavering love and commitment to his family, and the realization of Italy's harsh economic climate, Mr. Russo gave his blessings to his sons as they left home to journey to America in search of opportunities and possibilities. Mr. Russo remained in Italy until 1993, when he packed his belongings and said goodbye to all he held dear within the valleys and hills of his beloved Italian homeland, and at the age of 85, came to live with family in America. Although adjusting to life in America was difficult at times, Mr. Russo has enjoyed the renewed closeness with his sons and their families. His love for gardening is evident every year, as he assists and directs the planting, maintenance and harvesting of the family garden. Remarkably, even as he was nearing the age of ninety, Mr. Russo was still an avid cyclist, riding his bicycle throughout Greater Cleveland's west side suburbs for ten to fifteen miles at a time. He continues to enjoy gardening, red wine, espresso, homemade Italian cooking and most of all, he continues to covet the love of his family-- his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Angelo Russo, as we join him in celebration of his 100th birthday. Mr. Russo is the foundation of his family in America and in Italy--and his wonderful life's journey continues to shine through his frequent smile, wisdom, and kind heart. His life continues to transcend time and distance--spanning an ocean, two continents and one hundred years. We wish Mr. Russo, and his family--in Cleveland and in Caserta, a beautiful birthday celebration e desiderare che lei ama, la pace, la salute e la felicita sempre.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Cleveland's West Side Market on the occasion of its 96th anniversary, and in recognition of it being named one of the Top Ten Great Public Spaces for 2008 by the American Planning Association. The Cleveland West Side Market was built by the City of Cleveland from 1907 to 1912 and has since been a cultural landmark through which all of Cleveland's diverse ethnic communities can share their culture and food. Throughout the year, over 100 vendors sell fresh, locally produced goods--including fresh seafood, meats and baked goods--at this unique fresh food market located on the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue. Customers from all over the Greater Cleveland Area come to enjoy a variety of local produce and traditional European, South American and Middle Eastern food among local retail shops, restaurants and apartment buildings. The West Side Market has long been an anchor of community in Cleveland--with vendors boasting stands that have been in their families for generations. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio on the occasion of its 96th anniversary and in recognition of its inclusion in the American Planning Association's Top Ten Great Public Spaces for 2008.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Bobby Sanabria, distinguished percussionist, drummer, composer, recording artist and producer whose musical talents and leadership in the Hispanic community has inspired thousands of people. I also rise in honor of Baldwin- Wallace College and the Hispanic-American Student Association for hosting and sponsoring Bobby Sanabria's performance as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Cleveland. Bobby Sanabria, of Puerto-Rican descent, was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City. He earned a Bachelor's of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1979. In recognition of his immense musical talents, Bobby was awarded the prestigious Faculty Association Award from his Alma mater. He has since become an internationally recognized drummer and percussionist--performing and collaborating with countless legendary Jazz and Latin musicians such as Mario Bauza, Tito Puente, Charles McPherson and Ray Barretto. A testament to his musical talents, Bobby has collaborated with numerous award-winning artists on countless CDs and performances, including with Mario Bauza--who is widely considered the Father of the Afro-Cuban Jazz movement. His 1999 album, ``NYC Ache!'' was released to international acclaim and his record ``Afro-Cuban Dream . . . Live & In Clave!'' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2001. Bobby is the recipient of countless awards and honors and holds a number of prestigious leadership positions. In 2005, he was honored as DRUM! Magazine's Percussionist of the Year, an award voted on by the magazine's readers. Bobby was inducted into the ``Bronx Walk of Fame'' and had a street named after him in 2006. In addition to being the Chair of the former International Association of Jazz Education's Afro- Jazz Resource Team, he travels all over the United States and the world lecturing and performing. He is the Honorary Trustee of the Roberto Ocasio Foundation--a foundation dedicated to promoting programs that foster the personal and professional development of young musicians, as well as fostering cultural understanding through music. Bobby has been an Associate Professor at New School University's Jazz and Contemporary Music Program for fifteen years and has also been a professor at the Manhattan School of Music since 1999. He leads Afro-Cuban Orchestras at both institutions--the only programs of their kind in the country. Bobby also writes regularly for the New York Post and Modern Drummer, and has also been featured in the New York Times and The Jazz Times. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Bobby Sanabria, distinguished musician, composer, teacher and producer, and in recognition of his contributions to continuing the tradition of Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz Music.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Janis King Arnold, and in recognition of 36 outstanding years of service in the Cleveland Metro School District. She has been instrumental in bringing innovative educational programs to the Greater Cleveland Area. Janis Arnold has a multifaceted and rich history in public service and recently retired from a long and illustrious career in the Cleveland Metro School District. She attended public schools in the Greater Cleveland Area and went on to earn a degree in Education from Central State University. During her 36-year tenure in the Cleveland Metro School District, Mrs. Arnold served as a classroom teacher, parent engagement coordinator, administrative intern and assistant principal. She was further able to demonstrate her leadership skills when she became Principal of John Buhrer School in 1987--a position she would remain in until her retirement in August of this year. During her time at John Buhrer School, Mrs. Arnold instituted a unique dual language program at the school--the first program of its kind in the State of Ohio. The program, designed to foster cross-cultural understanding and to give students the proper tools to become bilingual is partly funded through a grant by the U.S. Department of Education. She also expanded the school's music program through a grant from VH1's Save the Music Program and through partnerships with the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Cultural Coalition. Mrs. Arnold has been recognized several times for leadership, innovative work and the relationships she forged between numerous churches and community agencies. Under her leadership, John Buhrer School was awarded the School of Excellence Award from Esperanza, Inc. in 2001 and the Excelling School Award in 1997. Mrs. Arnold was recognized at the 21st Annual Multicultural/Multilingual Conference for her significant contributions to multicultural education. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Janis King Arnold, and in recognition of her significant contributions to education in the Greater Cleveland Area. May her work on fostering cross-cultural understanding and work with community organizing serve as an example for all of us to follow.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the achievements of The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) on the occasion of their 2008 gala, entitled ``Healing Hands.'' For the past 17 years, PCRF has played an instrumental role in providing some of the best medical treatment for children all over the Middle East. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund is a U.S.-based non-profit that has now become the leading organization providing free medical treatment for children in the Middle East. PCRF works closely with doctors, hospitals, and organizations throughout North America and Europe in order to facilitate specialized medical care for children who are unable to be treated locally. Children have been treated in hospitals all over the United States, including in Cleveland and other cities across Ohio. Since its founding in 1991, PCRF has treated over 800 children outside of the Middle East and continues to send doctors from the United States to train medical personnel in the region. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund and in recognition of their outstanding achievements and important work in providing free medical treatment to children in need.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Parma, Ohio on the occasion of its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and in recognition of its dedication to education, the community, and to God. St. Paul United Church of Christ was founded 150 years ago and boasts a variety of programs dedicated to serving members of the congregation and the community. The Church has a number of ministries, including a scholarship program, a Hunger Task Force, and a Neighbors in Need ministry. The members of St. Paul United Church of Christ devote a significant amount of their time to community service and are an integral part of the Greater Cleveland community. I also rise in recognition of Joseph Ripka, an internationally recognized and award-winning organist who will be performing at St. Paul United Church of Christ's anniversary celebration. Mr. Ripka is this year's winner of the Dublin International Organ Competition and was the 2006 winner of the San Marino/Elizabeth Elftman National Organ Competition. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Parma, Ohio as its congregation celebrates its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and in recognition of the Church's significant contributions to the community.