Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Sunny M. Simon, a member of the Cuyahoga County Council serving the Eleventh District. Councilwoman Simon earned her Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors from John Carroll University and her Juris Doctorate with Honors from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She owns a private law practice, is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association as a part of the Family Law section, and has served as a volunteer magistrate for Juvenile Court in South Euclid. Councilwoman Simon was elected to the South Euclid City Council in 1999 where she not only served on the Finance, Legislative, Safety, Public Utilities, Planning and Zoning Committees, but also served as Council President. Now as a member of the Cuyahoga County Council, she is serving as the Vice-President of the Council and the Chair of the Justice Affairs Committee. Councilwoman Simon is a strong supporter of the development of community policing initiatives, of strong services for senior residents, and of conservation, sustainability, and smart land use initiatives. She is also the founder of the South Euclid Humane Society and the South Euclid dog park. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Sunny Simon, a dedicated member of the Cuyahoga County Council.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bonadine P. ``Bonnie'' Nguyen who passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the age of 70 after battling an illness over the past three years. She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Le; her four sons Paul, Matthew, Andrew, and Jason; her brother, Richard; and her two sisters, Carol and Tina. Bonnie was born on June 16, 1942 in Columbus, Ohio and lived there until moving to the Cleveland area where she spent the last 31 years of her life. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse, a profession she held for 34 years, and spent most of her career with the Century Oak Care Center in Berea, Ohio--a center that opened in 1987 as a response to an increased demand in quality nursing home facilities. When not working, she enjoyed traveling with her mother and spending time with her children; attending weddings, picnics, and family get- togethers; dancing; and watching Cleveland Indians baseball. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of Bonnie Nguyen.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Michael Gallagher, a member of the Cuyahoga County Council serving the Fifth District. In 1999, Councilman Gallagher began his public service career as a member of Strongsville's City Council, a position he held for eleven years. During his time as a Strongsville Council member, he served on or chaired most of the council committees, served as a representative of the council to the Strongsville School Board and served as president for his final three years before his 2010 resignation. In 2009, he retired as Deputy Court Administrator of Ohio's Eighth District Court of Appeals in order to fulfill a campaign promise for his election to the Cuyahoga County Council. Councilman Gallagher was elected to the Cuyahoga County Council in 2010 and is now the Chair of the Public Safety Committee. Some of his achievements outside of public office include his membership in the Strongsville Rotary Club and Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. He has served as a Trustee on the Hospital Board of Southwest General Hospital for more than ten years and founded the Strongsville Youth Commission nine years ago. As a result of his dedication to his community, Councilman Gallagher was the recipient of the 2007 Franklin A. Polk Public Servants Award granted by the Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Councilman Michael Gallagher, a dedicated member of the Cuyahoga County Council.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Thank you very much, Mr. Conyers. To my friends on the other side of the aisle who have expressed passion about passing this, you're good Americans, and I respect your position. I respectfully disagree. We have to defend our country from attacks on the outside. I voted, along with other Members of this Congress, right after 9/11, for the United States to defend itself. But it's equally important that we not lose our freedoms and our constitutional protections while we're engaged in that defense. We take an oath not only to defend the Constitution, but we have to keep in mind that that oath and that Constitution is really part of America's first line of defense. Think of what it's like to make a phone call, any one of us right now. We make a phone call--even from this Capitol--to call a friend overseas, start talking about matters relating to what's happening in America, what's happening in the world. The way this law is written, without changes, those phone calls could be intercepted. They cannot only be intercepted, but they can be downloaded, transcribed, and stored for future use by the government. I have a problem with that. It's a great concern. What happens is that everyone then becomes suspect when Big Brother is listening. I don't think that government should have the right to listen in to people's phone calls unless there's a warrant. You have to have probable cause. That's what the Fourth Amendment is about. This bill doesn't have those protections. It extends government's authority to conduct surveillance of persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States for 5 years, and there is a blanket extension, which is an abdication of Congress' constitutional obligation to protect and defend the Constitution and to protect the civil liberties of all Americans. Given the information we know about our government's past abuse of surveillance authorities, if we pass this bill without any changes to ensure adequate congressional oversight and transparency, we're losing an opportunity. Since the amended FISA Act passed in 2008, the government has released very little information on how it uses the powers granted under this act. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation recently pointed out, nobody in the government is willing to answer questions about how many Americans' phone calls or emails have been or are being collected and read without a warrant under the authority of the FISA Amendments Act. So Big Brother is not accountable. Even more disturbing is that it's well known that the government has violated the FISA Amendments Act, despite the broad surveillance authorities it provides the government. A freedom of information request by the ACLU revealed that violations of the FISA Amendments Act and the Constitution continue to occur on a regular basis, until at least March 2010.

Mr. KUCINICH. According to the ACLU, the law is written so broadly that a phone call by a U.S. citizen to a U.S. citizen overseas discussing general foreign affairs could be listened in on. Section 702 of this act allows the government to intercept the communication of any U.S. citizen absent probable cause, in subversion of their Fourth Amendment rights. So Big Brother is listening. There's no doubt that Congress is abdicating its responsibility when it passes a blanket extension of this bill without knowing how many Americans have been affected by FISA or the government's interpretation of the law. Without vital civil liberties safeguards and a minimum of transparency, an extension should be rejected. Big Brother is not accountable. Let's vote against Big Brother. Let's vote to protect the Fourth Amendment. The Constitution Project report on the fisa amendments act of 2008 Accordingly, we, the undersigned members of The Constitution Project's Liberty and Security Committee, recommend: I. Increased Judicial Review of Surveillance Authorizations: The FAA should be amended to require more robust judicial review by the FISC to authorize programmatic surveillance and ensure that it is appropriately focused on foreign intelligence. Specifically: (a.) Congress should restore the requirement that foreign intelligence be the primary purpose of the programmatic surveillance. (b.) When seeking approval for programmatic surveillance, the government should be required to (1) explain the foreign intelligence purpose of the proposed surveillance, (2) define the scope of planned interceptions, and (3) provide a risk assessment and an estimate of reasonably anticipated interceptions of the communications of U.S. persons and individuals located within the United States. The surveillance should only be permitted after the FISC has thoroughly evaluated these submissions to ensure that surveillance is appropriately designed to acquire foreign intelligence information from legitimate targets without interfering with the privacy rights of U.S. persons and individuals located within the United States. (c.) Additionally, the government should be required to develop and submit to the FISC procedures for determining when an acquisition may be expected to collect communications to or from the United States. Then, in cases where the planned surveillance may reasonably be expected to intercept communications to or from a person reasonably believed to be in the United States, the government should be required to obtain a FISA warrant under pre-FAA standards. 2. Inclusion of Warrant Requirements and Other Safeguards for Post-Collection Use of Information: The FAA should be amended to require that the government obtain a warrant from the FISC before searching collected communications for information on a specific U.S. person, decrypting the identity of a specific U.S. person party to a conversation, or reviewing communications reasonably believed to be to or from the United States. As required under the pre-FAA version of FISA, the warrant should be based upon a showing of probable cause to believe that the target is an agent of a foreign power or has committed a crime, and that evidence of the crime will be found and must name its target(s) with particularity. Moreover, Congress should ensure that collected information is being properly used for foreign intelligence purposes, including at the very least a requirement that authorities obtain a warrant before using data for law enforcement purposes. Finally, Congress should amend the FAA to require more stringent procedures for minimization, including periodic, ongoing FISC review of the implementation and efficacy of such procedures. 3. Increased Reporting and Oversight: More information about the intelligence community's use of the FAA should be provided to Congress and the public. Before reauthorizing the FAA, Congress should demand and review detailed information regarding the operation of the FAA surveillance program to date, including the extent and scope of interceptions of the communications of U.S. persons and individuals located within the United States. Further, the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community should be required to audit these surveillance programs and issue annual reports to Congress regarding how government surveillance has been conducted. In particular, these reports should include: statistics regarding how many U.S. persons' communications have been intercepted by the government; aggregate statistics on the number of intercepted communications in total, and the number of intercepted communications to or from the United States or involving any U.S. person; an analysis of the performance of the government's targeting and minimization procedures; and an explanation of how collected information has been used, including the number of times the information has been used for law enforcement rather than foreign intelligence purposes. These reports should also be provided in an unclassified form released to the public. Additionally, as much as practicable, more information on the FAA should be released to the public, including important decisions by the FISC and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, redacted as necessary.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life and career of my friend, the Honorable Jerry Costello. Born and raised in the Midwest, Congressman Costello has dedicated his life to serving the residents of the state of Illinois. Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he had a career in law enforcement and worked as a county bailiff and deputy sheriff. His service to the State of Illinois and St. Clair County in the early days of his career led him to seek office in the House of Representatives in a special election in 1988. He has consistently put the needs of his constituents first for the past 24 years. Today, Congressman Costello is the most senior member of the Illinois delegation and has been a guide to freshmen members throughout the past dozen Congresses. He has been a leader in areas such as infrastructure and science and technology. Jerry has also been dubbed ``the patron saint of Scott Air Force Base,'' one of the largest employers in the State of Illinois. Above all, the Congressman has been a fearless and dedicated representative of his constituents in southern Illinois. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating our friend and colleague, Congressman Jerry Costello, on 24 years of service to the residents of southern Illinois and the United States of America. His wisdom and leadership will be missed in the halls of Congress.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 2012 Navy Week, held from August 27th through September 4th in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area--just one of 15 cities selected from across the nation. In each of the 15 cities, Navy Week events for local residents will include the Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Team; the Leap Frogs Navy Parachute Team; visiting ships from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Royal Canadian Navy; Navy Band musical performances; Admirals and several other senior leaders within the Navy who will interact with local business, government, and educational leaders; Navy simulator and interactive displays; visits to area schools; community service projects; and visits with local veterans. Navy Week in Cleveland was a special event as it ran in conjunction with the commemoration of the bicentennial of both the War of 1812 and our country's national anthem, ``The Star Spangled Banner.'' Cleveland Navy Week included a special ceremony held on Sunday, August 26th aboard the USS COD Submarine Memorial to honor two local Ohioans, World War II veteran James Tedrick and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Michael Dobec, with combat medals presented by Senator Sherrod Brown. A few of the other special events included a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by the Navy Band, a Navy diver demonstration in the shark tank at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, and Navy sailors working together with Habitat for Humanity to help build a home in Lakewood, Ohio. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the celebration of the 2012 Cleveland Navy Week.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. Founded in 1980, the Human Rights Campaign's mission is dedicated to ending discrimination against LGBT citizens and working toward a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through advocacy, education and outreach programs. HRC has more than one million members and is supported by even more people throughout the country. On August 25, 2012, HRC will be hosting the ``Making Equality Count'' 2012 Human Rights Campaign Cleveland Gala. The event will be held at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center and will feature HRC President, Chad Griffin; Lana Parilla; and University Hospitals receipt of the Corporate Equality Award. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the decades of work that the Human Rights Campaign has done on behalf of equality for our country's LGBT community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Hungarian Scouts. The first Hungarian Scout group to form in the United States was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951. By the fall of that year, two troops, one East side and one West side, had formed and registered with the Boy Scouts of America. In 1952, the Hungarian Scouts expanded and formed a girls' troop. By 1957, the girls' troop had also split into two groups located in the same neighborhoods as the boys' East and West side versions. In 1973, the Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble was created in order to study Hungarian culture and teach it the Hungarian youth. The Ensemble aims to preserve dying folk arts of the Hungarians in the Carpathian basin and pass them on to the public and future generations. Their performances include lively song, dance, and music accompanied by true- to-culture costumes. Each year the Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble performs at the Hungarian Festival held in the Greater Cleveland area during Labor Day weekend. This year marks the 57th annual festival. Celebrations begin on Sunday, September 2nd with a twelve o'clock Hungarian mass followed by the opening of the kitchens at one o'clock serving traditional Hungarian fare such as goulash, chicken papriakas and dumplings, and a variety of pastries. Throughout the day events include soccer matches, free animal programs, challenging children's games, folk art presentations and authentic Hungarian music capped off by the performance of the Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the Hungarian Scouts.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a tireless advocate for workers, Judy Gallo. She is survived by her husband, two sons, a step-daughter, a sister, a sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law, co-grandmother and grandson. Ms. Gallo's work experience included spending three years in the 1960's campaigning for civil rights with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the south, working as a youth leader in New York City, helping lead the Cleveland peace movement, acting as a leader with Peace Action and Women Speak Out for Peace, and attempting to organize a nurses union at MetroHealth. Upon retiring, Judy remained active in the United Labor Agency serving as Outreach Coordinator, and beginning in 2001 helped register several thousand Cleveland voters through the development of the Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition. As her illness became more assertive Ms. Gallo did not allow her inability to walk, read, or write hinder her hard work and dedication. Not only did she spend hours making countless phone calls to help organize speakers against S.B. 5, she also initiated and oversaw the completion of an informative booklet, ``Women's History Project.'' This literary work identifies 16 local social activists and explains their background and experiences with social justice causes. The Western Reserve Historical Society has included this booklet in its research catalog. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life and achievements of Judy Gallo. She will be missed by all who knew her. Her memory will live on through the legacy of her dedicated service to the community, and her tireless advocacy of social justice.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Joseph Meissner upon his retirement from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and upon his new career as a neighborhood lawyer where he will continue to serve clients and advocate for justice. I have known Joe Meissner for many years and recognize that Joe's love of justice has deep roots. In the ``Freedom Summer'' of 1964, while a law student at Harvard University School of Law, Joe was co- chair of the Harvard Civil Rights Committee and marched for civil rights in the South. After service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and receiving the Bronze Star and other commendation medals, Joe began his career with Legal Aid. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves and eventually earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1967, he has been advocating for low-income clients as a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He is well-known for his knowledge of public utilities law. He used his wealth of knowledge to demand justice and fairness in public utility cases on behalf of those in need. Informed by the needs of his clients, Joe fought for a ``percentage of payment plan'' which keeps gas and electric costs low for low-income customers. As an attorney, Joe has not only represented private clients, but has also been an advocate for neighborhood economic development and environmental justice. He was an organizer of the Neighborhood Environmental Coalition in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood and other nearby downtown neighborhoods. His ability to navigate utility and environmental law helped stop the siting of incinerators near downtown and helped keep utility emissions in check in the low-income and racially diverse neighborhoods of Cleveland's urban core. Years after his victories, Joe continued to build on the relationships that he developed with the people in those neighborhoods and government agencies. At this juncture, Joe Meissner begins a new career. He will soon hang his shingle and practice law from a storefront on Cleveland's near West Side, not far from where he went to high school at St. Ignatius. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in wishing Joseph Meissner well in his retirement from 45 years with Legal Aid and in his new endeavor to represent the people of Cleveland as a neighborhood public interest attorney.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Fred and Jakki Nance who are the recipients of the 2012 Pan Award at Cleveland Public Theatre's Pandemonium 2012: House of Dreams Gala. Founded in 1981 by James Levin, the Cleveland Public Theatre is an arts complex located in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. The Cleveland Public Theatre is recognized for shows that are often progressive, political, and provocative. It also serves the area's urban youth and homeless through educational programs. Cleveland Public Theatre's mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through ground-breaking performances and life-changing educational programs. Both Fred and Jakki Nance have long histories of community involvement and have committed their lives to improving Northeast Ohio. Jakki is a board member for the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, Union Club, Laurel School and the Thomas Moyer Judicial Center and Foundation. She is the president of Philanthropic Solutions and has already been a leader with the LeBron James Family Foundation, Cleveland Browns Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Fred Nance currently serves on the boards of the Cleveland Clinic, Greater Cleveland Partnership, The Cleveland Foundation and RPM International Inc. He has also been a board member for the Cleveland Museum of Art, BioEnterprise Inc. and the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation. He is integral in the leadership of the Ohio Business Roundtable and the 50 Club of Cleveland. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Fred and Jakki Nance who, because of their contributions to the community, are the winners of the 2012 Pan Award.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Cleveland Branch. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909 by W.E.B. Du Bois, and Ida B. Wells- Barnett, among others. The NAACP initially began as an organization fighting against discrimination and for protection under the law for African-Americans. The NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The Cleveland Branch of the NAACP was established in 1912 by a small group that consisted of a cook, machinist, engineer, caterer, janitor, tailor, barber and seven postal workers. By 1914, the Cleveland Branch had 214 members. Throughout its history, the NAACP Cleveland Branch has worked to end discrimination in area schools, businesses, public establishments, and hospitals. It has fought for equal justice from the law, employment opportunities and voting rights among other campaigns. It has been led by 32 presidents, including former Cleveland City Council president George Forbes, who served from 1993 to 2012. Today, the NAACP Cleveland Branch is comprised of 15,000 members and is led by James L. Hardiman. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the National Association of Colored People, Cleveland Branch on 100 years of working for civil rights.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of New Avenues to Independence, a volunteer organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities. New Avenues to Independence was founded in 1952 by a group of parents with disabled children. Instead of sending their children off to live in institutions, the founding parents had a vision of an organization that would facilitate independent lives for their children and others with disabilities. For the past sixty years, New Avenues to Independence has provided opportunities for employment and education to the individuals it serves, in addition to various forms of therapy and recreational activities both inside and outside of its group homes. New Avenues to Independence serves people with a wide range of disabilities and is committed to meeting the specific needs of each individual. Since its founding, New Avenues to Independence has grown in the number of people it serves as well as the number of services it provides. There are now eight homes located in the Northeast Ohio area, serving 600 disabled people each year. Over the years, New Avenues to Independence has received many awards recognizing its contributions to the community. This year marks the 60th anniversary of its founding. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring New Avenues to Independence, an organization that has provided individuals with disabilities the means to lead independent lives for the past sixty years.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the bicentennial celebration of Brooklyn Centre, a historic neighborhood within the City of Cleveland. Brooklyn Centre was founded by James Fish of Connecticut in 1812, marking the first settlement west of the Cuyahoga River. Just a few years later, more than 200 people had begun living in the area. On June 1, 1818, Brooklyn Township was formally organized. Throughout the next several decades immigrants from Germany, Poland and Ireland moved to Brooklyn Centre. The area became known for its tanners, shoemakers, and other skilled tradesmen. Brooklyn Centre was annexed by the City of Cleveland in the latter half of the 19th century, after which it began to grow rapidly. Less than a century later, following World War II, the residents of Brooklyn Centre began focusing on the preservation and revitalization of their neighborhood. In 1946, the Southwest Citizens Area Council was formed. The Brooklyn Center Community Association, also known as Archwood Concerned Citizens, and the Brooklyn Centre Historical Society were founded in 1978. In 1981, the Crossroads Development Corporation was established. In 1984, the City of Cleveland recognized the historic importance and architectural significance of the neighborhood with the creation of the Brooklyn Centre Historic District. More recently, Friends of Big Creek and the Brooklyn Centre Naturalists have been established and the new Jones Home National Historic District was designated. In November 2008, Brooklyn Centre became a National Wildlife Federation registered Community Wildlife Habitat Site. The Brooklyn Centre Bicentennial celebration began on Memorial Day with a ceremony at the Brooklyn Centre Burying Grounds, which was founded in 1835. The neighborhood will also celebrate with a parade, community picnic and historic home tour, among other festivities. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing 200 years of history and culture in Cleveland's Brooklyn Centre neighborhood.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie. Fought on September 10, 1813 during the War of 1812, the Battle of Lake Erie was a naval victory for the Americans led by Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry. The American fleet consisted of nine vessels: Brig Lawrence, Brig Niagara, Brig Caledonia, Schooner Ariel, Schooner Scorpion, Schooner Somers, Sloop Trippe, Schooner Porcupine, Schooner Tigress and Schooner Ohio carrying 557 crewmen. Commander Robert Heriot Barclay led the British forces and their six vessels: the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, Lady Prevost, Brig Hunter, Little Belt and Chippeway. The Battle of Lake Erie, waged over control of Fort Malden, started early in the morning. Following hours of fierce gunfight, the American flagship, the Lawrence had been disabled. However, the Niagara had been spared and within another half hour, Perry and his crew from the Lawrence had moved over to the Niagara from which they led the Americans to victory. They had captured all of the British vessels. This year's celebration will span from August 30 to September 8. It will feature performances by the U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band at the Port of Cleveland Harbor and the Navy Band Concert at Catawba Island Club. This year's events have been selected to be a lead up to next year's bicentennial celebration. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognition of the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012. This is yet another broad and indiscriminate sanctions bill that will only serve to hurt ordinary Iranian people, undermine their democracy movement and further tie the hands of the President and his team in their efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution over its nuclear program. Proponents of this bill believe that tightening sanctions on Iran will bring us closer to a diplomatic solution with Iran. We only need to look to the latest round of failed talks to recognize that these sanctions achieved the exact opposite response. U.S. negotiators lacked the flexibility they needed to secure Iranian concessions through the freezing of certain sanctions. I strongly support Section 604 of this bill which makes clear that nothing in this bill shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the use of force against Iran or Syria. Yet this bill would further undermine and thwart the most effective tool we have to ensure that the United States does not get sucked into a war with Iran: diplomacy. The Effects of Sanctions on Ordinary Iranian People The Senate Banking Committee summarized this bill by saying that it ``aims to prevent Iran from repatriating any of the revenue from sale of its crude oil, depriving Iran of hard currency earnings and funds to run its state budget.'' Spoken plainly, this bill will destroy the Iranian economy and further hurt the Iranian people that we claim to support. Iranians are already suffering under stifling sanctions as they experience rising food prices and a lack of access to basic medicine. For example, the sanctions against the Iranian banking sector have greatly diminished the value of Iranian currency and have had a negative effect on nearly every aspect of the lives of ordinary Iranians: the price of rent, education and bread have all increased. Rather than having the sanctions weaken the Iranian regime, they are weakening the Iranian people and their ability to make a living or pursue an education. A recent publication by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) quotes an Iranian women's rights activist as saying that ``The international community's sole focus on the nuclear issue has resulted in the adoption of policies that greatly inflict damage on the Iranian people, civil society and women. Militarization of the environment will prompt repressive state policies and the possibility of promoting reform in Iran will diminish.'' The report further highlights that the sanctions this Congress pushed ``directly affected the availability of foreign-made medication and other healthcare products including vitamins for children and pregnant women. . . .'' It points out that these sanctions are ``doing the most damage to those who are already vulnerable--the urban poor.'' Iranian-Americans are even facing discrimination here in the United States. Several Iranian-Americans were recently prevented from buying an iPhone or other Apple products simply because of their ethnicity. Such discriminatory treatment is emblematic of the unintended effects of sanctions. Undermining the Iranian Civil Society These sanctions directly undermine Iran's civil society by giving the regime an excuse to crack down even harder on internal dissent. These sanctions will ensure that this continues to happen. With many ordinary Iranians struggling to simply make ends meet under our sanctions regime, they cannot afford to or spend the time necessary participating in social movements which provide basic social services or to push for democratic change in their country. Are these the intended effects we wish to have on the Iranian people or Iranian-Americans? If not, passing another broad and indiscriminate sanctions bill sends the wrong message. If the sanctions the U.S. imposed on Iraq are any precedent, we know that sanctions are not an effective tool in promoting or supporting domestic democracy movements. We also know that those sanctions did not prevent an unnecessary and wasteful war with Iraq. In effect, the expansion of the broad and indiscriminate sanctions included in this legislation hurts our ability to negotiate with Iran and imposes long-term detrimental harm on the Iranian people. It detracts from the real human rights abuses currently occurring in Iran by allowing the regime to deflect blame on the United States and its allies. Supporting Regime Change and Tying the President's hands Section 217 in this bill effectively states that sanctions on Iran's central bank would not be lifted unless there is regime change. It does this by creating new requirements for the termination of sanctions that are dependent on the cessation of the Central Bank's financing of the Revolutionary Guard. Section 205 imposes new restrictions on the President's ability to waive certain sanctions. Collectively, these provisions have moved the goal post from negotiations over Iran's nuclear enrichment program to regime change. The U.S. record on successful regime changes is not impressive. The National Iranian American Council has pointed out that this legislation ``imposes collective punishment on the Iranian people by seeking to destroy the Iranian economy. The goal is to bankrupt Iran, and cause hyperinflation by destroying the value of Iran's currency, the rial.'' If your goal is to punish the Iranian people, undermine their brave efforts to push for democracy, and thwart our sensitive and critical negotiations, then support this bill. If not, I urge you to join me in opposing this legislation. Syria Sanctions Included in This Legislation This legislation also requires the President to impose sanctions on actors that are responsible for or complicit in certain human rights abuses in Syria. This legislation fails to acknowledge that the United States and a number of our allies are actively participating in stoking the violence on the ground, including through the arming and support of Syrian rebel groups. Divisions and in-fighting within the various militias operating on the ground are already occurring. If our own intelligence agencies are unable to fully grasp what is transpiring on the ground in Syria, we can be sure that these targeted sanctions will overlook other non- state actors that are participating in human rights abuses. Recent reports also indicate that the instability and chaos in Syria has opened the door for fundamentalist groups to move in, including Al Qaeda. This threatens stability in the region as a whole and U.S. allies in the region, including Israel. We can all agree that the violence in Syria must end. But in order to do that, supporters on both sides of the conflict must cease providing either side with the tools to continue this bloody conflict.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Alexander Cockburn, the bold Irish-American journalist who passed away after a courageous, private battle with cancer. He left this world on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the youthful age of 71. Alexander Cockburn was born in Scotland on June 6, 1941 and spent most of his childhood living in Ireland. He attended the University of Oxford and earned a degree in English literature and language in 1963. Alexander became a permanent resident of the United States in 1973, where he wrote for several noteworthy publications. He spent his first ten years in the U.S. writing for The Village Voice, an alternative weekly magazine based in New York City. He then became a writer for The Nation until the time of his death, in addition to a variety of publications including The Wall Street Journal and New York Press. Alexander was also the co-editor of CounterPunch, a newsletter in which he frequently expressed his controversial, unfiltered opinions for which he became renowned and deeply respected. Friends and co-workers remember Alexander for his remarkable talents. He could quickly write dazzling columns that were full of passion and conviction. He was unafraid to speak his mind, often writing in opposition to his colleagues at the same publications. His bold style set him apart as a truly remarkable journalist. Alexander died on July 21, two years after he was diagnosed with cancer. He kept his illness a secret and continued to write until the day of his death, refusing to let cancer get in the way of his passion. He will be missed by his family, friends, and many readers. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Alexander Cockburn, the talented journalist and audacious man who has left a lasting legacy on the world of literature and the world at large.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield myself 30 seconds. What this is doing is essentially stopping any kind of a negotiated deal and putting us on a path towards war with Iran. You know, it is likely that any negotiated deal that would prevent a nuclear-armed Iran would provide for Iranian enrichment for peaceful purposes under the framework of the nuclear nonproliferation weapons treaty with strict safeguards and inspections. So we're taking a path here that guarantees that we're put on a glide slope right to war. Why are we doing this, we don't have enough wars in this country? We aren't involved in enough places around the world in war? This is a bad resolution.

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

Mr. KUCINICH. I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) for 47 years of service during National Health Center Week. In Cleveland, the celebration honoring National Health Center Week will take place on Tuesday, August 7th, and be hosted by the members of Cleveland's Federally Qualified Community Health Network which consists of: Care Alliance Health Center, Neighborhood Family Practice, Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services and The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland. The theme for this year's event is ``Celebrating America's Health Centers: Powering Healthier Communities.'' The focus will be on the success of Cleveland's FQHCs over the years, as well as how the community will welcome new movements in the health sector. The event will feature local and state experts to discuss health disparities in the Cleveland area. A representative from the Ohio Department of Health will provide the keynote address. As of 2011, the Cleveland Community Health Center Network has served more than 66,000 patients; Nationwide FQHC's have served over 20 million people. Community Health Centers all across America are partnering with local healthcare providers, social service agencies, and visionaries to ensure that quality health care is available to all. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Cleveland Community Health Center Network as well as the Federally Qualified Health Centers for their dedication and service to our communities and country.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Kathleen Pepera who is retiring on August 1, 2012 after 34 years of dedicated service with the Social Security Administration. Kathy began her career with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the Cleveland West District Office as a summer intern while still a student at Baldwin-Wallace College. Following graduation, she took the Professional and Administrative Career Examination and was subsequently hired in 1979 as a Claims Representative in the Cleveland Southwest Social Security Office. Throughout her career with SSA, Kathy has held a number of positions with increasing responsibilities. She has served as a supervisor at the Cleveland Teleservice Center and the Cleveland Downtown Field Office. Kathy also worked as the District Manager at the Cleveland Southeast Office and Cleveland Northeast Office. She also fulfilled a temporary role as Deputy Area Director for Northern Ohio. Kathy will be retiring as the District Manager of the Cleveland West District Office, the same office where she started her 34 year career. Kathy's dedication to the SSA and citizens she helped serve was unquestionable. She was steadfast in fulfilling SSA's mission to ``deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.'' Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Kathleen Pepera on the occasion of her retirement.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 3 of Cleveland, Ohio, which is celebrating its 102nd anniversary on September 8, 2012. Members of Local No. 3 can trace their beginnings back to the earliest days of the modern industrial era with the sudden expansions of steam power in the 1880s which created the need for the insulation industry. An attempt to form a national bond between insulators occurred in 1900 when the Salamander Association of New York sent out an appeal to related crafts in other cities to form a ``National Organization of Pipe and Boiler Covers.'' The appeal struck a chord of solidarity and two years later, the officers and members of the Pipe Covers Union affiliated with the National Building Trades Council of America and invited other pipe coverer unions and related trades to join them. Seven local unions from around the country, including Cleveland, responded, resulting in the birth of the foundation for an international union. The interested locals met for their first convention on July 7, 1902, where they drafted and approved a constitution and elected Thomas Kennedy as their first president. They chose ``the National Association of Heat, Frost and General Insulators and Asbestos Workers of America'' as the name of the international union. On September 22 1902, the American Federation of Labor issued an official charter designating the insulator workers as a national union. The union met again in October, 1904 in Pittsburgh to adopt a constitution and issue local numbers: St. Louis, No.1; Pittsburgh, No. 2; Cleveland, No. 3; Buffalo, No. 4; Chicago, No. 5; Boston, No. 6; and Seattle, No. 7. The charter issued to Local No. 3 in 1910 contained these Clevelanders: Thomas Richards, James Wiley, Phil Frigge, M.O. Taitle, Harry Jacoby, Archie Budd, Harry Morris, Harry Graff and George Davis. James Dalton, Al Dalton and Thomas O'Neil of Local No. 3 became officers of the International Association. Over the years, Local No. 3 has fought for higher wages, safer working conditions on construction sites and better benefits. Local No. 3 has established funds to help with medical expenses, retirement, apprenticeships and training. As Local No. 3 continues into its second century, its goals remain to make a member's life safer, more productive and prosperous, to continue to work to meet the needs of its current members and to teach new members that there is strength and prosperity in solidarity. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the 102nd anniversary of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local No. 3 of Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Hitchcock Center for Women, HCFW, for 30 years of dedicated service to thousands of women and their families in Cleveland, OH. The mission of the Hitchcock Center is to holistically empower women to achieve and maintain productive, chemical-free lives. The Hitchcock Center is ``the place where healing begins'' for women who are in need of help. The founder of the Hitchcock Center is Jayne Mazzerella, who realized that women recover differently from chemical substances than men. She founded Merrick Hall, a 4-bed treatment program for female alcoholics, which led to the beginnings of the Hitchcock Center. The Hitchcock Center is now the largest agency of its kind in the Greater Cleveland area. To date, it has provided services to approximately 13,000 women and their families. The Hitchcock Center recently announced its planned expansion of the Traditional Housing and Recovery Management services, which strives to return families back into the community. They eventually seek to expand into even more communities. Today, there are 53 women who work for the Hitchcock Center. There are also many alumnae of the program who return to volunteer for the center through the HCFW Alumnae Council. Together, they have proven success in helping women to grow and recover so they can go back to their families and homes as whole and healed persons. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the HCFW of Cleveland, OH, for all of their dedication and service to the community.