Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, we suffer in our remembrance of 9/11, because of the terrible loss of innocent lives on that grim day. We also suffer because 9/11 was seized as an opportunity to run a political agenda, which has set America on a course of the destruction of another nation and the destruction of our own Constitution. And we have become less secure as a result of the warped practice of pursuing peace through the exercise of pre-emptive military strength. It is not simply 9/11 that needs to be remembered. We also need to remember the politicization of 9/11 and the polarizing narrative which followed, locking us into endless conflict, a war on terror which has wrought further terror worldwide and which has severely damaged our standing worldwide as an honorable, compassionate nation. As we were all victims of 9/11, so we have become victims of the interpretation of 9/11. Our Government's external response to 9/11 was to attack a nation which did not attack us. Indeed on the first anniversary of 9/11, the Bush administration issued a well-publicized stern warning to Iraq which was part of a campaign to induce people to believe Iraq had something to do with 9/11. The deliberate, systematic connection of Iraq with 9/11 has led America into a philosophical and moral cul-de-sac as over 1 million Iraqis and over 4,155 U.S. soldiers have died in a war which will cost over $3 trillion. Additionally, soldiers from 23 other countries have died in the Iraq war. Last year, I voted against a similar resolution to the one before us today because it ignored the reality of the administration's use of 9/ 11 as a false justification for war. This year, I will vote for the resolution because I have renewed hope that the day will come when September 11 will no longer symbolize the false justification for an unjustified and unprovoked war. Over two dozen nations, facing peril within and without, deeply divided by politics and war, have traveled down a path of restoring civil society through a formal process of reconciliation. At some point within each of those countries it was understood that the way forward is shown through the light of truth. This process is not without pain because it requires a willingness to study evidence to which eyes had been averted and ears had been closed. But in the process of truth and reconciliation, nations found new strength, new resolve, new commitment. The South African Truth and Reconciliation enabled that nation to come to grips with its past through a public confessional, bringing forward those who committed crimes and having the power to grant amnesty for full disclosure of crimes against the people. Of course, our path may necessarily be different: High U.S. government officials stand accused in impeachment petitions of violating national and international law. Our continued existence as a democracy may depend upon how thoroughly we seek the truth. I will call upon the American people to join me in supporting this effort. The truth can move us forward, as a unified whole, so that we can one day become a re-United States. 9/11 is the day the world changed. It is the day America embraced a metaphor of war. If we are open to truth and reconciliation, we may one day be able, once again, to embrace peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, H. Res. 1069 condemns the use of television programming by Hamas to incite hatred in Palestinian youth and encourage violence. Violence and hatred will not bring a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I do not condone the use of television programming to promote such acts; rather I strongly object to it. Similarly, I condemn an ongoing policy that seeks to punish a civilian population in an effort to undermine its political leadership. Hamas is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States because they engage in violence that undermines the Arab-Israeli peace process. Hamas is a sanctioned terrorist entity by the U.S. and the international community. As such, our condemnation of all egregious and objectionable activities by Hamas is clear. Condemnation of their television programming does not make this more clear nor does it bring us closer to a viable peace. U.S. foreign policy must promote viable solutions to the violence and hatred. It is obvious that the promotion of peaceful solutions begins with ensuring the security and basic human rights of all people. The ongoing atrocities caused by the suffering of 1.5 million people in Gaza who are subject to escalating poverty, inadequate health care and insufficient access to clean water is a clear violation of security and human rights. The blockade of Gaza has resulted in a near total collapse of the private sector, causing an almost 80 percent unemployment rate. More than 80 percent of all Gazans now rely on emergency food aid provided by the United Nations as their primary food source. The lack of basic goods has severely deteriorated Gaza's health, economy, and social fabric. Imposition of the blockade in response to Hamas's attacks has amounted to collective punishment. While the current crisis may be exacerbated, instigated, even perpetuated by Hamas, the responsibility for ending the humanitarian crisis does not rest solely with Hamas. Israel has a legal duty to provide Gazans with food, clean water, electricity, and medical care. The United States enjoys a close relationship with Israel. They are one of our strongest allies. I urge this body to exert our diplomatic influence with Israel to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure the health, safety, and security for Palestinians and Israelis. This new condition would obviate the perceived need for condemnation.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, my fellow colleagues, sometime in the next week the House is going to be asked to make some decisions on energy policy. But I think we need to reflect on the last few years, and that is, the United States went into Iraq for one reason and one reason only, oil. And when we did that, the price of oil didn't go down, it went up. That the oil companies are running our energy policy is not a secret in this country. They have kept oil off the market while they jacked up the price. They have helped to restrain the supply while the price has skyrocketed and the American families paid for that. So to give the oil companies more drilling rights is simply a guarantee that we are going to pay more for oil, not less. Wake up, America.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady. When I look at this Chamber this evening, there are so many Members of Congress here, each who wants to pay tribute to her. I'm going to keep my remarks brief, not in any way reflecting the depth of grief that I feel over Stephanie's passing. We shared not only districts--because my district is mostly on the West side of the Cuyahoga River and hers is mostly on the east side of the Cuyahoga River--but we shared political careers, having worked with each other for the better part of three decades. And the Stephanie that we saw here in the Congress, the one of the 100-megawatt smile, the boundless energy, the telling sense of humor, the challenging approach when you may not agree with her, that was the Stephanie that I knew for 30 years. But we also shared a friendship about family. And she went through it in the last years of her life with the loss of loved ones close to her, her father, her husband. And when we would have major events in our lives, like we do with close friends--and she was a close friend to many of us--we would share many of these things. And there was a lot of sadness to share. But there was also a moment when, for me, I had one of the biggest things happen in my life, and Stephanie was the first person I wanted to share it with. More than 3 years ago, I met a woman who walked into my office as part of a meeting for policy, and even though I had a very brief conversation with her, I knew something had happened at that moment. And I just knew at that moment that this was somebody I was going to marry, and I didn't even have a discussion with her about anything except for policy for more than about half a minute. And I ran down to the floor to tell my friend Stephanie, because that's the kind of friend she was. You would want to tell her when you thought something big was happening in your life. And so I said, ``Stephanie, I met her.'' And she looked at me and her eyes widened, and she gave her big smile, and she went, ``Shut up!'' And she had that kind of way of assessing things brilliantly and quickly in a manner and a tone and a language that was Stephanie. And she really brought the wisdom of a keen legal mind and melded it with a street sense into this political persona that touched people all over this country and, indeed, in other countries as well. She had that magic. Her presence is so powerful that I know I speak for other Members when I say that even at this moment, weeks later after her passing, we still can't believe it. That's how powerful a presence she was personally. And when she engaged you, you knew you were in a conversation and it was real. When Members of Congress arrived to pay respects at the Bethany Church, we saw the sidewalks lined with her constituents. We saw a line to get into Bethany Church that was more than a block long. Hundreds of people waiting in line. I had the chance to talk to some of them. You could see--you have to look into people's eyes, look at their faces, and you see the faces of people who are struggling with life, who are dealing with the kinds of problems that Stephanie came to Congress to address: trying to save their homes, trying to save their jobs, trying to keep their families together. And their eyes are searching today because they know they have lost a champion, and it puts such a great responsibility on all of us, a greater responsibility on all of us to uphold those things that she came to Congress for, the basic rights of people. This was a loss for women who have strived for recognition in this body. This is a loss for African Americans who saw in her a champion, the first African American woman elected to Congress from the State of Ohio. But what Stephanie did, her genius and her magic was she just broke all of the barriers. She went beyond gender and beyond race and emerged to a whole different political element. That's why she can't be replaced. And that's why, long after many of us have left this Chamber, people will still be talking about Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Stephanie, we love you, and we will remember you.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the insurance and pharmaceutical industry-friendly Medicare Part D drug benefit is, as predicted, costing taxpayers billions of unnecessary dollars, restricting access to needed pharmaceuticals, and providing windfall profits for the pharmaceutical companies. Last week, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee released an analysis that showed that pharmaceuticals covered under Part D cost 30 percent more than pharmaceuticals provided through Medicaid. Medicaid's program is administered by the Federal Government while Medicare Part D uses private insurance companies. As you know, it also provides no authority to negotiate prices, no other meaningful cost mechanisms, and a paltry benefit for far too many enrollees to boot. A report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research showed that a benefit administered by Medicare would save enough money to fully cover prescription drug costs between 2006 and 2013 and still have $40 billion left over. For our seniors and for our children and grandchildren's future security, I urge you to reaffirm your support for one of the most successful social programs in our Nation's history by calling for a comprehensive and meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare, and one which addresses the outrageously high prices of prescription drugs paid by American consumers. I have introduced a bill that will replace the current plan with a benefit that provides seniors and people with disabilities with the drugs they need with no co-pay, no premium and no deductible. Every person would receive the same voluntary benefit, regardless of income or geographical location, just like traditional Medicare. How can the plan provide such a strong benefit without busting the budget? By including provisions that seriously address the outrageously high prices Americans are forced to pay for prescription drugs. First, the plan will include strong, loophole-free language to allow American pharmacists, wholesalers and distributors to purchase FDA- approved prescription drugs at lower prices abroad. With strong reimportation language like that included in this plan, all Americans-- not just seniors--could save 30-70 percent on the price of prescription drugs without any Government subsidy. Second, the bill also allows Medicare to negotiate on behalf of all Medicare beneficiaries, something prohibited under the current Republican program, which could achieve discounts comparable to the significant discounts received by the Veterans Administration. Finally, the plan would ensure that when taxpayers foot the bill for research and development of a prescription drug, the pharmaceutical industry must offer that drug at a fair and reasonable price. Such a requirement has passed the House by a wide bipartisan majority in the past, only to be stripped out by the pharmaceutical industry in conference committee. Today, the taxpayer-funded National Institutes of Health continues to spend tens of billions of dollars a year on research and development of medicines. Most often, this R&D is then handed over to the pharmaceutical industry, whose member companies charge Americans any price they want for the final product. If we change this absurd system, we would ensure that new medicines would be affordable in the years ahead. As the current crisis makes all too clear, the time has come to support a comprehensive prescription drug benefit for seniors and people with disabilities that does not coddle the health insurance or pharmaceutical industries.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Adrian Maldonado on the occasion of his retirement as Director of the Office of Procurement and Diversity in Cuyahoga County. His vision, leadership and commitment to his work has had a profound impact on developing Cuyahoga County and on the Greater Cleveland community. Adrian Maldonado began his career in public service twenty-seven years ago, when he was hired as a personnel interviewer at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Four years later, in 1985, he began working for the State of Ohio in the Department of Administrative Services as a minority business specialist. For fourteen years, he worked tirelessly with minority business entrepreneurs in my district, helping them secure contracts under Ohio's HB584 Minority Set-Aside program after almost eleven years, he is retiring from his position as the Director of Diversity and Procurement in Cuyahoga County. Mr. Maldonado's leadership and vision as Director of the Office of Procurement and Diversity for Cuyahoga County changed the county immensely. He and his staff worked diligently to improve the county's purchasing operating system and its purchasing and operating procedures, leading the county to be recognized by Purchasing Magazine as one of country's top Big 20 Purchasers. Under his leadership, the Office of Procurement and Diversity created a small business enterprise program which assists small businesses in procuring county contracts. Since implementing this program, Cuyahoga County has consistently met or exceeded the 30% subcontracting goal for all county contracts. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Adrian Maldonado, and in recognition of his leadership, vision and dedication to his work and to the community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my concerns with H. Res. 1370. I certainly am supportive of many of the provisions of the bill. I am a friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and I continue to voice my displeasure of the treatment of the Tibetan people by the government of the People's Republic of China. The human rights consequences that persist in Tibet have the potential to devastate Tibet and completely abolish any chance of peaceful reconciliation. I also support efforts to hold repressive governments in Sudan and Burma accountable for their reprehensible treatment of their citizens. It is outrageous that these governments continue to prosper and enjoy support from other governments, such as China, as they systematically dismantle the economic and physical security of their citizens and routinely violate universally accepted human rights principles. However, this legislation continues a troubling pattern of addressing political and social issues in a cosmetic and superficial manner, while ignoring the devastating impact of our trade policies with China on the American economy and American families. The Economic Policy Institute recently released a report that asserted between 2001-2007, our trade deficit with China has more than tripled, from $84 billion to $262 billion. This trade deficit has lead to a veritable hemorrhaging of jobs: the American economy has shed approximately 2.3 million jobs during that time span, the vast majority being manufacturing jobs. Moreover, China continues its practice of currency manipulation, where the Yuan is pegged to the American dollar at a depressed and fixed rate. This distorts the prices of imports and exports, making American imports artificially high and Chinese exports low. China is currently one of the top two holders of U.S. Treasury bonds; the other is Japan. Nonbinding saber rattling will not improve the human rights situation in China. We must get our priorities in order. If we take a hard look at the economic and financial policies that guide our relationship with China, we will realize that they continue to erode the American economy, attack the American family, and compromise our national security. I will continue to advocate for the open channels of dialogue and discussions that will lead to real change and understanding, and I will reject demagoguery that has no real effect and serves no valuable purpose in our foreign policy.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the Baha'i faith emphasizes unity within the human race. The Baha'i teachings are built on the values of peace and unification. Although the history of the Baha'i faith is a turbulent one, they have maintained unity within their own faith. Their faith teaches that unity manifests a global community that is complete with social and economic equality, the elimination of prejudice, education for all, collective security and the elimination of extreme poverty and wealth. With these values in mind this body should be attentive to the ways in which we can bring about the unification of the human race and instill world peace. Affirming strong support for religious freedom for all people throughout the world and working to ensure this freedom is maintained at all times for all people is important. Our religious freedom is an inherent right, a human right and must be protected. It must be said, however, that the act of condemning is not the best way to bring about these important goals. In the spirit of honoring the Baha'i faith we should work to bring about the peace and unification that ends egregious persecution. The United States should engage Iran in high-level diplomatic negotiations. Engaging Iran diplomatically honors the spirit of unity that is central to the Baha'i faith and brings us closer to peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill and our Nation's veterans. Their service and sacrifice for our country is honorable and today this body will properly honor them by ensuring greater resources for their care and wellbeing. Congress has responded appropriately by increasing funding by $2.9 billion above the President's request. This bill responds to the needs of our returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan by including $3.8 billion for mental health resources to provide treatment for post traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injuries. It includes $300 million above the President's request for maintaining VA medical facilities. Access to these facilities and ensuring their proper upkeep has a positive impact on our communities and is imperative to serving the needs of our veterans. This bill increases enrollment in VA medical care for all veterans, including those on a limited income, by 10 percent. To help veterans in rural areas that must travel to get needed health care, the mileage reimbursement has been increased from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents. I therefore support this bill. These improvements to our VA system will have a beneficial impact on our veterans and move our Nation in the direction of providing them with the care they need and deserve. However, this bill includes funding for military construction projects for military operations in Afghanistan. The Bagram Air Base is the main base for the Combined Forces Air Component Command, CFACC. Funds from this bill will be used to fortify temporary buildings, expand refueling capability and build an aircraft maintenance hangar at Bagram. As the U.S. expands and improves military facilities in Afghanistan, the likelihood that our troops will remain in the region increases. Including these funds, which keep our troops in harms way, in a bill meant to support our veterans is an affront to our Nation's veterans and to the level of transparency our government should maintain.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Miller for his continued commitment to comprehensive education and ensuring that all children have access to the resources that will help them become healthy and productive adults. I would also like to thank my friends Congressman Ron Kind and Congressman Zach Wamp for their persistence in encouraging healthier lifestyles and choices for our nation's youth. The problem of childhood obesity is well-documented, and we are all familiar with the statistics: 32 percent of the nation's children are overweight, 16 percent are obese, and the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the figure will exceed 20 percent by 2010. ``Adult onset'' diabetes has become a misnomer: incidence of type II has doubled in youth. As computers, cell phones, video game systems, and other types of technology become more prevalent in America's homes, children are redefining ``recreation'' away from physical activity and toward sedentary activities. Responses to this epidemic abound, and they need to be supported and enhanced. Youth need more regular physical activity, parents must make healthier decisions regarding family diet, exposure to technology must be monitored and regulated, and nutrition education must be a component of elementary and middle school curricula. At the same time, however, I believe if we are to combat this problem effectively we must also understand and address the causes of the problem. One of the causes that particularly distresses me, and one that receives relatively little attention, is the aggressive and predatory marketing of food and beverages to children and adolescents. In 2006 the Institute of Medicine reported that it is estimated that more than $10 billion annually is spent marketing food and beverages to youth; the vast majority of that money is spent marketing items with marginal or no nutritive value. Do they get a bang for the buck? Food and beverage sales to children and youth exceed $27 billion annually. They wouldn't do it if it didn't work. While television remains the most popular medium for marketing, food and beverage companies have been industrious, to say the least, in creating new means to market their products and create branding opportunities. Product placement in movies, video games, music videos, and even news broadcasts ensure exposure to brands and products despite best efforts to avoid commercials and print advertisements. Banner and pop-up advertisements on the internet intrude on children's surfing routinely, despite the best software protections. Sponsorship at school sporting events, advertisements in school newspapers and in prepackaged media, and snacks in vending machines ensure that children are exposed to products and brands throughout the school day. We are fast approaching the day, if we aren't there already, when children find respite from food and beverage marketing only as they close their eyes to sleep. This is not harmless advertising. Food and beverage marketing uses the best research available about brain development to ensure that their products are exposed to minds not yet fully developed. Again the Institute of Medicine reports that research tells us that humans develop consumption motives and values at an early age. In other words, developing brand allegiances early in life is profitable. The report also tells us that children have widely varied abilities to separate factual information from persuasive content and those abilities develop at different ages. In other words, it is easy to convince children that a product is healthy. I firmly believe that if we are to help our children cultivate healthier lifestyle habits and make better nutrition choices, we must protect them from marketing practices whose primary function is to encourage increased consumption of unhealthy products. Any policy response to the youth obesity epidemic must include concrete ways to regulate the exposure of children and adolescents to food and beverage marketing.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, just prior to the invasion of Iraq on March 17, 2003, the price of a barrel of oil was $30.01, and the price of a gallon of gas was $1.77, the average. On July 29, 2008, the price of a barrel of oil was $122.21, and the average gallon of gas, $3.96. The invasion of Iraq was about oil, but it didn't result in more oil or cheaper gas. It resulted in war profiteering by oil companies who benefited by keeping Iraq oil off the market. Remember the secret meetings between the administration and the oil company executives before the war? Well, today, I'm going to introduce a bill which prevents U.S.-based oil companies from development of and investment in the petroleum resources of Iraq. This will discourage U.S. oil companies from profiting from the war and will stop the further theft of Iraq's oil resources by the very interests who have profited from the war for oil, the U.S. oil companies.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step in eliminating the gap that exists between the compensation of men and women, a gap that has existed for decades and persists to this day despite the gains made by women. Among other things, the bill will close a loophole that some employers exploit to avoid compensation discrimination lawsuits, and will put gender discrimination on a par with other types of discrimination. Men and women are equally important to the health and vitality of the American economy, and it is high time that compensation reflect this fact. Women who work full time continue to make roughly 25 percent less for equal work and with equal qualifications to their male counterparts. This means that a woman makes significantly less money based on one single factor: Her sex. This is sexist, unconscionable and discriminatory. This discrimination impacts women in their struggle for economic independence, and their ability to care for their families and themselves. It continues to promote the backward thinking that undervalues and devalues women in the United States and around the world. I support H.R. 1338 because I believe it moves us in a direction that closes the discriminatory wage gap. It is long overdue. I look forward to the day when everyone in the labor force is treated equally. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of three bills I have introduced today that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all genetically engineered plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. The bills will protect our food, environment, and health. They are a common sense precaution to ensure genetically engineered foods do no harm. Genetic engineering is having a serious impact on the food we eat, on the environment, and on farmers. To ensure we can maximize benefits and minimize hazards, Congress must provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all genetically engineered products. Current laws, such as our food safety and environmental laws were not written with this technology in mind. Clearer laws are necessary to ensure that these new scientific capabilities and the associated impacts are closely monitored. Combined, these bills will ensure that consumers are protected, increase food safety, protect farmers' rights and make biotech companies liable for their products. The Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know Act Consumers wish to know whether the food they purchase and consume is a genetically engineered food. Concerns include the potential transfer of allergens into food and other health risks, potential environmental risks associated with the genetic engineering of crops, and religiously and ethically based dietary restrictions. Adoption and implementation of mandatory labeling requirements for genetically engineered food produced in the United States would facilitate international trade. It would allow American farmers and companies to export and appropriately market their products--both genetically engineered and non-genetically engineered--to foreign customers. This bill acknowledges consumers have a right to know what genetically engineered foods they are eating: Requires food companies to label all foods that contain or are produced with genetically engineered material and requires the FDA to periodically test products to ensure compliance. Voluntary, non-GE food labels are authorized. A legal framework is established to ensure the accuracy of labeling without creating significant economic hardship on the food production system. The Genetically Engineered Safety Act Given the consensus among the scientific community that genetic engineering can potentially introduce hazards, such as allergens or toxins; genetically engineered foods need to be evaluated on a case-by- case basis and cannot be presumed to be generally recognized as safe. The possibility of such hazards dictates a cautious approach to genetically engineered food approvals. However, FDA has glossed over the food safety concerns of genetically engineered foods and not taken steps to ensure the safety of these genetically engineered foods. A pharmaceutical crop or industrial crop is a plant that has been genetically engineered to produce a medical or industrial product, including human and veterinary drugs. Many of the novel substances produced in pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops are for particular medical or industrial purposes only. These substances are not intended to be incorporated in food or to be spread into the environment. That would be equivalent to allowing a prescription drug in the food supply. Experts acknowledge that contamination of human food and animal feed is inevitable due to the inherent imprecision of biological and agricultural systems. This contamination by pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops pose substantial liability and other economic risks to farmers, grain handlers, and food companies. This bill requires that all genetically engineered foods follow a strenuous food safety review process and attempts to prevent contamination of our food supply by pharmaceutical and industrial crops: Require the FDA to screen all genetically engineered foods through the current food additive process to ensure they are safe for human consumption, yet continues FDA discretion in applying the safety factors that are generally recognized as appropriate. Require that unique concerns regarding genetically engineered foods be explicitly examined in the review process, a phase-out of antibiotic resistance markers, and a prohibition on known allergens and requires the FDA to conduct a public comment period of at least 30 days. Place a temporary moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops until all required regulations put forth by this bill with regard to these crops are in effect. Place a permanent moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in an open-air environment and on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in a commonly used food source. Require the United States Department of Agriculture to establish a tracking system to regulate the growing, handling, transportation, and disposal of all pharmaceutical and industrial crops and their byproducts to prevent contamination. Call on the National Academy of Sciences to submit to Congress a report that explores alternative methods to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals that have the advantage of being conducted in controlled production facilities and do not present the risk of contamination. The Genetically Engineered Farmer Protection Act Agribusiness and biotechnology companies have rapidly consolidated market power at the same time as the average farmer's profits and viability have significantly declined. Policies promoted by biotech corporations have systematically acted to remove basic farmer rights enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture. These policies include unreasonable seed contracts, the intrusion into everyday farm operations, and liability burdens. The introduction of genetically engineered crops has also created obstacles for farmers, including the loss of markets and increased liability concerns. To mitigate the abuses upon farmers, a clear set of farmer rights must be established. Furthermore, biotech companies are selling a technology that is being commercialized far in advance of the new and unknown science of genetic engineering. Farmers may suffer from crop failures, neighboring farmers may suffer from cross pollination, increased insect resistance, and unwanted ``volunteer'' genetically engineered plants, and consumers may suffer from health and environmental impacts. Therefore, biotech companies should be found liable for the failures of genetically engineered crops. This bill provides several farmer rights and protections to maintain the opportunity to farm and ensures that the creator of the technology assumes all liability: Farmers may save seeds and seek compensation for failed genetically engineered crops. Biotech companies may not: shift liability to farmers; nor require access to farmer's property; nor mandate arbitration; nor mandate court of jurisdiction; nor require damages beyond actual fees; nor charge more to American farmers for use of this technology, than they charge farmers in other nations, or any other unfair condition. Seed companies must: ensure seeds labeled non-GE are accurate; provide clear instructions to reduce cross-pollination, which contaminates other fields; and inform farmers of the risks of using genetically engineered crops. The EPA is required to evaluate the concern of Bt resistant pests and take actions necessary to prevent resistance to Bt, an important organic pesticide. The bill prohibits genetic engineering designed to produce sterile seeds and loan discrimination based on the choice of seeds an agricultural producer uses. The bill places all liability from negative impacts of genetically engineered organisms squarely upon the biotechnology companies that created the genetically engineered organism. Farmers are granted indemnification to protect them from the liabilities of biotech companies. The bill prohibits any transfer of liability away from the biotechnology companies that created the genetically engineered organism.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deloris Roach for 40 years of public service as she retires from the Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, and in recognition of her advocacy and dedication to helping our nation's veterans. Deloris began her career in public service with the Internal Revenue Service until moving to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 32 years ago. Through her dedication to the minority veterans program, she has helped to enroll over 1,000 veterans in the VA Health Care System of Ohio. Deloris has served as the Program Coordinator for the Minority Veterans Affairs Program for ten years, and also served as the Cleveland VA Medical Center's Loaned Executive to the Combined Federal Campaign. As Co-Chair for VA's Combined Federal Campaign, she inspired and encouraged fellow employees to donate, raising a record setting $267,000. Deloris also helped to raise over $8,000 in the ``Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk'' for the American Cancer Society. Her activism and community involvement reach beyond her work on veteran's issues; she is a lifetime member of Blacks in Government, Co-Chair of the EEO Diversity Action Committee, a member of the American Red Cross Donor Committee, Minority Health Alliance, and the NAACP Minority Health Committee. Deloris has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Minority Veterans Programs Coordinator of the Year in 2001, the Cleveland Federal Executive Board ``Wings of Excellence Award'' in 2002, and certificates of Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to Veterans and of Appreciation from the State of Ohio. While serving as the Cleveland VA Medical Center's Loaned Executive to the Combined Federal Campaign, she received the Outstanding Leadership and Performance Award. She has also received recognition from various veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Blind Veterans Association, and AMVETS. In 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs Annual Performance and Accountability Report to the President of the United States, Deloris was recognized for her outstanding work on veteran's affairs. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Deloris Roach, and in recognition of her leadership and inspirational work on veteran's issues and for her commitment to the Greater Cleveland Community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. In the face of rising demand for help with home energy costs, the Ohio Department of Development reports that it has $17 million less than last year to help low-income households pay energy bills. Cuyahoga County was forced to cut assistance checks this summer from $175 to $100. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds have helped millions of Americans stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, LIHEAP dollars have been stretched to the breaking point as more and more people find it impossible to pay their energy bills. It's outrageous that the most vulnerable Americans--children, the disabled, and elderly--go hungry and develop long-term health problems as the profits of oil and other energy companies skyrocket. I support a second stimulus package that includes $3.12 billion for the LIHEAP program. But I believe we must also redouble our efforts to address the economic policies that create and perpetuate energy insecurity. Support a second stimulus package for these Americans who rely on the LIHEAP program.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Audrey Susanne Chapman, and in recognition of her tremendous contributions to the community through her writing and journalism. Audrey graduated from Hudson High School in 1983 and went on to earn her degree in journalism from Ohio University in 1987. Her exceptional writing talents led her to work in several local publishing companies including Penton Publishing and Cleveland Magazine. Audrey's contributions to Cleveland Magazine received honors from the Society of Professional Journalists of the Cleveland Press Club. Audrey is survived by her mother, Rumrill Chapman, her two sisters, Heather Chapman and Lesley Chapman and her brother, Brian Chapman. She will be remembered not only for her work as a gifted writer and journalist, but also for her kindness and ability to create connections with everyone she met. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembrance of Audrey Susanne Chapman, and in recognition of her dedication to her work, the community, and her family.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Stephen Mulloy, who dedicated his life to serving as a community organizer on behalf of Irish-Americans in the Greater Cleveland Area. Stephen Mulloy was born in Keel, County Mayo, Ireland and immigrated to Cleveland in 1954. Just a few short weeks after settling into his new home in Cleveland, he became active in numerous Irish-American community organizations in which he would remain active for over fifty years. His participation, dedication, and leadership made him an invaluable member not only to the Irish-American community, but also to the Greater Cleveland community. Many in the Greater Cleveland Community were familiar with Mr. Mulloy as it was his voice that kicked off the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Cleveland. Each year he beautifully sang both the Irish and U.S. national anthems, and in 2007, he served as the grand marshal of the Parade. Mr. Mulloy was a member of several organizations including the West Side Irish-American Club, in which he served four one-year terms as President; the United Irish Societies, the Cleveland branch of the Irish National Caucus, and the St. Jarlath Gaelic Football Club, which he also played with for several years. He also was the founding member of the Mayo Society of Cleveland and served as past officer of the Irish Northern Aid organization. In addition to singing the national anthems at Cleveland's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, he was a renowned bag pipe player in the Shamrock Pipe Band. Mr. Mulloy also arranged several tours to Ireland for a local theatrical company, the Cleveland Irish Players and once in 2004, organized and led a trip for Mayor Jane Campbell and several Clevelanders to Achill Island. Mr. Mulloy's leadership and personable demeanor allowed him to connect with many of Cleveland's diverse communities and he was recognized several times for his dedication and work in the Greater Cleveland Community. Earlier this year, he was the recipient of the Mayo Society of Cleveland Man of the Year Award. In 2000 he was honored with the Man of the Year Award by the first group he joined after immigrating from Ireland, the West Side Irish-American Club. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of Stephen Mulloy, who dedicated his life to serving his family and his community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank all of those who serve our country through the gathering of intelligence for the protection of the American people. I appreciate their dedication and their attention to the gathering facts for deliberations related to our national security. Regrettably, the current administration has destroyed the credibility of the Intelligence Community through the fabrication of intelligence. The Bush administration continues a relentless pursuit of a self- serving agenda rather than an agenda that serves the best interests of the American people. No single example can more clearly illustrate this point than the administration's falsification and cherry-picking of intelligence to build a phony case for the war in Iraq. Through the manipulation of intelligence, the administration sold a war to the American public based on false statements that included a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda, Iraq and 9/11, as well as false claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and intentions to attack the U.S. As long as President Bush remains in office the intelligence budget will continue to be at risk for being used to support subversive intelligence and provide license to the administration to engage in criminal activity by shaping intelligence to fit corrupt policies. Under the Bush administration there have emerged several high-profile classified leaks to the media that have reemphasized the need for reform within our intelligence agencies. From these media leaks, we not only became aware of the efforts to manipulate intelligence and to falsify a cause for war against Iraq but we also became aware of the illegal NSA domestic wiretapping program without a court order. We became aware of the rumored CIA detention centers in Eastern Europe, and the CIA's extraordinary rendition program, used to transport suspects to other nations with less restrictive torture policies. It is regrettable that intelligence is often reshaped to fit doctrine instead of doctrine being reshaped in the face of the facts of intelligence. Furthermore, this bill will not stop unilateral covert U.S. intelligence operations aimed at bringing about regime change in Iran. As reported in a recent article in The New Yorker, the Bush administration is already engaged in collecting covert intelligence on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program instead of engaging Iran in high-level diplomatic negotiations without preconditions. The administration has made clear their thirst for a war with Iran. The opportunity for unscrupulous tactics by this administration with respect to Iran clearly exists as long as this body stands idly by. I strongly oppose this bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution noticed on July 10.

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I move that the House refer the resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I want to thank the gentlelady from Ohio, my long-time friend and colleague, Representative Marcy Kaptur, for organizing this special order and for her continued commitment to addressing the foreclosure crisis, which is ravaging communities like Toledo and Cleveland and cities across this country. I would also like to thank Chairwoman Maxine Waters for her persistence in addressing the foreclosure crisis and the subprime crisis. It has been an honor for me to work with Congresswoman Kaptur and Congresswoman Waters on this very important matter. My subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, a subcommittee of which I am chair, has held five hearings over the past 2 years regarding the foreclosure crisis, predatory lending, lasting effects. What we have found is that neighborhoods are totally blameless victims of the foreclosure crisis. When homes are lost to foreclosure, property values of the surrounding homes plummet, and owners lose equity in their homes. When you go into a neighborhood like Slavic Village in Cleveland where I am from, and you look how certain people built a community there, an older ethnic community, where people would take pride in their property, in keeping it immaculate, and then you see foreclosures in the community. Suddenly, someone who has had a property that they have kept up for 40 or 50 years, sees their property values decline because of the foreclosures around them and sees their property actually at risk, the fire hazards and safety hazards because of the foreclosures around them. We are seeing people who, for their family, their home is their biggest investment in their life. That's the way it is for most Americans, seeing their investments threatened because of the sharp practices in subprime lending, and in the foreclosure scandal that has hit this country that Congresswoman Kaptur has been one of the primary spokespersons on in terms of exposing. We see these demands for services, municipal services. They increase as the foreclosures run wild, more police and firemen needed where there are a lot of foreclosed homes, increased social services and code enforcement. When you think of a foreclosed home, the cost of the foreclosed house goes far beyond the cost of the house itself. Unfortunately, the State of Ohio and the City of Cleveland have been at the center of this crisis for some time now. According to RealtyTrac, which is an independent group that gathers information on foreclosure, four Ohio cities are in the top 20 metropolitan areas affected by foreclosures. Moreover, the Cleveland metropolitan area ranks sixth in the Nation for percentage of houses in foreclosure, which is a staggering statistic, considering our city's modest property values and the cost of living, which in Cleveland is relatively inexpensive.

Mr. KUCINICH. I would certainly yield to my friend.

Mr. KUCINICH. If I may, what the gentlelady points out, you can look at the research that uses foreclosure and lending data. In Cleveland, the parts of the city where the depository banks made very few prime loans, they also saw the highest percentage of subprime loans and subsequently, or consequently, the highest number of foreclosures. So it should not be the least bit surprising to anyone, then, that the pattern of foreclosures mirrors almost exactly the established patterns of low-prime loans and high numbers of subprime loans.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. This afternoon I will move to refer an Article of Impeachment to the Judiciary Committee. People ask me, don't we have more important things to do? Think about this. This war has cost us our constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. Is there something more important? The Iraq war will eventually cost between two and $3 trillion, meaning every American family will pay upwards of $30,000 for this war. The war has contributed substantially to higher gas prices. Is there something more important? Over 4,100 of our troops have died, and as many as 1 million innocent Iraqis have perished. Is there something more important? There was never any proof that Iraq constituted an imminent threat to our national security, or that Iraq had the capability or intention of attacking the United States. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 or al Qaeda's role in 9/11. Yet Congress was led to believe otherwise. The Bible says, ``You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.'' Congress must know the truth in order for our Nation to remain free. In a free Nation nothing is more important than the truth.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July of 1994. Those responsible for the destruction and loss of human life that resulted from this attack must be held accountable. I believe that anyone who acts to destroy innocent life, regardless of their position in society or the country they are from should be subject to international scrutiny for their actions, and that includes our own officials. In the past I have voted in favor of similar resolutions that condemned the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center and sought to hold accountable those responsible for this deplorable and heinous act. Accordingly, today I once again support all aspects of this resolution that calls for justice on behalf of the 85 people murdered and 300 wounded. However, H. Con. Res. 385 is not without problems in its current form. First, the final ``Whereas'' clause of the resolution contains information that is speculative rather than factual. The resolution appears to draw this clause from an ABC News report from June 19, 2008, which provides no hard evidence to support the stated claims. Second, the resolution claims in the penultimate ``Whereas'' clause that Iran ``in recent years'' has opened ``nearly a dozen embassies in Latin America.'' In recent years, Iran has opened two embassies in Latin America, one in Colombia in 2007 and one in Nicaragua in 2007. These events brought the total of Iranian embassies in Latin America to eight. According to experts at the Congressional Research Service, CRS, the other six Iranian Embassies in Latin America have been around for a long time and include those in Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela. As such, I do not agree with the decision by the U.S. House of Representatives to treat this resolution as noncontroversial. The bill could unwittingly place this Congress in the position of promoting an attack on the country of Iran through its attempt to draw parallels between Iran and those responsible for the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center. Instead of using speculative and factually inaccurate information which is clearly included in this bill, the resolution should be redrafted and kept to readily ascertainable facts about the unconscionable attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in 1994. This body must not allow an attack on innocent people be used as a pretext for an attack on more innocent people. Indeed, we have done this once with disastrous results. I believe this House is better served by demanding sensible and responsible diplomatic foreign policy initiatives. This body should demand that the administration engage Iran immediately in high-level diplomatic negotiations without preconditions. By neglecting this duty and employing tactics that maintain an ongoing condemnation of Iran, without opening diplomatic channels, this body is systematically destroying every available route to restoring peace and security in the Middle East, which could have devastating consequences for Israel, as well as our troops in Iraq.