Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Iran-Contra?

Mr. KUCINICH. Was that before the hearings or after the hearings?

Mr. KUCINICH. Well, I mean there's relevance here.

Mr. KUCINICH. So that is the remedy, that the House could vote at some point to release.

Mr. KUCINICH. This reflects on what our distinguished majority leader said, Congresswoman Jackson-Lee. In the House under rule XVII, clause 9, it is true that any Member could ask for a secret session, claim they have information. That is a privilege. Furthermore, under rule X, clause 11, and then a subparagraph, the Select Committee on Intelligence may move to hold a secret session to determine whether classified information held by the committee should be made public. Now, we haven't seen our distinguished colleague ask for such a secret session, although our other distinguished colleague is requesting it. Now obviously since this has only been done five times in 182 years, five times in 182 years of this institution, it would seem to me that a very high bar has been reached here. Now my question would be, hypothetically, since any Member has the ability to call for a secret session, if a secret session is requested and the bar that one would assume that we would need to clear to achieve a secret session has in fact not been met, that in fact a secret session was called for reasons for something that was not really all that secret, or not evidence that was probative and weighty, but instead that one person may have felt. And I am not impugning my friend here because he may have some information. But generally speaking, under the rule, we can all ask for it. But, Mr. Hoyer, I think since you are our senior Member here who is our majority leader, or maybe the Parliamentarian knows, if a secret session is called for and the bar isn't reached, what then? What happens then with that secret session?

Mr. KUCINICH. And what happens to the Member, if I may.

Mr. KUCINICH. Would the gentlelady yield?

Mr. KUCINICH. It is my understanding relative to these proceedings in a secret session that the proceedings of a secret session are not published unless the relevant Chamber votes during the meeting or at a later time to release them. Then portions can be released in the Congressional Record. Is that right, Congressman Jackson-Lee and Mr. Hoyer?

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I am unequivocal in my support for the security of Israel and its citizens. I am committed to the right of all people in the Middle East, and the world, to live peacefully. However, because of H. Res. 951's overt lack of balance and its unreconciliatory approach, I oppose this bill. The resolution appropriately ``expresses condolences to the families of the innocent victims on both sides of the conflict.'' However, H. Res. 951 fails to take a balanced approach to the ongoing violence in Gaza by acknowledging only the rocket and mortar attacks fired on Israel while making no mention of Israel's use of force in the region other than to acknowledge ``the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory against attacks.'' The resolution states that the ``rocket and mortar attacks have murdered over a dozen Israelis, inflicted hundreds of casualties, produced thousands of cases of shock and post-traumatic stress, especially among children, and caused severe disruption of daily life.'' The resolution fails to take into account the 117 Palestinians killed in Gaza over the last week or to mention that half of these victims were civilians and at least 22 were children. Furthermore, the resolution makes no mention of the ongoing Israeli- imposed blockade on Gaza that has cut off Palestinians from fuel supplies and prevented the delivery of food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip. According to a recent report by Oxfam and other humanitarian organizations, ``the blockade has effectively dismantled the economy and impoverished the population of Gaza. Israel's policy affects the civilian population of Gaza indiscriminately and constitutes a collective punishment against ordinary men, women and children. The measures taken are illegal under international humanitarian law.'' How can the U.S. be an honest broker for peace if we fail to acknowledge the suffering, as well as the rights, of the people on all sides of this ongoing conflict? To broker a viable peace, we must address the long-standing and structural issues that exacerbate the conflict rather than sweep over them in our condemnation of its symptomatic violence. The United States must seek to prevent violence and human casualty by setting the stage for productive exchanges which can lead to mutual understanding, security and peace. To achieve this peace it is necessary to integrate an open dialogue with diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending all violence and human suffering. Our involvement in the Middle East should aim to coalesce alienated forces rather than drive them farther apart from one another and from a viable solution. Israelis and Palestinians share a mutual future. Therefore, we should set the stage for productive exchanges which can lead to mutual understanding, security and peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of David Donafee for a life that was dedicated to his family, friends, and public service. David was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 14 years. He was tragically killed while delivering mail on his route in Parma Heights, Ohio. David was a devoted father who actively supported his children's interest in hockey, as well as a devoted husband and son. David is survived by his wife, Sandi; his two children, Derek and Liam; and his mother, Rose. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering David Donafee. May his life be an example of how we should lead our own. Guest book for John David Donafee: http://www.legacy.com/CLEVELAND/GB/ GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=103615431 Shellie Rockwell (Broadview Hts., OH) Sandi, Liam and Derek, You are in our thoughts and prayers. Just remember that Dave's presence will forever be with everyone that knew him. His love for all three of you, his contagious smile and his easy-going style will be remembered for years to come. The Rockwell Family

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Derek Owens, a veteran Cleveland Police Officer who will be remembered for his unshakable commitment to the Cleveland community. Derek Owens was born in Cleveland and remained in the area for most of his life. He graduated from the University of Toledo and later returned to Cleveland to earn his social Work degree from Cleveland State University in 1995. Owens was well known and will be fondly remembered in the neighborhoods in which he served for 10 years as a police officer. He often volunteered for neighborhood block watches and was recognized for his approachability, sense of humor and dedication to helping the community, even during his time off-duty. Owens is survived by his wife, Erika, daughter Sydni and son, Chandler. Madam Speaker and colleagues please join me in honoring Derek Owens, a vital member of the Cleveland community and dedicated Police Officer. May his commitment to the community serve as an example to all of us.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance and honor of Rocco S. Oliverio, Jr. He was a beloved member of his west Cleveland neighborhood, and was known for his dedication to the community. He served Ward 14 as a representative to the Cuyahoga County Central Committee with honor and distinction, and touched those around him with his unique sense of humor. Rocco was never afraid to get involved and confront the challenges of his home neighborhood. He maintained his faith in the innate goodness of people and the ability of community and public services to overcome challenges. He invested a large part of himself in everything he did and was always genuinely interested in helping; even better, he often had a solution. Rocco is fondly remembered by his daughters, Shellie Gay and Sheila Hall-Blagg, and his eight grandchildren. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of Rocco S. Oliverio, Jr., a man whose tireless work towards improving his hometown of Cleveland will set an example for generations to come.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance and honor of Dolores ``Dee'' Benson, a beloved figure in Cleveland area politics and a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Dee was born in 1925 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where she spent most of her early life. She was an exceptional student at Altoona High School, and had a special gift for foreign languages and science. She was offered a full tuition scholarship to Penn State University, but chose to go to work instead. She married Bud in 1947 and they moved to Cleveland to raise their seven children, Robert, Patrick, Jacqueline, Mary, Elizabeth, Denise, and Christine. She will also be dearly missed by her eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Dee was incredibly active in her Cleveland neighborhood, serving as President of the Southwest Military Moms; President, Treasurer, and Secretary of Parma Women's Democratic Club; Precinct Committeewoman and Democratic Ward Leader for the community of Seven Hills; and a founding member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish; just to name a few of her many accomplishments and activities. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of Dee Benson, a much-loved activist whose contributions to her community will continue to uphold her legacy.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, 2008, is the Year of the Rat. As the Vietnamese community in Greater Cleveland gathers at St. Helena Catholic Church to enjoy their Vietnamese culture, I join them in celebration of this rich heritage. The Tet is the time of the year for our Vietnamese neighbors to honor those that have gone before us and enjoy the company of family and friends. This year's celebration will honor community leaders, and serve as a demonstration of Vietnamese music and dance. 2008 also marks thirty-three years of service to the community by the Vietnamese Community in Greater Cleveland, Inc. The Vietnamese Community, Inc. has been an invaluable resource for hundreds of Clevelanders, linking them to needed services and serving to maintain the rich heritage of the Vietnamese people. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize Le Nguyen, President of the Vietnamese Community in Greater Cleveland, Inc., and all their members, for their commitment to Vietnamese-Americans of Northeast Ohio. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in celebration of the Vietnamese New Year, Tet 2008: Year of the Rat. May the Vietnamese community of Cleveland, and throughout the nation, carry on their proud heritage throughout the year.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Sister Joan Gallagher, in celebration of her years of kindhearted service to the less fortunate within the Northeast Ohio community. Sister Joan is credited for her vigorous involvement in major projects that have touched the lives of so many people. Joan has been credited for converting a former Academy into affordable housing for the less fortunate, developing a portion of a campus for the elderly seeking a God-centered environment and creating Joseph's Home, a home for homeless men with medical problems. For many years she has helped guide the Famicos Foundation, a community development corporation that provides housing for low-income families and seniors. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Sister Joan Gallagher. May her years of service to the most vulnerable among us be an inspiration to us all in the world today.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Brother Robert E. Lavelle. Born in Cleveland, Brother Robert has a philosophy to preserve the past while being a catalyst for initiating change that is needed for the future. He has one of the longest tenures of any independent school headmaster in this country. In his more than 27 years of dedicated work as Headmaster of Gilmour Academy, student enrollment has increased, the school's endowment has climbed, and the school has completed cutting-edge technologies that have been incorporated into a 21st century curriculum. Under his skillful guidance, Gilmour Academy has developed a challenging curriculum with classes that are designed to help students learn to think critically and solve problems in a project-oriented world. The school has grown as a result of the brilliant insight of Brother Robert. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Brother Robert E. Levelle for his long tenure of servitude to Gilmour Academy. May his commitment to education serve as an example for us all and inspire future educators.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of John T. Kilbane. John has transformed his Cleveland union into an educated workforce prepared for the challenges of a global economy. Since 1974, when he emigrated to the United States, John has put in many years of dedicated work. Whether working the front lines of the Ford plant or managing important projects for a west coast-based company, in his years of hard work, John has held numerous important positions within the Local #310 union. John was instrumental in introducing apprenticeship programs that teach laborers to do things they never did before. John established the first Construction Craft Laborers Apprenticeship Program in Ohio. He is also responsible for the construction of his Local 310's new Training Center, which welcomed its first class in 2005. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing John T. Kilbane, an innovative leader in Cleveland, for his commitment to his brothers and sisters. May future generations of laborers draw inspiration from his efforts.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the NASA Glenn Research Center. The NASA Glenn Research Center will be receiving its one-hundredth R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. R&D 100 award winners are chosen by the editors of the magazine as well as an external panel of experts in recognition of their contributions in developing the top 100 most technologically significant products of the year. NASA Glenn Research Center's one-hundredth R&D 100 Award signifies the excellence of the Glenn Center's staff and the Center's significant contributions to NASA's mission. The Glenn Research Center and its staff have been included in these awards for over 41 years. Consisting of almost three-thousand civil service employees, The Glenn team has consistently strived for technical excellence in order to expand the boundaries of space, science and aeronautics technology. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the NASA Glenn Research Center's team on their significant contributions to the field of aeronautics and to continuing to work for maintaining NASA's global leadership in aeronautics.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor CDR James F. Rodes, Jr., for his exceptional service in the Cleveland police force and the United States Navy Reserve. James attended Cuyahoga Community College while serving as a patrol officer and detective in the fourth district, graduating in 1986 with a degree in law enforcement and criminal justice. He worked his way through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer and team leader of the Dive Search and Recovery Team, and continuing his career as a detective in the Fugitive Unit, Accident Investigation Unit, Bureau of Special Investigations, and Homicide Unit. He retired on November 1, 2007, after 26 years of service. James's distinguished career is also defined by his success in the Navy Reserve. He entered active duty on October 12, 1971, and was initiated Gunner's Mate Chief Petty Officer in 1985. He was a salvage diving officer in Cleveland, a company commander in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a commander in Japan and Akron, Ohio, and also served in Iraq from September 2006 to February 2007. Commander Rodes spent his childhood in the Cleveland area and now resides in Brooklyn, Ohio, with his wife Diane. He is the proud father of two daughters, Lieutenant Stacy R. Meyers and Melissa A. Hazek. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Commander James F. Rodes, Jr., a man whose exemplary service in both the United States Navy and the Cleveland Police Department will serve as an inspiration for generations to come.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Sheila Murphy Crawford. Thirty years ago, Sheila Murphy Crawford founded the Murphy Irish Arts center, which she established as a non-profit to support Irish cultural activities. She began in 1978 with 35 students. Under her guidance as director of the center, she currently has more than 250 students, ranging in age from 5 to 30. In 2006, Crawford's spectacular choreography took third place at the 2006 World Championships of Irish Dancing in Belfast. Her dancers have earned very high rankings in many other national and international competitions. Among many of her other honors, she earned the highly desirable position of adjudicator of the world governing organization for Irish Dance, An coimistun le Rinici Gaeltica. As a teenager, Crawford maintained the Irish Cultural Garden in Rockefeller Park. She later went on to become the director of the organization that oversees the verdant spot in 1995. For the past 8 years, she has also served as vice president of the Cultural Garden Federation of Cleveland. Currently, Crawford is heading a project to refurbish the Irish Garden. Crawford's outstanding commitment to sharing Ireland's rich cultural traditions and values goes far beyond Irish dancing. She has been a five time president of a religious and cultural organization that raises funds for charity, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1993, she was named Hibernian of the Year. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Sheila Murphy Crawford's significant contributions to preserving and sharing Irish culture with the community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Regina Brett. Regina Brett reaches over half a million readers a week as a thrice-weekly metro columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which she joined in 2000 after 7 years as a reporter and columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal. Brett also hosts a weekly radio program on Cleveland's National Public Radio Station, WCPN, 90.3 FM. With the capacity to reach out to so many people through her column and radio show, she has been able to highlight issues and generate debate concerning topics that are of great importance to the Greater Cleveland community. Regina Brett earned her B.A. from Kent State University and her M.A. from John Carroll University. She later went on to serve as president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Among many of her honors and awards, in 1999, she was the recipient of the yearly awarded Batten Medal; established in memory of the late CEO and chairman of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain, which recognizes one journalist nationwide whose writing displays ``compassion, fairness, courage, and a deep concern for the underdog.'' Through her body of work, she has continued, fearlessly and relentlessly, to illuminate the challenges, victories, people and communities that make up and affect the Greater Cleveland area. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Regina Brett's outstanding contributions to journalism and to the Greater Cleveland Community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Cleveland police Sergeant Dan Colegrove for more than 28 years of exemplary service in the Cleveland Police Department. Dan served in a number of capacities during his time with the police. He began his career on October 29, 1979, in the fourth district, and then spent time on the Strike Force and the Detective Bureau from 1984 to 1989. He was then assigned to the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit until 1999, when he moved to the Fugitive Unit. In June 2000, he was promoted to sergeant and served his remaining time with a stint in the fifth district and the Detective Bureau until his retirement on December 7, 2007. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Dan Colegrove for his dedication to his community of West Cleveland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Antonio Dimora, a beloved father and doting grandfather, and to honor his commitment to his Northeast Ohio community. Antonio was born in Sicily in 1932 and immigrated to the United States in 1950, settling in a succession of Cleveland area communities. He was an avid outdoorsman, worked for Republic Steel and Buckeye Forge, and served as the Union Steward in the United Steelworkers of America. Later in life, Antonio devoted his time to volunteer work with the American Association of Retired Persons and Church of the Holy Angels in Bainbridge, Ohio. Antonio's greatest joy in life was spending time with his wife, Mary Elizabeth; his four children, James, Ann Marie Miker, Theresa Agostino, and Diane Pieronek; and his nine grandchildren. He never forgot Italy, and enjoyed every opportunity to celebrate his Italian heritage. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering Antonio Dimora, whose tireless work for the labor cause and deep affection for his family and community will be remembered by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Dimora family during this difficult time.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5104, a 30-day extension of the Protect America Act. When the Protect America Act was passed by this body on August 4, 2007, I voted against the legislation because it gave legitimacy to the administration's surveillance of Americans without warrants. It is in the best interest of our Nation to allow this temporary law to expire and return to the permanent FISA law until this body can agree on legislation that protects our Constitution and upholds the civil liberties of U.S. citizens. The FISA Court has ruled to prohibit warrantless spying on Americans when communications between foreign targets overseas are routed through the U.S. The permanent FISA law leaves in place mechanisms to monitor potential terrorist activity with the approval of the FISA Court. We cannot allow baseless claims of being soft on terror to drive this debate. Those who use fear to gain power for themselves are in effect subverting our Constitution. We are at a moment in the history of this country where it is absolutely important that Congress must not accept a false choice. We must defend Americans and our Constitution from the politics of fear. We must demand that the President cease his attacks on our civil liberties. I oppose this legislation, and I will oppose all future attempts by this body to pass fear-provoking legislation that sanctions oppression against the American people. When our Constitution was written and amended, the fourth amendment said: ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'' This fourth amendment has been the bedrock of the freedoms that Americans enjoy from a government that would use its power to go deeply into people's private affairs. We must stand for our Constitution. We must stand for the Bill of Rights. That is the purpose of my presence at this very moment before this House.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. The Center for Public Integrity, in a report released today, has found the Bush administration led the Nation to war on the basis of erroneous information that it methodically propagated and it culminated in military action against Iraq on March 19, 2003. * * *