Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the offending words, to the end that they be stricken from the Record, and that I be permitted to revise and extend my remarks for the Record.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I wish to submit to the Congressional Record an article dated December 19, 2007 summarizing the plight of many of our Nation's veterans as they wait for their benefits. [From the Plain Dealer, Dec. 19, 2007] DFAS Says Hiring To Clear Backlog of Disabled Vets' benefits Claims (By Sabrina Eaton) Washington.--The federal agency that processes pay for military retirees pledged Tuesday that its contractor will hire an extra 61 workers in Cleveland to clear a backlog of more than 48,000 benefit claims from veterans who are disabled by combat injuries. The director of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service promised Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich that the backlog of claims--some of which date to 2003--will be eliminated by April with the extra push from contractor Lockheed Martin. ``Federal benefits are meaningless if the intended beneficiaries do not receive them,'' said Kucinich, who called it a ``tragedy'' that so many veterans have waited for years to get money they're entitled to under a pair of programs for disabled veterans. The payments stem from a law enacted in 2003 that ended a ban on veterans simultaneously receiving military retirement pay and disability compensation for health problems traceable to military service. Before 2003, veterans had to choose. Disabled veterans have to apply for the simultaneous payments under the ``Combat-Related Special Compensation'' and ``Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay'' programs. After they are approved, veterans can get back pay to the date their eligibility began. DFAS and the Department of Veterans Affairs have already processed more than 130,000 of the cases and paid out more than $220 million, says DFAS spokesman Thomas LaRock. Average payments to veterans under the program have been $1,700, he said. LaRock said the easiest claims were handled first. The more-complex cases were delayed because they require manual computations. He said many of them are affected by special circumstances, like changes in the veterans' disability level. ``These are complicated cases that are left, and we are processing them as soon as we can,'' agreed Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Emily Simone. One of the many veterans who has been lobbying DFAS, retired Army pilot Wavie Sharp of San Antonio, Texas, says payments have been handled in a ``painfully slow manner,'' and he noted that some older veterans have died waiting for their money. He blames the problems on DFAS for failing to demand progress from Lockheed Martin until Kucinich intervened. ``I'm angry,'' said Sharp, who figures he is personally owed between $10,000 and $31,000. ``They've been dragging their feet for four years. This is a long time to ask for patience. Thank God for Mr. Kucinich. Everyone else gave us lip service.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Zora McArthur Meissner, and to celebrate her life of service to others and her community. As a young woman in Alabama, Zora devoted herself to the civil rights movement as she registered young black voters, fought for the desegregation of schools, and demanded equality in the workplace. After moving to Cleveland, Zora earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from John Carroll University while raising her children. Her spirit for advocacy and empowerment led her to a number of jobs working with the most vulnerable populations in Cleveland. Zora's compassion embraced everyone she encountered, and her desire to make the world and Cleveland a better place never waned. She had a genuine desire to help people, and relished the time she spent with clients. Zora is celebrated in life by her beloved husband of 37 years, Joseph; and her children Betina, Chiquita, and Paul. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in remembering and honoring Zora McArthur Meissner, for a rich life spent dedicated to her family and her community. May her strength and spirit live on in us all.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, over the past few years this administration has been beating the drums of war against Iran. There are parallels against their efforts to try to create a war against Iran and the falsehoods that set us on the path to war against Iraq. We know that the United States intelligence community was able to demonstrate that the administration's claims that Iran had a nuclear weapons program were in fact not true. The January 6 incident at the Strait of Hormuth is still another cause for this Congress to look deeply at the administration's Iranian war buildup, because it appears from news reports that the Department of Defense grossly inflated an encounter that took place in the strait, an encounter that was not like any that had taken place before, and then not only inflated it, but fabricated information that would cause the American people to believe that Iran was demonstrating military aggressiveness. We really have to get off the path of war towards Iran and start working on building diplomatic relations.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman. This is a 1,513-page document which was completed today at 11:12 a.m., and delivered most recently to the Clerk's desk. I am sure many Members are familiar with some of the aspects of it, but perhaps not all. My good friend, Mr. Skelton, whose work I am always grateful for, your commitment to this country is very admirable. It takes a lot of work to do what you do, and I stand here today to express reservations to, and opposition to, this bill; and the reservations I have are of course that this bill will continue to fund the war in Iraq. I have offered Congress an alternative, which is that we can end the occupation, close the bases, bring the troops home, set in motion a parallel process of an international security and peacekeeping force that would move in as our troops leave. We all want to protect our troops. I think the best way to defend and protect them is to bring them home. So that is one of the first concerns I have. The second concern I have is section 229 of the bill relates to protection of U.S. and allies from the Iranian ballistic missile. One of the things in the bill that I am very concerned about, Mr. Chairman, is that it says that Iran maintains a nuclear program. Now the National Intelligence Agency, which made information available to this Congress, would assert otherwise. I think that we have to be very cautious about building out an entire part of our defense, planning for an attack from Iran, when we haven't even made an effort to break down the walls that have been built up over 29 years and use diplomacy. Yet, we are actually defining and making a connection between a nuclear capability that Iran clearly doesn't have at this moment and ballistic missiles. And by creating that linkage, we are actually creating an architecture of fear. I don't think that is a sensible way for the greatest Nation of the world to be pursuing its policy. In connection with that, it creates increased tensions for Europe. I am concerned that we keep building these missile interceptors in Alaska that in a sense helps to frame an interceptor system that has not even been proved to be technologically feasible; that we are getting into nanotechnology without any serious discussion of what it means when you start using nanotechnology and marry it to weapons production. The discussion in this bill about a Space Posture Review speaks of the United States policies in space as space control, space superiority, targeting objects on Earth from outer space. Now, that doesn't sound like the America that many of us would want to participate in when we think that we are going into kind of a Buck Rogers scenario here. Another section deals with continuing and encouraging the School of the Americas, something a number of Members have opposed. Mr. Chairman, I have gone over a good part of this bill, as much as I could with this short a period of time, and I think when we, on the one hand, accept the judgment of Members of Congress that we don't want a permanent presence in Iraq, and on the other hand give $80 million for one base, $86 million for another, $88 million for a third, and $103 million for a fourth, that sounds like a permanent presence to me. Either that or it is the most expensive trailers in the history of humanity. So there are so many factors in here that really I think need to cause us to be cautious. Also the one about Pakistan, because I think we are setting the stage for sending U.S. troops to Pakistan, something the American people do not want to do. I want to thank my friend, nevertheless, for his commitment to our troops. We agree that we should protect our troops.

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, will my friend yield?

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, one of the things that I just want to call to your attention, to my friend, I am concerned about that section 229 about Iran, especially in light of the new development that may have happened since this was drafted and the draft that you cite about the National Intelligence Estimate. I am not sure that that discussion about the National Intelligence Estimate has really been given weight with respect to the language in section 229 which essentially says that Iran maintains a nuclear program. When you say that Iran maintains a nuclear program and it is in that legislation, I think we set the stage for some problems. I want to thank the gentleman for being so kind to yield to me.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Cleveland Chapter of the Knights of Rizal, and to celebrate their contributions in service to the Filipino community of Cleveland. The Knights of Rizal are named after Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, martyred in 1896 in the midst of the fight for Filipino independence from Spain. Dr. Rizal was an inspiration to a whole country and to celebrate his contributions to the fight for independence for the Philippines. The Cleveland Chapter of the Knights of Rizal was founded fifteen years ago and has served the Filipino community with dedication and distinction. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the Cleveland chapter of the Knights of Rizal. I commend the Knights of Rizal for their commitment to the Filipino community and the greater community of Cleveland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dan Cicora, and to celebrate his service to the veterans of Cuyahoga County. Dan began his service to our country in 1969. As a soldier in the United States Army, Dan served in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery. Dan graduated cum laude from Ohio University in 1975, and in 1979 began his work with the Veterans Administration as a benefits counselor. Dan's extraordinary dedication to veterans and his sincere desire to serve our community has marked every position he has held with the VA, and he has won numerous accolades for his efforts. In May 1983 Dan received the VA Central Office Public Service Award, he has received five suggestion awards, and twenty-three awards for performance, quality and contribution. Since 2003 Dan has served as the Congressional Liaison for the VA Cleveland office. In this capacity Dan has helped my office serve literally hundreds of veterans; he has been an invaluable asset to my office. I, as well as hundreds of Cleveland's veterans and their families, are indebted to Dan for his professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Dan Cicora, on the occasion of his retirement, for over twenty-eight years of service to the veterans of Cuyahoga County. I wish him only the best as he begins to write a new and exciting chapter in his life. May others in our community draw inspiration from his example.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Angelo Wedo, a former shoemaker's helper and railroad worker, who served ten years as mayor of Brook Park, Ohio. Born in Windber, PA, Angelo was the son of Italian immigrants. After graduating with a degree in accounting from Lehigh University, Angelo moved to the Cleveland area, where he worked as an accountant for Pre- form Marine Products before and after his stint as mayor. In 1961, Angelo was elected Brook Park city treasurer. He served as Ward 4 councilman from 1966 to 1970 and as council president for two years before becoming mayor. Angelo served as mayor from 1972 to 1981 and is credited for playing an integral role in establishing the city's first recreation center. In appreciation of his commitment to recreation facilities, a city park was named in his honor. Angelo was the devoted husband of Sondra and the loving father of Greg, Michelle, Tony, Valerie, and Vicki. He was the cherished grandfather of six grandchildren. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Angelo Wedo, an enthusiastic member of the Brook Park community and dedicated servant of local government. May his commitment to Brook Park serve as an example to all of us.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the year 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of singer, musician, actor, composer, humanitarian and global citizen John Denver's passing from this planet that he worked so lovingly to protect. A man who reached out consistently to help those in need; the planet, its creatures, its waters, its wildernesses and its people, John ceaselessly gave of himself in an effort to lift all life to its finest and highest potential. While his awards, recognitions and achievements are many, it may be more appropriate to remember him as a unique human being who was able to touch the hearts and souls of people all over the planet. The over 300 songs that he recorded during his lifetime expressed the longings of the human family for compassion, unity and peace. His vision for all life can be best expressed in the lines from one of his songs: ``We are standing all together, face to face and arm in arm; we are standing on the threshold of a dream. No more hunger, no more killing, no more wasting life away; it is simply an idea, and I know its time has come.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, with the loss of approximately three million manufacturing jobs in the United States since 2001, many families know the effects of increased foreign imports and the outsourcing of their jobs all too well. HCTC was created to ensure that our constituents who lost these good manufacturing jobs would still be able to afford health insurance for themselves and their families. It is unjust for our constituents who have lost these jobs to additionally endure lost or inadequate health insurance because it is unaffordable. Unfortunately the spouse of the wage earner will suffer the devastating loss of this needed financial assistance to obtain health care coverage when the qualifying wage earner becomes Medicare eligible. The current eligibility requirements for the HCTC program leave a Medicare ineligible spouse without continued assistance under the HCTC, which in far too many cases means being left entirely without health care insurance. I am pleased that language was included in H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Act of 2007, a bill to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act that corrects this loophole and ensures that spouses and widows will remain eligible for the HCTC. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3920 on October 31, 2007; however, this bill has not yet become public law. Consequently, today the House will consider an extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act through March 31, 2007. As our constituents wait for H.R. 3920 to become law, there are still those who are losing their eligibility for the HCTC and in danger of losing health care coverage for their spouses. As more wage earners approach Medicare eligibility, they fear for the well-being of their spouses and incur mounting stress and anxiety. Passage of this legislation is urgently needed to put an end to these hardships. An extension of the current Trade Adjustment Assistance Act will not ensure that our deserving constituents remain eligible for the HCTC. I urge this body to make certain that the reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance is passed into public law in the urgent manner necessary to protect hard-working Americans.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, and to celebrate over 110 years of faithful service to Cleveland and Saint Colman Church. Since the Sisters of Saint Joseph arrived in Cleveland in 1886, they have been tireless ministers to our most vulnerable neighbors. The Sisters founded the East and West Side Catholic Shelters, the West Side Catholic Center, Transitional Housing, and Seeds of Literacy, among others, in order to serve the poor and marginalized, as well as empower people to overcome obstacles. As stewards of the health and well-being of the whole person, they founded Saint Joseph's Academy to educate Cleveland's young women, as well as River's Edge to nurture our spiritual health. The Sisters remain committed to peace and justice issues in the community and throughout the world, conducting educational workshops and hosting trips to promote peaceful resolution to conflict, improve ecumenical dialogue, and combat violence and oppression. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the Sisters of Saint Joseph for over 110 years of service to Cleveland and the pursuit of peace. As we celebrate the feast of Saint Colman of Cloyne, may we all aspire to the dedication and generosity of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Carol Watkins for her 46 years of public service to the people of Northeast Ohio. Carol began her career in 1960 at the Cleveland Downtown Social Security Field Office. She held many positions at the office over the years, including Clerk Stenographer, Executive Secretary, Management Analyst, Administrative Officer and Group Supervisor. In 1984, she accepted the appointment of Hearing Office Director at the Cleveland Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. During her tenure at the Cleveland ODAR, Carol has worked with over thirty Administrative Law Judges and has been recognized many times for her tireless dedication. Under her leadership, the Cleveland ODAR had received several national and regional awards as well as recognition from the legal and charity communities. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Carol Watkins for her lifetime commitment to serving the Cleveland community through her career with the Social Security Administration. May her dedication to public service serve as an inspiration for us all.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Let's hope that the National Intelligence Estimate will stop the drumbeat of war against Iran. This administration knew full well that Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program in the same way that they knew that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. Now that Congress knows that the administration misled the Congress and brought Congress into voting time after time after time to isolate Iran, it's time for diplomatic relations, but it's also time for Congress to hold this administration accountable for trying to lead us into a war against Iran. It's time, once again, to start talking about the impeachment of the President and to act upon the impeachment of the Vice President for attempting to mislead us into a war against Iran.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Troy Lee James, a former laborer and union member, and the longest serving Democrat in the Ohio House of Representatives. Born in Texarkana, Texas, Troy was the youngest of 18 children. He joined relatives in Cleveland after serving in World War II, in which he earned a Purple Heart for the wounds he suffered while fighting with the U.S. Army in Belgium. Troy represented Cleveland for 34 years in the Ohio House, leaving his seat only because term limits forced him to retire in 2000. He proudly served as chairman of the Economic Development and Small Business Committee as well as the Aging and Housing Committee. He served on the Rules Committee and was the Ranking Minority Member of the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Troy was a beloved shopkeeper and champion of Cleveland's Central neighborhood, and he was a devoted member of Antioch Baptist Church for more than 50 years. In 2003, the Ohio General Assembly named interstate 490, the short highway running south of downtown Cleveland, the Troy Lee James Highway. Troy is survived by his wife Alice, his Daughter Laura, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Troy Lee James, an enthusiastic member of the Cleveland community and dedicated servant of the Ohio government. May his commitment to Cleveland serve as an example to all of us.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak directly to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The defense authorization conference report today has a section which I think Members need to look at. All of us who are familiar with the 1878, I think it is, Posse Comitatus Act know there was a reason to exclude the military from being involved in civil law enforcement. I want you to listen to a section that is in this bill today, section 1615. I am going to read part of it. Section 1615 ``Requires the Secretary to: (1) determine the military-unique capabilities needed to be provided by DOD to support civil authorities in an incident of national significance.'' I want people to think about this. We have an administration that has repeatedly violated the Constitution, that has taken this country into war based on lies, that is putting us in hock to China to pay for the wars, and that suborns torture and rendition. And now this. We have to be careful, America. We're losing our democracy. It's time for us to save it.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the Defense bill contained a request for millions of dollars to retrofit B-2 Stealth bombers so they can carry 30,000-pound bombs, bunker busters, which would be germane to the administration's intention of attacking Iran. Imagine for a moment 30,000-pound bombs dropped on nuclear research labs in Natanz and in Bushehr, and you have a humanitarian and ecological disaster on your hands. Now, the case for war against Iran is being built on lies, just as the case for war against Iraq was built on lies. Nearly 4,000 troops dead; nearly a million innocent Iraqis perished in the conflict; borrowing money from China to fight a war against Baghdad. It is time to impeach this Vice President for leading this country into a war that is so destructive of our national agenda. It is time for us to reclaim our Constitution and to reclaim the troops.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would submit for the Record an article from Congressional Quarterly Today, dated October 23, 2007, and a copy of page 289 from this bill. [From CQ Today, Oct. 23, 2007] Item in War Request Stokes Fears of Iran Strike (By John M. Donnelly) Some Democrats are worried that President Bush's funding request to enable B-2 ``stealth'' bombers to carry a new 30,000-pound ``bunker buster'' bomb is a sign of plans for an attack on Iran. Buried in the $196.4 billion supplemental war spending proposal that Bush submitted to Congress on Oct. 22 is a request for $88 million to modify B-2 bombers so they can drop a Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, a conventional bomb still in development that is the most powerful weapon designed to destroy targets deep underground. A White House summary, accompanying the supplemental spending proposal said the request for money to modify B-2s to carry the bombs came in response to ``an urgent operational need from theater commanders.'' The summary provided no further details. The White House and the Air Force, in response to queries, did not provide additional clarification. Previous statements by the Defense Department and the program's contractors, along with interviews with military experts, suggest the weapon is meant for the kind of hardened targets found chiefly in Iran, which Bush suspects developing nuclear weapons capability, and North Korea, which already has tested a nuclear device. Bush has said repeatedly that he prefers to use diplomacy to resolve tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. But his request for funding to deliver the new bunker buster comes amid a sharp escalation of tough White House rhetoric about Iran's nuclear program in recent days. On Oct. 18, Bush said a nuclear armed Iran could lead to ``World War III.'' Three days later, Vice President Dick Cheney warned of ``serious consequences'' if Tehran continued to enrich uranium. Against that backdrop, the proposed funding for bunker busters has some in Congress worried. James P. Moran, D-Va., a senior member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, said he did not believe the MOP could be used in Iraq or Afghanistan and cited Iran as the potential target for the bomb. He said he would oppose the funding. ``That's a clear red flag,'' Moran said. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., an outspoken critic of Bush's war policies, said the funding request was the latest of many signs that indicated Bush was contemplating an attack on Iran. McDermott said such a scenario was his ``biggest fear between now and the election.'' ``We are not authorizing Bush to use a 30,000-pound bunker buster,'' he said. ``They've been banging the drums the same way as they did in 2002 with Iraq.'' Stealth Delivery The Boeing Co., in conjunction with Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, has been developing the Massive Ordnance Penetrator for several years and first tested the bomb in March. The 15- ton bomb would be dropped by B-52 or B-2 bombers. In June, the Northrop Grumman Corp., maker of the B-2, won a $2.5 million contract from the Air Force to retrofit the bat-winged, stealth bombers so they could drop the new weapon. The new funding, if approved, would significantly expand that initiative. The B-2 made its battlefield debut during the Kosovo War in 1999. It is optimal for use against sophisticated enemy air defenses because its radar-evading surface is difficult to detect. In interviews Tuesday, military experts said the new weapon was not designed for the kind of counterinsurgency campaign being conducted by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. They said the MOP could prove useful against other targets, notably underground Iranian facilities that are said to be producing nuclear weapons materials. ``A weapon like this is designed to deal with extremely hard and buried targets such as you would find in Iran or North Korea,'' said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the conservative military think tank, the Lexington Institute, who is also a consultant for some defense contractors. ``Clearly, in the case of North Korea, the likelihood of military action is receding as the Pyongyang government becomes more tractable,'' said Thompson, referring to recent progress in diplomatic efforts to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs. John Pike, an expert on defense and intelligence policy with Globalsecurity.org, said the MOP could be used against Iran's main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. ``It'll go through it like a hot knife through butter,'' Pike said. He noted that the B-2 would be the best aircraft to deliver the bomb ``if you want it to be a surprise party.'' It is not clear how quickly the new weapon could be ready for delivery by a B-2 if the $88 million were enacted. A spokesman for Northrop Grumman declined to provide a time frame. Not all Democratic lawmakers oppose the weapon. Non-nuclear bunker busters have emerged in recent years as favorites of Democrats concerned about Bush administration's earlier plans to conduct research on nuclear models. ``We need to have this as a conventional weapon,'' said Norm Dicks, D-Wash., a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. ``It adds to our deterrent.'' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Budget R-1 Request House Senate Conference ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 SPECIALIZED UNDERGRADUATE FLIGHT TRAINING............... 12,622 12,622 15,622 15,022 AT-68 for the Air National Guard........................ ........... ........... 3,000 2,400 70 B-2 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY BOMBER.......................... 244,019 289,219 292,019 297,819 AF Requested transfer for Radar Modernization Program... ........... 38,000 38,000 38,000 Small Diameter Bomb..................................... ........... 7,200 ........... 5,800 Massive Ordnance Penetrator for B-2..................... ........... ........... 10,000 10,000 71 PERSONNEL RECOVERY SYSTEMS.............................. 290,059 190,059 98,059 105,000 Contract award delay.................................... ........... -100,000 -192,000 -86,059 Transfer to Line 57, Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, ........... ........... ........... -99,000 only for H-60 upgrades................................. 72 ELECTRONIC WARFARE DEVELOPMENT.......................... 101,649 103,149 103,649 103,249 Rapid Replacement of Mission Critical Logistics ........... 1,500 2,000 1,600 Electronic Components.................................. 76 COUNTERSPACE SYSTEMS.................................... 53,412 53,412 65,412 64,412 Space Control Test Capabilities......................... ........... ........... 5,000 4,000 RAIDRS Block 20 (Air Force unfunded requirement)........ ........... ........... 7,000 7,000 77 SPACE SITUATION AWARENESS SYSTEMS....................... 187,804 197,604 187,804 197,604 Space Fence............................................. ........... 9,800 ........... 9,800 79 SPACE BASED INFRARED SYSTEM (SBIRS) HIGH EMD............ 587,004 614,604 587,004 587,004 MCSB Upgrade............................................ ........... 27,600 ........... 0 80 ALTERNATIVE INFRARED SPACE SYSTEM (AIRSS)............... 230,887 75,887 75,000 75,887 Program Growth.......................................... ........... -155,000 -155,887 -155,000 82 ARMAMENT/ORDNANCE DEVELOPMENT........................... 1,985 3,485 1,985 3,185 1-1000 Warhead Technology Demonstration................. ........... 1,500 ........... 1,200 84 AGILE COMBAT SUPPORT.................................... 10,623 12,623 10,623 12,223 Improvised Ordnance Detonator-Advanced Development...... ........... 2,000 ........... 1,600 86 LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS.................................... 12,649 13,649 12,649 13,649 ACES II Ejection Seat Improvement....................... ........... 1,000 ........... 1,000 88 INTEGRATED COMMAND & CONTROL APPLICATIONS (IC2A)........ 189 13,189 8,189 17,589 Program Engineering Interoperability Framework.......... ........... 2,000 ........... 1,600 Enterprise Services for Reach Back Capabilities (ESRBC). ........... 3,000 ........... 3,000 MEDSTARS Integration with Global Combat Support System.. ........... 2,000 ........... 1,600 Airborne Web Services (AWS) Spiral 5.................... ........... 1,000 ........... 800 Distributed Mission Interoperability Toolkit (DMIT)..... ........... 5,000 ........... 4,000 ASSET eWing and Data Fusion Technology Integration Base. ........... ........... 5,000 4,000 Global Awareness Presentation Services (GAPS)........... ........... ........... 3,000 2,400 89 INTELLIGENCE EQUIPMENT.................................. 1,469 1,469 5,969 5,069 Electronic Warfare Modeling, Simulation and Wireless ........... ........... 4,500 3,600 Testing Center......................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have made known in the course of hundreds of speeches the last few years my opposition to the war in Iraq, so I don't need to elaborate on that. I have a bill in H.R. 1234 that would bring our troops home and set in motion an international peacekeeping and security plan that would enable that to move in as our troops leave. I believe the best way to support the troops is to bring them home. But I rise today to inject a note of caution into these proceedings about an item in this appropriation which could have enormous consequences for United States policy with respect to Iran. It has been well reported that there is a provision in this bill that will enable the modification of B-2 Stealth bombers so that they can drop what is called a bunker buster or massive ordnance penetrators, as they are called, that would go to destroy deep underground targets. Every defense analyst who has been interviewed about this item has suggested that there is one reason and one reason only why this request was expedited by the administration, and that is to retrofit these B-2 bombers so they will be able to drop 30,000-pound bombs on Iran. Now, I know there are Members of this House who would, perhaps, support a strike against Iran. I don't. I think diplomacy is the preferred path here. But I think that if we are looking at this item that is number 70 on page 289, we cannot approve of this without thinking of the consequences of the administration's approach. Because if you drop 30,000-pound bombs, bunker busters, on nuclear research labs, this is, in effect, creating a humanitarian and ecological disaster. There is just no way to avoid it, because you are talking about the release of radiation that's inevitable from dropping such a bomb. Now, some could say, well, that's the idea. It cannot be the idea. We are talking about a war crime in motion here. This would have the effect of, perhaps, Chernobyl, which released radiation and ruined, poisoned land in Russia. It would have human health effects that would be catastrophic. We have got to think about the implications of this particular item. I think it's really important that Congress reflect on it. That's why I oppose the bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I am from Cleveland, Ohio; and it would seem from this discussion that while this is all about Florida, it is not. All over this country there are communities that are in coastal areas and flood plains, in hurricane alleys; and they are all looking at this legislation, realizing that the insurance companies are just withdrawing from areas where there's a high number of claims. They don't want to take the risk anymore, even though people, many of whom have been paying premiums, have never filed a claim. So it is appropriate for this legislation to be passed. I have to say that the occasion of this legislation raises even deeper questions about the insurance industry across this country as to their practices, as to a new form of environmental redlining. And what we are looking at is we also have to see the interplay between environmental and energy policies and weather and climate patterns. We are at a moment of transition here. Certainly this legislation ought to be supported.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, this is one of those moments where the House gets to demonstrate the degree to which we are truly committed to the unfolding of 14th amendment rights to due process and equal protection of the law. We get a chance to determine that today. I believe that people who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender are entitled to the full and equal protection of employment laws. The principles behind the original draft of ENDA sought to embrace the fullness of a community which has experienced significant undermining of rights in the workplace. None of us can know, unless we have walked in somebody's shoes, but let's imagine for a moment that someone who presents himself or herself as being of another sex or gender, imagine what they must go through in their daily lives. And imagine we who take an oath to defend the Constitution would somehow separate the people from the claims of justice and from the claims of constitutional protection. We all love this country. We all love being Americans. But to be an American means really standing for those constitutional principles and really understanding that life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are something that everyone should have access to and that everyone should have equal protection of the law and due process. I am very concerned, as my Republican colleagues are, that the Baldwin amendment can be offered and pulled back without a vote, because if it was given a vote, I would vote for the Baldwin amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I was saying that I share the concern that my Republican colleagues have that we won't have a chance to vote on a Baldwin amendment, because I believe that this is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I brought articles of impeachment before this House. The articles have been referred to the Judiciary Committee, and the people of the United States now have a chance to become engaged in a broad discussion about the importance of this action. People ask, why now? Well, recently, the administration asked for millions of dollars to be included in the defense budget to retrofit Stealth B-2 bombers with 30,000-pound bombs that can be used to bomb nuclear research labs in Iran at Natans and Bushir. Think of the humanitarian and ecological disaster that would come from that kind of a bombing. This administration, which took license to go to war based on lies, must be held accountable. And the Vice President must be held accountable for his role in bringing about the war against Iraq and in trying to beat the drums for a war against Iran. As has been pointed out here, we have so many needs here at home. We have people who are losing their homes, losing their pensions, losing their jobs, losing their health care, and we must bring discipline in this House to hold this administration accountable unto the law, so we can begin to focus on a domestic agenda and stop waging aggressive war. Impeach the Vice President.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman from Maine for his own leadership. The U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement continues the destructive trade policies that spur the exodus of good-paying jobs and undermine the ability of working people to protect their living standards. Our workers and our communities have been hurt by the devastating impacts of our flawed trade policies. Since 2001, over 3 million valuable manufacturing jobs have been lost by U.S. workers due to the unsound NAFTA model of trade analogous to the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement we are considering tonight. Yet the Bush administration insists on continuing to implement the same policies that have off- shored jobs and left hardworking Americans in precarious circumstances. Common sense suggests that our trade policies must continue to promote and expand Buy American practices that support American competitiveness. Instead, this agreement undermines Buy American programs. This destructive trade bill requires that all firms in Peru, Peruvian or otherwise, be granted equivalent access to outsourced U.S. Government work and Buy American program contracts as our own U.S. firms. Suggesting that Buy American should include Peruvian businesses indicates that the multinational corporations are the real beneficiaries of the free trade agreement. This body successfully fended off the Bush administration's attempts to privatize our Social Security system in 2005. It should follow that this body would hold firm on this principle for other nations as well. However, there are provisions in the Peru FTA that would allow U.S. firms to exact compensation if the Peruvian Government reverses the partial privatization of their own social security system. Citibank would reap a windfall if Peru did what the U.S. Congress has voted to do, roll back the privatization of Social Security. Furthermore, the U.S.-Peru FTA threatens the citizens and workers of Peru. The two main labor federations of Peru have expressed opposition to the agreement over concerns for the workers of both of our nations. As corporations cut U.S. jobs and relocate in search of lower labor costs, the U.S.-Peru FTA threatens to expand sweatshop labor in Peru and casts doubt on the adequate enforcement of worker protections. In a country already fraught by high poverty levels and a growing gap between the wealthy and the poor, the U.S.-Peru FTA will further exacerbate Peru's difficulties with provisions that ultimately promote privatization and deregulation of basic necessities such as water and electricity. Agricultural provisions of this agreement threaten the well-being of Peru's peasant farmers. These provisions are expected to cause displacement of farmers and increased hunger. Peru has over 7 million citizens living in rural communities, with agriculture helping to sustain one-third of its population. It is estimated that over 4.5 million Peruvians are malnourished and without much-needed income. I urge the defeat of this trade agreement and standing up for the American worker. Coca cultivation requires minimal technology, produces four yields annually and is profitable. Because the Peru FTA includes provisions requiring Peru to reduce tariffs on U.S. agricultural products it is predicted that many Peruvian farmers will turn to the illicit cultivation of coca to earn a living. Experts predict that these agricultural provisions of this NAFTA style deal threaten an increase of undocumented migration into the U.S. This has implications for our immigration system, a system that is already badly in need of humane reform. Terms in the U.S.-Peru FTA for drug makers will harm Peruvian patients who need lifesaving medications. The provisions ensure that patients in Peru will struggle to afford necessary drugs. Corporations will be able to challenge domestic environmental and public health laws in international tribunals. This gives corporations the ability to circumvent accountability and undermine laws that exist to protect people and the environment. Failed trade policies that threaten natural resources and our environment have been the status quo for too long and will only continue under the U.S.-Peru FTA. Like prior trade agreements, the U.S.-Peru FTA will not bring global prosperity and well-being, but will instead bolster powerful corporations. I urge my colleagues to oppose the U.S.-Peru FTA.