Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. When you look at the resolution, and it says in part, ``steps should continue to be taken to restore cooperation between Venezuela and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration,'' I think everyone in this Congress would readily agree with that, but the language and condemnation actually separates us from that goal. I think this is a consistent problem that we face here in the Congress. We desire a certain type of behavior from another government and then we tear them to shreds with our rhetoric. So it may be that we need to think again about our approach towards diplomacy and the approach that we take in these resolutions. I understand the intention of my friend from Indiana who is a good man and who has been consistent in challenging illegal drug trafficking into the country, but I also understand that we need to look at the approach we are taking and see if this kind of approach is where a resolution is going to be most effective. Echoing what Mr. Delahunt said, we need to also take a look very deep into our souls about what is driving this demand in this country for cocaine.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, as Congressman Markey just said, as this proposal now stands, there is nothing stopping India from using more and more of its domestic uranium for weapons program. Without the safeguards provided by the Sherman amendment, India could produce dozens more nuclear weapons per year under the U.S.- India deal, which would surely lead to an arms race with neighboring rival Pakistan. Mr. Chairman, I am a great supporter of India and of stronger U.S.- India relations. India is the world's largest democracy. It has contributed measurably to the legacy of peace of the great leader Mahatma Ghandi. India's long-standing goal of universal nuclear disarmament has not been acknowledged enough in this debate This proposal will be harmful to security in India, in the region and the world. And this proposal will be harmful to the people of India in that it could escalate an arms race between India and Pakistan. I support Representative Sherman's amendment, which requires the President to certify annually that India is not dedicating more domestic uranium to its weapons program, as a condition for the U.S. to cooperate with India on nuclear technology. Pakistan wants a deal with the U.S. on nuclear technology, but the U.S. has refused. Instead, Pakistan has turned to China for this technology. To add fuel to the fire, it was just reported that Pakistan has begun building a powerful new reactor for producing plutonium, signaling a major expansion of the country's nuclear weapons capabilities. Instead of giving India more uranium to develop nuclear weapons, the United States should take leadership in preventing an arms race in the region. A good first step would be to pass the Sherman amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, in the Hindu religion, Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer exist simultaneously and represent the multiplicity of God. Today, we are going to be called upon to determine which of the principles, Creator, Preserver or Destroyer, shall work through each of us. If we continue to pursue nuclear proliferation embodied in the nuclear agreement with India, we will be open to the principles of destruction. At this moment when world tensions are rising and violence is cycling higher, we need to take the direction of preserving the peace and creating a new opening through abolishing all nuclear weapons. August 6, 2006, will mark the 61st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima which obliterated the city and killed about 140,000 people. Today, 30,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world. Many nuclear weapons are deployed. Any use of nuclear weapons would be unthinkable devastation. The only way to prevent the use of nuclear destruction is to abolish all nuclear weapons. To that end, I will be introducing legislation today.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. This proposal would threaten global security and unilaterally modify the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. This administration has pursued contradictory policies with respect to the NPT, both misusing and disregarding the NPT to suit its stumbling interests. Regarding Iran, for example, the administration cited Iran for minor breaches of the NPT and are trying to rally support based on that for a military attack. At the same time, the administration itself undermines the NPT by this proposal which would help develop nuclear weapons. The NPT requires that nuclear weapons states keep their weapons to themselves and allows nonweapons states to receive civilian nuclear technology only in exchange for their refusal to produce nuclear weapons. Yet this deal, in this deal the U.S. will provide India with civilian nuclear technology even though India is not a signatory to the NPT, is known to possess nuclear weapons and has no intention of limiting its nuclear weapons cache or production capability. Moreover, since the U.S. will supply India with uranium fuel, India will be able to use more of its own limited uranium reserves to produce nuclear weapons. It is estimated India will be able to produce dozens more nuclear weapons per year under this deal. We are going in the wrong direction here. At this time of great crisis in the world, we should be looking towards nuclear disarmament, nuclear abolition, saving the world, not ramping up for Armageddon by nuclear proliferation.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, as the work of the committee continues on this temporary reauthorization, I think it is important to have a few reflections. This is the 10th anniversary of the original sanctions law, and I think it would behoove us to ask what those sanctions have accomplished. This legislation seeks to renew for a period of 2 months a confusing, ineffective and, at best, counterproductive, at worst, counterproductive sanctions policy against Iran. Iran justly remains a focal point of security concerns for our Nation. It supports those who use violence as a means of settling political disputes. It is threatening rhetoric with respect to Israel. And there is world concerns about its desire to ramp up nuclear production. All these things, in my judgment, make it mandatory the United States seek immediate talks with Iran. We must reach out to parties in the region to begin to negotiate an end to the violence and the beginning of a peace process leading to a permanent resolution. Now, our leaders haven't taken that approach. They are seeking to isolate Iran, and instead we are starting to isolate ourselves. These sanctions are indirect. They are not targeted at objectionable behavior. According to Anthony Wayne, the Assistant Secretary For Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, testifying before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on June 28, 2001, talking about the Libya and Iran Sanctions Act, he says that ``it focuses on investment in order to limit revenue, rather than focusing directly on actions by Iran to procure weapons of mass destruction and support terrorism.'' He goes on to say that ``it goes against some of the friendly countries whose cooperation we need in working towards nonproliferation and counterterrorism goals.'' So these sanctions haven't been effective. There is a question about whether any sanctions are going to be effective here. These sanctions add to the price of gasoline in the United States. We are paying for these failed sanctions every time we fill up our tank. Iran has the third largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Canada, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, equaling 132.5 billion barrels. Iran has the second largest natural gas reserves after Russia, equaling 16 percent of the world's reserves. The administration hasn't done anything meaningful to break our country of its dependence on petroleum, so the reality is that sanctions against investments in Iran's oil and gas fields will cause U.S. consumers to pay higher prices for gasoline and natural gas. High prices protect the Iranian government from economic consequences of decreased investment. A military strike against Iran, which this country seems to be nodding towards, could send oil to $130 per barrel, according to CNN, making the $3 a gallon currently look like the good old days. Now, we have to take a new direction. The same geniuses who brought us the war in Iraq, who are standing by while violence overwhelms the Middle East, these same geniuses have this plan to keep sanctions on Iran, which will drive up the price of oil, so Iran can make more money selling their oil to other countries, and the oil industry in the U.S. isn't complaining about it because they are making record profits. We need to take a new approach. That approach is to engage Iran directly and to stop isolating them and to bring them to a peaceful resolution of the issues that are currently inflaming so much of the world. This is a time for us to take a new direction. I don't think that we are headed that way, but I think that when we are looking at renewal of a sanctions regime we ought to be talking about whether or not it is in the best interests of this country to take the direction we are taking.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. This is really about fairness. It is about values. I rise in strong support of Congressman Miller's motion to instruct. I commend my colleague, Mr. Miller, for his leadership in working to ensure that pension reform puts workers first. This motion to instruct highlights a number of important provisions that make clear the priority of our efforts. It must be workers. Pensions are not just investments to workers. To a worker, his or her pension is the centerpiece of economic security. The promise of that pension becomes more precious as workers move closer to their own retirement. It is imperative that our efforts protect older workers. This motion to instruct recognizes that conversions from traditional defined benefit plans to cash balance plans harm older workers. Providing transition protections for older workers should not be a choice for employers but a requirement. Hardworking employees should not be rewarded for their service with a denial of pension benefits. I urge my colleagues to help ensure that older workers' pensions are protected. This motion to instruct also highlights the importance of equity between workers and executives. Under the pension reform bill passed by this House, a pension plan that is less than 80 percent funded would not be allowed to increase benefits or establish new benefits for its workers regardless of the reason for the underfunding. But while worker pensions are held stagnant, executive benefits remain unrestricted until the plan is less than 60 percent funded. Patently unfair to workers. Pension plans are administered and funded by companies, not the workers. Workers should not be punished for faulty management of plans. The past decade is littered with examples of increasing executive pay and pensions while worker pension plans were underfunded or even terminated. In 2002, U.S. Airways' CEO received a lump sum pension of $15 million. Six months following that executive payout, U.S. Airways filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. One eventual outcome of the bankruptcy was the termination of the pilots' pension plan. The CEO, $15 million; the pilots . . . Stories with a similar theme can be shared about United Airlines and Delta. Executives receive a protected pension benefit or extra stock options, while workers are left with terminated pension plans and a cut in benefits. Although this motion to instruct will not restore the pensions of those workers already harmed by executive abuse, it will make a difference to many others. Pension plans do not belong to companies. They belong to workers. They are the workers' money and the workers' future. Pensions are the property of the workers, and as such, we have a duty to ensure that workers' pensions are protected from practices which threaten our security. I urge my colleagues to support the Miller motion to instruct. I urge my colleagues to remember that there are millions of Americans out there who are looking to this moment to decide whether we are going to stand up for working men and women or we are going to turn them aside in order to slaver over the economic advantage that is granted to their executives.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time. I also want to thank Mr. LaTourette for the work that he has done to bring this resolution to the floor of the House. As someone who grew up in the city of Cleveland and had the opportunity as a young boy to watch the Cleveland Indians, or to listen to them on the radio, and to have had the opportunity to go to a baseball game with my father to see Bob Feller pitch, to dream that from that point to this moment that so many years later we would have the opportunity to personally recognize his achievements through this congressional resolution, for any of us who were Cleveland Indians fans back then to be here now in this Chamber, it is an honor for us. Bob Feller epitomized everything that any of us ever hoped our professional athletes would be. In the fifties, there was a different type of iconography of professional athletes. They were people who we would aspire to emulate, people who carried with them not only exceptional prowess on the field, but also had stories of personal achievement that were so extraordinary. The story then wasn't about how much money an athlete made. The story was about their quality of heart, and in Bob Feller's case, the quality of commitment to our Nation. Is there any question that with the tremendous number of records he held in major league baseball that he could have set marks that would never, ever be reached had he pitched those 4 years in which he decided instead to serve his country at a much higher level. But he enlisted in the Navy at the peak of his career, missing those four seasons, serving in World War II, served as an anti-aircraft gunner on the USS Alabama. He earned five campaign ribbons and eight battle stars. Oh, yes, he played on eight All-Star teams as well. As a major leaguer, he took the Cleveland Indians to two World Series, in 1948 and 1954. I remember in the Kucinich household the World Series pennants from 1948, and I remember how proud we were of the fact that Bob Feller and then what was known as the Big Four of our pitchers helped to guide the Indians' fortunes for quite a few years. We have such pride in our community and in baseball's link to the tradition of Cleveland, and Bob Feller has been an important part of that. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in January of 1962 and inducted in July of the same year. As we know, he spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, from 1936 to 1956. He pitched three no-hitters. And the first, as has been recounted, pitched on an opening day. Pitched his second no-hitter in 1946, and his third in 1951. He also pitched 12 one-hitters. Think about it: 12 one-hit games. And he won more than 20 or more games in a season six times. Cleveland's Bob Feller, also known as Rapid Robert, amassed 226 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; led the league in strikeouts seven times during his career; voted the Cleveland Indians' Man of the Year twice. Well, he is always going to be our baseball man of the year because he is someone who if you go outside of the Cleveland stadium, you will see a monument to Bob Feller. It shows him basically rearing back, ready to throw that fastball that always went over 90 miles an hour. And it shows him in that perfect form of his youth, immortalized as the great pitcher. It also shows him as someone who carried with him the hopes and dreams of a community during times that were often very difficult. We love you, Bob Feller, and we love the fact that our Congress is recognizing not only what you have done for Cleveland, Ohio, but what you did for major league baseball and what you did for the morale of our country. Thanks, Rapid Robert.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, at this historic moment, the United States is failing in its moral obligation to bring a cessation to the violence in the Middle East. This policy of inaction will have great consequences for the region, the world, and for the safety of our Nation and our allies. The United States stands alone in our ability to bring an end to the violence and relieve the humanitarian catastrophe which has engulfed the people of Lebanon, Palestine and Israel. In the short-term, we must call for an end to the violence. Then, without pre-conditions, we must bring all parties in the region to a long term settlement which will be enforced by peacekeepers. This is the purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 450. We should demonstrate concern about the plight of the Israelis, but we must not be indifferent to the plight of the Arabs, Muslims and Christians and all others who are suffering the destruction of their homes, their families, their hopes and their dreams. As the violence continues with no end in sight and with civilian casualties on the rise, this is the moment to call for the end of fear and the beginning of hope. House Concurrent Resolution 450 does just that.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute and recognition of the Virginia Marti College of Art and Design as they celebrate 40 years of devotion to artistic exploration and advanced academics. Located in the cultural hub of Lakewood, Ohio, the Virginia Marti College was founded in 1966 by visionary Virginia Marti Veith to stimulate innovation in the field of art and design. The culturally diverse campus engages students on an individual level to develop their unique talents and creativity, making Virginia Marti an inspirational learning environment. For 40 years students from around the world have met the rigorous academic challenges of Virginia Marti College with determined passion and graduated on to successful careers, creating vibrant ripples throughout the fashion world. In the early 1990s, inspired by a trip she made with her husband Herb to Africa, Virginia Veith founded Mission to the Fatherless, a nonprofit operating in Kenya to provide orphaned children with food, healthcare, education, and a loving home. The organization is supported by proceeds from Virginia Marti Designer Fabrics store, located on the college campus. Due to the devastation of diseases like HIV/AIDS, more than a million children are orphaned in Kenya alone, a number that grows from day to day. Mission to the Fatherless is dedicated not only to providing children with basic needs but nourishing their spiritual and moral development to inspire principled civic engagement. All of the proceeds from Virginia Marti College's 40th anniversary black-tie celebration will go directly to Mission to the Fatherless, with the hopes of building a third orphanage in Kenya. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the Virginia Marti College of Art and Design as it celebrates 40 years of excellence in design with a noble fundraiser for Mission to the Fatherless, rescuing children from a life of poverty, starvation, and violence.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Mr. John Henry Lenear, dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, whose brilliant legacy as a journalist has served to elevate the lives of all who knew him and his work. Mr. Lenear's convictions, framed by integrity and wisdom, consistently graced the pages of Cleveland's oldest and Ohio's most respected African-American newspaper, the Call & Post. During his decades-long career as a newspaperman, his unwavering focus and commitment to our African-American community's struggle for civil rights and equal opportunity for all helped shape public policy throughout the State of Ohio. As an objective and conscientious journalist, Mr. Lenear developed strong ties with local, county, State and Federal government officials. Mr. Lenear's sense of compassion for those in need reflected in his numerous volunteer efforts and leadership, which included providing tangible assistance through neighborhood programs designed to help pave a way for individuals to rise above the cycle of poverty and despair. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Mr. John Henry Lenear, whose life and legacy served to bring critical issues into the rational light of day and whose deep sense of humanity will continue on in raising our own individual and collective humanity. I offer my deepest condolences to his entire family and to his many friends. John Henry Lenear lived his life with energy and joy, and the memories of his affable nature and kind heart will forever light the hearts of all who knew and loved him well, and will forever shine throughout Cleveland, OH and far beyond.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, how is it that even with the constant moral and financial support of our Nation, our friend and ally, Israel, is still not safe and secure. If we insist upon the security and survival of Israel, and we must, then we must also insist upon the security and survival of the Palestinians and the Lebanese. We say we will never negotiate with those who have sworn to destroy us or our allies, but history shows us that every conflict was resolved by doing exactly that. We prepare for war so grandly; let us prepare for peace grandly by looking fearlessly and deep into the hearts of those who wish us harm, and find that spark of recognition that connects us to a common humanity and from that draw a flicker of hope to enkindle the warm glow of peace. After 9/11, we asked, Why do they hate us? Isn't it time for us to ask, Why do we hate them? Do we think about what hate does to our own hearts? Isn't it time to put on the invincible armor of human compassion to explore human relations as the science of the human heart, in which we always have the capacity through courage, communication, patience and understanding to turn hate into love, and to beat our swords into plowshares.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. While I share a commitment to the survival of Israel and the right to security, I am not going to assert that I know more than my good friend Mr. Lantos or my good friend Mr. Ackerman, that I know more about the suffering of the people of Israel. But I can have compassion for those who have suffered and for not just Israelis, but the Lebanese and the Palestinians as well. And it is in that spirit that I share with the House my concerns that the situation in the Middle East is spiraling out of control, and this resolution may not diffuse this crisis. I deplore the fact that in the past 8 days, 13 Israeli civilians have been killed, 2 Israelis soldiers have been captured, and many more killed in raids. I also deplore the fact that in the past 8 days, 300 Lebanese people have been killed, 1,000 have been wounded, and a half million have been displaced from their homes. In the past 8 days, democracy in Lebanon has been attacked, perhaps grievously. The Prime Minister hinted today in a speech to foreign ambassadors that his government may not be able to survive. No government can survive in the ruins of a nation, he said. The past 8 days of crisis in Lebanon and north Israel follow months of escalating violence in Gaza. Numerous innocent Palestinians have been killed. Between June 4 and June 13, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were killed in Gaza. On June 9 at a Gaza beach, a blast killed eight Palestinians, including an entire family of 7-year-old Huda Ghaliya. Numerous innocent Israelis have also been killed. On Sunday, July 25, a group of Palestinian fighters, including members of Hamas's armed wing, attacked an Israeli post near the Kerem Shalom border, which resulted in four Israeli casualties and the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel began an offensive in Gaza on June 28. Since then, Palestinian militants have fired 17 homemade rockets towards Israel. The Israeli Army has carried out 168 far strikes and fired more than 600 shells into Gaza. The Government of the Palestinian Authority is breaking, as lawmakers, ministers and members of the police force have been arrested. In today's Washington Post, Harold Meyerson published an op- ed called, ``The Guns of July,'' comparing the past week's escalation of violence in the Middle East to the escalation of violence over the course of a month in Europe, that began with the assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist terrorist and led to World War I. He said we are in the midst of what ``may be the brink of a cataclysmic regional war with ghastly global implications.'' He wrote, ``While the two crises and sets of conflicting forces are by no means parallel, in each the power of nationalism, the sense of national victimization, the need for revenge, the opportunity for miscalculation, the illusion of obtainable victory and all-around fear and rage loom large. More inexplicably, so does the American absence.'' The resolution before us today does not rein in the chaos in the Middle East. This resolution, it could be said, is limited in its ability to rein in war and destruction, which unfortunately may continue. Furthermore, by condemning Syria and Iran, this resolution threatens to bring the U.S. into a regional war in which everyone would lose, including Israel, a longtime friend and ally. Moreover, condemning Syria and Iran closes the door for possible diplomacy that would be needed to end this conflict. President Bush himself acknowledged the value of Syria just yesterday, when he said that Syria has the potential to stop the ongoing crisis. If the United States wants to help stabilize the region, as we should, we must act as an honest broker to all parties involved, the Israelis, the Palestinians and the Lebanese. We can do this without abandoning our affection and our commitment to the survival of Israel. Moreover, the United States should bring in equipment, and Jordan to help to mediate this escalating conflict. Recently, Egypt's President Mubarak dispatched his intelligence chief to help calm the situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The intelligence chief demanded that a doctor be allowed to see the captive Israeli soldier and is trying to mediate between the factions. The U.S. is in a good position to mediate as well between the Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese. The U.S. has a history of trying to mediate between the Israelis, our longtime ally, and the Palestinians. Regarding the Lebanese, it was just over a year ago that this House passed multiple bills supporting the people of Lebanon. One bill, House Resolution 91, condemned the attacks that killed former Prime Minister Hariri and killed and wounded other Lebanese victims. The United States stood with the Lebanese people then. Today, nearly 300 Lebanese people have been killed. The government is on the verge of collapse. The Lebanese people need the support of the United States now, just as the Israelis need our support. What they need and all parties need, what the region needs and what the world needs, is for the U.S. to call upon all sides to quickly stop the violence. But today's resolution fails to support the Lebanese people in their hour of need. Today, I introduced a bill, H. Con. Res. 450, calling upon the President to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit U.S. diplomats to multiparty negotiations. Only by acting as an honest broker can the United States have any authority and success in bringing peace to the region, which is crucial at this critical time. Remembering the lessons of World War I, if everyone has taken a side in a conflict and can't see the need for even-handedness, then cataclysm can follow. It is important to be a strong ally. It is fine to be a strong ally, but it is not fine to get pulled into a conflict because we lacked the vision to be more than one-sided. This latest conflict in the Middle East will not be solved militarily. The solution will have to come back to diplomacy. The current violence makes a diplomatic solution even harder to achieve. Yet the resolution before the floor doesn't commit the United States to any diplomatic action that could quell the violence and resolve the conflict. This is a grave missed opportunity. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor my bill, H. Con. Res. 450 to bring about peace in the Middle East before the crisis spirals further out of control, further damaging the hopes of all people in the region and the world. I again want to thank Mr. Lantos for his unstinting and unwavering commitment to the survival and hopes and dreams of people of Israel, because I think that, Mr. Lantos, you and everyone who has spoken in defense of Israel, I think all of us want the same thing. We want peace, and we want the survival of Israel and all the people.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the crew and all of the NASA employees on the successful completion of their mission, known as STS- 121, the second return-to-flight mission. The mission serves as another example of the historic accomplishments of each of NASA's centers. I am proud to say that the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio played an essential role in the mission. Over the last year, NASA Glenn's researchers and scientists have worked to improve the safety of the shuttle. Glenn's supersonic 8 by 6 foot wind tunnel was used to make detailed measurements of the ways in which the shuttle would be affected by the absence of what is called the protuberance air load ramps, PAL. The PAL ramp is used to smooth the airflow over the exterior cables and fuel lines. The information gained from the tests was used to decide to fly without the PALs, which is the biggest aerodynamic change in the history of the space shuttle. Glenn has also been part of a team testing NOAX, a material designed to fill spaces in the shuttle's surface. On the third space walk, shuttle astronauts tested the compound's performance during the intense heat of reentry. Early indications are that the experiment went very well. Glenn also has experiments in the international space station that will further the safety of human presence in outer space. For example, this mission began an experiment on the space station that will improve the detection of fire in a microgravity environment. NASA is deserving of thanks and congratulations from Congress. I support this resolution. I thank Congressman Paul for offering it, and I want to thank all of my colleagues who have been supportive of this program and who understand its relationship to the future of our Nation and the future of the world.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the Book of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for war and a time for peace. This is the time for peace. Now is the time to stop the disintegration into a worldwide conflict. Now is the time to show the world that the United States is strong enough to be a leader in peace, not war. Now is the time to call for an immediate cessation of violence in the Middle East. Now is the time to commit the United States diplomats to multiparty negotiations with no preconditions. Now is the time to reaffirm our support for Israel by showing leadership and diplomacy. Unilateralism breeds unilateralism. And then the awful dialectic of conflict moves as a force beyond our control and takes its deadly toll. One hundred civilians a day are being killed in Iraq. Things are spinning out of control. The war on terror has become a war of errors. We must bring a halt to this march of folly. Communication is the controlling factor. Diplomacy is the controlling factor. There is a time for war and a time for peace. This is the time for peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the 14th amendment, section 1, says that no one shall be denied equal protection of the laws. Now, if this would pass, would this legislation, this constitutional amendment, supersede that provision of the 14th amendment and make that provision of the 14th amendment null and void?

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my beloved colleagues, what if a man and a woman have a partnership which does not produce children? Is their marriage invalid? Is it less sacred? And the use of the word ``illegitimate'' here is a little troubling because I thought we dispensed with those kinds of references as we became more enlightened. It is easy to take a stand for the institution of marriage in the abstract, but try doing it in your own life and that becomes a little more complex. It is far easier to tell others how they should live and whom they should be permitted to marry. The science of human relations requires humility. Whether in the heights of unity or the depths of divorce, our relationships, our companionships, our partnerships, are our greatest teachers. Our relationships are also a sphere of influence which should be free from government interest or interference. Government does not belong in the bedroom or secretly listening on your phone, reading your books, reviewing your e-mails. Government does not have a rightful role in determining who you should love, who should love whom, and therefore enter into the formalization of a civil marriage contract. We do not often quote from the Declaration of Independence here, but I think it would be useful if I recited some words that are instructive at this moment: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men,'' and we know now all people, ``are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'' Thomas Jefferson went on to write that governments are created to secure these rights. I might add that this government was not created to crush those rights. Today, with a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage, we would establish a law which would be at odds with the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection of the law. What is next? Amend the Pledge of Allegiance to take out the words ``with liberty and justice for all''? What is next? Recarve the dais in front of us here, which has words carved into wood, and I will read them for those who are not able to see them: words carved below the Speaker: ``Tolerance,'' ``Justice,'' ``Union,'' ``Liberty''? Do we just take that apart? Move it? Leave it blank? You wonder why this Congress is not held in higher regard. I will tell you why. In Iraq, our troops are caught in a crossfire of a civil war which grows more deadly every day. The administration has no exit strategy. Congress does nothing. In Iran, the Department of Defense is actively preparing for war while the administration sets the stage for negotiations that they intend to fail. Congress does nothing. In the Middle East, the region stands on the brink of a full-blown war in which there will be no winners. Congress does nothing. In North Korea, the administration won't negotiate with North Korea, while North Korea is thumbing its nose at the international community. Congress does nothing. Here at home, you want to talk about a threat to the institution of marriage? 45 to 50 million people are without health insurance; bankruptcies at a record level; people in home foreclosures. Let's talk about a threat to the institution of marriage. Congress is doing nothing about any of that. Today, in a shameless attempt to divert, distract, and distort from the lackluster performance of this Congress, the House is set to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. Iraq, Iran, the Middle East, North Korea, health care, gas prices, the minimum wage? No, the most pressing issue in America is gay marriage.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, we make war with such certainty, yet are befuddled how to create peace. This paradox requires reflection if we are to survive. Making and endorsing war requires a secret love of death, a fearful desire to embrace annihilation. Creating peace requires compassion, putting ourselves in the other person's place, and all of their suffering and all of their hopes, and to act from our heart's capacity for love, not fear. The fight against terrorism in the 21st century is beginning to have the feel of the fight against communism in the 20th century, conjuring of enemies, scapegoating and wanton destruction. Our war on terror has become a war of error, so we blame the exercise, our capacity for warmaking. And because we have not yet begun to explore our capacity for peacemaking, we are reduced to a predatory voyeurism, once making war, watching war, being aghast at war, impotent to stop our own creation. We are the most powerful Nation, but we do not have the power to reserve for ourself or to grant to our allies an exemption from the laws of cause and effect. The fate of the world hangs in the balance, and until we consciously choose peace over war, life over death, the balance is tipping toward mutually assured destruction.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, rise today in honor and recognition of the leaders and members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, of Cleveland, Ohio, as they celebrate 80 years of faith, guidance and support, embracing generations of citizens throughout our Westside Cleveland community. In 1926, Our Lady of Mount Carmel was established to serve the spiritual and cultural needs of the Italian-American residents of this neighborhood. Father Sante Gattuso and Father Martin Compango were selected by then-Cleveland Bishop John Farrelly to assist and guide the needs of the growing population of Italian-American families, including newly arrived immigrants from Italy. Father Sante slowly garnered the trust and admiration of the people of the West 69th neighborhood and people began gathering on the front porch of the Fascano family home, where services were first conducted. Storefront space was rented for many years until ground was broken on West 70th Street in 1949, the year that the parish and newly built grade school found a permanent home--all of which was made possible by the faith, commitment and devotion of Father Sante Gattuso and the faithful Italian-American community of the Westside. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of every leader and member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, as they celebrate 80 years of cultivating faith, hope and heritage for generations of families within our Cleveland community. We also rise in honor and memory of the struggle, sacrifice and triumph of the founding members of this parish, who journeyed to America with few possessions beyond faith, love and hope in their hearts and the grit to survive. Love and faith still shines from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, encircling this neighborhood with light, strength and hope rising on the dawn of every new day.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Dr. Edgar B. Moore, beloved husband, father, friend, educator, and spiritual leader. Dr. Moore leaves a legacy at Baldwin-Wallace College that reflects his personal passions and professional accomplishments in his roles as both chaplain and professor. Dr. Moore began his career at Baldwin-Wallace in August 1962, when he was hired as chaplain. He immediately became involved in various chapel activities while counseling and advising students and teaching in the Religion Department. At the end of his first year, the History Department underwent major changes, and Dr. Moore was asked to take a position as professor of history. He accepted and was named chairman while remaining chaplain. Dr. Moore remained in the History Department until his retirement. Dr. Moore's involvement at Baldwin-Wallace extended far beyond the History Department. His students became babysitters for his and his wife's three children, Cynthia, Robert, and Mary Louise. He chaperoned spring formals and Greek parties and assisted in the formation of the Cosmopolitan Club, which brought American and international students together to promote greater understanding between cultures. Dr. Moore continued his own education while teaching at Baldwin- Wallace. In January 1966, he earned his doctorate of philosophy from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Through a series of visits, he developed a relationship between the schools, which led to the present Academic Studies Abroad program. Dr. Moore attended Northwestern University in the summer of 1969 for graduate classes in African Studies. His new knowledge and ongoing interest in uniting cultures led to the African Studies program. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and gratitude to Dr. Edgar B. Moore, whose outstanding 44-year career was defined by his steadfast commitment to spiritual growth, education, and appreciation of diversified cultures. While his students and colleagues will miss him immensely, his legacy and contributions to the Baldwin-Wallace community will live on for many generations to come.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Chief Jack Murphy, whose recent retirement as the chief of police with the city of Brooklyn reflects 40 years of excellence in law enforcement, framed by leadership, accomplishment, integrity and an unwavering commitment on behalf of the security and safety of the people of Brooklyn. Chief Murphy's illustrious career in law enforcement began in 1966, when he became a police officer with the city of Brooklyn. He honorably served our Nation in Vietnam, and soon thereafter resumed his vocation in law enforcement. Chief Murphy and his wife Marie continue to hold family and community as the foundation of their lives. Together they raised four children: Ann Marie, Matthew, Mary Beth and Maureen. Both Chief Murphy and Marie Murphy followed the call of service to others and instilled the significance of integrity, hard work and giving back to others within their children. Marie has devoted her career to the teaching profession. Beyond his expertise in law enforcement and exceptional leadership abilities, Chief Murphy is known for his unwavering work ethic, affable nature and personal and professional integrity. Straightforward, fair and honest, Chief Murphy garnered the admiration and respect of everyone around him, and was consistently unfazed by the inevitable ebb and flow of small town politics. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, gratitude and recognition of Chief Jack Murphy. His exceptional tenure as police officer and chief with the city of Brooklyn is forever framed in integrity, efficiency and accomplishment, and will continue to strengthen the foundation of safety and security for every resident and business owner of Brooklyn. I wish Chief Murphy, his wife Marie, and their three daughters and son, an abundance of health, peace and happiness as he journeys onward from here.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of David and Becky Jewel, united in marriage and united in their exceptional service to our Nation's veterans, upon the occasion of their retirement that follows more than 53 years of combined, outstanding service within the medical facilities of the Veterans Administration. Rebecca Jewel is a registered dietician and has guided veterans in nutrition health, awareness and education at VA facilities across the Nation, including VA medical centers in Hines, IL, Fort Wayne, IN, and in Cleveland and Brecksville, OH. Her medical career also includes work at Parma Community General Hospital in Parma, OH. and Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Besides serving as the Advanced Systems Dietician, Rebecca provides on-going tech support and training for nutrition employees, and also serves a facilitator for many Goal Sharing teams within her department. David Jewel, the chief of External Affairs for the Louis Stokes VA in Cleveland, has also served at VA medical centers in Ann Arbor, MI, and Cincinnati, OH. David has consistently led efforts to ensure that veterans are fully informed about the benefits entitled to them. He has led the effort to upgrade vital areas of communication within the VA, with a focus on minority veteran's affairs, community affairs programs and public relations. David has been the codirector of the Medical Center's Combined Federal Campaign for the past 4 years. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and gratitude to David and Rebecca Jewel, whose individual and united dedication to our Nation's veterans is framed by commitment, compassion, integrity and accomplishment. Their service and leadership has been a significant component that reflects the strength and quality within the VA, and is a brilliant example of service for anyone who will follow. I wish David and Rebecca Jewel an abundance of health, peace and happiness as they journey onward from here.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, nearly 4 years ago, this administration came before us and promoted their idea of peace and democracy in the Middle East. Their vehicle for accomplishing this? A unilateral first strike against Iraq and the subsequent occupation. Let us reflect on this policy this morning. In Iraq, over 2,500 American soldiers have died, tens of thousands injured, over 100,000 innocent Iraqi civilians killed, and countless injured. We are mired in a civil war there, and violence is growing every day. In Iran, international efforts at diplomacy have been undermined by our Iraq policy. This administration seems determined to repeat the disaster of Iraq in Iran, most recently by trying to link Iran to the attacks on Israel. As a broader regional war breaks out between Israel and Lebanon, spurred on by Hezbollah, instead of trying to find ways to end the conflict by rescuing negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel, this administration, which has an unfortunate talent for war, is making statements which will contribute to escalation. Israel urgently needs diplomatic assistance. The only way the U.S. can reclaim its role as a mediator is to speak and act like a mediator. You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb the world to peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 was a reaction to the ``exceptional conditions'' of the time. Obstacles to voting, borne of racism, had become accepted practice in many States. Many of these obstacles were written directly into State constitutions. These deterrents, including literacy tests and poll taxes, were designed to exclude and restrict nonwhite voters. As we quickly approach the expiration of provisions of the Voting Rights Act, we must stop and take a hard look at voting rights in America. Although the taxes and tests are now a memory, remnants of the prejudice and fear that conceived of them remain. In the many hearings held by the Judiciary Committee examining the expiring provisions, the committee found numerous recent incidents in which objections were raised to changes in voting law. One of the nine States subject to the provisions of section 5, provisions that require preclearance of changes to voting law by the Department of Justice, is Georgia. Since 2002, four objections have been raised against proposed changes to laws in that State. These four objections stopped discriminatory changes in that State. The long lines and intimidation tactics used in my home State of Ohio in 2004 are proof that this reauthorization will not, in and of itself, solve our Nation's need for voting reform. But it is a strong step in the right direction. The Voting Rights Act is still needed in America. We have stopped many of the egregious practices that plagued our voting system in 1965, but our work is not done. I strongly support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act and encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this important bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to a woman of extraordinary achievement, her life an inspiring lesson of the power of great determination. Stellar Mamotto was born to humble beginnings in the Dodoma region of Tanzania, East Africa, one of four children. She strived for her educational development, not only for her own personal growth, but to be of service to her community. In 1995, Ms. Mamotto won a scholarship to study for a Certificate in Rural Development Planning and achieved the highest grade. She trained to become a teacher from 1996 to 1998. Just two years after qualifying, she was made Deputy Head Mistress of the Chilonwa Secondary School, a rural school in Tanzania's poorest region. Her involvement extended far beyond her educational responsibilities. She became dedicated to the long-term economic progress of the Tanzanian people through her work in community development and environmental sustainability in Chilonwa. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Mamotto knew that her own aspirations and the aspirations of the people she served in the rural areas of Tanzania depended upon her pursuing higher educational opportunities. So in September of 2003, as a result of her untiring efforts, her scholarship and her personal charisma, the resources to study abroad suddenly materialized and she found herself traveling to Canterbury, England where she enrolled in the University of Kent to study Environmental Social Science. Her remarkable journey took her from the bush to university classroom. Finally, through great perseverance and sacrifice, she completed her studies and today, July 13, 2006, will receive her BA from the University of Kent at ceremonies in Canterbury Cathedral. Mr. Speaker, each graduate's story is important. Some graduates, however, embody the hopes and dreams of millions of fellow countrymen and women. Stellar Mamotto's graduation represents not just the triumph of a single individual, but the triumph of the human spirit over all obstacles. And it represents a new beginning for Ms. Mamotto as she endeavors to take yet another step to even greater academic achievement. Mr. Speaker, Members of the United States House of Representatives, please join me in honoring Ms. Stellar Mamotto for her achievement and as she continues to strive to be of service to the people of Tanzania.