Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Cliff Lee, dedicated family man, community activist and Major League baseball player with the Cleveland Indians, whose grace and spirit on the ball field equals his grace and energy off the field. Mr. Lee's deep sense of helping others is framed by sincerity and humbleness, and has not gone unnoticed by others. In honor of his exceptional service to the people of the Cleveland community, Mr. Lee has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2005 John Hancock Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award. Mr. Lee continues to dedicate his personal time and talents in vital service on behalf of those families and individuals in need of assistance, with a personal focus on the children of our community. From his regular visits to the children at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, to his dedication and focus on behalf of Cleveland's Providence House, Mr. Lee is an exceptional role model to the young and old alike, here in Cleveland and across this Nation, and his life personifies all that is good in humanity, reflecting compassion, giving and heart. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in tribute and recognition of Mr. Cliff Lee as he is honored as the recipient of Major League Baseball's 2005 John Hancock Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award. Mr. Lee's continued concern for others and vibrant spirit of volunteerism, with a special focus on the children of our community, serves to raise their spirits above the struggle and into the light of promise, strength, hope and possibility--thereby uplifting our entire community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of The Honorable Judge Mabel M. Jasper, for her exceptional accomplishments within our educational and legal system, and for serving as an inspiration and role model in Cleveland, Ohio, and far beyond. Her unwavering integrity and strong work ethic were childhood gifts instilled by family. At age 10, Judge Jasper's family moved from Alabama to Cleveland, where she excelled academically and graduated from Glenville High School early at the age of sixteen. By age nineteen, Judge Jasper had earned a Bachelor's degree in education from Kent State University. She was hired as a substitute teacher at John Burroughs Elementary School and was soon promoted to full-time teacher. Throughout her twenty-year teaching career, Judge Jasper imbued a sense of wonder, confidence and inspiration within her young students. Ready to embark on a new journey, she enrolled in the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1973 and graduated three years later with a Juris Doctor degree. Throughout her noteworthy career as an attorney, Judge Jasper worked in private practice and served as general counsel for a local financial institution. She became the assistant attorney general and trial attorney for the Bureau of Worker's Compensation. Judge Jasper served for four years as a magistrate with the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court before being elected as Judge with the Cleveland Municipal Court in 1987. She was re-elected to the bench for two more consecutive terms, in 1993 and 1999. Beyond her dedication to her family and profession, Judge Jasper continues to offer her time and talents as an active leader within her neighborhood, her church and within several civic organizations. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in tribute and recognition of Judge Mabel M. Jasper, as she is being honored on September 16, 2005, by colleagues and friends to celebrate her significant contributions to the Cleveland community, framed by tenacity, integrity and excellence. As a distinguished judge and attorney, Judge Jasper's brilliant legacy will continue to inspire us all, and will serve as a beacon of possibility for people of all races, lighting a clear path along which goals are attained and where others will follow. I wish Judge Mabel M. Jasper continued health, happiness and peace as she journeys onward from this day.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians Organization, in partnership with the Hispanic Community Services Coalition as they unite in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Viva Cleveland! Viva Cleveland!, a joyous event, will be held at Jacobs Field on September 16th and will showcase the Parade of Flags representing 21 Latino nations, and carried aloft by youth of Hispanic heritage. The Parade of Flags promises to reflect the diverse, rich and colorful fabric that comprises the brilliant mosaic of our Cleveland community. The players, administrators and fans of the Cleveland Indians organization carry on a century-old legacy of community outreach focused on cultural and charitable causes throughout northeast Ohio. Their individual and collective service continues to provide an array of life-enriching programs for baseball fans of all ages. The vital programs implemented by the Cleveland Indians and in partnership with other community agencies, serves to elevate the quality of life for countless families and individuals throughout our community. The Cleveland Indians' support of the young people of our region is offered through three programs: Educational, Recreational and Humanitarian. These programs provide the necessary support and guidance to assist our youth in attaining their educational and professional goals, and also promotes strength in character by fostering self-confidence. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of the Cleveland Indians Organization, as they partnership with the Hispanic Community Services Coalition to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Viva Cleveland! Their collective and individual efforts serves to celebrate our diversity and provides humanitarian assistance where needed, thereby enhancing the lives of countless people, and bolstering the spirit of the City of Cleveland, and far beyond.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, whether or not Iraq soon votes for a constitution, whether or not the Sunnis and the Shiites soon achieve peace, we in this Congress must soon take action for our Nation, for our troops, for our national interests to plan an exit strategy from Iraq and to commence it by October of 2006. That is the purpose of House Joint Resolution 55, a bipartisan resolution which requires the administration to create an exit strategy so we are not going to be in Iraq forever, so we do not put our sons' and daughters' lives on the line forever, so we have a defined strategy to get out. It is time for us to take whatever bipartisan energy there is in this Chamber and direct it towards a new direction in Iraq, to bring our troops home, to involve the world community, to put an end to this sorry chapter of U.S. occupation.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the administration has the answer to the energy crisis. Drive less, they are telling the American people. Drive less? Oil companies are making record profits, kids are not going to school in Georgia, gas lines are forming in the South, and here in the Nation's Capital, gas prices are over $3 a gallon. Drive less? Since this administration moved from Texas to Washington, D.C., the top five oil companies earned $254 billion in pure profit. Think about it. These companies made $254 billion in profit from the last 5 years. The cleanup from Katrina will cost at least $200 billion. What are we doing here? Drive less? The administration is asking every American to sacrifice mobility but not asking the oil companies to sacrifice a dime of their profit. The problem is not that the American people are driving too much. The problem is that the oil companies are driving our Nation's energy policies, driving up the cost of gasoline, natural gas and home heating oil, and every chance of driving themselves toward huge profits. It is time for Congress to take back the wheel. It is time for a sustainable energy policy which puts consumers, the environment, human health and peace first.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Simon Wiesenthal, beloved husband and father, author, Holocaust survivor, Jewish activist, and tireless pursuer of justice who passed away yesterday at the age of 96. Mr. Wiesenthal was born and raised in Buczaz in what is now known as the Ukraine. There he pursued a career in architectural engineering until he was taken to a forced labor camp in 1941. For the next four years Mr. Wiesenthal was transferred between twelve concentration camps until he arrived at Mauthausen concentration camp in northern Austria. He remained in Mauthausen until May 5, 1945 when the camp was liberated by the American army. In 1947 Mr. Wiesenthal opened the Jewish Historical Documentation Center for the purpose of collecting evidence for trials against Nazi war criminals. Mr. Wiesenthal worked diligently for the rest of his life in the pursuit of any and all Nazis responsible for Holocaust atrocities. Mr. Wiesenthal is credited with aiding in the capture of over 1,100 Nazi war criminals. Most notable amongst these arrests are Adolf Eichmann, an architect and implementer of Hitler's ``Final Solution,'' and Franz Stangl, the commandant at Treblinka where an estimated 800,000 Jews died. Mr. Wiesenthal received many honors including: decorations from the Austrian and French resistance movements, the Austrian Cross of Honor of the Sciences and Arts, the Dutch Freedom Medal, honorary knighthood from the United Kingdom, the United Nations League for the Help of Refugees Award, the Luxembourg Freedom Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Simon Wiesenthal, whose dedication to the pursuit of justice has ensured that the atrocities of the Holocaust will never be forgotten. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Simon Wiesenthal, members and employees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the community of Holocaust survivors. Mr. Wiesenthal will surely be remembered in history for his tireless dedication to justice and his commitment to fighting prejudice and honoring those who lost their lives to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, America must begin to take care of things here at home, to protect the people from hurricanes and floods, to protect the people from the oil and gas monopolies. America must begin to take care of things at home to protect Social Security from privatization, to have the wealthy pay a fair share of the taxes. America must begin to take care of things at home, to have an exit strategy from Iraq to bring our troops home. America must begin to take care of things at home to rebuild the gulf coast, to rebuild the American economy, to rebuild hope in the future, to end fear and uncertainty. Who will protect the American people if we do not? We will assure and must assure their education, jobs, living wages, health care, and retirement security. If we do not, who will?

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute and recognition of Sally Griswold, as she is honored by the Board of Directors of the Vocational Guidance Services, VGS, with the Herbert E. Strawbridge Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes an individual's outstanding work on behalf of VGS services that support individuals with disabilities or societal disadvantages. Mrs. Griswold has been a passionate and unwavering advocate for the VGS since the 1950s. Her husband, the late Bruce Griswold, was recovering from polio, and turned to the VGS for rehabilitation services. Mrs. Griswold's husband and her son, James Griswold, served as Chairs of VGS's Board of Directors. Mrs. Griswold's volunteer tenure with the VGS reflects involvement and leadership within all areas of the organization, from fund raising campaigns to program expansion. In 2004, VGS placed more than one thousand individuals back into the workforce. Three hundred and sixty of those individuals were people with significant disabilities, and 200 were at-risk youth or adults making the transition from welfare to work. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in tribute and recognition of Mrs. Sally K. Griswold, recipient of the 2005 Herbert E. Strawbridge Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor reflects Mrs. Griswold's lifelong commitment and support of Cleveland's Vocational Guidance Services. Mrs. Griswold's spirit of volunteerism and deep sense of service to others continues to raise the lives and spirits of countless individuals into the light of hope and possibility, thereby uplifting our entire community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the following is a copy of a speech given by me for insertion into the Congressional Record. Thank you for inviting me to the CBC Annual Meeting. I am honored to be here. I want to impress on you today that addressing our national health crisis is well within our reach. In fact, there is only one truly sustainable solution and that's universal, single payer, not for profit health care. We have all heard the statistics. Almost 46 million are uninsured. Only 5 percent of them are unemployed. 8.4 million children were uninsured in 2003. Over a third of the poor and more than a quarter of the near-poor lack coverage. What does that mean for them? They are less healthy. They don't get adequate preventative care. For example, uninsured children are 70 percent more likely than insured children not to receive medical care for common conditions like ear infections. And an uninsured person has a 25 percent higher risk of dying than an insured person. This translates to 18,000 deaths per year in the U.S. that are attributable to lack of insurance coverage. Being uninsured or even underinsured also takes a huge financial toll. Medical bills are the number one cause of personal bankruptcies. That will affect the ability to buy a home or make other large purchases that help define the American dream. It's not hard to see why the U.S., when compared to other developed countries, has the lowest indicators of health. We have the lowest life expectancy and the worst continuity of care. We have the highest infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate. And yet our per capita health care spending is almost twice the average of developed countries that have universal coverage. That is largely because of gross inefficiency. Private health insurance overhead ranges from 12-30 percent while Medicare's is consistently about 2-3 percent. In a nutshell, we're already paying for high quality, universal health care--we're just not getting it. Now we already have a system that is a model for where we need to go. It's called Medicare. H.R. 676, which I am proud to have developed with my friend and colleague, Mr. Conyers, would simply expand and improve Medicare. Under this plan, Medicare for All, every person in the country will receive comprehensive health care and every person will pay less. It doesn't cost any more than our nation currently spends on health care. It simply reallocates the money to better uses. Here's how it works. It would give everyone living in America, including immigrants, a health care card. That card would guarantee coverage at any hospital, any clinic, and any doctor that a patient wants to use. Coverage would also be guaranteed for the entire range of patient's medical needs, from preventative care screening to prescription drugs to dental care to long-term care. The wasted and excessive funds in our current health care system are so great that under Medicare for All, no patient would ever pay a premium, a deductible, a co-payment, or even see a bill for needed medical care. Cost would no longer be a worry for families or a reason for bankruptcy. Medicare for All would also address the quality of health care. There are often no standards, or there are different standards for different people. If you're black, or if you're Hispanic, you know that the health care you receive is, too often, not the same as other people receive. There should be a single standard of care, determined by a group of qualified medical professionals. Under Medicare for All, a new National Board of Universal Quality and Access would be established. The Board would include health care professionals, nurses, representatives of institutional providers of health care, health care advocacy groups, labor unions and citizen patient advocates. This Board is critical because it puts control of health care in the hands of providers and health experts instead of insurance companies and software writers. The first priority of the Board would be to create a universal, best quality standard of care. This standard would determine appropriate staffing levels and appropriate medical technology. This standard would also cover design and scope of work in the health workplace. So, no matter what a patient looks like or where in the country the patient is treated, the health care standards are the same. Even if you already have health insurance now, the medical care you would receive under Medicare for All would be better. Finally, Medicare for All would hold health care facilities accountable to the universal, best quality standard of care. Hospitals, clinics and other facilities would no longer be able to keep internal data secret, such as staffing ratios, medication errors, misdiagnoses or infection rates. As it stands, patients cannot compare health care quality data from hospital to hospital. Making that data public would ensure accountability. It would help facilities learn what problems need to be addressed. It would encourage them to do even better to deliver the best patient care possible. Who supports such a health care system? About two thirds of Americans agree that the federal government should guarantee medical care for Americans. 58 percent of medical students and faculty favor a Medicare for All type of system. Multiple Deans of Medical Schools, the former Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, about 40 percent of small business owners have all expressed support. The three major auto manufacturers (Ford, GM, and Daimler-Chrysler) in Canada have all publicly endorsed Canada's health system specifically because it lowers their costs so much that it gives them a significant competitive advantage over their U.S. counterparts in Detroit. This is an important point that resonates with lawmakers. I am excited to report that H.R. 676 now has over 50 cosponsors and the list is growing. It includes rank and file as well as several ranking members with seniority; 15 members of the CBC as well as the Hispanic Caucus, the Progressive Caucus, the New Democrats; members that have cosponsored the bill since it was first introduced in 2003 and members who have heard about the growing movements in their states and have signed on for the first time. I want to close by saying that I think you'll find that when you talk to people who follow health care policy closely and ask them what they think about H.R. 676 you're highly likely to get the same answer I usually get--Yes, it's the best system out there and would solve many of our health care problems, but it's just not politically feasible. That is not a good enough reason to avoid one of the biggest issues of our time. I usually just smile and tell them this: with health care costs rising faster than inflation with no end in sight and with the abject failure of managed care to contain those costs; and with the number of uninsured growing steadily; and with American companies losing their competitive edge because they are paying so much more for health care than other developed countries, the opposition cannot prevail much longer. Universal, not for profit single payer health care is not only feasible--it's inevitable.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, injecting religious discrimination into Head Start is a nonstarter. It is a rollback of established civil rights laws. It is wrong. And I believe it sets the stage for unconstitutional activity. I ask my colleagues to withdraw that amendment and let this bill, which we do agree on, to go forward to serve the children of our Nation who are waiting for opportunities to ensure that no child in America is trapped within poverty's grasp, to enable every child in America to live up to his or her highest potential. Faith-based organizations, as we all know, are free to use their own money to make employment decisions using religious criteria for programs. There is no discrimination against faith-based organizations that run federally funded social services. If they want to hire people of only a certain faith, they can do that with their own money. But when it comes to the use of taxpayers' dollars, no citizen in this country with the protection of the first amendment should have to pass a religious test to qualify. Our Founders understood the importance of separation of church and State. I also believe they did not intend to have America exclude the celebration of spiritual values. It is important that we remember the Founders' directives to bring spiritual values of truth, honesty, love of country, but to never break down that wall which separates church and State. Preserve our Constitution.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, Everyone acknowledges that the United States has lessons to learn from the disgraceful Federal and local response to Hurricane Katrina. Even the President has ordered a review of the government response to the hurricane and declared that necessary changes must be made to be better prepared for the future. Perhaps we could learn lessons from an island just 90 miles south of Florida that is frequently buffeted by hurricanes. Yesterday CNN aired the following story about the Cuban Government's successful methods of responding to hurricanes: CNN Transcript: Hurricane Rita, Lessons From Cuba? Sept. 20, 2005.--Lloyd: You hear a lot about evacuations as a hurricane nears; yesterday, the mayor of Galveston, Texas-- where Rita could be headed--declared a state of emergency in that city. She also said mandatory evacuations will start today. In Cuba, which sits on the northern edge of the Caribbean Sea, the government usually has strict guidelines in place for hurricanes. Lucia Newman went to the island nation to bring us this story about Cuba's secrets for saving lives. Lucia Newman, CNN reporter: Cuba is the largest and most populated island in the Caribbean yet it consistently experiences the lowest death tolls during hurricane season. According to United Nations, it's not because Cubans are lucky but because they're prepared. ``We were prepared for a big one, and big it was,'' says this man of Hurricane Ivan. He and nearly 2 million others were evacuated from low lying areas and fragile buildings ahead of the hurricane. Nobody was killed. Preparations for a hurricane start well in advance. The same system that gives the communist state total political and economic control is used efficiently to mobilize the nation to face natural disasters. State run television and the civil defense authority bombard the population with information and instructions about what measures to take. On every block, there's a person assigned to take a census on who is being evacuated to which shelter, with special attention paid to the elderly and pregnant women. ``We have a list, and tell each person where they have to go and there, they're taken care of,'' says Llance Perez. In the fishing village of La Coloma, which is vulnerable to hurricane flooding, a massive evacuation was mandatory. The police and army were responsible for guaranteeing there was no looting. Electricity is cut ahead of the hurricane to prevent electrocutions. After Hurricane Ivan, the seaside village of Las Canas looked like a ghost town. Its residents evacuated days earlier. But while many lost much of their belongings, at least no one had to cry over the loss of a loved one. Lucia Newman, CNN, Havanna.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I will vote for this bill; but I have to hand it to this administration, they want to lower your taxes so earnestly that they will even lower your wages to do it. Through an executive order, the President lowered the wages workers will be paid to rebuild the hurricane-affected region. He suspended the Davis-Bacon Act, a 74-year-old law which requires that companies receiving Federal contracts pay the average wage to employees hired to perform those Federal contracts. With smaller incomes, workers will pay less. But corporate income, unlike worker incomes, will rise. The corporate contractors will be able to keep more of the contract for themselves through a combination of setting lower wages for workers and receiving tax exemptions under the provisions of H.R. 3768. Suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act will give contractors unprecedented power to set wages. That is because the hurricane destroyed the labor market in the region. Nearly everyone is out of work; nearly everyone needs a job. After losing everything, how many people will be able to hold out for higher wages? Not many. Thus, labor market forces will not determine wages. Instead, hurricane victims and workers who may be brought into the region are at the mercy of Halliburton and Fluor corporations, just to name a couple contractors who have won or will win construction contracts in hurricane reconstruction and which will dictate wage levels. The bottom line is this: hurricane tax relief means one thing if you are a hurricane victim and another if you a corporate contractor receiving Federal funds to rebuild the hurricane-affected region. Tax relief for hurricane victims will primarily take the form of paying less taxes on smaller wages. But tax relief means something very different to the corporate contractors. They will be paying less taxes on increased income.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, 3 years ago we heard the drums of war beating in this House Chamber, and Congress voted to take this Nation to war against Iraq. We later learned that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, was not trying to get uranium from Niger, had no intention nor capability of attacking the United States. Yet we went to war and war against Iraq remains. We went to war without any thought of how we would get out of that war. We went to war with a big buildup; but when it came to talking about an exit from Iraq, there was very little or no discussion except for the one thing, Democrats and Republicans alike to come together, in support of House Joint Resolution 55, a resolution that requires the administration to produce, by the end of the year, an exit strategy and to begin the execution of that strategy by October 1 of 2006. We owe it to those who serve. We owe it to the troops who gave their lives. We owe it to their parents and to their families, to have an exit strategy so that we can let the world community take the burden of the years ahead in Iraq.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Thomas L. Ortosky, as he receives the National Association of Letter Carriers' Regional Hero Award. His sincere, heroic and selfless act saved the lives of two young girls from his beloved community. Mr. Ortosky was working from his delivery vehicle when he noticed two young girls on their bikes and a pack of dogs chasing after them. With no hesitation, Mr. Ortosky ran from his vehicle and fearlessly began to distract the dogs even though he was risking his own safety and perhaps his life. His good-hearted action worked. The girls rode off to safety while Mr. Ortosky bravely held off the dogs. The pack of dogs began nipping at him but Mr. Ortosky never hesitated. It was not until the dogs were captured by the animal warden that Mr. Ortosky was out of harm's way. And ever so dutifully and good-natured, Mr. Ortosky continued on his delivery route without ever notifying anyone about the incident and his heroic deed. However, Mr. Ortosky's valiant and honorable deed did not go unnoticed. His grateful patrons reported the incident. With thanks from his community and the National Association of Letter Carriers' it is with great pride that as his representative I can recognize this great American. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Thomas L. Ortosky. Mr. Ortosky is truly a hero. He is a selfless and genuine human being and a role model for the people of his community as well as the country.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentleman, there's an old saying that says ``If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.'' I cannot think of a more appropriate metaphor for what we're seeing now. The hammer being used by some in Congress is drilling in our pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And to them, there are simply not enough nails. The latest nail, of course, is spiking gas prices. The knee-jerk drillers will tell you that the logical solution to expensive gas is to drill in the Arctic. But in a best case scenario, we would only see a reduction in gas price of 1.5 cents per gallon. And production wouldn't even start until at least 10 years from now. That doesn't help you and me. That helps the oil companies. What they don't tell you is that, in the words of one oil industry expert, the difference between price gouging and taking advantage of market distortions is a political question. I strongly believe that price gouging may be occurring. I am not alone. In May of 2005, 33 of my colleagues joined me in introducing the Gas Price Spike Act. It would tax windfall profits tax on gas, create tax credits for ultra-efficient vehicles, and lower fares for mass transit. Now that's a part of a real solution. But our opponents are still convinced that gas prices are a nail. They are also convinced that our dangerous foreign dependence on oil is a nail. But even in a best case scenario, our dependency would still increase from 59 percent to 64 percent by 2025. Our hammer happy friends think a job shortage is nail easily solved with the hammer of the Arctic. But improving energy efficiency and motor vehicle efficiency would generate more than 1.3 million jobs in 15 years--185 percent more jobs than domestic oil production. The nail of investment in our economy can be covered by investing in Arctic oil extraction, they say. But one dollar spent on petroleum production creates only a buck-fifty in economic value to our economy. That same dollar, when invested in energy efficiency programs and incentives, gives us two dollars and 23 cents in economic value. It should be clear that drilling the Arctic will not solve any of these problems. And there is no way drilling in the Arctic can solve the mother of all these problems: climate change. I don't care how creatively they spin it. We can only expect more extreme weather in the coming years and we absolutely must address it with meaningful efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Drilling can only make it worse. There are so many more realistic, more effective, more sustainable ways to proceed. In fact, some of my colleagues here today have joined me in efforts to address not only prices, but national security, our health, the integrity of our environment, and a lopsided economic recovery. We should raise the minimum fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, invest in the transition to wind and solar energy, emphasize biofuels like biodiesel, and encourage conservation. The solutions are there for the taking. The time is now. Please join me in driving the nail in the coffin on this backdoor effort to drill in the Arctic.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I come from the State of Ohio where any debate over manufacturing technology is taken to heart because Ohio is one of those States which has had heavy job losses in manufacturing; but I look at this bill and this restrictive rule, and it really does not address some of the underlying issues. How can we advance manufacturing technology competitiveness in this country if we really do not have a national strategy to do so? We are legislating piecemeal here and often missing the mark. We cannot have a manufacturing strategy if it does not take into account manufacturing job losses that come because of our trade practices. So what has happened here is that Congress is called upon to take action in areas that are only piecemeal; that are not going to protect existing industries; that will not surely provide opportunities for the future. We are already being overtaken by China and other countries. This bill falls short. The rule is restrictive, and I join my colleagues in raising objections.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I want to agree with my good friend from Texas (Mr. DeLay) that we need to do everything we can to avoid any kind of tax hikes. However, I think all Americans would expect that the top 1 percent of the income earners in this country, who receive most of the benefit from the administration's tax cuts, should have to give up some of their tax cuts in order to relieve the burden on the people in the gulf coast. It is only fair. America can meet its responsibilities, but we are going to have to roll back those tax breaks that were given to the wealthiest Americans in order to help the least of our brethren. We can also save money by planning an exit strategy out of Iraq. Wherever I go in my district, people say, get us out of Iraq. Well, it is time for us to have an exit strategy. That is what House Joint Resolution 55 is about, a bipartisan exit strategy. We can do things to have the resources to take care of people in the gulf. But we first have to get out of the Persian Gulf. And we also have to get out of this thinking that says that tax cuts are somehow the way to economic recovery.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Stanley M. Fisher, devoted family man, accomplished attorney, friend and mentor to many, and first-ever recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed upon him by the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. This premier mark of excellence reflects Mr. Fisher's multifaceted service in the legal profession, service framed by achievement, integrity and heart. After graduating from Oberlin College and the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Fisher worked as a clerk for the 6th Circuit with Chief Judge Charles Simon and later for Justice Potter Stewart, before Justice Stewart was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Equipped with unwavering commitment, steadfast integrity and expertise, Mr. Fisher's work serves as a source of knowledge, strength and advocacy throughout all levels of the justice system. His significant service within the Federal Bar Association, FBA, extends from his role as past President of the Northern District of Ohio, lifetime member of the FBA Board of Directors, and most notably, the first Ohioan to serve as National President of the FBA. In 1983, Mr. Fisher was appointed as an Ohio Commissioner with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws by then Governor, Richard Celeste. He was reappointed by Ohio Governors Voinovich and Taft. Mr. Fisher's talent and conviction have impacted cases from Ohio to our Nation's Capitol. President Clinton appointed Mr. Fisher to the Federal Service Impasse Panel in 1992. For 10 years, he handled mediation and arbitration cases, directing each grievance from preparation to resolution. Mr. Fisher continues his work as a local and national mediator and is currently serving his second term as a member of the American Arbitration Association Advisory Council. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Stanley M. Fisher, for his outstanding and continued excellence as attorney, guide and leader within the legal profession. His unwavering focus on the balanced scales of justice serves to protect legal equity throughout our American system of justice, from Cleveland, to Washington, DC and beyond.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 2005, I prepared the following statement during a hearing organized by Rep. Lynn Woolsey on how to end the war in Iraq: Good morning. Thank you, Chairwoman Woolsey for your leadership in holding this important hearing. 1,896 of our brave young men and women have died in Iraq. By some counts, up to 100,000 innocent Iraqis have perished in a war that was based on false premises. It was wrong to go in from the start and it is wrong to stay. And it is counterproductive to U.S., Iraqi and regional interests, as Iraq heads closer to an all- out civil war. The U.S. presence in Iraq is fueling the insurgency, and has turned Iraq into a training ground for the insurgents. The insurgency is growing stronger by the day and attack tactics are becoming more advanced. Iraqi rebels have refined their bomb-making skills. According to a CIA assessment from this past June, the Iraq war was likely to produce a dangerous legacy by dispersing to other countries Iraqi and foreign combatants more adept and better organized that they were before the conflict. It is not only our soldiers who are falling victim to this insurgency. Just yesterday it was reported that almost 150 Iraqis died and 500 were wounded in coordinated attacks of at least a dozen suicide bombings in Baghdad. 114 of those people were Shiite day laborers in Baghdad, lured into a minibus by a suicide bomber with the promise of work. This was the second deadliest suicide bombing since the war began. AI-Zarqawi's Sunni militant group, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, claimed responsibility in statements released over the group's website that said the bombings signified that ``the battle to avenge the Sunni people of Tal Afar has started.'' Later, an audiotape released over the Internet that was said to be from AI-Zarqawi declared a ``full-scale war on Shiites around Iraq, without mercy.'' One year ago today, it was reported that a National Intelligence Estimate produced for President Bush in the summer of 2004 on the political, economic and security situation in Iraq determined that at best, stability in Iraq would be tenuous, and at worst, there were trend lines that pointed to a civil war. Now today, as fears of civil war in Iraq are becoming realized, it is clear that the worst scenario predicted is coming true. The U.S. presence in Iraq in only making the conflict worse, as it is strengthening tensions between the Sunni militants and the Shiite majority, and serving to strengthen the insurgency. The Iraqi constitution and the run-up to the October 15 referendum on the constitution has been a central point of concern for the Sunnis, who feel that the constitution will institutionalize their reduced role in Iraq. Tensions between Sunnis and Shiites have increased recently and the attacks yesterday in Baghdad only emphasize that point. Yet the constitution is widely perceived to have a large U.S. footprint. Adnan Pachachi described how U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad participated in most meetings for the constitution and was not neutral. Despite the Sunnis wanting to continue negotiations on the constitution, according to Mr. Pachachi, Ambassador Khalilzad was interested in seeing the draft constitution done and sent to the National Assembly as soon as possible in order to prove that US policy has succeeded in Iraq. Furthermore, the U.S. presence has served to attract and recruit terrorists into Iraq, to fight the U.S. and what they consider to be the U.S.-backed government of Iraq. The insurgents' attacks are becoming more advanced through their practice on U.S. soldiers and now they are applying these improved tactics on the Shiite majority. The U.S. presence is strengthening tensions within Iraq. There is no better time to leave than now--before the situation worsens. Iraqis themselves have asked for it. On June 23, 83 members of Iraq's newly elected National Assembly signed a petition calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops. A member of the Assembly, Abdul-Rahman al-Neeimi, told the paper that American forces ``have used all possible means in order to provoke sectarian strife in Iraq, but have failed thanks to God.'' He concluded by saying, ``We tell the occupation forces: Hands off the Iraqi people and let us heal our wounds by our own means.'' It is time for this Congress to put aside the partisan differences that have occurred over the war and to come together in a plan where we can unify to take steps to withdraw our troops from Iraq and to take steps to heal the breach that the war has created between America and the world community. Neil Abercrombie, Walter Jones, Ron Paul and I introduced a bipartisan bill calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, and an announcement of the withdrawal by December 31, 2005. I believe that while a number of factors must come into play for a successful withdrawal, which I hope will be highlighted here today, merely announcing the withdrawal will start to reverse the increasingly disastrous course in Iraq.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 2005, I submitted the following statement during a hearing in the Committee on Government Reform entitled, ``Back to the Drawing Board: A First Look at Lessons Learned from Katrina'': Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Davis, for agreeing last week to hold hearings in this Committee on what went wrong with the government response to Hurricane Katrina. This Committee is the most important venue within the House of Representatives for federal government oversight and I am grateful for your leadership. Interestingly, this first hearing will not focus on Hurricane Katrina and the disaster in New Orleans and the surrounding area, but will focus on 3 other cities that are vulnerable to a natural disaster or terrorist attack: Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C. Further, the hearing is intended to examine the local response to crisis, rather than the federal response, to determine how prepared we are to handle another disaster. Local, state and federal government all play key roles in handling a disaster and disaster relief, but let's face it: the federal government has the largest resources and should have the greatest ability to deal with a serious disaster in our nation. The first lesson we have learned from Katrina is that this proved not to be the case. The federal government was slow to act and the disaster was far too great for city and state government to handle alone. The second lesson we have learned from Katrina is that we have not learned the lesson from the Iraq war regarding Halliburton. Halliburton overcharged the government at the taxpayer's expense during the Iraq war. Days after Katrina struck, Halliburton was one of the earliest companies awarded no-bid contracts, to repair 3 different Navy facilities in Mississippi. The flawed contracting procedures of the Iraq war are rearing their ugly head in the recovery of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has already appropriated $62 billion so far and more is surely to come. Yet the contracts awarded have been cost-plus and no bid contracts, lacking oversight and transparency. There is an infinite number of issues on the federal level that seriously need to be explored. Why aren't more steps being taken to hire local displaced workers to rebuild their towns and cities? How has the merger of FEMA into the Department of Homeland Security played a role in FEMA's ability as an agency? Why didn't FEMA's Hurricane Pam study-- contracted out to IEA to investigate what would happen if a hurricane hit the gulf coast--better prepare the federal response to the Katrina disaster? As Chairman Davis indicated, however, we'll get into more of these federal issues at future hearings. A very important local issue that should be considered today is the morality of establishing a mandatory evacuation when there are people who lack the ability to evacuate. We saw this in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina. Everyone was forced to evacuate, but not everyone could. There were people in hospitals and nursing homes and people too poor and without cars that were simply left behind. How were these people supposed to leave? How might there have been better emergency plans in place to facilitate the evacuation of these citizens? In one reported story, a dead body was left to decay for over 2 weeks in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, despite swarms of local police, Louisiana state troopers and the Army. Residents believed that law enforcement officials left the body there purposely to encourage the residents to evacuate. If their belief is true, such a practice is truly shameful and must be addressed. Another issue related to local government observed in New Orleans with the enforced racism that occurred through the application of two standards of justice by law enforcement officials. Local law enforcement reportedly allowed white armed vigilantes to ride throughout the city but would not allow the same for black residents. According to Malik Rahim, a community organizer who recently ran for city council in New Orleans. ``If a white person was taking something, he was taking food for his family. But if a black was taking something, he was looting.'' Rahim further described how the white vigilantes were shooting blacks in his neighborhood under the guise that they were protecting his neighborhood, and were even bragging about it. He said he never before seen New Orleans come so close to breaking into a race riot. If a race riot had broken out in New Orleans the crisis situation there would have become far more disastrous. How can local governments ensure that one standard of justice is applied equally in times of disaster? I hope this hearing will address the many concerns raised and what changes are necessary in the local planning for disasters in other large cities. Moreover, I look forward to the series of hearings that this Committee intends to hold that will specifically look at the federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Father John C. Dalton, Pastor Emeritus of Holy Name Church of Cleveland, Ohio, whose love, kindness and faithful service to the people of Cleveland will be remembered always. Pastor Dalton entered St. Mary's Seminary in 1943 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1948. For sixty-five years, Pastor Dalton served the people of our community, young and old. He baptized more than 2,000 parishioners and united 545 couples in marriage. At Holy Name parish, Pastor Dalton tended to the spiritual and humanitarian needs of the parishioners, and extended his assistance out into the community. Pastor Dalton's vision and focus on uplifting his community manifested itself along Broadway Avenue and beyond, where he led efforts to improve Holy Name church and school, and even helped out in the construction of new ball fields. His compassion, patience and love for others reflected throughout his life of service, from tenure as teacher, to his position as Associate Director of Services for the Deaf; to his neighborhood activism and work as a counselor within self- help groups. Even following his retirement, Pastor Dalton continued his life-long mission of regular visits to hospitals and the homebound, offering comfort and support to our most vulnerable citizens. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join us in tribute and remembrance of Father John C. Dalton, Pastor Emeritus of Holy Name Parish of Cleveland. Pastor Dalton's steadfast service to others, framed by compassion, understanding, and a warm smile, offered healing, hope and faith to all of us. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Pastor Dalton, to the parishioners of Holy Name Church, and to the entire Broadway Avenue community. Pastor Dalton will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him well, yet his light and love will always serve as a guiding force throughout our community and will radiate forever along Broadway Avenue and far beyond.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Judge Andrew Boyko, dedicated husband, father and grandfather, friend and mentor, and WWII Navy Veteran. Judge Boyko's professional career as Municipal Judge, law director and assistant prosecutor in the City of Parma, reflects a legacy of grace and excellence that extended from the courtroom to the community. Judge Boyko's unwavering work ethic and sense of service to others characterized who he was and how he lived his life. He grew up in Cleveland, graduated from West Tech High School in 1941, and served as a Navy Corpsman during WWII. After the war, he graduated from John Carroll University and in 1955, Judge Boyko earned a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In the early 1960's, he settled in Parma with his family, where he served as an assistant prosecutor until 1963, when he was elected to the post of law director. Judge Boyko's political ingenuity shone through when he orchestrated a bid for the post of law director for the City of Parma through a write-in campaign, successfully clinching the Democratic Party's nomination. He served as law director until 1987, when he was appointed to the municipal bench, where he served until his retirement in 1993. Although his professional achievements were significant, family and community were a consistent priority in Judge Boyko's life. He was an active member of numerous civic organizations, including the Elks Club, American Legion Post 572, Municipal Judges Association and the Citizens League, and he served on the Board of the Parma Savings Association. Judge Boyko embraced his heritage through his involvement at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church, where he headed the Ukrainian Youth League. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Judge Andrew Boyko. His commitment to his family and to his community defined his life, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him well. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife of 55 years, Eve; to his sons, Chris, Tim, Greg and Jeff; to his ten grandchildren; to his brothers, Michael and Nicholas; and to his extended family members and many friends. Judge Boyko's life was lived with joy, energy and in service to others. His unyielding integrity and faith in our legal system will continue on as a guiding force of truth, fairness and justice for all.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Robert L. Lewis, beloved husband, father, friend and United States Veteran. Mr. Lewis leaves behind a brilliant legacy that reflects his personal passions and professional accomplishments as admired attorney, educator, author and longtime activist on behalf of the performing arts and educational opportunity for all. Mr. Lewis was born and raised in New York. As a young boy, he performed song, dance and comedy routines with his family on the vaudeville circuit. His formal education in public school did not begin until age 12. Extremely bright, Mr. Lewis quickly ascended through the grade levels. He graduated from high school at age 15 and enrolled in college at age 16. Following his service in the army in Europe during World War II, Mr. Lewis studied law at Western Reserve University in Cleveland and graduated in 1948 with a law degree. Mr. Lewis joined the law firm of Ulmer, Berne, Laronge, Glickman and Curtis and retired in 1996 after 46 years of outstanding work with the firm. He worked as a professor at Case Western Reserve University's Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, and also taught corporate and contract law courses at what was then Cleveland Marshall Law School. Throughout his adult life, Mr. Lewis maintained an unwavering focus on raising the lives of others into the light of possibility and achievement. He volunteered his time as past president of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities; board member with PACE (Program for Action by Citizens in Education), and served on the board of the Fairmount Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. His passion and belief that higher education should be affordable for everyone manifested itself in 1963 with the establishment of Cuyahoga Community College (CCC), an institution that continues to be a significant source of educational and career opportunities for thousands of students each year. Mr. Lewis served on the CCC Board of Trustees for 18 years and Chairman of the Board for 4 years. He also served as CCC's ``resident scholar,'' and taught courses in Greek mythology and drama. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, remembrance and gratitude to Mr. Robert L. Lewis, whose life was defined by his steadfast commitment to his family, his significant contribution to our community and his boundless energy in promoting the performing arts and securing educational opportunities for everyone. I offer my condolences to his wife of 42 years, Joanne; his daughters, Pavia and Clea; his sons, Paul, David and Brian; his nine grandchildren and his extended family members and many friends. The kindness, vision, energy and personal and professional excellence that flowed from the gracious life of Mr. Lewis will continue to serve as a fountain of learning and strength for the students and educators at Cuyahoga Community College, and his legacy will continue to raise our entire community into the light of hope, possibility and opportunity for all.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Dennis Morton, committed public servant, Vietnam War Veteran, and friend and mentor to many, upon the occasion of his retirement, following 32 years of dedicated service within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Morton's tenure at HUD reflects vision, ingenuity, endless energy and strong leadership, all focused on ensuring the availability of quality housing for the most vulnerable individuals of our society--our struggling and our poor. Mr. Morton's service at HUD began in 1977, when he was hired as a Realty Specialist in the Housing Management Division. Mr. Morton concentrated his efforts on all phases of acquisition, purchase and restoration of multifamily properties. As they have for decades, these properties exist as a basic yet vital need for thousands of residents in Cleveland and beyond--a dignified and safe place to call home. Even though HUD has reorganized several times since its inception, Mr. Morton's unwavering focus on transforming bankrupt multifamily properties into vibrant structures, has provided quality housing for thousands of citizens of all ages, from young families to the elderly. From Realty Specialist, to Public Trust Officer, to Director of the Federal Housing Authority Multifamily Program Center Office in Cleveland, Mr. Morton directed the acquisition and rehabilitation of numerous public and senior housing units, including Longwood Apartments, Reserve Square and the award-winning Arbor Park Village. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Dennis Morton, whose dedicated work as a HUD administrator has provided a safe home for the most vulnerable residents of our community. Mr. Morton's legacy at HUD will continue to serve as a brilliant example for all those who will follow in his path. His vital contribution continues to offer shelter, dignity, and for many, the necessary support for their journey toward personal independence.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, from our deepest silence, from that place within each of us that knows peace, from our heart of hearts which connects us to the world and to the heart of the world, we know that fear leads to violence, that violence leads to war, that war leads to total destruction. Yet we do not want to fear, we do not want violence, we do not want war, we want peace. We desire peace so intensely that we are willing to do almost anything to achieve it, including spending half of our resources for arms to help feel secure. We know we cannot continue on this perilous path of seeking peace through violence. We know that this approach offers our children no future at all. So today we make a new beginning with House bill 3760, legislation to create a Cabinet-level department of peace and nonviolence. In doing so, dozens of Members of this Congress announced that we choose courage over fear and hope over despair. We announce our desire to create a new America and a new world.