Mark Kennedy

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 80th wedding anniversary of Clarence and Mayme Vail of Hugo, Minnesota. Eighty-two years ago, Clarence and Mayme met when Clarence's family moved to Hugo and he joined Mayme's eighth grade class. Clarence and Mayme were the only two from this class to continue into high school, though they both left school early a few years later. They left for a good reason: to get married. Although the couple heard people say that they were too young to be married--he was eighteen and she was just sixteen--they began their wedded lives together on February 17, 1925. For the first few years they were married, Clarence and Mayme lived in the telephone office where Mayme's mother worked. Their first children were born in that office. Since then, Clarence and Mayme have lived in two homes, both in Hugo, and they now have six children, 39 grandchildren, 98 great-grandchildren, and 32 great-great grandchildren. Before retiring, Clarence worked as a machine and tools salesman, and after their children were older Mayme worked at the local grocery store. Now, in their retirement, Clarence and Mayme spend their time reading, playing cards, and attending church every morning. Mayme also enjoys making quilts for local charities. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Clarence and Mayme Vail on their 80th wedding anniversary as an example which we should all try to follow. Clarence and Mayme have been married for a near-record number of years, and it is likely that they hold the record for being the longest-married couple in Minnesota history. I admire the love and dedication which this couple has shared for so many years, and I wish them many more years of happiness together.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I grew up as a minority; not in the traditional sense, but as an Irish Catholic in the land of Scandinavian Lutherans. The option of attending Catholic schools was not really available to my family, until we attended college. When that time came, my parents sent all seven of their children to the nearby Catholic Benedictine schools of St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, a formidable feat given my father's salary from the local small-town insurance agency. My first real encounter with Catholic elementary and secondary students was my interactions with the graduates from Catholic schools that I went to school with at St. John's. I was universally impressed by the quality of these students. They were not only well prepared for college, but they were friendly to a country hick like me. They were courteous, kind, respectful, caring. They say that you can tell a tree by its fruits. By this measure, I assumed Catholic schools must be great. Then I sat in on a conversation in a dorm room with three graduates of Catholic high schools reminiscing on their high school experience. One of these students was so cynical about his Catholic education that I resolved never to send my children to Catholic school. Well, it turns out the cynical student became a priest, and so I changed my mind. Catholic schools really do nurture one's faith. My next exposure to Catholic schools came when I attended graduate business school. We did a case study on a sports program there for a Catholic high school, and I will never forget how the room erupted into laughter when a fellow student proposed a solution that assumed that the Catholic schools would not be able to afford to invest in their extracurricular activities. Indeed, my fellow students already knew what I learned: that Catholic schools have great extracurricular programs, not just in sports, but in music, theater, math league, speech team, and much more. My wife Debbie and I have four wonderful children. They have been able to experience the best of both worlds. They all graduated from Watertown Mayer Public Middle School and experienced the great public education that my wife and I received in Minnesota, but they also chose to attend Catholic high schools and get not just a great education, but be able to talk about how God influences the world around us and history as well. We are pleased to see that they were nurtured in the Catholic spirit of helping others. They participate in many programs to help those in need. My daughter organized a food drive for Mary's Place, an outreach for the needy while she was at Holy Family Catholic High School. Emily collected enough from her fellow students to fill up our van. They have kept that spirit alive even after graduating from high school and going on to college. Our son Charles, a graduate of St. John's Prep School, led a group of students from the University of Notre Dame to lend a hand in Appalachia last spring break, forgoing the more pleasurable trip further south. Catholic schools really do teach students to care. Catholic schools provide a great education to 2.5 million students across America and have a student-teacher ratio that averages 15 to 1. I can attest to a quality education with two of our children now attending the University of Notre Dame. More than 26 percent of the students enrolled in Catholic schools are from minority backgrounds, and nearly 14 percent are non-Catholics. Catholic schools have done an extraordinary job of reaching out to disadvantaged youth throughout the country. This week has been designated as Catholic Schools Week. The theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is ``Faith in Every Student.'' Tomorrow is National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting my resolution that commends our Catholic schools and the teachers, parents, and religious communities that support them for their service to our Nation's youth.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor the 100th birthday of the Minnesota State Capitol. The Capitol first opened its doors on January 2, 1905 and on January 2, 2005, over 6,000 people attended the first of a full year's worth of birthday celebrations. The Minnesota State Legislature first met in a log hotel when Minnesota was declared a territory in 1849. The first Capitol building was built in 1853, but burned in 1881. The second, built in 1882, was erected on the same downtown St. Paul site as the first. As Minnesota's population grew, officials realized that the building would soon be too small to house the Legislators and a new building would be needed. In 1895, Cass Gilbert from St. Paul was selected to design the new building. It took nine years and $4.5 million to complete construction of the new capitol, which is still in use today. Today, the Minnesota State Capitol building is more than just a place for the Legislature. It is a museum dedicated to preserving Minnesota's history. Its many priceless artifacts detailing Minnesota's past include flags that were carried by Minnesotans who served in the Civil War and statues of influential Minnesota political figures. Mr. Speaker, for the past 100 years the Minnesota State Capitol has served as a place of government, history and learning. As a fourth generation Minnesotan whose ancestors were well established in the state when this capitol was built, I am pleased to be able to help honor it today as a lasting symbol of the spirit of Minnesota.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the dedication of an historical marker where the Red River Ox Cart Trail once passed through the city of Anoka, Minnesota. More than 150 years ago, the Red River Ox Cart Trail served as one of the main channels used by traders from Canada into St. Paul, Minnesota. The first of many ox cart trains on this trail was brought from Canada in 1844 by Norman W. Kittson, a trader for the American Fur Company, and within 20 years an annual amount of more than $250,000 worth of pelts, food and other goods were being transported in this manner to St. Paul, where some of the goods would be unloaded, repacked and sent down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri for shipment east. The carts used on this trail were unmistakable--large and wooden with six-foot wheels held together with wood pegs and rawhide, which produced a loud squealing sound that could be heard from miles away. The carts and their drivers, in their blue outfits adorned with brass buttons, red sashes and beaded caps became a familiar sight in St. Paul, where, after a 30-day trip from the Red River, the drivers would re-load their carts with food, medicine, hardware, and other goods before they returned northward. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize today's dedication of an historical marker where history literally drove through Anoka, Minnesota. The use of this trail and others like it helped create a thriving shipping economy in Minnesota, which was sustained well after ox carts were replaced by the railroads. Today's dedication is the result of much hard work. I applaud Anoka's Heritage Preservation Society in keeping a piece of Minnesota's rich history alive.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I too rise in support of the Stock Option Accounting Reform Act. This is about innovation that drives our economy. So many businesses have stock options as a primary tool to get the innovative juices of their employees going. It also really helps align the employees of the company with the interests of the company, moving it forward, helping it to be competitive. This is a prime source of our innovation and success here in America. We do not need to limit it beyond the top five officers, as this does. If we went ahead with expensing stock options, the volatility and uncertainty, I think, would end the use of stock options and be detrimental to our economy. So I do believe that we have to move forward to protect this innovative source of energy in our economy, keep our small businesses creating the new jobs of the future, keep America at the cutting edge, keep employees motivated and aligned with the interests of their enterprises, and this, in the end, will be good for America and good the American economy.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the distinguished chairman for his great work on foreign relations. I share his great concern with the fact that half the people in this world live on less than $2 a day, that half the people in this world have not made a phone call, that one-fifth of the people do not have safe drinking water, and that 115 million children do not have a school to go to. We need to, with this crisis out there, have a razor-sharp focus on results, not dollars spent. We need to demand results from our aid programs, not try to comfort ourselves by saying that we spent some dollars on certain programs. What this amendment does is it takes $425 million out of our contribution for this year to the World Bank, which has a poor track record of delivering results. The World Bank is far too much focused on process, as opposed to performance. They might record how many schools they built, but they are not focusing on how many children we have really educated. They may focus on what water treatments they have helped fund but not on how many families are really getting clean water from them. They already do have sufficient capital to expand their programs. We put this money, $90 million of it, into the global AIDS initiative, which has a proven track record. It meets this year's commitment of our $15 billion plan that we have approved as a Congress. There are millions of orphans throughout Africa because of the AIDS epidemic. This is a horrible pandemic. It threatens the stability of the continent. It must be addressed. We also put $215 million into the Millennium Challenge Account. Today in this bill only half of the President's request is funded. This gets us part of the way there. The Millennium Challenge Account has criteria that ensure results. They make sure that the countries that we are investing in rule justly, that they invest in their people, that they pursue free enterprise, economic freedom. There is substantial evidence that exists that shows that countries that do this have growing standard of livings, that they are more likely to eat better, live longer, have children in school rather than working in the fields, speak, assemble, worship more freely. They are three times more likely to elect their governments democratically, and they are less likely to fight wars. It would be mistaken to say that this amendment reduced investments in aid. We indeed invest in a proven AIDS initiative. It is also mistaken to say that it is designated towards AIDS funds within IDA. IDA can continue their AIDS program with the capital they have already, and the MCA encourages health care spending. It is also mistaken to say that this reduces investment in Africa. The AIDS program is for Africa, and over half of the first 16 countries chosen for the Millennium Challenge Accounts were part of Sub-Saharan Africa. So I encourage my colleagues to vote to support putting our dollars where the results are, in fighting AIDS, in fighting other diseases, in fighting hunger and poverty.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel), a cosponsor of this amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just like to respond to the distinguished ranking member and my distinguished fellow Member from Minnesota. This is not a debate as to whether we give to the poorest countries on Earth, whether we give to sub-Saharan Africa. In both cases IDA gives, yes, to the poorest countries but so does the Millennium Challenge Account. In fact, the Millennium Challenge Account is required to go to the 74 poorest countries. If you look at the 16 countries that were included in the initial allocation, Madagascar, one of the ones my fellow colleagues mentioned, is a recipient of the Millennium Challenge Account as is Benin and Cape Verde and Ghana and Lesotho and Mali and Mozambique and Senegal. So we are addressing sub-Saharan Africa. We are addressing AIDS. We are doing it again in a way that focuses on results, that focuses on making sure we are making a difference for the poorest people in the world. I do encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2507, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. Federal child nutrition programs were conceived to offer wholesome meals and snacks to children in need, and to support the health of lower-income pregnant women, new mothers, and their young children. Federal child nutrition programs touch the lives of countless children. The National School Lunch Program alone serves an average of 29 million children each school day. Fifty-eight percent of these children receive a nutritious lunch each school day for free or at a reduced price. Nearly eleven million children also take part in school breakfast, after- school snacks, and summer meals. These programs provide an extraordinary opportunity to send a strong, consistent message to children about maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Along with nutritional provisions, this legislation works to streamline the eligibility criteria and paperwork parents and guardians need to participate. For schools, lunch certifications will now be valid for a full year. Additionally, parents will be allowed to submit a single application for multiple children, and to file school lunch applications electronically. And, eligible children whose parents live in privatized military housing will continue to receive free- or reduced-price meals. This bill also addresses the Women, Infant and Children program commonly know as WIC. This important program helps safeguard the health of nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and new mothers, infants, and children up to age five. It provides vital nutrient-dense foods to supplement diets, along with nutrition education and referrals for health care and other social services. WIC is based on the premise that early intervention programs can prevent future medical and developmental problems in at-risk individuals. The success of WIC is well documented. Participation in WIC has led to better pregnancy outcomes--fewer infant deaths, fewer premature births, and increased birth weights. Through this legislation, WIC is authorized through 2009 and a number of enhancements are made to program access and operations. Finally, this bill also ensures that supplemental foods available through WIC are consistent with current nutritional science, a key link in fighting youth obesity. Mr. Speaker, The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act will help strengthen and improve all these programs which are so valuable to children and their families. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show my strong support for this legislation's important language on the creation of a ``Democracy Caucus'' at the United Nations. Mr. Speaker, there is a growing crisis at the UN. This crisis is the decline in the UN's focus on building democracies and spreading freedom throughout the world. Increasingly, the UN is becoming dominated by non- and, in far too many cases, anti-democratic governments. For example, the 191 members of the United Nations, 102 do not have completely free and democratic governments. 47 members are notorious dictatorships. 6 are even known terrorist states. As the UN has lost its focus on promoting democracy, scandal has plagued the organization. Take the Oil-for-Food program. The world, particularly the Iraqi people, is waiting to learn the magnitude of corruption involved in the Oil for Food scandal. Credible reports allege the UN paid itself at least $1.4 billion in commissions for its work on a program that stole as much as $10 billion in food and humanitarian relief from the Iraqi people it was designed to help. This is only the latest examples of a crisis of confidence at the UN. Nearly half of the 53 countries sitting on the UN Human Rights Commission are known violators of the human rights of their own citizens. For example, take the Sudan, which was just reelected to the Human Rights Commission. This Is the same country that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has cited for its ongoing acts of ethnic cleansing against its people, which may result in the deaths of more than 320,000 people this year alone. Mr. Speaker, the United Nations was created by the United States and the other victors of World War II to be an instrument for world peace and democracy. Instead, since its founding, there have been 291 wars which have resulted in over 22 million deaths. The UN needs a Democracy Caucus, and it needs one now. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my friend's legislation, because I share his belief that the UN system is broken. Democracies and dictatorships are not the same, yet within the UN system they have the same vote. It is time for the democracies of the world to come together to provide the leadership that has been lacking for too long in the UN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Working Families Assistance Act and would like to thank my friend from Virginia for taking the leadership role in this important piece of legislation. We should be doing everything possible to make it easier for parents to raise their children. The Working Families Assistance Act does just that, by helping to ease the burdens of dependent care for hard working families. Currently, 22 percent of employers offer dependent care flexible savings accounts or FSAs to their employees. Employees may take $2,500 individually or $5,000 per married couple, put it in that FSA to pay for dependent care. Dependents, for purposes of the FSA, are children under age 13 or individuals such as disabled parents who require full-time care due to physical or mental condition. Parents can use the money in these accounts to pay for day care, nursery care, or even have an adult relative care for children; but only 14 percent of eligible families participate in these FSAs. Why? One of the big reasons is that, like the health care FSA, employees must forfeit any unused funds back to their employer at the end of the year. The use-it-or-lose-it provision has made these accounts a bad fit for many families who are trying to create and keep a budget for the year; and for those who use dependent care FSAs, many families are forced to underestimate the amount of money they will need for the year so they do not lose money at the end of the year, essentially defeating the point of the account. Recently, we passed legislation allowing hardworking families to carry over $500 from health FSAs. That is what we are doing here today for child and dependent care. The Working Family Assistance Act would fix that problem by allowing families to carry over $500 into the next year's FSA. This change will give parents a safety net as they try to predict their family's dependent care costs. This bill also gives parents more choices and more flexibility in meeting their family's needs. We should be taking every opportunity we can to let families keep and use their own money to raise their children. I am pleased to be one of the sponsors of this legislation to help working families meet their dependent care needs. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding to me. There are some, both at home and abroad, who would have us believe that Abu Ghraib is the true face of this war, that the acts of a few troubled individuals represent our cause. I believe there is a dramatically different face, and I would like to describe it to the Members. In a recent news story, Lt. Riley Sharon, an Army emergency room charge nurse from St. Cloud, Minnesota, a city I am proud to represent, and a fellow alumnus from St. John's University, tells of incidents at the Abu Ghraib prison when it came under attack from mortars fired by insurgents, killing scores of prisoners and wounding hundreds of detainees. In one 4-hour period, insurgents killed 22 detainees and Lt. Sharbonno's group treated over 100 enemy detainee patients. At the time Sharbonno and his fellow soldiers were fighting to save the lives of those who might have gladly taken theirs, they were under such heavy fire, they had to wear a Kevlar helmet and a bullet-proof vest. As Lt. Sharbonno said, ``I am unaware of any military in the history of war that has built an entire hospital for the exclusive treatment of enemy detainees or POWs. I don't understand the media's insistence on ignoring the atrocities committed by anti-coalition forces or the amazing things that the military has accomplished over here.'' The brave work of the likes of Lt. Sharbonno is the real face of this war. This is the courage, compassion, and humanity of the American soldiers who fight for us all in this war on terror. Too little attention has been paid to their noble work and sacrifices. Too little attention has also been paid to recent successes in moving Iraq towards a democratic form of government. The Iraqi Governing Council has shown some real initiative recently. They selected a president America supposedly did not want and a prime minister the UN did not want. But by showing independence, they now have more credibility amongst Iraqis and the international community. The Security Council approved of a new government by a unanimous 15-to- nothing vote. The new interim government got to work early, integrated the many independent militias so that they are now part of the solution, not a potential problem, and reorganized Iraqi security forces. Al Sadr is now trying to be a political force rather than a leader of a rebellious militia. There is no doubt that there will be further bumps in the road on the way to an elected government, but there can also be no doubt that significant progress has been made. And then we look at the actions of our enemies. If there is any remaining doubt that this is truly a war between good and evil, it should be gone. One can have no doubt at the depths of the enemies will or hatred when we are forced to confront the atrocities committed against Nick Berg and Paul Johnson. The insurgents attack oil pipelines, a source of hope for the Iraqi people. What is the point in this? Since the liberation of Iraq, the wealth of her natural resources is hers again. An Iraqi-led Oil Ministry controls the pipeline with revenues going to the Iraqi treasury. Iraqi officials disburse the profits for the benefit of Iraqis. With the fall of the dictator's regime, the money no longer goes to encourage hopeless and desperate Palestinian use to kill themselves while they murder innocent. The revenues no longer subsidize a megalomaniac's architectural fantasies in the form of grandiose palaces. It no longer subsidizes the sadistic whims of the dictator's sons. The revenue from Iraqi oil are a chance for the Iraqi people to use their own natural resources to educate Iraqi children, to build an Iraqi health care system, an infrastructure, and a strong Iraqi economy. Mr. Speaker, the important question we should ask ourselves is why are the terrorists so desperate? Why are they willing to commit so many inhumane acts not just against Americans, but against the Iraqi people as well? The terrorist leader Zarqawi's memo to Al Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, in that we find the explanation for their desperation. When pleading for bin Laden's assistance in the Iraqi insurgency, Zarqawi makes clear that his insurgency has failed to engender support within the country. Zarqawi also acknowledges that they have been unable to scare Americans into leaving, having been disabused of the idea that he had earlier professed that Americans were ``the biggest cowards that God has created.'' We have certainly proved him wrong. He believes that the insurgents might be able to win if they are able to kill enough Shiites so that the Shiites will attack the Sunni minority, that by creating such turmoil, there will be a civil war. They clearly understand what is at stake, the terrorists do. I hope we do.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, our country had suffered its fair share of lumps in the 1970s, and in 1980 we were looking for a leader who would draw a line in the sand and say ``no more.'' We found that rare man in Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan succeeded where others failed because throughout his public life he concerned himself with getting things done, not winning applause. In fact, one of Reagan's hallmarks was the plaque he kept on his desk that said: ``There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.'' As a businessman, I admired Ronald Reagan's dedication to this seemingly modest goal. Putting success ahead of personal accolades is a difficult lesson for many to learn, but a talent all great men seem to instinctively possess. It is an axiom that turns productive individuals into innovative leaders, and it turned Ronald Reagan into one of the greatest leaders and greatest Presidents we have had. Ironically, the more Reagan sought to distance himself from the successes he knew grew from the sweat and tears of the American people, the more it turned out that those people admired him for his principled leadership. That leadership earned Ronald Reagan widespread respect and helped Reagan form broad bipartisan coalitions to renew America. The results were immediate, winning historic legislative victories on providing tax relief and strengthening our military. The economy flourished as our national pride returned. I can recall what a difference Ronald Reagan made in my own life, from the depressed job market I entered after graduating from college in 1978 to the vastly improved job opportunities I found after graduating from business school in 1983. The world was a wholly different place in those 5 years because the Reagan Era had become the Reagan Revolution. The impact that Ronald Reagan had on our world is immeasurable. When he took office, our collective national spirit had been lulled to sleep in the morass of the 1960s and the 1970s. Reagan seized the sleeping giant and shook it wide awake with a jolt of optimism and patriotism and a reminder of our destiny as Americans that our best days lay ahead. May God bless the spirit and family of Ronald Reagan, our 40th President, and one of our true national heroes.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Minnesota Department of Transportation on receiving the Mark Trail Award of 2004. Two Minnesotans, Rochester resident Troy Schmidt from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Woodbury resident Terri Smith from the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, are accepting the award at a ceremony tomorrow, June 4, 2004 in Washington D.C. Since approaching the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service in 2000, the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have expanded the Minnesota NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter network from 12 to 32 transmitters, with 4 more about to go into service. As a result, 99 percent of all Minnesotans are now within broadcast range of a National Weather Radio transmitter. The statewide NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter network will provide Minnesotans with weather announcements and other emergency messages when necessary. When tragedy strikes, this network will allow for notice of emergencies such as fire, flood, tornado or accidents involving hazardous materials to be broadcast so Minnesotans will be aware of the emergency procedures, and can keep their families safe. Mr. Speaker, it is important services, such as the National Weather Service, that provide a safe environment for the public. It is my privilege to recognize two outstanding Minnesotans, Troy Schmidt and Terri Smith, for their work. I would like to express my appreciation for the sponsors of the Mark Trail Award and for the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Minnesota Department of Transportation for their help and achievements in coordinating county, state, and federal services.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the name of the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) be added as a cosponsor of the amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the amendment I am offering with my friend, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder). The Kennedy-Snyder amendment repeals the 2-year BRAC delay that was included in the Defense Authorization Act reported out by the committee. Our amendment also requires DOD to report to Congress on our overseas basing posture and other issues raised by the committee in March of 2005 when DOD transmits its base closure and realignment recommendations to the BRAC Commission. Under the terms of our amendment, Congress would have 6 months to consider the report before a potential vote to disapprove the recommendations of the BRAC Commission. This would give the House ample time to hold hearings and decide if DOD paid attention to such important issues as our overseas basing structure. Furthermore, estimates show that the 2-year delay of BRAC could waste as much as $16 billion in lost savings. Mr. Chairman, this is money that would be better used to modernize our weapons systems and improve the quality of life for our service men and women. I know some of my colleagues on this floor are opposed to the BRAC process. They argue that now is not the time to conduct a round of base closures, not while the country is at war. I disagree. I believe that now is as important a time as ever. The critical nature of our war on terrorism and our military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan demand we go forward with BRAC. Right now, we have a perfect opportunity to see what infrastructure the military really needs for our modern-day challenges. After all, if it is not essential where our military is engaged in two countries simultaneously, in addition to all of our other responsibilities being undertaken by our men and women in uniform, when will it be needed? But that is not just my opinion. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Army Chief of Staff, the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps recently warned a delay in the BRAC amendment will seriously undermine our ability to fundamentally reconfigure our infrastructure to best support the transformation of our forces to meet the security challenges we face now and will continue to face for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the administration has issued a statement of administration policy that says anything that delays, weakens or repeals the BRAC would trigger a veto. Mr. Chairman, we cannot afford that risk. For those of my colleagues really concerned about BRAC, I would ask them to remember that the BRAC process works. Congress and the President each must act to accept or reject the recommendations of the BRAC Commission. They do not take effect until both Congress and the President accept the list. That means a vote for the Kennedy-Snyder amendment is not a vote to close any base; it is a vote for a process proven to work, free from political posturing, that puts the needs of the military and taxpayers ahead of parochial interests. Mr. Chairman, the BRAC process is a significant innovation that relies upon shared oversight to strengthen our military and produce significant savings in the defense budget. We have had significant savings in the past BRAC closings.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder).

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), a Reserve member of the U.S. Navy.

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), the very distinguished member and chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, former Navy Reservist and Vietnam veteran.