Mark Kirk

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. I thank the gentleman. For suburban families, health care issues are second only to safety and security and improvement of public education in their priority list. One of the key issues is access to care, especially at community health centers, and making sure we have enough doctors. No one knows this issue better than the author of the Family Health Care Accessibility Act, part of the Suburban Agenda, my colleague, Congressman Tim Murphy.

Mr. KIRK. If we look at the suburban agenda about safe schools, extending health care, green and open space, et cetera, one of the things that is not part of the Suburban Agenda is a tax increase, especially a tax increase on working families. One of the things that we have instituted as part of our general tax policy is to make sure that married families are not paying a higher tax, because a key part of the Suburban Agenda is a family together, raising kids under one household. I am worried, though, that if there is inaction on tax policy by this Congress, many of the inequities in the Tax Code get reimposed and we start taxing families at a higher rate than people who are single.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madame Speaker, on February 12, I joined my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Hare, in introducing H.R. 995 to extend the authorization of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial through 2015. This legislation will give the American Veterans Disabled for Life Foundation more time to raise the money needed to build this memorial just south of the Rayburn Building. I believe the time has come to recognize the sacrifices made by America's more than three million disabled veterans by building a memorial for them in here in Washington, D.C. Last December President Bush signed into law a bill to transferring control of the land for the memorial from the District of Columbia to the National Park Service. Now the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation needs to raise approximately $65 million to cover the cost of construction. By passing H.R. 995 today, we will give the foundation time to raise this money. Earlier this year I joined my colleague from Kansas, Mr. Moore, in introducing legislation to authorize the minting of commemorative coins to help raise money for this cause. As we extend the authorization for the memorial today, I want to encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring H.R. 634 to issue these coins. No federal funds will be used to build the disabled veterans memorial, but it is appropriate for Congress to do all it can to support and encourage its construction. With more than three million disabled veterans in the United States today, it is fitting that a memorial to their sacrifice be erected in Washington, D.C. It is my hope that passing Mr. Hare's legislation will bring us closer to making the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial a reality.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, today, the House will take up legislation that will remove the right of Americans to a secret ballot in their union elections. When asked, only 6 percent of Americans supported eliminating a secret ballot, while 89 percent supported keeping their rights. Eighty-four percent of Americans said that they did not want their choices to be made public. And when asked about this legislation, only 14 percent of Americans said they supported it; 79 percent opposed. Madam Speaker, we cannot advance the interests of Americans by taking away their right to a secret ballot. Since 2000, Congress has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to improve voting in America. We even support secret ballot elections in places like Poland and Afghanistan, where secret ballots are banned. Madam Speaker, we know that the union movement has lost over 3,000 dues-paying members alone. But just because only 12 percent of Americans now choose to pay into a union is no reason to attack our rights as Americans to a secret ballot.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Chairman, this bill stands for the principle that: Americans should not have a right to a secret ballot, but 89 percent of Americans want their Member of Congress to defend a secret ballot; Americans do not want their votes made public, but this bill stands for the principle that your vote will be made public, despite the fact that 89 percent of Americans want their votes to remain private. In sum, this bill lacks support from 79 percent of Americans who oppose its provisions. Madam Chairman, the Fraternal Order of Police opposes this bill. The American Hospital Association opposes this bill. Thirty other major organizations oppose it because it is ironic that as we insist on free elections with secret ballots for Afghans, we remove that right for Americans. I am sorry that over 300,000 Americans dropped their union memberships last year, but this Congress cannot rescue big labor from its own loss of popularity.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the Kidney Disease Education Benefits Act. As co-Chairman of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, I am proud to join with my fellow Kidney Caucus co-Chairman, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) to introduce this important initiative. Each year, some 80,000 people are diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease. This stage of kidney disease occurs when the kidneys function at less than 10 percent and, as a result, are no longer able to maintain life. Patients with kidney disease require regular kidney dialysis treatments or a transplant to survive. Medicare pays for most renal patients at the cost of $20 billion a year, nearly 7 percent of all Medicare expenditures, despite the fact that the kidney disease population represents just 1.1 percent of all Medicare patients. Complications associated with kidney disease are common, but can be reduced if appropriate education is provided prior to the onset of renal failure. There are a number of steps chronic kidney disease patients can take to reduce renal failure and better prepare themselves for dialysis, including making lifestyle changes, learning about renal replacement options, and seeking a compatible kidney donor. Medicare, however, does not provide coverage for education on nutrition, treatment options, venous access, or transplant coordination until after the patient has experienced kidney failure and is already undergoing dialysis. To remedy this situation, we are introducing the Kidney Disease Education Benefits Act of 2007 to make counseling available to patients before they begin dialysis. This is a top National Kidney Foundation legislative priority. Our bill would provide reimbursement for an estimated $10 million per year for up to six educational sessions for Medicare patients. These sessions would be offered 1 year prior to kidney failure to help prevent renal failure, better prepare these patients for dialysis, and save Medicare costs that can be associated with complications resulting from renal failure. Kidney disease cannot be reversed, but, with appropriate education, its effects can be slowed, improving the quality of life for renal patients and reducing costs to taxpayers. I would like to thank Congressman McDermott for joining me in the fight against kidney disease. I look forward to working with him and my other colleagues on this important initiative.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. I thank the distinguished chairman. Our uniformed men and women have given great service to the Nation by ending a tyrant's rein and fostering elections in a region that only knew dictatorship. In my judgment now, the time for decisive military action led by American and British forces is ending and the Iraqi stage should be delivered to new political leaders to work out their own differences. I will support the House resolution that recommends against the troop surge because the United States should increase the responsibilities of the elected Iraqi government to solve its own problems while reducing the number of American combat troops sent overseas. I did not come to this conclusion lightly. The long-term security of our country depends on the United States not being defeated in the Middle East. To prevent the collapse of democracy, tolerance and supporters in our region, we need a policy that relies on America's key strengths and builds additional support among our citizens and allies. Looking back on the last years, our troops in Iraq achieved two major objectives: First, they ended the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, a leader that invaded two separate United Nations member countries and ordered the murder of several hundred thousand Iraqis. Second, they backed the United Nations' sponsorship of Iraq's three national elections that approved a new constitution and government. Iraq is no longer a military threat to her neighbors or minorities, especially her Kurdish families, who no longer fear that a third genocide campaign will be launched by their very own government. These are major achievements, worthy of the bravery and sacrifice of Americans in uniform. But Iraq now faces new challenges that should be solved by Iraqis, not the U.S. military. Iraq's government, led by a Kurdish president and a Shia prime minister, faces a daunting enemy composed of people that would restore the old dictatorship, or worse. But this struggle is primarily political, not military. Foreign troops, be they American or British or otherwise, are not well-suited to advance the elected government's writ. In the coming months we should build a longer term plan for the United States and our allies in the Middle East. Man for man, Iraqi combat troops operating under the authority of their own elected government are better suited for this mission than Americans on the front lines of Iraq. The U.S. military can offer unique advantages to the Iraqi government in our ability to provide the Iraqi army and police with logistics, communications, training and intelligence, in a way that only Americans can provide. Over the coming months, Americans should be focused on these missions, making sure that our Iraqi allies are more effective in extending the authority of their government. By winding down the combat duties of Americans, we will dramatically lower the risk to our men and women stationed overseas while providing a decisive advantage to the elected government of Iraq. This is how to win the battle and secure a lasting government for the Iraqi people. Our plan should be strengthened by a diplomatic initiative among Iraq's neighbors and the World Bank to support the elected government in its plans for reconstruction. To date, the World Bank has been ``absent without leave'' in delivering help to this founding member of the International Bank For Reconstruction and Development. Our efforts, based on the key American advantages, while reducing the number of American combat troops, will improve the prospects for peace and build support for our goals here and among our allies. Mr. Speaker, I join with many Members today to say if it were up to us, we would recommend a different course of action that involves less risk to Americans. As a military man, I am fully aware that the Constitution does not place 535 Members of Congress in the direct military chain of command, and Americans who wear the uniform are also not shy in debating various courses of action. They have as many opinions on various issues as any civilian community, and that is their birthright as Americans. But as volunteers who wear the uniform, they take on an additional heavy obligation to make a decision, to bring an end to the debate, and to confront the enemies of the United States as brothers and sisters united by a common bond. In coming days, our troops will face danger, not as Democrats, Independents or Republicans, but as Americans. We in Congress should draw on their strength once our decision is made. When a course of action is set, we are not neutral in the contest. If Americans are engaged in combat, we are for the Americans winning. We will give them the tools to bring an end to the conflict as rapidly as possible. The debate in Congress will soon close and the course will be set. For those Americans who serve farthest from home, they should know that after a vigorous debate, their democracy will make a decision, and we will back those charged with its implementation with everything needed to succeed.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Deleting Online Predators Act of 2007, H.R. 1120. This legislation is a critical step to empower parents to exercise more control over what their children do on the Internet and to protect them from Internet predators. In Lake County, IL, we have seen what can happen when Internet predators are able to make contact with children. In October 2005, Joseph Caprigno molested a 14 year-old boy he met on the Internet. Caprigno, a 40 year-old man, arranged to meet the boy in a 7-11 parking lot in an Internet chat room. In January a 20 year-old man, Michael Zbonski, molested a 16 year-old girl he met on MySpace.com. Frighteningly, not only did he communicate with this girl for 2 years on the Internet, he admitted to having a sexual relationship with one of the victim's underage friends. The Deleting Online Predators Act is a commonsense piece of legislation designed to empower parents to play a more active role in their children's activities online. The bill calls on the Federal Trade Commission to issue consumer alerts and establish a unique Web site to better educate parents as to the dangers posed by Internet predators. Parents are the first and most important line of defense against these predators, and it is imperative to arm them with timely and accurate information to protect their children. This bill also requires schools to prevent children from accessing social networking Web sites and chat rooms unless they are doing so for a legitimate educational purpose and are under adult supervision. It also requires public libraries to prevent children from accessing these Web sites unless they have the permission of a parent. I believe this is an entirely appropriate action to help parents determine what their children can and cannot do online. It seems foolish for the taxpayer to subsidize what amounts to a loophole by which children can circumvent their parent's wishes and unwittingly expose themselves to Internet predators. Madam Speaker, Lake County also offers one more case that plainly demonstrates the need for this legislation. The Lake County State's Attorney recently filed Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse charges against two teachers who are accused of soliciting and arranging to molest underage students at the school where they taught. Jason Glick and James Lobitz didn't just molest two underage students, they arranged to do so using school-owned computer equipment and resources during school hours. The cases against Jason Glick and James Lobitz are still pending, but by passing this bill, we can send a message to parents that just as we wouldn't allow sexual predators to roam the halls of a school, we will not allow them to infiltrate our schools over the Internet.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the security at O'Hare Airport is not what it should be. Reports over the weekend showed 3,700 security badges have not been returned from former employees no longer allowed to work at the airfield. Many of the badges had not been canceled and would permit anyone access to an aircraft. According to CBS TV, several of the employees involved had previous arrest records and convictions for nonmajor crimes. Reports also indicated that several doors at O'Hare did not even have ID scanners, allowing anyone who appeared to be official to enter the airfield. The Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Agency and Federal law enforcement officers that I have met with have all promised action. While they can levy fines on the contractors involved, the penalties should be increased. Later this month, I will introduce legislation levying a fine of $10,000 per day for an airport security badge that is not canceled for an employee that was fired. That should get their attention and help make the world's busiest airport more secure.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, one of the key principles of leadership is to lead by example, and the leader of this House, Speaker Pelosi, has moved us to restrict access to executive jets, as she should have. She has also moved to institute new spending controls for the Congress and for the government, as she should have. And she has moved to reduce our impact on the environment, especially man's effect on climate change, as she should. I agree with each of these priorities. But the Speaker's staff request to upgrade her military domestic taxi service from a small plane that was offered to Speaker Hastert for 12 passengers and a crew of five, to a major airliner with 45 passengers and a crew of 16 appears to be extravagant, appears to expand the Congress's excess to executive jets, appears to remove any spending controls from our operations, and dramatically increases our impact on the environment, especially climate change. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that a major airliner costing over $10,000 an hour to fly is an extravagance that is beyond the Speaker's status as third in line to succeed the President under our plan in the Constitution and in procedure for the continuity of government. In fact, the Department of Defense has ruled that since the Speaker has never become the President of the United States in the 220 years of our country's history, that the continuity of government plan does not include providing 24/7 military taxi service within the domestic United States, carrying family, other Members of Congress, staff, and supporters to both political and official events. Now, we know that jetliners emit a large amount of greenhouse gases, and we know that this aircraft costs millions of dollars, and we know that the Congress has dramatically restricted the access of executive jets to everyone else, but the Speaker. I might inject a point of common sense here that the Speaker's staff has said that, for security reasons, she must have unlimited access to an aircraft at the 89th Military Airlift Wing like this one. And I may point out that in my experience of watching public officials move through airports, a figure like Senator Obama or Senator McCain attracts a much larger crowd than one for the Speaker. I might think that if we have to offer a military taxi service to the Speaker, we would also have to offer one to the fourth in line for the Presidency, the President pro tempore of the Senate. How much will this cost? How much in greenhouse gases will it emit? And last and not least, what sort of example does it send as a leader who is advocating all of these other policies that, in the operation of her own staff and her own offices, she is not following those principles? For that reason, I urge the adoption of the amendment.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, today I introduced a bill to require all vessels, including those with no ballast water on board, NOBOBs, to undergo ballast water exchange before entering the Great Lakes. Invasive species pose a dangerous threat to the Great Lakes. These creatures can cause irreparable ecological and economic damage to a variety of locations and industries. In 2005, economic losses were estimated at an annual $5 billion to the region. More than 160 non- native species have already invaded the Great Lakes ecosystem. As the largest source of our Nation's fresh water, the Great Lakes must be protected from further introduction of invasives. One method by which these species enter the Great Lakes is through ballast water tanks. Current law requires ships carrying ballast water to undergo ballast water exchange to flush out invasive species before entering the Great Lakes from another port. However, 90 percent of all ships entering the Great Lakes have no ballast water on board. These NOBOBs are not subject to the same ballast water exchange laws, even though they still have ballast tanks. Invasive species often survive in the sediment at the bottom of these tanks. When these ships operate in the Great Lakes, they may add and then pump out new ballast water before leaving. This mixes with residual ballast water and sediments, and provides an unregulated pathway for the introduction of new invasive species when the ballast water is released. In other words, the contamination begins. We must not leave 90 percent of ships entering the Great Lakes untreated. This bipartisan legislation requires all ships with ballast tanks, including NOBOBs, to undergo ballast water exchange. In addition, the bill commissions a study of the effectiveness and environmental soundness of other ballast treatment options. The language fixes a current problem and works towards an even stronger solution for the future. Madam Speaker, this legislation, while small, has enormous consequences for the health and safety of one of our national treasures. I am proud to introduce this ballast water legislation to significantly reduce the infiltration of invasive species into the Great Lakes.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, LTG Warren D. Johnson of Winnetka passed away on January 23, 2007, leaving behind a legacy of personal contributions to his family, colleagues, and the nation. General Johnson was born in 1922, in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He entered military service in April 1942 and graduated from officer candidate school with a commission as second lieutenant in November 1942. He was first assigned to advanced training for the B-17 and then sent to Tokyo, Japan where he served from December 1946 until June 1949 as a personnel officer in the Pacific Air Command and the Far East Air Forces. Johnson was next assigned as a B-36 crew member with the 11th Bombardment Wing of Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. There he began his long association with Strategic Air Command. At Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas from May 1955 to July 1959 he served as a B-47 aircraft commander and director of operations for the 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. General Johnson was assigned as chief of transportation at Torrejon Air Base, Spain and in January 1962, became commander of the SAC base at Sidi Slimane, Morocco. In 1963, he became deputy director of Eighth Air Force Headquarters at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. In 1966, Johnson became commander of the 380th Strategic Aerospace Wing, SAC and in 1967 was given the responsibility for SAC wings. In September 1969, he assumed the dual assignment of commander, U.S. Forces, Azores, and commander, 1605th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Azores. In June 1971, General Johnson became deputy chief of staff for personnel at Strategic Air Command Headquarters and later became chief of staff. He joined the Defense Nuclear Agency in May 1973 as deputy director for operations and administration, and in October 1973 was appointed as the director. General Johnson also served as a member of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. General Johnson received numerous military decorations and awards. He was quadruplerated as pilot, navigator, bombardier and radar operator, and had more than 17,000 hours of flying time in fighters and bombers. Retiring from the United States Air Force in 1977, Don Johnson joined Baxter International as a corporate officer. His activities were varied ranging from facility planning, telecommunications, and aviation to Baxter's operations in South Africa, finally recommending divestment of the company's interest in that country. General Johnson chaired Baxter's Crisis Management Team before retiring in 1990. On a personal note, it was to my great pleasure and honor that ``The General,'' as we called him, served on my Service Academy Select Screening Board to make recommendations for nominations for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He took delight in the many fine young people that our district produced and their sincere desire to serve our country. General Johnson was a giant among men, having served in three wars, flying fighters and bombers, going from prop planes to the Strategic Air Command, and serving as Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency. He continued making contributions in civilian life by sharing his leadership and understanding of the world. We will never comprehend the influence and inspiration that General Johnson provided to those who had the opportunity to make his acquaintance. To his wife Judy and his four surviving children, I extend my deep condolences. To General Don Johnson's many friends at the North Shore Senior Center, it was our pleasure to know such a fine individual and family man who will be missed by all.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, tomorrow this House will take up a massive spending bill that will remove over $400 billion from our Treasury. This huge 150-page ``CRomnibus'' spending bill has not been read by most Democrats or Republicans. We are told that despite the end of the 100 hours, this large bill cannot be amended. We have had no hearings on this bill. There is no report to accompany the legislation detailing hundreds of billions in spending, and we will not be allowed to offer improvements like taking the savings in canceling Federal earmarks and making sure the deficit is reduced. In large part, Members of this House may be later embarrassed when enterprising reporters who have the time to read this legislation find out what we have actually done without review or consideration. This bill is not pay-as-you-go. Given the Democratic retreat coming up, it is more like pay-and-then-play.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Last week, I placed a wager with one of our colleagues, Dr. Jindal, and Mr. Boustany, on the Bears and whether they would win a place at the Super Bowl. Who won? The Bears. And now we look forward to welcoming these two sons of Louisiana to pay their football wager, which is to spend a work session at the Lake County, Illinois, Habitat For Humanity, ironically preparing a home for a new family displaced by Hurricane Katrina and now living in northern Illinois. Regarding the coming contest, my district is home to both Lovie Smith and the Bears' training facility, Halas Hall in Lake Forest. I am honored to represent Lovie, whose life story is an inspiration. Raised in rural Big Sandy, Texas, Lovie's modesty and work led him to become the premier head coach of the NFL. Since his 5-11 start in 2004, his first season in Chicago, Lovie coached the Bears to a spectacular 26-9 record over the past two seasons, including two impressive playoff victories. Lovie embodies the Bears tradition of tough, hard-nosed football that has defined the organization since its founding in 1919. As the Bears' 19th head coach, Lovie has joined the coaching giants like Mike Ditka and George Halas as leaders of the Monsters of the Midway. Chicago has embraced Lovie as a football icon, and I am proud to honor him on the floor today. And today we also have a message for the Bears organization. Lovie deserves a raise and a ring because he has earned the respect of everyone from Chicagoland. Best of luck to you, Coach, in Miami. And I won't say anything cheap like, Bears love horse meat for breakfast

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce The Government Reservation Accelerated Development for Education Aid Act, GRADE-A, H.R. 701, a bill to ensure the Federal government fully funds the Impact Aid program. In 1950, President Harry Truman established the Impact Aid program to meet the revenue shortfalls in school districts and communities that occur in districts with federally owned land, which are exempt from State and local property taxes. Public schools are required by law to accept all children from military families, Native American reservations or other Federal establishments. This puts a severe financial burden on school districts that educate a significant number of federally connected children, diminishing the overall quality of education, and increasing the funding burden on local taxpayers. For years Impact Aid was fully funded and offered some of the strongest direct assistance to military families across the Nation. Unfortunately, over the last decade we have fallen behind on this commitment. GRADE-A has garnered bipartisan support and offers the opportunity to reverse this negative trend. Earlier this Congress I introduced H.R. 12, in order to ensure that students in my district continue to receive the resources needed to succeed. I introduced this bill to help North Chicago continue to qualify as ``heavily impacted'' and therefore, receive maximum funding, and to ensure that Glenview and Highland Park receive fair compensation. I believe that it is crucial for schools outside of my district that are affected by the presence of the Federal government to receive support from the Impact Aid program as well. This funding is necessary to maintain school quality, protect surrounding communities from financial burden and to fulfill an obligation to our men and women serving overseas, by caring for their families at home.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the State Department has notified this House of the President's intent to transfer $86 million to provide vehicles, uniforms and body armor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces. Yet on January 11, Abbas made the following remarks at a Fatah rally in Ramallah: ``Let 1,000 flowers bloom and let our rifles, all our rifles, all our rifles, be aimed at the occupation.'' Mr. Speaker, we have seen this movie before. In 1996, the U.S. pledged $100 million to help Fatah defeat Hamas terrorists. But in 2000, Yasser Arafat turned his American-funded security forces on Israel. Now, Abbas calls on rifles to be aimed at Israel again, and we are poised to give him $86 million to upgrade his security forces, without first establishing an independent audit regime. I urge my colleagues to apply the lessons of history and to increase the effective oversight of this taxpayer-funded program, which in the past has been turned against our allies in Israel.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, today Representative Dennis Moore and I introduced the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 634. This legislation seeks to recognize the sacrifices made by America's more than three million disabled veterans by building a memorial for them here in Washington, DC. In 2000, Congress authorized the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial just south of the Rayburn Building. Last December President Bush signed into law a bill transferring control of the land for the memorial from the District of Columbia to the National Park Service. Now the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation needs to raise approximately $65 million to cover the cost of construction. This legislation will authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative silver dollars that will be sold with a surcharge that will help the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation raise the money needed to construct the memorial. Not only will these coins be collector's items, they will benefit a worthy cause. With more than 3 million disabled veterans in the United States today, it is fitting that a memorial to their sacrifice be erected in Washington, DC. It is my hope that all my colleagues will join Congressman Moore and me in supporting this legislation to help make the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial a reality.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Reclaiming my time. The gentlewoman actually has amended the legislation within the last half hour to add a fifth charge of subornation of perjury. But this bill falls far short of its potential. In 1996, the Congress is on record with the vote of Congresswoman Pelosi and Congressman Hastert of supporting legislation with 21 public integrity felonies, not the 5 under the legislation before us. We are missing a key element in this legislation which falls far short of our potential for reform. We know under current law that Rostenkowski collects after mail fraud, Traficant collects after corruption, Cunningham collects after bribery, and Ney collects after conspiracy. But the key story tonight is what is missing in this legislation. Our House leadership presented a bill which until an hour ago would have exempted the 110th Congress from any of these reforms. Now they are going to go back with the original intention of the bill with the new amendment that the Congresswoman added. But this list of felonies fails to include income tax evasion. I would ask her, why didn't you add income tax evasion to the list of felonies under this bill?

Mr. KIRK. Reclaiming my time. I would say that we should not provide taxpayer-funded pensions for someone who is convicted of income tax evasion.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the amendment in the final form of this bill, my understanding is we are now dealing with a handwritten piece of paper on a napkin?

Mr. KIRK. Is anything typed and shared with the minority?

Mr. KIRK. Which is handwritten.

Mr. KIRK. I will take that as a ``yes.'' Point of Order

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the author of this legislation, Mrs. Boyda, a question. She has added an amendment to this legislation within the last half hour. What was it, and what did you intend to do with that amendment?

Mr. KIRK. Parliamentary inquiry.