Mark Kirk

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, there are key moments in the life of our country in the course of this Congress when the United States faces a path towards democracy or towards war. That choice may be approaching in the policies we face regarding Iran's development of nuclear weapons. I, for one, choose diplomacy over conflict; and I believe that the United States and our allies can achieve our ends to the Iranian nuclear program without a shot being fired in anger. This should be our goal; and towards that end I join with my Democratic colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), to form the bipartisan House Iran Study Group. The mission of our group is to review the situation in Iran, to measure the potential threat, to examine our military options, but most importantly to find and promote diplomatic policies that advance our security interests without a resort to arms. I could not have chosen a better partner for this effort than my colleague from New Jersey. He is, first and foremost, not a Republican or a Democrat. He is an American. We both agree with Senator Arthur Vandenberg's dictum, who said that partisanship should end at the water's edge. We are also dedicated to the ideal that, when acting abroad, Republicans and Democrats are joined together as Americans. We formed the Iran Study Group last year to carefully review the facts about Iran, to make sure the U.S. government is reviewing all of its policy options and to push diplomacy towards a successful conclusion. And I want to recognize my colleague from New Jersey.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, as a member of the subcommittee, I want to commend both our chairman and ranking minority member for producing a bill which will dramatically improve the life and the experience of men and women joining the United States Navy and going for basic training and other schools in my district at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. This bill funds two new barracks for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and an infrastructure upgrade. It continues a $1 billion capitalization program which has transformed Great Lakes into the birthplace of the United States Navy. But this bill does something even more important. Throughout the country, we know that we have several hospital facilities funded by the Department of Defense close to VA facilities also funded by the taxpayer in caring for our veterans. What this bill does is it accelerates plans to build a new joint VA-Navy hospital in North Chicago, Illinois. This new facility, with two reports required by the administration to accelerate the progress, will be the first ever Navy- VA joint facility. We are very proud that that will be located in North Chicago, Illinois. This $100 million facility will ensure veterans' health care in northern Illinois and provide cutting-edge, quality care for the recruits who are joining the United States Navy. For these reasons and others, I really commend the chairman and the staff for what they have done to accelerate this, better health care for veterans, better health care for naval recruits and at lower cost to the taxpayer. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman especially for his inclusion of major parts of the Americans in Uniform Act authored by the majority whip, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), in this legislation. One amendment in particular would allow the Defense Department to review the record of a contractor in retaining and keeping Reservists. Now, we have had a case in which some employers are so good at keeping Reservists that they have got a number of positions missing; and then they have failed to get a new contract award and providing material to the Department of Defense, and contracts have even gone to other companies in other countries that have no such Reserve obligation. That is wrong. This amendment says that the Department of Defense at least will be able to look at the record of contractors in keeping Americans in uniform when they make new awards. And that means a signal will go throughout the business community that you should be a good employer of Reservists. We have had over 400,000 Americans called to active duty. I stand here as, I think, the only Member of Congress still regularly drilling in the Reserves. I have got duty this weekend. And when I talk to my fellow Americans in uniform, there are unique pressures on the Reserves. But we are proud. We are proud to wear the uniform. We are proud to take part in what we need to do in the war on terror. And we are proud to stand with other leaders, like my colleague, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), that have done so much to make it easier for Reservists to keep their jobs. When you look at the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), sheriff, now Congressman, and what he did as a good employer of making sure that Reservists, when they go on active duty, do not suffer a loss in pay, it is what every employer should do in America; but sadly some do not. And we need to change that. This set of reforms in this legislation under the Americans in Uniform Act, the Blunt legislation, help do that, on the Space-A reforms of the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), on the study in which we are going to see exactly what we need to do for Reservists under the Reichert legislation and under the Blunt/Larsen/Kirk reforms that make DOD contractors report on how they are taking care of our Americans in uniform, and to know that it will be considered in the award of contracts sends a powerful signal that the all-volunteer military is working, that the total force is working, and that we look on these Americans who wear the uniform part- time, in Winston Churchill's eyes, as twice a citizen, as someone who is a good member of their community, but when the country calls they respond exactly when we need them to go into harm's way and to be on the frontier of freedom. And, Mr. Chairman, thank you so much for including these reforms in the Americans for Uniform Act.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today the political center will hold with Nancy Reagan, and this Congress will stand for Yankee ingenuity and stem cell research. Our Constitution stands at its heart for the principle of the dignity of every individual and this idea is certainly central to our government and people. But there is a key American principle at the heart of our people that predates the Constitution. Nearly all of us are the sons and daughters of people who took risks to come to build a new life in a new world. If there is one American character that totally distinguishes us from all other countries, it is that Americans are innovators, explorers, inventors and scientists. We take risks, we try new things; and for 200 years the future came first to Americans, the most dynamic and forward-thinking people in all of human history. We invented the telephone, the radio, the airplane, we eradicated polio. Americans now receive more Nobel Prizes in medicine than all other European countries combined. We stand for innovation and leadership, and this Congress should ensure that American patients never have to leave our shores to find a cure.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time. I want to really applaud the gentleman from Michigan for putting together a truly bipartisan amendment that not only put together a broad coalition of Members in this House, including the chairman of the subcommittee, who has accepted the amendment, to stop this blending regulation. We all saw when Milwaukee dumped over 4 billion gallons of sewage into Lake Michigan just last year and an incredible rise in the number of beach closings along the Illinois shoreline: Nine in Glencoe, 12 in Wilmette, 34 in Winnetka, a rising tide of dirty water that would have been increased with this. But what this bipartisan amendment has done is it has backed down the EPA. Thanks to his work and Members on both sides of this aisle, the EPA has largely accepted what this amendment would have already laid out and have stopped this regulation. It is going to listen to the Congress on environmental protection, and I really want to thank my subcommittee chairman for accepting this amendment.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act. This bill will assist in our fight against terrorism around the globe. Currently, the terrorist rewards program run by the State Department assists in our hunt for terrorists by promising a cash reward or other type of reward for information leading to the arrest of some of the world's most deadly terrorists. This program has been very successful in the past in apprehending key people including Mir Amal Kansi, a terrorist who had murdered two CIA employees and injured three others in a 1993 shooting outside CIA headquarters in Virginia. Under current law, the U.S. may not pay a reward to an officer or employee of another government. In January I traveled to Pakistan, where I meet with a number of government officials. At the strong suggestion of Pakistan's ISI and IB Intelligence and Police bureaus, I believe the President should be able to pay such a reward to anyone having information leading us to the greatest terrorists. If there is anyone, anywhere, even if they work for a Pakistani government agency, who has information about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, we should be doing all we can to apprehend him. With the capture of AI-Qaeda's number three man, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, last week, we are closing in faster and stronger than ever in the Wazaristan region of Pakistan. We need to provide our State Department and intelligence officials with all the possible tools to aid in the capture of the world's number one terrorist. The Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act will provide one more of these tools.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time; and I commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), for offering this resolution commending Rotary on its anniversary, headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, on Chicago's North Shore. In 1905, in Chicago, Illinois attorney Paul Harris invited three friends to dinner. He envisioned a new kind of group of professionals that would meet to cultivate their civic ties. The group met regularly, became the Rotary Club of Chicago, and changed its focus to community service. We have come a long way since 1905. Now, with 400,000 Rotarians, like the Highland Park Morning Rotary Club that I belong to, and over 7,000 clubs throughout the United States, they are fighting poverty and hunger and illiteracy and working to support the environment. But Rotary should be known especially for one project, Polio Plus. It is with this privately funded and organized group that dedicated itself to wiping out a disease from the face of the planet, building on the precedent of wiping out smallpox, Rotary chose to wipe out polio which crippled our President Roosevelt and many other Americans. With this massive immunization program, joined in with the United Nations and the U.S. Government, Rotary's vision has now led us to a world where 99 percent of polio has been eradicated. In just a few years' time, Rotary is going to give a great gift to the world. It is a world without polio. It embodies Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, giving a victory and a gift to all future generations. The House here commends Rotary and I commend my colleague for bringing this, headquartered on Chicago's North Shore, embodying the great American civic spirit.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as Congress moves toward passing the fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget, I would like to address my thoughts and concerns on two aspects of this proposal. First, this budget will reduce the deficit. The resolution caps discretionary spending at $843 billion and cuts the deficit in half over the next 5 years. We will reach our deficit reduction goals through a combination of policies that encourage economic growth and fiscal discipline that slows the growth of mandatory spending by 0.1 percent over five years. Without this restraint, the federal deficit would continue to grow. I am very disappointed with one aspect of the budget agreement. The original House passed budget did not include language to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration, while the Senate's budget did. The Concurrent Budget Resolution deleted the Senate language. Several weeks ago we debated the Energy Bill (H.R. 6). On April 20, 2005, the House considered the Markey amendment that would have protected ANWR from oil and gas drilling. I voted for the Markey amendment to protect the wilderness. When the amendment failed, I voted against the House Energy Bill. I will continue to oppose proposals to open the Refuge to drilling. This Budget Resolution includes reconciliation instructions for the House Resources Committee to find $2.4 billion in savings from programs under their jurisdiction. The Resources Committee should find savings from programs outside the ANWR. They can do this and should not rely on the speculative revenues of oil yet to be discovered. Since my election to Congress, I have voted consistently to protect ANWR from oil and gas exploration. I have voted to protect ANWR for two main reasons. First, ANWR is among the last untouched natural landscapes in the entire United States. Once ANWR is open for exploration, its natural landscape will be changed forever. Second, any oil found in ANWR will not put the United States on a path to energy independence or lower gas prices one cent. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the supply of oil in ANWR is totally inadequate to meet our nation's growing energy needs. More importantly for the current energy debate, oil from ANWR is more than 10 years away from hitting domestic markets. ANWR will not solve our domestic energy issues. Mr. Speaker, the budget is not the forum for a debate on ANWR--its main purpose is to cut the deficit. I will support the budget because it moves us toward a balanced budget by reducing spending by 1 percent. And I will continue to oppose legislation that opens ANWR to drilling.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2005. This bill will credit qualified developing nations for each dollar spent on a comprehensive reef preservation or management program designed to protect these unique ecosystems from degradation. This bill builds on the model of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, expanding it to include coral reefs. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Alcee Hastings) for being the lead cosponsor of this bill. This very same bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 382-32 on October 16, 2001. It is said that coral reefs are the rainforests of the ocean. Although they occupy less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the marine environment, coral reefs are home to more than one-quarter of all known marine fish species. Coral reefs are among the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth. About 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of reef-building corals have already been identified. However, scientists have barely begun to catalogue the total number of species found within these habitats. Their scientific value cannot be underestimated. Yet, they are disappearing at an alarming rate. According to a 1998 study conducted by the United Nations and various international environmental organizations, 58 percent of the world's reefs are potentially threatened by human activity. These activities include coastal development, overfishing, marine pollution, and runoff from inland deforestation and farming. More than one-quarter of the world's reefs are at risk. Predictions made in 1992 were that 10 to 20 years from now, another 30 percent of the world's coral reefs could be effectively destroyed, adding to the 10 percent that already were destroyed. While these numbers sound alarmist, figures today show that they are conservative. Most Caribbean and South Pacific mangroves have disappeared, while India, Southeast Asia, and West Africa have each lost about one-half of their mangroves. Almost a half a billion people, 8 percent of the world's population, live within 100 kilometers of a coral reef. A decline in the health of coral reefs has implications for the lives of millions of people who depend upon them. Coral Reefs are the basis of subsistence for the local-market fisheries in 100 countries, providing the protein for more than one billion people worldwide. The burden of foreign debt falls especially hard on the smallest nations, such as island nations in the Caribbean and Pacific. With few natural resources, these nations often resort to harvesting or otherwise exploiting coral reefs and other marine habitats to earn hard currency to service foreign debt. At least 40 countries lack any marine protected areas for their coral reef systems. This legislation will make available resources for environmental stewardship that would otherwise be the lowest priority in a developing country. It will reduce debt by investing locally in programs that will strengthen indigenous economies by creating long-term management policies that will preserve the natural resources upon which local commerce is based. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act has set a path for debt-for- nature swaps, and the United States has an important role to play in assisting in the protection of the world's natural resources. This bill extends the support from forests to the oceans, and critical countries like Jamaica, Belize, Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Thailand could benefit from this legislation. Under President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas Act, the United States sponsored many debt-for-nature swaps to protect rainforests. It is now time to expand these successful programs to cover critical coral reef habitats.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, April 24, 2005 marked the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Beginning in 1915, an estimated one and a half million Armenians were systematically murdered over the next eight years. There were nearly two million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire on the eve of W.W.I. In an organized campaign of ethnically motivated genocide, the Ottoman Turks deported a million Armenians, separating families and destroying livelihoods. Hundreds of thousands more were murdered. They did not lose their lives, as common nomenclature refers to the situation. They were murdered. Many others died of starvation, exhaustion, and epidemics which ravaged the concentration camps. On this 90th Anniversary, I join with my colleagues in Congress and the Armenian community worldwide in commemorating this solemn day of remembrance. In particular I commend the Armenian-Americans from my district who departed from the All Saints Community Center in Glenview, IL, to join dozens of Armenians from the Chicago area to peacefully protest at the Turkish Consulate in Chicago. This sort of activism is an important step to finally gaining official recognition of the genocide. This anniversary serves as a reminder of the horrible campaigns of genocide that occurred in the past, from the Holocaust, to Rwanda, to today's atrocities in Darfur, Sudan. We must uphold our duties as global defenders of human rights and give the Armenian community, as the victims of the 20th Century's first genocide, the recognition they deserve.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I am concerned this bill will not clear the Budget responsibility. H.R. 6 technically does not violate the Budget Act because it is an unreported bill, and Budget Act points of order generally only apply to reported bills. The bill generally is inconsistent with the 302(a) allocations for both the 2005 and House-passed 2006 budget resolutions. Section 2053 of the bill does, however, create a new entitlement program outside the budget window (specifically, FY 2016). It uses a portion of outer-continental receipts to fund new mandatory state-run conservation, education, and infrastructure programs. Estimates indicate that the annual cost of this provision could be in the range of $1.75 billion. If H.R. 6 were a reported bill, such a provision might subject the bill to a section 303 point of order. We just passed a Budget only after clarifying a point of order would defeat any Appropriations bill over Budget. It appears that we have to expand this point to protect against bills like this.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I believe that this amendment actually saves American lives. Mr. Chairman, there is no better way to look at this issue than through the eyes of a young soldier stationed in the Middle East. One of the reasons why we pay so much attention to the Persian Gulf is that the economy of the West is totally dependent on oil from this region. We must station forces there to make sure that nothing happens to our supply of energy. And nothing can change this situation right now. But this amendment can change this situation for the future. By adopting CAFE standards, we will make the Persian Gulf much less important. We will reduce the need to ever deploy young Americans into harm's way. Look into the eyes of a 10-year-old American and think of him or her, and vote for policies which will make it much less likely that any President would ever ask them to return to harm's way in the Persian Gulf.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to vote in favor of S. 256, The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. This important bill brings needed reforms to our nation's bankruptcy system. The legislation reduces the unfair disparity of treatment in the bankruptcy system by establishing more uniform and predictable standards. I am particularly pleased to note the compromise reached on healthcare and employee benefits. This legislation takes great strides to protect patients' rights, and it encourages debtors and trustees to consider patients' interests when administering healthcare bankruptcy cases. Patients are given a voice through the appointment of an ombudsman, who advocates for the confidentiality of patients' records and ensures patients are transferred to appropriate facilities. These are critical provisions that protect the rights of those with failing health. I would like to commend a constituent from my district for his contributions to this legislation, Keith J. Shapiro, Esq., of Northbrook, Illinois, and his colleague Nancy A. Peterman, Esq. Mr. Shapiro testified in support of these patient health provisions before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts on June 1, 1998. The passing of this legislation marks the culmination of Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Peterman's tireless efforts to protect patients' interests in bankruptcy cases. On behalf of my colleagues in Congress, I offer my sincere gratitude for their dedication to fair bankruptcy policy.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of schools in the Tenth Congressional District of Illinois who together raised over $600,000 for tsunami victims halfway around the world. Student councils, community service clubs, entire students bodies from all around our district have held fundraising events and collections in ongoing efforts to benefit the American Red Cross, UNICEF and countless other relief organizations. I want to highlight the work of Dan Klein, who attends St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, who set out modest goals for his work. Daniel took $300 of his own money and with some help from his parents ordered 1,000 red rubber bracelets with ``Students for Relief'' embedded on them. Thinking he could send a small donation to the battered region from bracelet sales, Daniel's efforts led to anything but small. He has sold over 450,000 bracelets via his Web site, www.studentsforrelief.com, and raised over $500,000 for tsunami victims. Many other young people across my district exemplify American generosity. Prospect High School students in Prospect Heights raised over $500,000 to help rebuild Nagapattinam, a small shoreline town in Southeast Asia where their school custodian is from. Students at Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette raised a combination of $14,000 for their relief efforts. Deerfield High School students raised $3,500 for the American Red Cross through bracelet sales. Student council and Model U.N. organizations at Fremd High School in Palatine raised over $500 for UNICEF. Highland Park High School's Key Club and Transitional Program of Instruction raised $570 for UNICEF. Students organizations from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook organized a 2-day fundraising drive that raised $10,000 for the American Red Cross. Students from Glenbrook South High School in Glenview raised over $8,000 for the American Red Cross. The Service Over Self Club at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights raised $1,500 for the Red Cross. The student council and Red Cross Club at Lake Forest High School organized homeroom competitions and a number of themed events and dances raising $5,000 for the Red Cross. The Student Council at Libertyville High School raised nearly $5,400 for Oxfam USA/International. New Trier High School in Winnetka initiated a bracelet, pizza and bake sale, along with a study-a-thon netting over $10,000 for relief efforts. At Rolling Meadows High School the student council, National Honors Society, and Students Of Service raised $2,000 for the Red Cross during their 2-week fund raising effort and also collected clothes, blankets, and other essentials. In Lincolnshire Stevenson High School, they had a Penny Wars competition among freshmen, sophomore, junior, and seniors classes who collected $5,300 for the American Red Cross. Vernon Hill High School raised $3,500 for efforts with Best Buy matching their donation with $7,000 more. In Gurnee, Warren Township High School's student council sponsored two fundraisers netting $400 for the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, CARE International. Elementary school children in my district also made substantial contributions. First through eighth graders at Holy Cross School in Deerfield raised $2,000 for tsunami relief efforts in conjunction with Catholic Charities Week. Ariana Michel and Gabrielle Feldman of South Park Elementary School in Deerfield raised $2,000 themselves in just 2 days selling bracelets. In Northbrook, Westmoor, Greenbriar and Meadowbrook elementary schools raised over $2,000 for the Red Cross. Northbrook Junior High School students raised $5,000 for the tsunami efforts. Students at Wescott School in Northbrook raised $2,700 for UNICEF. Countryside Montessori School in Northbrook raised $1,200 for the American Red Cross through a coffee and bake sale. Eighth grade classes at Field School in Northbrook raised $1,000 for the American Red Cross. Elm Place School in Highland Park collected school supplies to fill 166 bags sent to students in Phuket, Thailand. Fifth graders at Lincoln School in Highland Park organized a bake sale netting $900 for the relief effort. Jefferson School in Hoffman Estates raised $2,200 from a wristband sale for tsunami victims. In Libertyville, Copeland, Highland, Adler, Butterfield and Rockland elementary schools raised $1,500 for relief efforts. Winkleman Elementary School in Glenview raised $2,000 through a rummage sale that will go to Heifer International. In addition, third grade classes at the school raised $780 for the American Red Cross and made 45 fleece blankets for orphanages. Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes at Lyons School in Glenview collected $3,200 for the American Red Cross. Students at Hawthorn Schools in Vernon Hills organized a district- wide bracelet sale raising $12,000 for tsunami victims. Deerpath Middle School in Lake Forest raised over $1,600 for the American Red Cross. The Lake Forest Country Day School held a dance marathon raising $6,000 for the tsunami relief. In addition, students Ian and Lane Mankoff of Lake Forest raised $15,000 for the relief effort through a hot chocolate fundraiser. St. Theresa School in Palatine raised $6,400 for tsunami victims. Mr. Speaker, the schools and students I mentioned have taken up the challenge of service with honor while representing their communities with distinction. I am honored to represent these schools that have shown the desire to make a difference in the lives of those ravaged by the tsunami. They not only represent the best of our communities, but they are what makes our country strong. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize these outstanding student and schools of the 10th district of Illinois. All of these efforts I think exemplify the best that is in the American spirit. And it is so heartening to see the youngest Americans giving the most, showing people across the world that they have never met what Americans can do.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, more than 400 Marines serving with the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment will be arriving home in Chicago on April 9, 2005, concluding their 9-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with a hero's welcome at the Allstate Arena. Many organizations, businesses, and families affiliated with the 2nd Battalion will come together to show their support, appreciation to these citizen soldiers who served their country by championing the cause of freedom in Iraq. The 2nd Battalion of the 21st Marine Regiment was activated on June 1, 2004, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The mobilization brought together the Headquarters, Echo, and Weapons Companies, forming the battalion. The unit deployed to Iraq in September 2004 and began conducting support and security operations in northern Babil Province, Iraq. These dedicated marines operated out of an abandoned chicken processing plant many described as resembling a police station. Their formula for success was to blend their superb military training with many years of law enforcement expertise by their commanding officer. Lieutenant Colonel Mark A. Smith was an Indiana State police. Nearly every platoon included two or three policemen by trade, which proved invaluable in the work of the unit. The battalion used police procedures in its intelligence work, comparing anti-Iraqi forces to criminals back home. The combination of marine training and police experience allowed the battalion to capture more than 200 insurgents during their deployment. Because of their successful nighttime raids, 2nd Battalion 24 Marines earned the nickname ``The Mad Ghosts'' from the insurgents operating in Babil Province. Like other U.S. forces operating in Iraq, these marines truly owned the night, and their operations continued until 2nd Battalion was relieved by elements of the U.S. Army in March. Unfortunately, some of these brave marines made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country. Thirteen marines perished during this mobilization and deployment, 12 as a result of hostile action. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the following marines who will not be returning home with their colleagues this weekend: Corporal Brian Prening, Corporal Robert Warns, Corporal Nathaniel Hammond, Corporal Peter Giannopolos, Lance Corporal Branden Ramey, Lance Corporal Daniel Wyatt, Lance Corporal Richard Warner, Lance Corporal Travis Wichlacz, Lance Corporal Shane O'Donnell, Private First Class Ryan Cantafio, Sergeant Matthew Adams, Lance Corporal Andrew Nowacki, and Private First Class Brent Vroman. Mr. Speaker, these brave marines, their families and their employers back home all made sacrifices to support freedom and human rights and tolerance around the world. During their service in Iraq, Iraq became the United Nations' newest democracy. We celebrate the citizen soldiers who wear the uniform so proudly to protect their great nation. To the men and women of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment, to the unit based in Waukegan, Illinois, we offer you our heartfelt thanks for your service and sacrifice. We thank your loved ones for their sacrifice and support. Welcome home, and most importantly, Semper Fi.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, when the World Bank was founded in 1944, its official title was the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the IBRD. The reconstruction of Europe and Asia was the primary mission of the World Bank, and reconstruction has always been central to the Bank's mission. Since 1944, the Bank has helped Germany and Japan rebuild. It was then crucial to the reconstruction of South Korea and played a key role in the renaissance of Eastern Europe after the fall of communism. Today, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and many Eastern European nations have now become donors to the Bank, supporting its work, rather than recipients. As of today, I am the only Member of Congress who has served in the World Bank, and it is a noble institution, with thousands of professional staff helping people in poorer nations rise up to realize their full potential. The challenge before the Bank today has been the reconstruction of Iraq. Republicans and Democrats by wide margins agree that the international community should do more through multilateral institutions in helping the people of Iraq build greater incomes and more security and do it in cooperation with other nations. But there is a problem. There is a very disappointing record of the World Bank in Iraq. The World Bank promised Iraq $387 million in cash to be contributed for the benefit of the Iraqi people, and as of just 6 months ago the Bank has committed only $43.6 million for the reconstruction of Iraq, about 13 percent of what was actually promised. Now, 2 years later after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the problem is worse because the pace of World Bank funding for projects in Iraq is extraordinarily slow. As of just 6 months ago, there were only nine postings for projects in Iraq funded by the World Bank. This is an institution which not only promised $387 million from its own account but also led a pledging conference, putting together $32 billion in pledges for the people of Iraq. To compare, the United States pledged $18.4 billion for the reconstruction and has already obligated 7 billion of that. Of the 32 billion, only a tiny percentage has been completed. Much of the fault of this very slow progress is at the hands of the current President of the World Bank, President Wolfensohn. President Wolfensohn to date has not allowed any World Bank staff to be stationed in Iraq. Despite the presence of hundreds of international staff working for a wide variety of international development organizations, President Wolfensohn will not even allow staff of the World Bank to volunteer to do the important work of helping the Iraqi people build a new democracy and create higher incomes for Iraqi working families. That is why it was such good news to hear that Paul Wolfowitz will be named as the United States' new nominee to take over the World Bank in July. No one more than Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz knows how important it is to set a new example of helping the international community to help a democracy rise in Iraq. We have seen great changes in the Middle East of late, in Syria and in Egypt and in other places, just sponsored by what has already happened in Iraq. Think if we could actually have a president of the World Bank put to use the $32 billion in international funds or at least the $387 million promised by World Bank to actually help the people of Iraq. From my view, we could not have Secretary Wolfowitz take over the leadership of the Bank faster. Under President Wolfensohn we are mired in the mud, unable to move very much assistance, and unable to do what on a bipartisan level so many of us want to do, to get the international community involved in the reconstruction of Iraq and the building of a new democracy. I am very happy with this new nomination. I think Secretary Wolfowitz as an Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as our Ambassador to Indonesia, and as someone who has provide a leadership role in the Department of Defense, can make a real difference. With more aid to Iraq and more reconstruction, we can bring the troops home faster.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, for almost two decades, Congress has unsuccessfully grappled with the challenge of assuring fair and timely compensation to workers who have become sick after being exposed to asbestos fibers. The pioneering work done by litigation reform advocates like Rep. Henry Hyde laid the foundation for ongoing negotiations in the other body that may finally result in legislation that assures compensation to sick plaintiffs and allows defendant companies to move beyond the uncertainty of decades-long mass tort litigation. In his State of the Union address, President Bush told us, ``Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions and frivolous asbestos claims and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year.'' It is time for the House to enter the debate. Many of you have heard how asbestos litigation reform has hurt workers and our economy. Over 8,000 defendants must spend time and money responding to asbestos lawsuits. Since the mid-1980's, 730,000 asbestos claims have been filed--and over 100,000 asbestos suits were filed in 2003 alone. Defendants point to examples of clever attorneys ``working the system'' to benefit certain plaintiffs, escalating the cost of litigation beyond reliable measure. For example, in 1998, a Fayette, Mississippi, jury awarded $2 million each to five plaintiffs who had been exposed to asbestos fibers but had little or no symptoms of illness. In 2003, the Supreme Court has upheld a $5.8 million award to plaintiffs with lung x-rays showing evidence of asbestos exposure, who successfully argued that they deserved compensation for living with fear of contracting an asbestos-related disease--or ``asbestophobia,'' as some call it. The uncertain cost of asbestos litigation has driven at least 74 companies into bankruptcy. Employees of these bankrupt firms have watched the value of their 401(k) accounts drop by 25 percent. As many as 60,000 workers have lost their jobs. This focus on numbers can make us forget that asbestos litigation reform is about people: Mary Lou Keener watched her father die painfully from mesothelioma, a cancer he contracted from asbestos exposure while he served in the Navy during World War 11. He filed legal claims years before he died, yet his widow has received almost nothing. Workers who are sick from years of exposure to asbestos while working for Johns Manville Corporation might be told that approved compensation for their mesothelioma is $700,000; however, since the bankruptcy trustee pays only five cents on the dollar, their claim is worth $35,000. David Coleman, exposed to asbestos as an infant when he inhaled fibers embedded in his father's work clothes, died of mesothelioma in 2002, at the age of 19. His family's lawsuit sits on the court docket in Cuyahoga County, along with another 34,000 claims. Children who grew up in the asbestos mining town of Libby, Montana, breathing in asbestos fibers stirred up by the street traffic as they road buses to school, now, as adults, are experiencing asbestosis symptoms. Under the current system, they have no hope of compensation. Ron Huber, who worked 35 years in a steel mill, joined an asbestos suit in 1995 although he had no symptoms of asbestos related illness. His attorney accepted a small settlement which, according to Huber, was wholly applied to legal costs. By 2002, he was truly experiencing symptoms of asbestos-related disease. He is suing the only person not released by settlement of the 1995 case--the attorney who recruited him for that suit. Drew Anders, who spent 15 years working for a company that was forced to declare bankruptcy in reaction to growing asbestos litigation, watched his $50,000 retirement account fall to $1,500. A small business owner in Louisiana who never manufactured anything containing asbestos once used a asbestos-threaded nut in a piece of machinery. Although there is no evidence that this nut causes asbestos related disease, this man's company pays $75,000 to $100,000 a year in asbestos-related claims. A research company that released one of the first studies establishing the health risks of asbestos--a report that saved lives and improved working conditions--is named in over 60,000 cases every year. The principals of this firm, which never used or manufactured asbestos products, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in settlements. Today, I am introducing the FAIR Act of 2005. This bill is based on bipartisan asbestos trust fund negotiations carried out during the last months of the 108th Congress. It puts patients ahead of plaintiffs and would dramatically reduce the cost of asbestos litigation. I call on us to work together and pass a bill that helps victims and companies affected by asbestos litigation, while benefiting the economy and boosting the stock market.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, democracy is sweeping the world and we should be proud that our country has become the greatest force for dignity of men and women in history. But if you look back at history, at past democracies, you will see that many collapsed because they voted by majority to go into debt. Athenians and the French republics, the budding democracies in Latin America, all collapsed in debt, which led to dictatorship. But that should never happen here. This is a hard line budget, because the threat to freedom is also overspending, debt and instability. In America, the Federal Government made a basic promise in the 19th century to provide for the common defense. In an age including the War on Terror, this promise to defend America is very expensive. It is expensive to send armies to Afghanistan or to stand watch across the demilitarized zone in Korea. But we must do this, and we must fully support Americans in uniform. In the 20th century, the Federal Government made a second promise, to ensure retirement security for Americans who worked hard and played by the rules. The Social Security and Medicare programs face real challenges as the baby-boom generation retires. We are now expecting the number of people under Social Security and Medicare to rise from 40 million to 90 million. Social Security recipients used to live, when Roosevelt created the program, an average of only 11 months, but now people are on Social Security on average 22 years. So the size of meeting the retirement security promise is extremely large, in fact beyond the current means of this government. We are commanded to be fiscal conservatives to meet the needs of our common defense and the 20th century's promise of retirement security. We cannot start new programs, because we should honor these promises first. Some say we should borrow more, but we already borrow too much and we have seen past democracies drown in debt. Some would like us to raise taxes, killing economic growth, but we cannot kill economic growth. Our growing economy right now is already yielding more tax revenue to meet the Nation's needs, but for the foreseeable future those new dollars should be used to support Americans in uniform and to already honor the retirement security promises that the Federal Government has made. Our chairman has done a good job, a budget that stands for restraint, that continues the course of a free people being free, that grows our economy. We could say yes to everyone. We could say yes, and then we would be much more popular in the short run. But in the long run there would be more debt, a smaller economy, a smaller future for our children. I am for less debt, rather than more. I am for more economic growth, rather than less. I am for honoring the basic promises the Federal Government has made to provide for the common defense and the retirement security of older Americans. That should not be done on borrowed money, on borrowed time. It should be done with a growing economy. It is under this restraint, with this discipline, that this budget comes before the House, and we should honor that work.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Winnetka Park District on 100 years of service to our community. In 1904, a group of concerned citizens wanted to restore a piece of land in front of the village train station, which had been strewn with debris from the local livery stable. This small band of citizens came together and collected the $8,548.30 needed to purchase what is now Station Park. From those humble beginnings, the Winnetka Park District has developed into 28 park sites that represent more than 244 acres of land. The lands under the control of the Park District include some of the most beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan. And from the initial investment of $8,548.30, the district now boasts a $9 million annual operating budget. Through these 100 years, with the needs and desires of the public in mind, the Winnetka Park District has added new facilities to meet the continually growing population. Now, nearly 14,500 citizens enjoy the Park District's facilities, which include an 18-hole championship golf course plus a par-3 course, the first indoor tennis facilities in the Chicago area, platform tennis courts, an indoor ice arena, two outdoor rinks, four public beaches, a skate park, and a 142-acre expanse of playfield. The Winnetka Park District also runs hundreds of recreation programs, from day camps, to athletics, to classes. The district plans special events throughout the year, and thousands partake annually in skating, tennis and golf lessons. For one hundred years the Winnetka Park District worked to provide a balance of quality recreational and leisure opportunities to a growing community, while protecting the natural resources and open spaces for the benefit of future generations. I hope that the next hundred years is as successful.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I request the attached copy of the annual statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama marking March 10, 2005 as the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959 be included in the Congressional Record. On March 10, 1959, the people of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa surrounded the home of the Dalai Lama in a brave effort to protect him from the Peoples' Liberation Army's guns that were trained on his compound from across the river. These Tibetans refused to leave even after the Chinese artillery fire began falling. On March 17, 1959, the Dalai Lama fled into exile in a futile effort to protect them; thousands died during the Chinese assault on the city, and thousands more died as the PLA moved to suppress a nationwide uprising against their increasingly repressive occupation of Tibet. Despite China's history of aggression and brutality, the Dalai Lama has worked for more than forty years to promote Tibetan self- determination through non-violent means. I am proud that the U.S. Congress is a beacon of support for the Tibetan struggle. As the lead sponsor of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, I was pleased to see the Congress come together recently in support of a strong U.S. policy on Tibet. The Dalai Lama's release of his annual March 10 statement today highlights key points regarding for the Tibetan people and the world. Four decades of Chinese-led economic and social changes in Tibet have not primarily benefitted the Tibetan people. There continues to be instability in Tibet not because of ``splittist activities'', but because of a profound lack of human rights, religious freedom and self- rule on the ground in Tibet. China itself has made tremendous economic progress during the past twenty or thirty years, but China's image in the world remains tarnished by her human rights records, undemocratic actions, the lack of the rule of law and the unequal implementation of autonomy rights regarding minorities. The renewed contact between the Tibetan and Chinese leadership, including the third round of meetings last September, are resulting in gradually improving interactions. It is my hope the future will continue to see improvements in the dialog. The Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 46th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan People's Uprising, I convey my warm greetings to my fellow Tibetans in Tibet and in exile and to our friends around the world. During these more than four decades great changes have taken place in Tibet. There has been a great deal of economic progress along with development in infrastructure. The Golmud-Lhasa railway link that is being built is a case in point. However, during the same period much has been written by independent journalists and travelers to Tibet about the real situation in Tibet and not what they have been shown. Most of them portray a very different picture than what the Chinese government claims, clearly criticizing China about the lack of human rights, religious freedom and self-rule in Tibet. What has actually happened and is still happening is that since the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region the real authority has been solely held by Chinese leaders. As for the Tibetan people, they have been facing suspicions and growing restrictions. The lack of true ethnic equality and harmony based on trust, and the absence of genuine stability in Tibet clearly shows that things are not well in Tibet and that basically there is a problem. Prominent and respected Tibetan leaders in Tibet have spoken out on this from time to time and even suffered because of their courageous acts. In the early 1960s, the late Panchen Lama outlined the sufferings and aspirations of the Tibetan people in his petition to the Chinese leaders. Baba Phuntsok Wangyal, one of the foremost Tibetan communist leaders, in his recent biography published in English dwells at length on the need to meet the interests of the Tibetan people. In fact, it is clear that most senior Tibetan officials in Tibet deep in their hearts are extremely dissatisfied. This year the Chinese government will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. There will be much fanfare and many commemorative events to celebrate the occasion but these will be meaningless when they do not reflect the ground realities. For example, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution were celebrated with great pomp as real achievements at the time they took place. China has made tremendous economic progress during the past more than two decades. China today is not what it was twenty or thirty years ago. Much has changed in China. As a result she has become a major player in the world and China rightly deserves this position. It is a big nation with a huge population and a rich and ancient civilization. However, China's image is tarnished by her human rights records, undemocratic actions, the lack of the rule of law and the unequal implementation of autonomy rights regarding minorities, including the Tibetans. All these are a cause for more suspicion and distrust from the outside world. Internally, they are an obstacle to unity and stability that are of utmost importance to the leaders of the People's Republic of China. In my view, it is important that as China becomes a powerful and respectable nation she should be able to adopt a reasonable policy with confidence. The world in general, of which China is a part, is changing for the better. In recent times there is definitely a greater awareness and appreciation for peace, non-violence, democracy, justice and environmental protection. The recent unprecedented response from governments and individuals across the world to the tsunami disaster victims reaffirms that the world is truly interdependent and the importance of universal responsibility. My involvement in the affairs of Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or political position for myself nor attempting to stake claims for the Tibetan administration in exile. In 1992 in a formal announcement I stated clearly that when we return to Tibet with a certain degree of freedom I will not hold any office in the Tibetan government or any other political position and that the present Tibetan administration in exile will be dissolved. Moreover, the Tibetans working in Tibet should carry on the main responsibility of administering Tibet. I once again want to reassure the Chinese authorities that as long as I am responsible for the affairs of Tibet we remain fully committed to the Middle Way Approach of not seeking independence for Tibet and are willing to remain within the People's Republic of China. I am convinced that in the long run such an approach is of benefit to the Tibetan people for their material progress. It is encouraging that there is support from various parts of the world for this approach as being reasonable, realistic and of mutual benefit to the Chinese and Tibetans. I am particularly encouraged by the recognition and support that has come from certain quarters of the intellectual circle from within China. I am happy with our renewed contacts with the Chinese leadership and that the third round of meetings last September shows that gradually our interactions are improving. Now that our elected political leadership is shouldering more responsibility in Tibetan affairs, I have advised them to look into the issues raised by the Chinese side during our third round of talks and to take steps to address or clarify them as needed. We remain hopeful that eventually we will be able to develop the necessary trust and resolve this long-standing issue to our mutual benefit. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express the Tibetan people's gratitude and appreciation to the people and Government of India for their steadfast sympathy and support. I very much feel a part of this nation not only because of the centuries-old religious and cultural ties that India and Tibet enjoyed but also because I and most of the Tibetans in exile lived in India for the past 45 years. I offer my prayers to the brave men and women of Tibet who gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as co-Chairman of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, I would like to recognize that March is National Kidney Month. The Kidney Caucus partners with groups such as the National Kidney Foundation to increase public awareness of risk factors for chronic kidney disease and emphasize the importance of early detection. Anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease is at risk. This March, the National Kidney Foundation is urging all those at risk to undergo a kidney screening. Simple urine and blood tests during a routine doctor's visit can show the earliest signs of kidney damage. According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 20 million Americans--that's one in nine adults--have chronic kidney disease. More than 20 million more are at increased risk for developing the disease. Nearly half of all Americans with chronic kidney disease are unaware of their condition. Early detection and intervention can halt the progression of the disease before it reaches kidney failure, at which point there are no other alternatives but dialysis or transplantation. Catching kidney disease at an early stage saves patient's lives and saves the taxpayer tremendous sums otherwise spent on costly dialysis and transplant procedures. Please help me honor National Kidney Month by urging those at risk for kidney disease to take this threat seriously and undergo a screening.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Rarely in human history have so many been armed by so few in a crass and cynical pursuit of profit at the expense of Asia's peace. The word should go forth that the French President is determined to sell weapons that will be aimed at Japan and Korea and Taiwan and the Philippines and the men and women of the United States military. These weapons will be built in France and pointed directly at the people who serve in the United States Navy. In lifting the arms embargo against China, Europe will be making an enormous mistake. Europe's short-term concern with the corporate bottom line will lead to greater conflict and increased peril for Americans serving in uniform. Since 1989, China has been almost cut off from European technology, and China's leaders have responded by a cooperative foreign policy designed to lift this embargo so they can arm to the teeth as the rising power of Asia to challenge the other powers, all democracies on her periphery. If you are pro-U.S. Navy, you should be against this. If you are pro- Japanese, you should be against this. If you are pro-Indian, you should be against this. Because these European weapons will be directed at each of these democracies. This is a very short-term decision for a very few profits, and it is Jacques Chirac that is doing this. That will create greater insecurity in Asia, lay the seeds for a conflict, and maybe the death of Americans caused by French weapons sold for short-term profits.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three exceptional high school students in my District: Allison Nichols, Brittany Saltiel, and Sara Siegal. With the help of Barry Bradford, their inspirational teacher, what began as a National History Day project became an award- winning documentary entitled We Are Not Afraid. These Stevenson High School students reexamined the Mississippi Burning case, the 1964 murders of three civil rights volunteers. In 1967, seven men were convicted on Federal conspiracy charges, but none were charged with murder. But, finally on January 6, 2005, a Mississippi grand jury indicted Edgar Ray Killen for the murders of these volunteers. The efforts of these girls led me to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 457, which called on the Mississippi Attorney General to reopen the case; and I want to thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) for his leadership on this matter. Mr. Speaker, this was a milestone for American justice. I could not be more proud of the interests and dedication of these young women, and I want to thank Mr. Bradford and the Stevenson High School team for their dedication to justice.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to fully fund the Impact Aid program. Earlier today, along with twenty-seven bi- partisan co-sponsors I introduced the Government Reservation Accelerated Development for Education Act or GRADE-A bill. This bill is intended to fulfill an obligation the Federal Government made in 1950 when Congress established the Impact Aid program. Impact Aid was created because Congress recognized the obligation of the federal government to assist school districts and communities that experience a loss in their local property tax base due to the presence of the federal government. Between 1950 and 1969, the Impact Aid program was fully funded by Congress. Since that time, the funding level has not kept pace with the amount required to cover the federal government's tax obligation. Overseas, the Department of Defense runs many schools for the dependents of U.S. service personnel. Many people ask why the Department does not run such schools within the United States. The answer is that the children of military personnel already suffer enough with their parents on long deployments overseas. We should not segregate military kids from schools when stationed here in their own country. Military kids also tend to be high achievers with parents that on average are model citizens. They tend to pull up the academic and athletic achievements of the schools they attend. With thousands of servicemen and women risking everything overseas, I can think of no better way to set their minds at ease then by taking care of their families back home. This support should begin with assuring our soldiers that their children are receiving a quality education. There are 15 million school children in this Nation who are eligible for Impact Aid. Enrolled in one of the 1,300 eligible school districts, these children depend on their schools to provide them with an education and their parents depend on the schools to act as a community of support while they are deployed. In my district, 36 percent of all students attending North Chicago's School District 187 are ``Impact Aid'' children. Currently, there is no guarantee that North Chicago will receive the maximum amount that Impact Aid has promised to provide for its students. We must guarantee our servicemen and women a quality education for their families. But an even more pressing issue occurs at two other school districts in my district. About one in twenty students in School District 225 (Glenview), as well as School Districts 112 and 113 (Highwood/Highland Park), are Impact Aid children. Due to the current funding formulas, District 225 only receives $110,000, and Districts 112/113 $100,000. The money they receive is 90 percent short of the cost of educating these children. This shortfall creates a strain on the school districts overall. The quickest way to take a soldier or sailor's mind off their mission is to have them worrying about their children's education. Kids from military families come from some of the hardest working, most patriotic families, but the schools they attend sometimes face short funding. This is because of the way we fund our Nation's schools. Impact Aid honors our commitment to military. It guarantees that those families who serve to protect our freedom are in turn protected by the federal government. We should support the Impact Aid program because it is the right thing to do to make sure schools near military bases are adequately funded. We should also support this program because it is important to the future of our country's defense. The United States established the all-volunteer military thirty years ago. After decades of experience, we now know that the children of military personnel are the most likely to join the military. This means that the Impact Aid program is not only helping families now on active duty but also educating young men and women who are the most likely to become the future backbone of the armed forces. This bill was the first piece of legislation that I introduced in the 107th Congress. We attracted above 20 co-sponsors. In the 108th Congress, we attracted above 40 co-sponsors. Clearly the time is coming when this bill must become law. Our constitution commands that the first job of the federal government is to ``provide for the common defense.'' As we improve the pay and benefits of men and women in uniform, we must also support their kids and the local schools they attend. This may take many years to accomplish but the time is now to support schools that educate the children whose parents wear our Nation's uniform. Let us recognize our duty to America's children and to our military.