Mark Kirk

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act. We have do-not-call lists now in 21 States, but we seem to have the calls only increasing in frequency. The fact that these calls seem to occur at the most inopportune times and, thanks to predictive dialing software, often result in an immediate disconnection only adds to the frustration of consumers. I am very pleased that the Federal Trade Commission is amending the telemarketing sales rules to create a central do-not-call registry. As a new member of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Federal Trade Commission, I am committing my efforts to make sure that this effort is fully funded so that we can implement this needed legislation. I want to commend Chairman Tauzin, Ranking Member Dingell, and also subcommittee Ranking Member Schakowsky for her efforts on this. I think working together in a bipartisan way, we will ensure that the Federal Trade Commission not only has the underlying legislation but also the appropriations to make sure that every person's castle can be a quiet home and that we do not have to worry about the telemarketing barbarians at the gate every single evening.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges Secretary Powell faces is the growing isolation of Germany and France from their European allies. NATO nations voted 16 to 3 to support the defense of Turkey, our democratic ally. I worry about Germany's growing anti-Turkish policy, first to oppose Turkey's EU membership and now to oppose defending the Turkish democracy. I worry for France. Tens of thousands of Britons, Canadians, and Americans fought to free France. Now France stands for the principle that democracies should be distracted from dictators. The French Government, one wag said, they are always there when they need you.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to say a few words about the life of Julian Francis DePree, Jr. (Jeff) who died suddenly over the weekend from natural causes. He proudly served his country, was a successful and ethical businessman, a loyal husband, and a devoted father. Jeff DePree, in the eyes of his family and friends, had a ``larger than life'' personality, but, first and foremost, he was a caring father to his four children and a devoted husband to his wife Joan. Jeff was born on March 9, 1944, in Mt. Kisco, New York. He later graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and received his Masters degree from Columbia University in New York City. Jeff served his country in Vietnam as an Intelligence Officer in the 199th Infantry Brigade. He survived two tours of duty and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service as well as an Air Medal. Jeff was also an avid sportsman and conservationist enjoying golf, boating, fishing, and racquet sports, a love for which he passed onto his children. Jeff was also a keen businessman. He was co-founder of a financial services company that specialized in leasing and equity financing for major industrial projects. He became an industry leader among structured finance specialists and advised many of the nations largest finance companies on their investments. Jeff was very active in local community affairs, having served on the Lake Forest Hospital Board, as well as the City's Cemetery Commission. Most of all, Jeff brought great fun to everyone. He was an excellent storyteller, singer, guitar player and dancer. When in the company of Jeff, his engaging and entertaining personality was infectious. Jeff was indicative of thousands of Americans who quietly go about their daily lives contributing to the greatness of our nation through their personal character and conduct. Jeff's passing is an immense loss to his family and his community. His life was cut short, but I am certain his children will carry on his legacy in a way that would make their father very proud. I offer my condolences to his wife Joan, and his children Katie (Jess), Austin, Randy, Spencer and his grandson, William. May they take comfort in knowing they have been blessed to have had such a wonderful person in their lives. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as Americans celebrated a season of renewal and the coming of the new year, many from northern Illinois observed the holidays with heavy hearts. In the days before Christmas, State Representative Timothy Osmond was taken from his family, friends and constituents by a sudden heart attack. It is my honor to call Tim both a colleague and a dear, dear friend. His advice was valuable to me and to his fellow members of the Illinois General Assembly. Tim approached public service with the same gentlemanly spirit with which he built his insurance business in Antioch, Illinois. As a businessman, he built a reputation as someone his customers could count on, someone who was a problem solver, and someone you knew would always give you a straight answer. In 1989, Tim was elected an Antioch Township Trustee, and went on to serve as Township Supervisor, before being elected to the Illinois House in 1999. In Springfield, Tim made friends quickly. One thing I appreciated most about Tim was that he thoroughly researched legislation, reading the full text of most bills. He was down-to-earth, a sincere and genuine man. It was that demeanor that defined his approach as a legislator. He saw every constituent as a neighbor, a customer and a friend, deserving his every effort, every day. That is why many constituents who never knew Tim personally felt touched by his service to the people of Illinois. Of course this loss is most deeply felt by the Osmond family. Tim's wife, JoAnne, and their children, Michael and Colleen, shared Tim with the community. This is the often unseen sacrifice of the spouses and children of those who serve in elective office. As the Osmond family bears this heartfelt loss, they can take solace in the respect and admiration Tim earned in public life, and the way in which he touched so many lives. I count myself among those helped by Tim. And while I will always be grateful for all Tim's professional help, it is our friendship I treasure most. He will be deeply missed. I offer the condolences of the Congress to his family. Local leaders honored his memory by appointing his widow to serve out his term in office. We wish JoAnne well and know that she, better than anyone else, will continue Tim's work.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a gentleman who lived a life of tremendous achievement in the world of business but for whom the first priority was always family and friends. W. Irving Osborne, Jr. passed away on November 1st at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois at the age of 97. In an area where many captains of industry reside, Mr. Osborne was seen as an elder statesman of business. After his graduation from Yale University in 1926, Mr. Osborne soon embarked on a career with his family's business, Cornell Paperboard Products. He rose to serve as president and CEO of the company which was acquired by St. Regis Paper in 1957. His leadership and business acumen drew the attention of his peers, and in 1961, Mr. Osborne was named president of the legendary Pullman Car Company, becoming chairman of the board in 1966. He believed in a consistent approach to business and proven management techniques that could be applied to very diverse companies. His expertise earned Mr. Osborne appointment to an advisory board of the National War Production Board which worked to maximize industrial output during World War II. During the course of his career, Mr. Osborne served on the board of directors of numerous major corporations such as Baxter International, the pharmaceutical and medical device producer, Pabst Brewing, one of the legendary Wisconsin breweries, Boulevard Bank of Chicago, the First National Bank of Lake Forest, and Belden Corporation, an international manufacturer of electronic equipment. Following his tremendously successful career, Mr. Osborne chose to retire in 1974. He was free to pursue his love of golf and was an avid bridge and gin rummy player. But his greatest joy by far was his role as patriarch of a large and loving family. Over the years he proudly saw his family grow, first with his three daughters, Gwendolyn Lincoln, Adrienne Ives and Karen McGovern, then eight grandchildren and, ultimately fourteen great-grandchildren. And while he reveled in hosting his family at this home at holidays well into his 90's, his family had the blessing of learning from his wisdom and wealth of experience. For 53 years, Mr. Osborne shared his life with his wife, Elsa Armour Osborne who passed away in 1985. Our community has lost one of its true leaders; a role model for future generations of business leaders, and a respected man active in civic affairs. Most importantly, a proud and loving family has lost its patriarch. I join with his many friends in expressing my condolences to the Osborne family upon the passing of this remarkable man.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the magnitude of the Great Lakes water system is difficult to appreciate, even for those who live within the basin. As the world's largest body of fresh water, the Great Lakes are sensitive to the effects of a wide range of pollutants. The sources of pollution include runoff from farm chemicals, waste from cities, and discharges from industrial areas and waste disposal sites. The large surface area of the lakes makes them vulnerable to direct atmospheric pollutants of all kinds, such as mercury. H.R. 1070 amends the Clean Water Act to authorize $50 million a year for fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out remediation projects in Areas of Concern (AOCs) surrounding the Great Lakes to monitor or evaluate contaminated sediment, remediate contaminated sediment, or prevent further or renewed contamination of sediment. Contamination of the Great Lakes is an issue that directly affects my district. The city of Waukegan in my district was home to what many have called the worst PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) contaminated site in the U.S. Waukegan lies fifty miles north of Chicago directly on the shore of Lake Michigan. Waukegan Harbor was designated in the 1980's an Area of Concern (AOC) by the International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes, the United States EPA and the Illinois EPA. The contamination of Waukegan Harbor took place over a 13-year period from 1959 to 1973. The U.S. EPA approximated that during that time 300,000 pounds of PCBs were discharged directly into the water of Lake Michigan and an additional 700,000 were discharged on the property by the Outboard Marine Corporation. An average 9-10 pounds of PCBs were discharged into Lake Michigan daily. The cleanup of Waukegan Harbor has been successful thus far removing approximately 500 tons of PCB contaminated sediment from Waukegan Harbor. However, more corrective action is necessary before the harbor can be de-listed as an AOC. Passage of H.R. 1070 will go a long way in continuing the movement to de-list Waukegan Harbor and clean the remaining Great Lake AOCs. I applaud the Congress for taking this important step addressing contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes basin. The time has come to protect the Great Lakes from the other dangers, such as mercury pollution and invasive species. Earlier this session I introduced H.R. 5261, the Great Lakes Mercury Reduction Act, which will prohibit the issuance of new permits under the Clean Air Act that would result in the deposition of any additional mercury into the Great Lakes. Congress must also adopt a comprehensive plan to stop the introduction of alien species into the region. H.R. 5396 and 5397 seek to reauthorize the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act to address existing loopholes in our laws and authorize much needed funding to upgrade the fight against aquatic invasive species, along with expanding the Aquatic Nuisance Species Dispersal Barrier on the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment and thank Mr. Ehlers for his tireless work on H.R. 1070. His work on this legislation, and other Great Lakes issues, has been remarkable. I would also like to thank the groups involved in the Waukegan Harbor cleanup effort, including the U.S. EPA, the Illinois EPA, and the Waukegan Harbor Citizens Advisory Group. Hopefully, the passage of H.R. 1070 will enable our community to celebrate the de-listing of Waukegan Harbor.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community, which has its national headquarters in Illinois, is commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the beginnings of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith in Iran. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith is a world religion with more than 5 million adherents in some 230 countries and territories including more than 140,000 members here in the United States. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] House of Worship in my district of Illinois is registered as a national historic site that has drawn more than five million visitors to enjoy its unique architecture and serene gardens since its completion in 1953. This is a special time for the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community because it was during the autumn 150 years ago that the founder of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith, Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h, was first overwhelmed with the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] message of love and unity while unjustly imprisoned in one of Persia's (now Iran's) worst dungeons, the S[iacute]yah Ch[aacute]l. After his release from this dungeon, Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h promoted this message despite being banished from Baghdad to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Edirne, and eventually from Edirne to the prison city of Acre where he died in 1892 after having lived in exile for forty years for his belief in the oneness of humanity. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith is based on the principles of cooperation and peace outlined by Bah[aacute][uacute]ll[aacute]h. He taught that there is only one God, that the conscience of man is sacred and to be respected, that racial diversity contributes to the overall beauty of mankind, and that women and men are equals in God's sight. He taught that a spiritual solution is required to address the disparities of wealth distribution and that religion and science must agree. He was among the first to express the need for an international auxiliary language, emphasize the importance of universal education, and advise that a commonwealth of nations was needed for establishing global peace and security. The significance of these principles could not be overemphasized in today's volatile world. It is astounding to think how advanced these concepts were 150 years ago not only in an ancient Persian culture, but also in the United States. Slavery and persecution based on race were widely accepted facts of life at that time. Women in the United States were still 70 years away from getting the vote. Global literacy was low and universal education was unheard of in most places. Colonial exploitation was on the rise and workers enjoyed few protections. Unfortunately, just as the Bahd'i message was met with hostility in Persia in 1852, it still faces persecution in that region today. The Islamic Republic of Iran regards Bahd'is as heretics who, according to Islamic law, should be executed. Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s, along with Iran's other religious minorities, are prevented from exercising their right to religious freedom. They are excluded from institutions of higher education, denied jobs, and have had many of their holy places, cemeteries and properties seized or destroyed. They are denied their most basic human rights. Since 1982, Congress has adopted eight resolutions condemning Iran's treatment of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s, its largest religious minority. With the support of the U.S. government, the UN General Assembly has adopted annual resolutions condemning these human rights abuses. Yet, Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s is still await the religious freedom called for in those UN resolutions and promised in Iran's constitution. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community remains an oppressed religious minority and is denied rights to organize, elect leaders, and to conduct freely its religious activities. On the 150th anniversary of Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h's imprisonment and the founding of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith, we salute along with the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community the ideals of universal brotherhood, peace, cooperation, and understanding espoused by Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h. These are Bah[aacute]'[iacute] values, they are American values, and they are universal values. I also would like to recognize the immense sacrifices that many around the world have made striving to ensure that true liberty and justice for all becomes not just an American dream, but also a global reality.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the long-standing public-private partnership between the Allstate Foundation and the National Crime Prevention Council, a model collaboration that will strengthen each organization's commitment to building healthier and safer communities. The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by the Allstate Corporation, the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer based in my congressional district. The Allstate Foundation sponsors community initiatives that promote safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. As the nation's focal point for crime prevention, the National Crime Prevention Council works to enable people to create safer more caring communities by addressing the causes of crime and violence and reducing the opportunities for crime to occur. The partnership between the Allstate Foundation and the National Crime Prevention Council provides a model for how responsible corporate citizens can work with leading national nonprofit organizations to help improve communities at home and around the nation. The Allstate Foundation has worked with and supported the National Crime Prevention Council since 1991. Sponsoring programs including Students Mobilized Against Drugs, the 10th Annual Youth Crime Prevention Conference and the Teens, Crime and Community program. The Allstate Foundation continues to take an active role in the dissemination of crime prevention information and materials by providing seed money for the development of crime prevention web-sites including, www.McGruff.org and www.ncpc.org. The Allstate Foundation recently awarded a grant of $200,000 to the National Crime Prevention Council to support the Be Safe & Sound campaign, a new initiative that will equip parents and caregivers with information about prevention programs and security measures so that they can be the best advocates for their children's safety while at school. This campaign will enable the National Crime Prevention Council to disseminate information to parents through print material, Web-based information, public service advertising, and through a partnership with the National Safety and Security Council, a consortium of businesses and organizations committed to promoting environments that are safe and secure from the threat of crime, violence and drug abuse. I am pleased to direct my colleague's attention to the valuable partnership between the Allstate Foundation and the National Crime Prevention Council. I applaud these organizations for this leadership in working to prevent crime and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, this month the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community, which has its national headquarters in Illinois, will be commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the beginnings of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith in Iran. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith is a world religion with more than 5 million adherents in some 230 countries and territories including more than 140,000 members here in the United States. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] House of Worship in my district of Illinois is registered as a national historic site that has drawn more than five million visitors to enjoy its unique architecture and serene gardens since its completion in 1953. This October is a special time for the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community because it was during this month that the founder of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith, Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h, was first overwhelmed with the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] message of love and unity while unjustly imprisoned in one of Persia's (now Iran) worst dungeons, the S[iacute]y[aacute]h Ch[aacute]l. After his release from this dungeon, Bah[aacute]d'u'll[aacute]h promoted this message despite being banished from Baghdad to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Edirne, and eventually from Edirne to the prison city of Acre where he died in 1892 after having lived in exile for forty years for his belief in the oneness of humanity. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] Faith is based on the principles of cooperation and peace outlined by Bah[aacute]d'u'll[aacute]h. He taught that there is only one God, that the conscience of man is sacred and to be respected, that racial diversity contributes to the overall beauty of mankind, and that women and men are equals in God's sight. He taught that a spiritual solution is required to address the disparities of wealth distribution and that religion and science must agree. He was among the first to express the need for an international auxiliary language, emphasize the importance of universal education, and advise that a commonwealth of nations was needed for establishing global peace and security. The significance of these principles could not be overemphasized in today's volatile world. It is astounding to think how advanced these concepts were 150 years ago not only in an ancient Persian culture, but also in the United States. Slavery and persecution based on race were widely accepted facts of life at that time. Women in the United States were still 70 years away from getting the vote. Global literacy was low and universal education was unheard of in most places. Colonial exploitation was on the rise and workers enjoyed few protections. Unfortunately, just as the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] message was met with hostility in Persia in 1852, it still faces persecution in that region today. The Islamic Republic of Iran regards Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s as heretics who, according to Islamic law, should be executed. Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s, along with Iran's other religious minorities, are prevented from exercising their right to religious freedom. They are excluded from institutions of higher education, denied jobs, and have had many of their holy places, cemeteries and properties seized or destroyed. They are denied their most basic human rights. Since 1982, Congress has adopted eight resolutions condemning Iran's treatment of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s, its largest religious minority. With the support of the U.S. government, the UN General Assembly has adopted annual resolutions condemning these human rights abuses. Yet, Bah[aacute]'[iacute]s still await the religious freedom called for in those UN resolutions and promised in Iran's constitution. The Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community remains an oppressed religious minority and is denied rights to organize, elect leaders, and to conduct freely its religious activities. On the 150th anniversary of Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h's imprisonment and the founding of the Bah[aacute]'[iacute] faith, we salute along with the American Bah[aacute]'[iacute] community the ideals of universal brotherhood, peace, cooperation, and understanding espoused by Bah[aacute]'u'll[aacute]h, These are Bah[aacute]'[iacute] values, they are American values, and they are universal values. I also would like to recognize the immense sacrifices that many around the world have made striving to ensure that true liberty and justice for all becomes not just an American dream, but also a global reality.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the retirement of a dedicated public servant and good friend, Mr. Al Pate, Director of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center (NCVAMC). Mr. Pate will be retiring on November 2, ending 30 years of service to our nation's veterans. For the last 12 years, Al Pate has served as director of NCVAMC, a facility serving the veterans of northern Illinois with 150 operating hospital care beds, 204 nursing home care beds, a 60-bed domiciliary for homeless veterans, and 89 drug and alcohol treatment beds. With an annual budget of $100 million, Al oversaw a staff of 1,130 and 700 volunteers who handle in excess of 180,000 outpatient visits a year. Al has been recognized as a national leader in developing resource sharing agreements between the VA and the Department of Defense. Working with Captain John Fahey, Al led the initiative to jointly offer common services with Naval Hospital Great Lakes, located less than a mile away. Acting with little or no support from his immediate supervisor, Al has successfully laid the foundation for the establishment of a jointly operated, federal hospital in North Chicago serving both active duty military and veterans. This will result not only in better service for beneficiaries, but better value for the American taxpayer. Prior to coming to North Chicago, Al Pate served as the Associate Medical Center Director at the Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. In his six years at Hines, Al coordinated several administrative services and chaired a number of hospital committees. He also served as Special Assistant to the Director at Lakeside VAMC, Administrative Resident at VAMC Cincinnati, Ohio, and as an adjudicator at the VA Regional Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Al received a Bachelors of Science degree in Secondary Education from Ball State University in 1971. He received a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Ball State the following year. He also received a Master of Science degree in Hospital Administration as part of the VA Graduate Education Program. Al Pate served in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps as part of the all volunteer Combined Action Program. Wounded in combat, he received the Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged in 1969. It is Al's dedication to veterans that distinguishes his career. This dedication earned him the respect of his colleagues, veterans advocates and, most of all, of the veterans he serves. I admire Al for the work he does, for his service to our country, and for his friendship. He will be sorely missed in North Chicago and I will pledge to work to see that his vision of a joint federal hospital in North Chicago is realized. I wish Al and his wife Patricia a happy retirement and thank them for their service.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, we have seen this movie before: The Inter-Allied Control Commission of inspectors were granted full freedom of movement, all necessary facilities, documents, and designs. Three hundred thirty- seven weapons inspectors were deployed in 11 districts. They reported that they destroyed 33,384 cannons, 37,211,551 artillery shells, 87,000 machine guns, and 920 tons of poison gas. In sum, they reported 97 percent of artillery and 98 percent of men under arms were rendered ineffective. These reports were not about Iraq, they were about post World War I Germany, and told us not to worry. When the Commission finally started reporting on German violations on inspections, the leading French diplomat wrote to President Wilson the following: ``Elements in each of the nations of the League will be quite naturally inclined to deny reports disturbing to their peace of mind and more or less consciously espouse the cause of the German government which will deny the said reports. We must recall the opposition of these elements at the time when Germany armed to the teeth and openly made ready the aggression of 1870 and 1914. ``To sum up, the Germans will deny, their government will discuss, and, meanwhile, public opinion will be divided, alarmed, and nervous.'' In the end, Germany rearmed under the eyes of 300 international inspectors. As evidence of violations mounted, the international community lost its nerve to impose the will of international law. This resolution offers the best hope that Secretary Powell will get inspectors, real inspectors, back to Iraq.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, 140 years ago a gentleman from Illinois wrote the following: ``The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with this occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and we shall save our country. ``Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. ``We say we are for Union. The world will not forget we say this. We know how to save the Union. The world knows we know how to save it. We, even we here, hold the power and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free, honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. ``We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth. Other means may succeed. This could fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous and just, a way which if followed the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless.'' Abraham Lincoln wrote those words on the eve of his most important decision. The occasion before us here is also drenched in significance. I am often asked whether I am a dove or a hawk on the question of Iraq. I prefer to be an owl, one who approaches this with steady, firm judgment. I believe we must deal with the enforcement of the United Nations Security Council resolutions requiring Iraq to disarm as part of an international coalition. Diplomatic efforts must be our primary effort, with a use of armed force only as a last resort. Along well-settled principles of constitutional and international law, the United States may declare war only with the formal approval of the Congress; and we should try to endeavor to operate with the approval of the U.N. Security Council. As a veteran myself, I believe that making the decision between war and peace is the most sacred duty of the Congress. Many people who never saw war are quick to urge military actions. Veterans can report with firsthand experience that waging war is a cruel and blunt instrument to be used only by a free people as their last choice. In my own experience, war has taught me to be the best friend of our State Department, a place where diplomacy is always the preferred course of action. I used to work in the State Department, and I applaud Secretary of State Colin Powell in his efforts to build a large coalition of like- minded nations to enforce the will of the Security Council. In reviewing of the reports of the United Nations, our allies and respected human rights groups, it is clear that the Iraqi regime represents a growing present danger to the United States and its allies and its own people. Given its proximity to Iraq, our allies in Israel probably face the greatest danger. I believe that the disarmament of Iraq is important to the security of the United States but is vital to the security of our allies in Israel. In my judgment, the existence of Israel hangs on the success or failure of the U.N. efforts to disarm Iraq. This is why the government of Israel, like Her Majesty's government in the United Kingdom, so strongly supports our goal. It is clear that this steadfast, concentrated action by the international community is needed to reduce the danger to the United States and our allies. While some say that inspections against a government determined to conceal its weapons are certain to fail, I disagree. Unlike the inspectors that we sent into post-war Germany after World War I or even Iraq, a new Security Council resolution could lay out clear rules granting free, unescorted and unannounced access by inspectors to Iraqi programs. In my work on this issue, I joined with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), a representative of the opposite party, to form an Iraq working group here in the House where we have convened many meetings with U.N. weapons inspectors, Iraqis and administration officials to learn more about this issue. Our meetings with the U.N. inspectors have been some of the most fruitful. Dr. David Kay, the Chief United Nations Weapons Inspector, reported that if he were to return to Iraq he would need a new Security Council resolution with two major changes: one, complete access to all sites, including presidential sites and Northern Iraq, which were denied to previous U.N. inspectors; and, two, the power to grant permanent asylum to any scientist or their families who could be taken out of Iraq and debriefed on the weapons of mass destruction program that employed them. Dr. Kay reported that President Bush, Sr., and President Clinton both denied him the authority to force access to key sites and failed to grant him the power to bring any Iraqi and their families. He reported to our working group that, with these two changes granted under a new Security Council resolution, he would be willing to return to Iraq and carry out the will of the United Nations to disarm the government. We have had several conversations with the National Security Advisor, Dr. Rice, and members of our United Nations Mission in New York who report that, without the credible threat of force, Secretary of State Powell has little chance for passing the kind of Security Council resolution that Dr. Kay outlined would be needed to peacefully disarm Iraq. I am encouraged that this resolution before the House has the support of senior Democratic and Republican leaders. It underscores the consideration of this issue should be without partisan rancor or advantage, and we should not consider this measure as partisans but as Americans. This resolution offers the best hope for a new U.N. Security Council resolution to rewrite the rules of inspection to make them more effective. Secretary Powell has asked for this resolution to pass the Congress to give him the tools he needs for U.N. support, and I voted to give him that support. As a veteran, I see any potential military action first through the eyes of young men and women who volunteered to wear the uniform and would carry out the mission. As I have detailed here, I believe that this resolution unlocks the door for more effective inspections. We must use the opportunities we have to take non-military action through the U.N. to determine if unrestricted inspections of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program can take place. If these inspections succeed, we will have accomplished our objectives without loss of life. And if they fail, it will rally international support against an isolated Iraq, making any more decisive action quicker and more likely to succeed. Madam Speaker, 140 years ago, a gentleman from Illinois wrote the following passage--one that applies to the question now before this House: ``The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and we shall save our country. Fellow citizens we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. We say we are for Union. The world will not forget that we say this. We know how to save the Union. The world knows we do know how to save it. We--even we here--hold the power and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free--honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just--a way which if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.'' Abraham Lincoln wrote those words on the eve of his most important decision of the Civil War. The occasion before us here is also drenched in historical significance. I am often asked if I am a ``Dove'' or ``Hawk'' on the question of Iraq. I prefer to be an ``Owl''--one who approaches this with a steady, firm judgment. I believe that we must deal with the enforcement of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution requiring Iraq to disarm as part of an international coalition. Diplomatic efforts must be our primary effort, with a use of armed force only as a last resort. Along well-settled principles of Constitutional and International Law, the United States may declare war only with the formal approval of the Congress and should try to endeavor to operate with the approval of the UN Security Council. As a veteran myself, I believe that making the decision between war and peace to be the most sacred duty of the Congress. Many people who never saw war are quick to urge military action. Veterans can report with first-hand experience that waging war is a cruel and blunt instrument to be used only by a free people as their last choice. In my own experience, war taught me to be the best friend of our State Department--a place where diplomacy is always the preferred course of action. I used to work in the State Department and I applaud Secretary of State Colin Powell in his efforts to build a large coalition of like-minded nations to enforce the will of the Security Council. With regard to military force, our founding fathers debated the proper place for the power to make war at the Constitutional Convention and feared it most in a new democracy. They specifically rejected proposals to give such a power to the President and directed that only the elected representatives of the American people in our Congress could declare war. For most of our history, Presidents followed the restrictions of the Constitution when going to war. In the 1950s and 1960s, we deviated from the clear requirements of the Constitution to our profound detriment. I believe that it is far worse to send our uniformed men and women into a conflict the American people do not support than to never send them at all. In recent years, Presidents Bush and Clinton returned to our historic, constitutional practice of Congress voting before sending uniformed Americans into harm's way. Congress voted on U.S. military actions in Kuwait, Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo prior to deployment. As a military officer involved in each of these campaigns, I can report that the long congressional debate and formal approval of our missions made a difference improving our morale and clarity of purpose. The Administration should follow these precedents and obtain congressional sanction to engage in military action against Iraq. Congress must approve any military action against Iraq before it happens. Without such formal approval, no action should be taken. When the United States and our allies emerged victorious after the Second World War, we remade the ineffective League of Nations into a more effective United Nations. Under the charter of the UN, all member states are required by international law to abide by the decisions of the UN's Security Council. By the terms of the UN Charter, permanent members of the Security Council--the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain--retain the power to veto any proposed action by the Council. While the Council has not always been able to take decisive action, it has moved on many occasions to enforce the will of the international community in Korea, Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo. President Bush's decision to seek approval by the UN Security Council to enforce its previously-passed resolutions underscores a fundamental political and military requirement for the United States military to build allied support and to isolate any potential opponent of the international community. By acting under a UN resolution, U.S. armed forces could join as part of a broad coalition opposing an enemy that has little to no international support. For this key reason, the resolution clearly outlines that the United States should try to act with approval of the UN in dealing with Iraq. The decision to go to war is the most important decision that I can make as a representative in Congress. As a veteran, I see any potential military action first through the eyes of the young men and women who volunteered to wear the uniform and would carry out such a mission. We must use the opportunities we have to take non-military action through the UN to determine if unrestricted inspections of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction can take place. If these inspections succeed, we will have accomplished our objectives without loss of life. If they fail, it will rally international support against an isolated foe, making any more decisive action quicker and much more likely to succeed. When we look at the situation in Iraq, we should not take military action until two basic questions are answered: 1. Does Iraq Present a Clear and Present Danger to the United States and Our Allies? 2. Will Non-military Action by the International Community Achieve Our Objectives? So, does Iraq present a clear and present danger? With regard to Iraq, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 686 in March of 1991 requiring Iraq to release all prisoners of war, return Kuwaiti property and pay damages. To date, the UN reports that Iraq failed to return 609 prisoners from 14 UN member states, including one American pilot. Iraq also holds over 5,000 Iranian POWs. In total, the respected human rights group Amnesty International reports that Iraq failed to account for 16,000 people held in its custody. The UN staff reported to the Security Council on this issue that ``no progress [has been] made on return . . .'' Iraq also failed to return Kuwaiti military equipment and items from its state archives. In April of 1991, the Security Council passed Resolution 687. The resolution required Iraq to ``unconditionally accept'' the destruction, removal or rendering harmless ``under international supervision'' all ``chemical and biological weapons.'' The resolution also required Iraq to ``unconditionally agree not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons usable material'' or construct ``any research, development or manufacturing facilities.'' Finally, the resolution also required Iraq to ``unconditionally accept'' the destruction, removal or rendering harmless ``under international supervision'' of all ``ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 km and related major parts and repair and production facilities. Despite the requirement not to possess chemical and biological weapons, UN staff reported that Iraq lied to the UN Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) in 1995 after Saddam Hussein's son-in-law defected to Jordan and told of the dictator's still-thriving biological and chemical weapons programs. Iraq then admitted it produced thousands of liters of anthrax, botulinum toxin and aflatoxin for use with Scud missile warheads, aerial bombs and artillery. UNSCOM reported to the Security Council that Iraq concealed its biological weapons program and failed to account for three tons of growth material for biological agents. The UN also reported that Iraq failed to account for 15,000 artillery rockets filled with nerve gas and 550 artillery shells filled with mustard gas. In January 2001, our Defense Department reported that Iraq converted Czech L-29 jets into chemical and biological delivery vehicles. Iraq also modified a second jet for use as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (AUV) to spray chemical and biological weapons. We have evidence that Iraq has built a third unmanned aerial vehicle that is much smaller than the larger jets. There are reports that this smaller AUV is the intended final vehicle for use delivering chemical and biological weapons in a way that would not be detected on radar. There is compelling further evidence on this program which remains classified. Reporting on the violation of commitments on ballistic missiles, UNSCOM disclosed that, contrary to UN resolutions, Iraq had retained a number of Scud missiles. Iraq also began work on two new missiles, a liquid-fueled missile (the al-Samoud) and solid-fueled missile (the Ababil), both capable of flying far beyond the 150 km limit imposed by the UN Security Council. Such missiles could deliver a weapon of mass destruction against Israel in under 250 seconds. Iraq also rebuilt the al-Mamoun missile test facility that had been dismantled by the UN to prevent the construction of long-range missiles. Work is underway to test a much larger missile engine to support even longer-range missiles. Despite promises not to acquire or test nuclear components, Iraq has a large nuclear weapons complex. Saddam Hussein regularly makes reference to his ``nuclear mujahadeen'' and UNSCOM reports over 40,000 Iraqis work on the nuclear weapons program. British intelligence services report that Iraq stepped up purchases of nuclear weapons material over the last 14 months. The New York Times recently reported Iraqi agents attempted to purchase 114,000 parts of a nuclear centrifuge to refine fissile material for a nuclear bomb. In September, the British International Institute for Strategic Studies reported that absent the Gulf War, Iraq would have had nuclear weapons by 1993 and could now possess a weapon within months of obtaining fissile material. Last year, Adnan Ihsan Saeed al-Haideri, an Iraqi defector, reported that he visited 20 secret facilities dedicated to producing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. He supported his report with copies of Iraqi government contracts and technical specifications. It is clear that Iraq is advancing program to develop weapons of mass destruction in violation of its commitments imposed by the UN Security Council. Following the deployment of UNSCOM to Iraq, Saddam Hussein barred international inspector access to key individuals, sites and equipment necessary to verify compliance with international law. The UN condemned Iraq for failing to comply with UN Security Council resolutions on August 15, 1991. The UN Security Council subsequently passed 12 more resolutions between 1991 and 1999 condemning Iraq and attempting to enforce the will of the international community. The President of the Council also made 30 statements condemning Iraq's non-compliance. Beyond commitments to return prisoners and to disarm weapons of mass destruction, the UN Security Council also passed Resolution 688 requiring Iraq to end repression of the Iraqi people ``the consequences of which threaten international peace and security.'' The UN Commission on Human Rights and UN General Assembly reported on ``systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights'' citing an ``all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror.'' The Iraqi government blocked all visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights from 1992 to the present. Amnesty International reported that in October 2000, Iraq executed dozens of women on charges of prostitution. Amnesty also reported the decapitation of numerous women accused of crimes with victims heads displayed in front of homes for several days. They further reported that the female relatives of prisoners are often raped as part of their torture. The UN Special Rapporteur, Max Van der Stoel, reported that hundreds of Iraqi Kurds were used as subjects in Iraq's testing of new chemical and biological weapons. Van der Stoel also reported at least 1,500 executions of political opponents. Sometime between September of 1998 and December of 1999, the town of Albu `Aysh was destroyed with extensive civilian casualties. UNSCOM also reported on a special prison for the children of adult prisoners. The Human Rights Alliance also reported that over 500 journalists and intellectuals have been executed. Under Resolution 688, the United States, France and Britain were directed to operate no-fly zones over southern Iraq to protect the Shia minority (Iraq's governing elite is exclusively Sunni) and northern Iraq to protect five million Kurdish citizens of Iraq. The Iraqis of these communities strongly support the no-fly zones and believe that it is the key to safety for their families. I am a veteran of Operation Northern Watch and was proud to serve my country to protect helpless minorities. On September 16th, Iraq offered the UN Secretary General the opportunity to return UNSCOM to Iraq for ``unrestricted'' inspections. On September 17th, Iraqi armed forces fired on UN aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone. They did so again the following day. To date, the Iraqis have fired on UN aircraft over 60 times since their offer of ``unrestricted'' inspections. Iraq is also prohibited from carrying out terrorist acts under the terms of the UN Security Council's Resolution 687. Despite this requirement, agents of the Iraqi Intelligence Service attempted to use a car bomb in 1993 to assassinate former President George Bush. Iraq harbors the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) that killed several Americans. It also housed the Palestine Liberation Front, best known for killing American Leon Klinghoffer and many attacks against Israel. Iraq also sheltered the Abu Nidal organization and now pays $10,000 to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Defectors report that Iraq operates an international terrorist training camp at Salman Pak, open to Arab and non-Arabs alike. While there is no clear link between the Iraqi government and the September 11th attacks, Iraq now harbors several members of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization. Much of this activity by Iraq costs money. Iraq must operate under a UN embargo that allows it to sell oil with proceeds going into an account controlled by the UN. Despite protests from average Iraqis, the government of Iraq regularly applies for the use of the UN oil-for-food money to purchase luxury cars, electronic equipment and elite infant diet formula. Much of the funding under the UN program was used by Iraq to construct several ``presidential palaces'' detailed in a well- covered speech by then Secretary of State Madeline Albright. In order to generate funding for its weapons of mass destruction program and missile development, Iraq exports thousands of barrels of oil on the black market in violation of the UN program, with proceeds controlled by Saddam's two sons, Uday and Qusai. Total proceeds exceed several billion dollars--more than enough to fund a large weapons of mass destruction program. In reviewing the reports of the UN, our allies and respected outside human rights groups, it is clear that the Iraqi regime represents a growing present danger to the United States, our allies, and its own people. Given its proximity to Iraq, our allies in Israel probably face the greatest danger. I believe that the disarmament of Iraq is important to the security of the United States but is vital to the security of our allies in Israel. In my judgment, the existence of Israel hangs on the success or failure of the UN effort to disarm Iraq. That is why the government of Israel, like Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, strongly supports this goal. It is clear that steadfast, concentrated action by the international community is needed to reduce the danger to the United States and our key allies. Will Non-military Action by the International Community Achieve Our Objectives? Between 1991 and 1997, UNSCOM was able to demilitarize a large number of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and missiles. It is clear that UNSCOM was able to delay the expected 1993 date when Iraq was expected to possess a nuclear arsenal. UNSCOM's two chiefs, Ambassador David Kay and Ambassador Richard Butler, emphasize that while inspections yielded results, they had to be supported by strong international action to bolster the authority of the UN. This support waned in 1997 and allowed Iraq to force the withdrawal of UNSCOM in 1998. There have been no inspections in Iraq for four years and less is known now about the progress Iraq has made on its weapons of mass destruction program. More is known about the resources Iraq spends on this program with indications that Iraq has substantially increased spending on special military projects over the years since UN inspectors were forced to leave. A steady stream of defectors and reports from other UN members indicate that Iraq is accelerating its work on nuclear, biological and missile programs. Ambassador Kay testified before the House Armed Services Committee that further inspections would not be effective unless the UN was given a carte blanche to visit any site with no notice, retaining the right to produce any witness at any time. He advised the Committee that he believed Saddam Hussein would never agree to such an inspection policy. He was wrong. On September 16th, Saddam Hussein advised the Secretary General of the UN that Iraq would permit the redeployment of UN inspectors in Iraq with no restrictions. Many observers are understandably skeptical that Iraq will actually allow UN inspectors to peacefully disarm Iraq of its most deadly and expensive weapons. Nevertheless, this is an opportunity that we cannot ignore. The UN should mount an inspection mission to Iraq with the authority to conduct the most aggressive plan possible. It is possible that non- military action by the international community will achieve our objectives in Iraq. The history of international arms inspection shows some failures. Eighty years ago, the international community imposed an inspection regime on the government of Germany. The League of Nations created an ``Inter-Allied Control Commission'' for the ``complete execution of delivery, destruction, rendering useless of weapons, ammunition and material carried out at the expense of the German government.'' Inspectors were granted full freedom of movement, all necessary facilities, documents and designs. 337 inspectors were deployed in 11 districts across the country. The Commission reported the following results: Cannons Destroyed, 33,384; Artillery Shells Destroyed, 37,211,551; Machine Guns Destroyed, 87,240; and Poison Gas Cylinders Destroyed, 920 tons. In sum, they reported that 97% of Germany's artillery and 98% of her men under arms were rendered ineffective. The Commission's reports on German violations were very controversial. Andre Tardieu, the leading French diplomat for implementing the inspections, wrote to President Wilson on the controversy of inspector reports: ``The pacifist element in each of the nations of the League will be quite naturally inclined to deny reports disturbing to their peace of mind and more or less consciously espouse the cause of the German government which will deny the said reports. We must recall the opposition of these pacifist elements at the time when Germany armed to the teeth and openly made ready the aggression of 1870 and 1914. To sum up: --Germany will deny. --Their government will discuss. --Public opinion will be divided, alarmed, [and] nervous. The League, unarmed, will have brought to pass in the world not general peace but general uncertainty which will give birth to a kind of interior and exterior conflict.'' In the end, Germany rearmed under the eyes of over 300 international inspectors. As evidence of violations mounted, the international community lost its nerve to impose the will of the League of Nations. This lesson of history is instructive and we should use it to make sure international inspections in Iraq do not suffer the same fate. The record of inspections in Iraq is uneven. While the UN Special Commission on Iraq reported an impressive amount of Iraqi weaponry destroyed, its lack of cooperation from the government and failure to achieve a complete accounting show that it was not a complete success. While some may say that inspections against a government determined to conceal are certain to fail, I disagree. Unlike the inspectors of Germany or even Iraq, a new Security Council resolution could lay out clear rules granting free, unescorted and unannounced access by inspectors to the Iraq programs. In my work on this issue, I joined with Representative Robert Andrews of New Jersey--a representative of the opposite party--to form an ``Iraq Working Group'' here in the House. We have convened many meetings with UN Inspectors, Iraqis and Administration officials to learn more about this issue. Our meetings with UN inspectors have been some of the most fruitful. Dr. David Kay, the United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector, reported that if he was to return to Iraq, he would need a new Security Council Resolution with two major changes to foster success: 1. Complete access to all sites, including ``Presidential sites'' and Northern Iraq, which were denied to previous UN inspectors, and 2. The power to grant permanent asylum to any scientist and their families who could be taken out of Iraq and debriefed on the weapons of mass destruction program that employed them. Kay reported that President Bush Sr. and President Clinton had denied him the authority to force access to key sites and failed to grant him the power to bring any Iraqi and their family members out of Iraq. He reported to our working group that with these two changes--granted by a new Security Council resolution--he would be willing to return to Iraq to carry out the will of the United Nations to disarm the government. I have had several conversations with our National Security Advisor, Dr. Rice, and Members of our United Nations mission in New York who report that without a credible threat of force, Secretary of State Powell has little chance for passing the kind of Security Council resolution that Dr. Kay outlined would be needed to peacefully disarm Iraq. They report that two key permanent members of the Council, Russia and France, have clear interests in this question. Russia is owned over $8 billion by the government of Iraq. She sees a possible war or interfering with debt repayments and--as a good banker--therefore is inclined against it. If the U.S. leads an international coalition to replace the government of Iraq and Russia opposed this move, then Russia would see its debt repudiated. Russia cannot allow that to happen and therefore would have to back an international effort once it forms. France's position is similar. France's number one goal in the region is access to the Iraqi export market. But if a new government is installed and France opposed this action, France would suffer a loss of a key export market. Therefore, if international pressure is formed, France cannot afford to be left out. Diplomats reported to me that this is similar to the situation facing the Council in September of 1990. Most members did not want to rescue Kuwait and preferred to let Iraq administer this former UN member as a new ``19th province of Iraq.'' Once US action was imminent, the Council and many Arab nations supported the United States because they could not afford to offend the newly rescued Kuwaiti government. In similar fashion, if action is inevitable against Iraq, then the support of such nations will come because they cannot afford to be excluded from a new Iraq. It is for these reasons, I support the action of this resolution. I am encouraged that the resolution has the support of the Senior Democratic and Republican leaders of this House. It underscores that the consideration of this issue should be without partisan rancor or advantage. We should not consider this measure as partisans but as Americans. This resolution offers the best hope for a UN Security Council resolution to rewrite the rules of inspection to make them effective. Secretary Powell has asked for this resolution to pass the Congress to give him the tools he needs to win UN support. I will vote to support him and this effort. As a veteran, I see any potential military action first through the eyes of the young men and women who volunteered to wear the uniform and would carry out such a mission. As I have detailed here, I believe this resolution unlocks the door to more effective inspections. We must use the opportunities we have to take non-military action through the UN to determine if unrestricted inspections of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction can take place. If these inspections succeed, we will have accomplished our objectives without loss of life. If they fail, it will rally international support against an isolated Iraq, making any more decisive action quicker and much more likely to succeed.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4013, the Rare Disease Act of 2002. Currently, more than 6,000 rare diseases affect 25 million Americans each year. While some progress has been made to fight rare diseases over the last twenty years, we must commit greater resources to this effort, particularly through the National Institutes of Health. My own constituents have been very active in this fight. Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, based in Libertyville, Illinois, have been working to enhance research efforts of this and other rare diseases since 1984. I commend Audrey Lewis and all of the Families of SMA's staff and volunteers for their continued dedication and hard work in this field. SMA is just one of the thousands of rare diseases that continues to impact American families, and is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two. A child of parents who both carry the SMA gene has a one in four chance of developing this devastating disease. Inflicted children are forced to live with neuromuscular deterioration that can affect crawling, walking, head control and swallowing. We must make every effort to expand research efforts so that those with SMA and other rare diseases have a change to live long and healthy lives. I hope that Congress can send a united message of the importance of enhanced research efforts in this field by supporting this bill. An Office of Rare Diseases at the National Institutes of Health is an essential element in our efforts to raise awareness and research for SMA and the thousands of other rare diseases affecting Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4013.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the bill. We have a medical malpractice crisis in America and especially in my home State of Illinois. I am particularly worried about malpractice rates for obstetricians and gynecologists who are leaving the practice of medicine, rather than ensure the delivery of healthy babies. I spoke with Dr. Gina Wehramann, an Evanston OB-GYN, who reported that after malpractice payments were paid, she made just $35,000. Her office manager makes $90,000. She is leaving the practice of medicine to become a pharmacist where she can triple her income. She reports that OB-GYNs are leaving the field of medicine in Illinois in dozens and women in northern Illinois will find it hard to receive sufficient care for the delivery of their babies. Dr. Wehramann reported that 85 percent of OB-GYNs in northern Illinois are sued for malpractice. The plaintiffs' bar tells us that 85 percent of OB-GYNs in my State are bad doctors. All of this adds up to a war on women by the plaintiffs' bar. The plaintiffs' bar killed contraceptive development in our country, with no vote in the Congress and no Presidential decision. European women have many more safe and effective options than Americans, but the plaintiffs' bar does not care. They believe that 85 percent of all OB- GYNs are bad doctors and must be sued out of existence. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons recently designated 25 States as crisis States, including my home State of Illinois. A constituent of mine, Dr. Jay Alexander, recently told me that his group of 17 cardiologists paid $250,000 in premiums last year, but the bill this year is $800,000. The stories are not limited to physicians. In 2001, Lake Forest Hospital paid $734,000 in malpractice coverage, but that cost will go up to $1.5 million this year. These costs deprive patients of health care at Lake Forest Hospital, and Lake Forest Hospital delivers more babies than any other hospital in Lake County, Illinois; but they will soon have to deny care to these women because of these costs. With the passage of H.R. 4600 we will end the plaintiffs' bar's war on women. Without this bill, we will continue to see greater distances for deliveries, fewer screening services, and less training for women's health and health care. Madam Speaker, we must restore the doctor-patient relationship. Today we have a genuine opportunity to pass this legislation and make sure that the women of Illinois and every other State have access to obstetric care. I urge passage for the bill, and I applaud the gentleman for bringing it to the floor.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fourteen year anniversary of the mislabeled State Peace and Development Council's brutal takeover of power in Burma. In addition, I commend Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her continued strength and leadership during this period of repression and illegitimacy in Burma. After legitimately winning Burma's 1990 election, Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in Rangoon. Recently, she was released from house arrest, however, nearly 1,500 political prisoners remain in Burmese prisons for their peaceable opposition to the SPDC's illegitimate rule. Meanwhile, as many as one million Burmese citizens, many of whom are children, are forced to build roads, military installations, and railroads for the junta. Over thirty percent of Burma's children are malnourished, yet the illegitimate SPDC regime continues to spend billions of dollars on military equipment purchased from China and Russia. The SPDC regime fails to provide any substantial assistance for critical health care and educational programs in Burma, yet it continues to amass a dangerous military arsenal. Burma is a country of peaceful, intelligent and freedom-loving citizens, yet the brutal ruling junta has spent the last fourteen years crushing the will of the people. I join my colleagues in recognizing the fourteen year anniversary of the SPDC's hostile military takeover, and I commend Daw Aung San Suu Kyl's continued efforts to fight for freedom, democracy, and human rights.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1070, the Great Lakes Legacy Act introduced by Representative Vernon Ehlers. Years of contamination due to industrialization on the shores of the Great Lakes severely damaged these environmental treasures. The Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2001 is important to the region because it commits federal resources to remediate contamination of lake bed sediments that plague the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are under assault: under assault from industrial pollution, under assault from alien species being introduced into the lake, such as the Fish Hook Flea, the round gobie, and the Zebra Mussel. The Great Lakes shores are also burdened by nuclear waste stored at scores of sites around the region: in my district nuclear waste sits less than a hundred yards from the shore of Lake Michigan. Currently, there are 43 AOCs, or Areas of Concern, in the U.S. and Canada surrounding the Great Lakes that require sediment remediation according to the U.S./Canadian International Joint Commission. It is important to note that, to date, NO AOC in the U.S. has been cleaned up sufficiently to be de-listed. The Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2001 authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Great Lakes National Program Office to carry out projects to remediate contaminated sediment or prevent further contamination in the Great Lakes region. This bill authorizes $50 million a year in fiscal 2003-2007 for remediation plans and $2 million annually for research and development of innovative technologies for sediment clean up. I am here, more specifically, to speak on behalf of the city of Waukegan in my district, which was home to what many have called the worst PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) contaminated site in the U.S. The city of Waukegan lies fifty miles directly north of Chicago on the west shore of Lake Michigan. In the 1980's Waukegan Harbor was designated an Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes. Most of the contamination of Waukegan Harbor took place over a 13- year period from 1959 to 1973 at the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) shoreline headquarters. OMC was a recreational marine products manufacturer that used a fluid in their dye-casting machines that contained PCBs. The PCBs were discharged from two locations in the plant: one directly into Lake Michigan and another into Waukegan Harbor. By the time the pumps were shut down in 1976, the United States EPA approximated that 300,000 pounds of PCBs were discharged directly into the water of Lake Michigan and an additional 700,000 were discharged on the OMC property. An average 9 to 10 pounds of PCBs were discharged into Lake Michigan daily. Many different entities have taken part in the clean up of Waukegan Harbor, including: the US EPA, the Illinois EPA, the Waukegan Harbor Citizens Advisory Group and OMC, who set up a trust to help facilitate their portion of the harbor clean up. The clean up has been successful to this point. The US EPA recently stated in a new remediation study ``that the remediation at Waukegan Harbor successfully lowered concentrations of PCBs at the site.'' However, more corrective action is needed in Waukegan to remove the remaining harbor contamination. The efforts thus far in Waukegan Harbor illustrate one of the first Areas of Concern to actually demonstrate environmental and economical benefits resulting from a cleanup. We cannot stop the momentum now and leave the job unfinished. Potentially, the Great Lakes Legacy Act will enable the federal government to help remove the remaining impaired sediments from Waukegan Harbor, and delist the harbor within 18-24 months. This bill would enable sites like Waukegan Harbor, in the process of cleaning up, the chance to continue their efforts to complete the job and for others to begin cleaning up contaminated sites. This act would empower communities, such as Waukegan, to redevelop areas that before had little hope of an economical rebirth. A revitalized Waukegan Harbor offers the city a chance to reach its economic potential that was never before possible. I would like to thank the many groups, private and governmental, which have helped in this effort to clean the contaminated sediments in Waukegan Harbor. Also, I would like to thank Rep. Ehlers for his leadership on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to support The Great Lakes Legacy Act, because it offers a healthy environmental and economic future to communities such as Waukegan.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, on January 29, 2002, President Bush called upon every American to volunteer two years to the service of our country. President Bush also called for the United States to renew our commitment to the Peace Corps by doubling the number of volunteers in five years. This August, Sara McKiernan from Winnetka, Illinois, will return from her two year Peace Corps term in Mongolia. Sara's commitment to her country and compassion to the world is an example for us all. While in Mongolia, Sara taught both young children and adults the English language. But, more importantly, Sara's work was a vehicle in spreading the principles of democracy throughout the world. As several members of this body know, the job of a Peace Corps volunteer is one of the most challenging in the world. I commend Sara and all the Peace Corps volunteers deployed throughout the world. These past two years have been an even greater challenge being separated from family and loved ones, particularly during these traumatic times. But her work could not be more important. We appreciate Sara's work and dedication, welcome home.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and this bill. No one is more qualified to guide our intelligence legislation than the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss). Our intelligence community grew from World War I and the Cold War to be supremely able to monitor foreign militaries and governments. No more Pearl Harbors and powerful support to the war fighter. I served for 13 years as a reserve Naval intelligence officer and received vital intelligence that saved American lives in Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Our intelligence community must now be upgraded to meet the terrorist threat. Our system is supremely designed to monitor foreign militaries, but has left ability to monitor clandestined terror organizations backed by familiar relations. We must upgrade our linguistic defenses. We have Russian linguists but now need to speak Pastoon, Dari, Urdu and dozens of other languages where terrorists are recruited from. Our defense language institute in Monterey will play a key part of that role. Analysts now receive huge numbers of messages but they need back up to rapidly translate and analyze information to develop actionable intelligence in time. We are all aware of the failures of September 11. We should know more about the successes of the intelligence community in defeating the millennium bombers and Hezbollah in Bosnia or dozens of other victories won, but not reported on the front page of The Washington Post. I want to thank the professionals from DIA, CIA, NSA, NIMA and the military services who are on watch tonight protecting America. This bill provides critical resources and, more importantly, new flexibility to meet the new challenge. We face terrorists, wealthy terrorists who may one day have weapons of mass destruction. Without the intelligence community, we would some day face a nuclear Pearl Harbor. With the community we will extend security and freedom for our people and allies. I urge adoption of the rule and the bill.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman for yielding me time, and I rise in strong support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, we have been delayed in the passage of this very important bill, largely due to the respect and admiration we have for one Member of this House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). He is a hero to me, and our communities and our country owe him a great deal of gratitude for the service he has given to the Nation. The Chicago Tribune called the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) a ``Lion in Winter,'' but the last week has proved that he is still a tiger. But this legislation is still required, for Chicago and for the Nation. America's busiest airport is broken. Passengers using the airfield have only a 60 percent chance of leaving on time, and experts say that when O'Hare gets a cold, most airports get the flu. Tie-ups strand Americans everywhere, caused by an outdated design set in place by political gridlock. That gridlock has been broken. Illinois is one of two States that requires a governor's signature before modernizing an airfield. We have that signature. In an historic agreement, our Republican Governor and Chicago's Democratic Mayor agreed to the first modernization of the airfield since 1972. This bill simply ratifies an agreement made by local leaders who showed leadership. In these uncertain times, the modernization of this airfield unlocks over $6 billion in new work, overwhelmingly paid for by private funds. Over 100,000 new jobs will be created, in an unprecedented shot in the arm for Illinois' economy. The new design builds a safer O'Hare, eliminating intersecting runways. The removal of north-south runways dramatically reduces the sound of aircraft over Arlington Heights, Palatine and Mt. Prospect. The bill also highlights the importance of NASA's Quiet Aircraft Technology Program. Leaders in this House and NASA helped eliminate the noisy Stage II 727 aircraft from O'Hare. We set an aggressive Stage III noise reduction standard now in the air and will soon require even quieter Stage IV aircraft. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the leaders of the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission and their leaders, Mayor Arlene Mulder and Mayor Rita Mullins, for their ongoing work and commitment to the quality of life issues in our communities. Mr. Speaker, this is bipartisan legislation, strongly supported by the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), the minority leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. Even the Sierra Club has no objection to its passage. Given this unique political alignment, it is clear that this plan's time has come. I urge adoption of the legislation.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, this is a courageous decision by the gentleman. As a member of the committee and as a supporter of Peotone, the gentleman has engendered a lot of goodwill and friendship when we complete the final legislation. My hope is that it will strongly reflect the full agreement, including the gentleman's provision on Peotone.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are under attack from many environmental threats, such as invasive species, PCB contamination, and other aquatic pollutants. In the next week, along with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak), and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), I will be introducing the Great Lakes Mercury Reduction Act, which will prohibit the issuance of new permits under the Clean Air Act that will result in the deposition of any additional mercury into the Great Lakes. Our legislation seeks to halt new mercury pollution sources that would deposit further amounts of mercury into the Great Lakes. Currently, the technology does not exist to stop mercury emissions from already-permitted sources. Therefore, we should not allow construction of new mercury pollution sources. Our legislation will not affect existing sources already permitted under the Clean Air Act, but rather, will halt addition of new sources of mercury that will further degrade the Great Lakes with mercury pollution. Airborne mercury is the dominant source of mercury in the Great Lakes; and according to the Lake Michigan Federation, \1/70\ of a teaspoon of mercury can contaminate a 25-acre lake. Mercury quickly bioaccumulates, contaminating the food chain and making the fish of the lakes inedible by humans. The Federal Government must address mercury pollution, because sufficient reduction limits were not set in the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990. The act only contained large general national emission numbers, and control studies monitoring the growing problems with mercury pollution. While the Clean Air Act required extensive studies of the potential dangers of mercury, it deferred much of the work on limiting mercury emissions to the States. In 1997, the United States and Canada, as part of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, met to address strategies for eliminating toxic substances in the Great Lakes. These talks resulted in each nation agreeing to address a number of toxic emissions, including mercury. According to this agreement, the United States will seek to reduce airborne emissions of mercury by 50 percent, and Canada by 90 percent by the year 2006. President Bush and the Congress both made the elimination of mercury pollution an environmental priority of this Congress. In his Clear Skies Initiative, President Bush seeks to cut mercury emissions up to 69 percent and create the first-ever national cap for mercury emissions. Mercury emissions will be cut from current emissions from 48 tons to a cap of 26 tons in 2010, and 15 tons in 2018. Likewise, two similar proposals in Congress will seek to cap mercury emissions for the first time ever for air quality improvements. In my district, Lake Michigan is the source of our drinking water, and the lake provides recreation in the summertime, and once provided fish for eating. We now know that Lake Michigan fish are harmful because of the toxins they contain. According to the EPA, each year over 3,000 pounds of mercury pollution are dumped into Lake Michigan, and 86 percent of that comes from direct atmospheric deposition. Recently, the North Shore Sanitary District obtained a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to build a sludge sewage incinerator on the shores of Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois. If construction commences, the mercury emitted from this sludge incinerator will be the first new source of mercury pollution in the Great Lakes in over a decade. My top environmental goal in this Congress is to protect Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes. Earlier this year, I chaired the Nuclear Fuel Safety Caucus, which sought the safe removal of nuclear waste from key environmental ecosystems in the Great Lakes burdened with nuclear waste on our shores. The approval of the nuclear waste resolution in this Congress will make our 10th district nuclear free upon completion of the National Nuclear Waste Repository. But now, Congress must focus its attention on mercury pollution in the Great Lakes. Airborne mercury pollution is an issue which the Federal Government has ignored in years past. Further mercury pollution of the Great Lakes will irreparably damage our fragile ecosystem. I urge Members to support our bipartisan legislation. We joined in this effort to end mercury pollution in the Great Lakes just this week, but passage of our bill will go a long way to fulfilling our international commitments to our Canadian allies and fulfill the promise of President Bush's Clear Skies Initiative on mercury. But most importantly, Mr. Speaker, it will protect the mothers and children of the Midwest who are most at risk for mercury pollution.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, this evening, July 17th, Mark Damisch, the Mayor of Northbrook, Illinois will preview the classical piano program he will take on the road to Europe late this summer. I want to congratulate this accomplished pianist as he celebrates his 42nd year of performing. While many in Northbrook and throughout the Chicagoland area know him as a prominent civic leader as demonstrated through his service as the mayor of Northbrook and his work with the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus, he has been participating in good will cultural events throughout the world for almost 30 years. In March 1974, while on a New Trier High School Choir tour of Europe where the choir performed with the Vienna Boys Choir, Mark arranged, promoted and played a series of Concerts in Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the Soviet Union. In 1977, Mark returned to the stage to perform in a seven week tour around the world. He performed concerts in Washington, D.C., Keflavik, Iceland, Oxford, England, Oslo, Norway, Hannover, Germany, Tokyo, Japan, Mondorf, Luxembourg and Honolulu, Hawaii. The Tour was recognized by President Jimmy Carter, Illinois Governor James Thompson and Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic. All of the concerts were dedicated to forging better relations between the United States and citizens in the host countries. This summer's tour will consist of twenty-five concerts performed in 42 days, including tonight's engagement at the Chicago Theater as well as two concerts sponsored by the International Music Foundation and a sold out performance at the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield. Mark Damisch is an accomplished and talented musician as well as a thoughtful and respected leader in his community. I commend him on bringing his talents beyond our Chicagoland borders and working with others throughout the world in promoting his love of music. I look forward to continued work with my friend Mark Damisch, and express our community's best wishes for a successful summer of music.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) and ask unanimous consent that he control that time.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I believe I have 8 minutes now available to me?