Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 577, legislation naming a postal facility in Austin, Texas, after Staff Sergeant Henry Ybarra III. On September 11, 2003, Sergeant Ybarra died in Iraq, performing maintenance on a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck when a tire exploded. He was serving in the Army's 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Unit when he was killed at the young age of 32. Born in Austin, Texas, Sergeant Ybarra grew up wanting to be just like his father and serve in the military. At age 19 he enlisted in the Army and fulfilled his dream. Sergeant Ybarra served as a technical supply clerk, keeping track of spare parts for the squadron, which was not an easy task since spare parts are often scarce during times of conflict. Sergeant Ybarra was known for his upbeat attitude, his contagious smile, and strong devotion to the Catholic faith. He is survived by his wife and three children. Staff Sergeant Ybarra's service to our country should be remembered and celebrated by this small tribute, and I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 577) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building''.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man whose professional life has been dedicated to improving the lives of working men and women in Massachusetts and our Nation. Joseph ``Duke'' Carter is a remarkable labor leader with a long and illustrious career with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Duke joined the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades in 1965 and over the next 21 years worked on numerous jobs throughout Boston and the State of Massachusetts. In this capacity Duke developed complete comprehension of the trade and was known for his expertise and attention to detail. In 1986, Duke became a Business Representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council #35 until 2005 when he was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of Servicing. Duke has also contributed to the improvement of workers' rights as a Delegate to the International Painters and Allied Trades at their National Convention as well as being a Trustee to the Pension, Annuity, Health and Apprenticeship funds program. Despite his various accomplishments, the title that Duke has always been most proud of and which he cherishes most, is the title of a proud and loving husband. Duke has had the enormous pleasure and tremendous good fortune to be married to his wife Patti for over 43 years. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to join with Joseph ``Duke'' Carter's family, friends and brothers and sisters of labor to thank him for over 40 years of remarkable service to the American Labor Movement. I hope my colleagues will join me in celebrating Duke's distinguished career and wishing him good health and God's blessing in all his future endeavors.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 514, legislation naming a postal facility in Brooksville, Florida, after Sergeant Lea Robert Mills of the United States Marine Corps. Sergeant Mills was killed April 28, 2006, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was 21 years old. A native of Masarkytown, Florida, Sergeant Mills joined the Marines in 2002 after graduating from Hernando High School. After his initial service, he renewed his commitment to the Marines and volunteered to serve his country in Iraq. He spent only 6 weeks in that country before an improvised explosive device took his life. Sergeant Mills is survived by his wife, Keesha, his parents, Rob and Delores, and his brother, Parker. This young man's death is a tragedy for our Nation and for all those who loved him, but his sacrifice is a triumph of human courage and selflessness. Sergeant Mills is due the gratitude and remembrance of his country and its people. I urge the swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 514) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the ``Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office''.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a woman who has dedicated both her personal and professional life to the men, women, and children she has so thoughtfully served. Massachusetts State Representative Kathleen M. Teahan has served the citizens of Abington, East Bridgewater and Whitman for the last ten years. The impact of her work has been felt not only throughout the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but throughout this great Nation as a whole. Known to be an always positive leader in both the classroom and legislature, Representative Teahan began her public service as a teacher after graduating from Bridgewater State College in 1969. Over the next three decades, she taught at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School in East Bridgewater. Yet her passion to help others and invest in the community was not limited to just the classroom. Representative Teahan's commitment to Habitat for Humanity, the Whitman Democratic Town Committee, and the Whitman Library are just a few examples of her devotion to the citizens of Massachusetts. Encouraged and supported by her late husband Robert, Representative Teahan decided to expand her efforts to help others and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in November 1996. Since that time, she has not only made an impact on the citizens within the 7th District but has been a national leader and role model through her involvement with issues involving health care, education, employment, and the environment, especially finding passion in the areas of children's health and adoption. During her time in elected office, Representative Teahan served on the House Personnel and Administration, Joint Elder Affairs, and Joint Public Health Committees and served as the House chairman of the Caucus of Women Legislators. As a sign of her strong leadership and efforts to bring about positive change, Representative Teahan was nominated by her colleagues in 2001 to participate in the Flemming Fellows Institute at the Center for Policy Alternatives. She has also participated as a Massachusetts Team Leader for the Veterans Oral History Project at the Library of Congress since 2003. A place where her dedication and work is most evident is on the issue of oral health care. Representative Teahan served as a member of the Special Committee on Oral Health, who presented its report to the Massachusetts Legislature on March 2, 2000. Five years later, Representative Teahan became part of history when she became cochair of the Massachusetts Caucus on Oral Health, which is the first caucus on oral health in the Nation. Those who come in contact with Representative Teahan know all too well that she will fight for the health and well being of any child, whether they are in District 7 or in another country. In 2002, she accompanied a humanitarian delegation to bring medical supplies, books, Braille texts, toys, and toothbrushes to Cuba. Representative Teahan has been honored for her legislative efforts by the Congressional Coalition Adoption Institute, Health Care for All, and the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and the Special Olympics. It has always been clear that Representative Teahan's most cherished asset is her family, and she values the time she will now have to spend with her four children Anne, Jean, Robert, John, and her granddaughter Jill. Even though Representative Teahan's tenure as a State Representative has ended, her passion for changing lives will not cease. She will continue to inspire the next generation to get involved in their local communities, continuing her role as educator by teaching American Government at Bridgewater State College. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to join with State Representative Kathy Teahan's family, friends, and fellow citizens of Massachusetts to thank her for a decade of service in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and her lifetime of service in educating all within her reach. I hope my colleagues will join me in celebrating Representative Teahan's distinguished career, as we wish her good health and God's blessing in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4, to give seniors someone to negotiate on their behalf for lower-price drug prices. We all know how in 2003, in the middle of the night, after twisting arms and making threats, Congress passed a flawed Medicare prescription drug bill. By actually forbidding the Medicare program to negotiate directly with drug companies to get the best price for seniors' prescriptions and save money, the Republican Congress simply put profits for the drug companies ahead of Medicare beneficiaries. The medicare drug benefit actually is designed to ensure that pharmaceutical and insurance companies maximize their profits. By prohibiting Medicare from directly negotiating drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry like the VA does, many drugs within Medicare are more than twice as high as the prices paid by the VA. Since the industry is already making a profit at the price for which it sells drugs to the VA, the higher price paid in Medicare is pure profit for the drug industry. That's why I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man whose professional life has been dedicated to improving the lives of working men and women in Massachusetts, across our nation and beyond our borders. Jack McGinness is a remarkable labor leader with a long and illustrious career in the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Brother Jack McGinness, the youngest of six children, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to William and Anne McGinness. He grew up in the City of Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School. After graduation, Jack honorably served our country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Jack was initiated into the Plumbers Apprenticeship Program on September 28, 1964. In his first year, Jack worked for the George Murphy Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following the completion of his five year apprentice training program, Jack worked as a plumber and foreman for U.A. Contractors within the jurisdiction of Local 12 but also other U.A. contractors on the road in the U.S. and Canada. During his tenure, brother McGinness served as a member of Plumbers Local 12, as an officer on Local 12's Joint Conference Board, Executive Board, the Apprentice Committee as well as served as Trustee for the Local 12 Health and Welfare Fund, delegate to the United Association's National Convention in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. Brother McGinness served on the Sergeant of Arms Committee from 2001 until 2006. He was elected Business Agent in 1994. Jack's dedication to the men and women of the Building Trades has been regularly acknowledged by his peers. He was elected by his brothers and sisters of labor to serve as President of the Framingham- Newton Building Trades Council as well as to serve on the State Building Trades Executive Board as a Delegate to the National Building Trades Convention in 2001 and 2005. Anyone who has had the privilege to work along side Jack knows that he is a dedicated and thoughtful individual, concerned primarily for the safety and welfare of his union brothers and sisters and their families. Beyond his professional commitment, Jack devoted much of his time to developing Local 12's annual participation in Dads' Day and Toys for Tots as well as the Local 12 Golf Committee and the Local 12 Social Committee. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the Floor of the House today to join with Jack McGinness' family, friends and brothers and sisters of labor to thank him for more than forty years of remarkable service to the American Labor Movement. I hope my Colleagues will join me in celebrating Jack's distinguished career and wishing him good health and God's blessing in all his future endeavors.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of raising the minimum wage for America's neediest workers, and I am proud that our Speaker, Speaker Pelosi, and Chairman Miller have chosen this in the first 100 hours to help America's workers who have not been helped for a long, long time. It has been 10 long years, and America's workers need a raise. I think this debate really does crystallize the differences between our side of the aisle and our Republican colleagues. I have heard some arguments here this morning that government should not intervene in the market. But I want to remind my Republican colleagues that these workers are completely powerless to improve their situation. The age of globalization has made these workers less powerful than they were 10 years ago. According to the Economic Policy Institute, of the nearly 7 million workers directly affected by the minimum wage, 80 percent are adults, 54 percent work full time, and 59 percent are women. The reality is that working families are struggling every day to try to make ends meet. Look at it this way: In 1997, these workers made $206 a week for working 40 hours. In 2007, they are making the same $206. The problem is that while in 1997 it may have got that worker close to the poverty line at the end of the year, now they are $5,000 below the poverty line because the cost of living has gone up 26 percent. That is why I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, on November 15, 2006, I had the opportunity to address the 2006 National Rail Symposium, presented by Citizens for Rail Safety, Inc. at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Attended by rail worker union representatives, rail industry experts, transportation scholars, and local and Federal political leaders, the symposium served to further highlight the glaring gaps in America's rail security and specifically, bring attention to the lack of basic emergency and antiterrorism training for our Nation's rail workers. Notably, the symposium marked the release of a key rail security study prepared by the National Labor College (NLC) entitled: ``Training in Hazmat and Rail Security: Current Status and Future Needs of Rail Workers and Community Members.'' As noted by the NLC, our Nation's rail workers currently lack basic and necessary emergency prevention and response training, particularly with respect to Hazmat incidents, and must work in rail cars and on rail tracks, yards, and basic infrastructure that are poorly secured. The NLC's study comes on the heels of a 2005 rail worker safety report prepared by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Rail Security Conference, entitled ``High Alert: Workers Warn of Security Gaps on Nation's Railroads.'' Based on over 4,000 surveys completed by members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, the report reveals that 84 percent of the rail workers surveyed indicated that they had not received any or additional terrorism prevention and response training within the last year and that 64 percent indicated that they had not been trained on their role in their railroad's Emergency Action or Emergency Response Plan. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with these reports, as well as the goals of the National Rail Symposium, given the importance of providing our rail workers with adequate emergency, anti-terrorism, and security training. For this reason, I have also urged my colleagues to adopt H.R. 4372, the Rail Worker Emergency Training Act, which I have introduced in the 109th Congress. This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop comprehensive rail worker training guidelines that address several key areas, including critical infrastructure and equipment security inspection, hazardous material storage, transport, and monitoring, and evacuation procedures. In addition, the bill would require rail carriers to develop a rail worker training program based on the Secretary's guidelines and to train all of their workers within 1 year. In closing, I would like to commend Citizens for Rail Safety, Inc. and the National Labor College for their efforts to heighten security and preparedness on our Nation's railways.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson, for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in regards to the conference report to accompany H.R. 4954, the SAFE Port Act. As representative of the Port of Boston--I'm pleased that today's conference report takes important steps towards better safeguarding our Nation's 361 sea and river ports--through the authorization of significant increases in port security grants for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, meaningful port worker security training provisions, and substantive container screening and scanning improvements. At the same time, I must say that I'm disappointed that the agreement under consideration does not include the language to strenghten rail and transit security passed by the U.S. Senate during its consideration of port security legislation. By including language to authorize $1.2 billion for freight and passenger rail security as well as $3.5 billion for mass transit security in a ports bill, the Senate clearly recognized that rail and mass transit have also been grossly underfunded, this in the face of repeated terrorist attacks against rail and transit systems worldwide-- from Paris, Tokyo, and Moscow to Madrid, London, and most recently, Mumbai. In furtherance of the Senate's action, just yesterday the House passed a motion to instruct the House conferees to accept the Senate's position on rail and mass transit security by a margin of 281-140. Regrettably however, the rail and transit language did not make it into this conference report. Mr. Speaker, while this agreement is a good start towards securing our seaports and the international supply chain, I think we've missed a major opportunity to afford rail and transit similar respect.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man who has dedicated the past 43 years to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an employee of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Robert O'Gara, the son of Michael and Anna O'Gara, was born on October 28, 1941 in South Boston, Massachusetts. In 1962, after graduating from South Boston High School, Robert joined the MBTA as a Junior Clerk working out of the Everett Repair Shop. Robert developed a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and a meticulous attention to detail. For the next decade, Robert restored trains at the Everett Repair Shop until he moved to Riverside Station as a Riverside repairman. Once he began working at the Riverside Yard, Robert took his dedication and hard work to a higher level and would place vehicle history on the dash of every vehicle sent in for repair. These notes, dubbed ``O'Gara Grams'', allowed repairmen to thoroughly inspect each train in order to ensure peak performance. Along with being a committed employee, Robert is a devoted husband and father. Robert has the enormous pleasure and tremendous good fortune to be married to his wife Mary of 38 years. They are the proud parents of eight children and the grandparents of seven adoring grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to join with Robert O'Gara's family, friends and brothers and sisters of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to thank him for 43 years of remarkable service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating Robert's distinguished career and wishing him a happy and full retirement.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of James Joseph Rush, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Trial Court and to commend him for 43 years of dedicated service, The son of John and Mary Rush, immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland, James was born on February 9, 1931 in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood, As a youth, James was very active in the Sacred Heart Church in Roslindale, MA, and served as the first president of the Boston Archdiocesan Chi-Rho Association. After graduating from Roslindale High School, James enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country honorably from 1951 to 1955. During his tenure James served onboard the USS John W. Weeks, DD-701. Upon completion of his distinguished service to our country James attended Boston College and graduated from the Carroll School of Management with a bachelor of arts degree in 1960. After graduation, James began a career in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Trial Court as a probation officer overseeing juveniles. Following this position James was assigned assistant chief of probation until 2004 when he was named the chief of probation in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court. Along with providing distinguished service to his country and State, James is also an active member of his community. A faithful parishioner at St. Theresa's in West Roxbury, James has served as a eucharistic minister for many years. James is a past president of the St. Theresa's School Parent-Teacher Association, has served on the parent advisory board of Catholic Memorial and is a member of the Boston College Alumni Association. James is also a member of the John G. Williams Council of the Knights of Columbus in Roslindale, MA. Mr. Speaker, throughout his career in the Massachusetts Trial Court and his volunteer work in the community, James has served as a mentor and role model for Massachusetts youth. Above all of these accomplishments the title James cherishes most is that of husband and father. James has the enormous pleasure and tremendous good fortune to be married to his wife of 36 years, Virginia; they are the proud parents of six wonderful children and the grandparents of four adoring grandsons. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to join with James Rush's family, friends and contemporaries to thank him for his remarkable service to the Massachusetts Trial Court. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating James' distinguished career and wish him a happy and full retirement.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man whose professional life has been dedicated to improving the lives of working men and women in Massachusetts and across our nation. Tommy Harrington is a remarkable labor leader with a long and illustrious career in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Massachusetts. Tommy joined the Carpenters Apprenticeship Program in 1966 after graduating from Boston Trade High School. During his tenure, he held several prestigious positions in Carpenters Local 33, the Massachusetts State Council of Carpenters and the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. In 1989, after twenty-three years in the field as a carpenter and Union Steward, he became a Business Agent for Local 33. In 1990, he was elected President of the Massachusetts State Council of Carpenters, an office which he held until 1993. Following this esteemed position, he became the Business Manager of Local 33 and was elevated to the position of Financial Secretary. In September of 2001, Tommy reached the pinnacle of his career when he achieved the position of Executive Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. Tommy's personal integrity, hard work and determination illustrate the best qualities of those who serve the working men and women of this country. Although he has held many of the most official positions in Local 33, Tommy is best known for the personal relationships he cultivated with the men and women he worked with on a daily basis. Anyone who has had the privilege to call Tommy a colleague or friend knows that he is one of the most thoughtful, caring and compassionate individuals, always putting the safety and welfare of his union carpenters and their families first. Tommy has also set an example as a model citizen. His civic involvement can be seen in the numerous causes he has actively supported. Tommy has worked tirelessly on behalf of the pine Street Inn and Rosie's Place volunteering his time and energy. He has participated in charity events for organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and the South Boston Health Center. Despite his various accomplishments, as his friend I can honestly say that the title that Tommy has always been most proud of and which he cherishes most, is the title of husband and father. Tommy has had the enormous pleasure and tremendous good fortune to be married to his wife Ginny for over thirty-five years. They are the proud parents of two lovely and adoring daughters, Heather and Cindy. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to join with Tommy Harrington's family, friends and brothers and sisters of labor to thank him for forty years of remarkable service to the American Labor Movement. I hope my colleagues will join me in celebrating Tommy's distinguished career and wishing him good health and God's blessing in all his future endeavors.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to the Oman FTA. This is deja vu: last summer we were working against CAFTA . . . now we have the Oman FTA. What we have here is identical language to the problematic and inadequate language that was contained in CAFTA and NAFTA before that. Most shocking, the administration has slipped language into the Oman FTA that will threaten U.S. port security. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I represent the Port of Boston. To me, this FTA really hits home and is particularly disturbing. The simple fact is that under this agreement, if an Omani company sought to acquire landside services at U.S. ports and the U.S. government took action to stop or limit that acquisition, the Omani company could sue the U.S. government for violating its FTA rights. The challenge would then be decided by a U.N. or World Bank tribunal. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service released a report a couple days ago that confirms that the Oman FTA would make it harder to protect U.S. ports. The CRS report makes clear that the Oman FTA would create a new right under an international trade agreement, which would require the United States to allow any Omani company to provide ``landside aspects of port activities.'' The CRS report further confirms that Dubai Ports World, DPW, could use the U.S.-Oman FTA to obtain this new right guaranteed by an international trade agreement to buy U.S. port operations. All DPW would have to do is create a subsidiary in Oman. DPW already has commercial operations in at least 10 countries. It would not be hard for DPW to meet the Oman FTA's standard--any business established in Oman is eligible to take advantage of the benefits of the agreement. Only businesses with ``no substantial business activities''--a very low threshold--are excluded. Mr. Speaker, not only does this FTA pose homeland security concerns, but instead of enforceable labor provisions with teeth, this free trade agreement suggests only that Oman adopt and enforce its own labor laws. It offers no assurance that existing labor problems will be resolved, and allows labor laws to be weakened or eliminated in the future, with no possibility of recourse. In Oman, their 2003 labor laws remain in serious violation of the International Labor Organization's most important and fundamental rights: freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively. There are no independent unions in that country. In fact, Oman not only fails on labor rights, but on all human rights! The Bush Administration State Department's 2006 ``Trafficking in Human Persons'' report downgraded Oman to a ``Tier 2 Watch List'' country, just one step above the countries with the worst human trafficking records. In 2005, Oman was only on ``Tier 2'' of the State Department's human trafficking list, meaning that Oman's trafficking practices and regulations worsened from 2005 to 2006. We talk a lot about the war in Iraq, and the President of the United States has described it in many cases as an effort to export democracy. Well, I have got news for you; you do not export democracy through the Defense Department. This is where you export democracy, in our trade agreements, through our Commerce Department. Democracy is all about opportunity, and we should, in our trade agreements, give these foreign workers an opportunity to stay in their own country, to buy goods from us that would create a good dynamic by creating jobs in this country. Democracy is about opportunity, and if we are really serious about exporting democracy, it starts right here. It starts with our free trade agreements. Join me in voting ``no'' on the Oman Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, lately it seems that the national debate over the next move in Iraq has become bogged down in a way that really reflects the military struggle itself. The administration has dug in, believing that simply staying the course, we can simply outlast the military insurgency. Conversely, there are some in my party who, angered understandably by war under false pretenses, are seeking a pell-mell evacuation complete with a publicly announced evacuation date, which I think makes the withdrawal of 136,000 troops more dangerous and more difficult. But, Mr. Speaker, drawing upon the lessons of history, I would like to propose a third way: creating a mechanism to more effectively empower the new elected Iraqi Government, which will allow for a gradual but permanent U.S. troop reduction. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to talk about a process that we went through in my office after five visits to Iraq to try to find a model that would allow us to shift the governmental operations in Iraq away from the U.S. military and to their new government. And the example that we came up with, that has been used by this government in the past, is actually the model that was developed during the Second World War. In 1944, after driving Japanese forces from the Philippines with the help of the Filipino resistance, the United States military, like today in Iraq, found itself in complete control of the Philippines, over 7,000 islands. It found itself in complete control of the basic services that government would provide in the Philippines. And because of the recent occupation by Japanese forces, there was no incumbent government in the Philippines that could take the responsibilities for these government operations. So, by default, the U.S. military took over these government operations; and while U.S. policy at the time strongly supported Filipino independence, the military had no choice but to temporarily exercise control under the fragile circumstances. Clearly, that situation could not endure indefinitely. And what Congress did next, in 1944, under the tutelage of John W. McCormack and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration, and later the Truman administration supported, was instructive and I think worth repeating. In 1944, this Congress passed and the President signed the Filipino Rehabilitation Act, which created a national commission comprised of three appointees each from the White House, the Senate, and the House, and their mission was to plan and coordinate and oversee the transition of government operations away from the U.S. military and over to the newly forming Filipino government. Of course, there are certain arguable differences between the situation in the Philippines in 1944 and Iraq in 2006. However, after my five visits to Iraq and dozens of meetings with General George Casey and top generals in his office and in the field, as well as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, I believe the critical weakness in our current strategy is this persistent inability to empower the new Iraqi Government. With this in mind, I recently introduced the Iraq Transition Act of 2006, H.R. 5716, drawing from the Philippines model. And I give credit to those in 1944 who devised this. This is not original thought; this is borrowed from their example. I have proposed the establishment of a national bipartisan commission comprised of appointees, again from the White House, the Senate, and this House, whose specific and targeted purpose would be to help facilitate the orderly, deliberate, and expeditious transition from U.S. military control to Iraqi civilian control of operations of government in Iraq. It is important to remember that the transition to civilian control in Iraq is a political process, and while I have many times witnessed the excellence with which our military has performed in Iraq, I also believe it is a strategic disservice to the military for us to add political reconciliation to the massive burdens of security and reconstruction that they are now shouldering. Simply put, the newly created Commission on Iraqi Transition would be held directly responsible for working with the military leadership and the Department of State to accomplish the transition to Iraqi civilian control of government operations in Iraq and to regularly report its progress to the Congress, the President, and the American people. While this approach may not satisfy the ``stay the course'' advocates or those who would prefer to announce a specific date for withdrawal, I believe it offers a responsible and workable plan for two important reasons. In closing, firstly, this bill introduces a level of direct accountability to the political transition process that does not now exist and has made measuring progress extremely difficult. And secondly and lastly, it has precedent and success to support it and offers the best opportunity for the earliest withdrawal of U.S. forces, while leaving the Iraqi people with the greatest chance for preserving their newly found democracy. I look forward to working with my colleagues.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak out of order.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I would like to thank Chairman Wolf and also Ranking Member Mollohan for accepting this amendment. This amendment is being offered by myself and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella). It basically restores $12 million to the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program and also reduces contributions to the International Organization funds within this bill by a corresponding amount. Since the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program's inception, over 11,500 jurisdictions have participated in purchasing over 450,000 bulletproof vests nationwide. Almost every congressional district across this Nation has benefited from this program. I know in Massachusetts alone law enforcement agencies have purchased over 34,000 vests since its inception. Mr. Chairman, there is some urgency here on this matter because, unfortunately, it is estimated now that over 200,000 vests may need to be replaced that were previously issued due to the results of tests showing that a substance called Zylon has been used in previous vests and those have been shown to fail. So there is the need to get out and replace those vests that are now in service. Mr. Chairman, the bottom line is that, according to President Tom Nee of the National Association of Police Organizations, almost 3,000 law enforcement officers have survived shootings thanks to bulletproof vests. We know that body armor can save lives. The problem is that many towns and cities in our districts and across the Nation are struggling with the costs. With budgetary constraints at the State and local levels, many communities are simply unable to purchase this life-saving equipment on their own. With this program, by sharing that cost with the Federal Government, communities do have the opportunity to buy bulletproof vests for their law enforcement officers and thereby provide some protection for those in dangerous professions. Mr. Chairman, Members on both sides of the aisle understand that our State and local law enforcement professionals should be fully equipped, and that is why I ask my colleagues in the House to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella).

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.