Michael McNulty

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to join with my colleagues from New York last Tuesday in honoring one of the greatest Senators this nation has known, Pat Moynihan. I welcome the opportunity to add my voice to the chorus singing in praise of the Senator and his equally amazing wife, Liz.- Pat, you have enlightened millions as an author, educated thousands as a professor, impressed hundreds of diplomats as a statesman, awed your colleagues as a legislator, counseled four Presidents as a scholar, raised three children as a father, and enjoyed 44 years as husband to Liz. What an extraordinary life.- Thank you for your tireless work to protect the environment, to improve our infrastructure, to make welfare work for the people, to save Social Security for future generations, and to promote peace and democracy throughout the world. You did all of this while managing to evade the crippling grasp of partisanship by using the strength and power of ideas.- Thank you on behalf of the residents of the Capital Region, the people of the State of New York, the citizens of America, and the community of nations.- Enjoy your retirement. It is well deserved. And as all good friends say at particularly grueling moments of departure, ``Promise you'll keep in touch.'' Pat, it's not just that the nation wants to hear from you--it needs to hear from you.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, a light is gone from the world with the loss of Michael F. Piltman, 46, of Rotterdam, New York. His friends and colleagues who worked with him for many years in New York State government will always cherish Michael's special personal qualities and his dedication to public service. He was humane, just and ethical. He lived, ``. . . to make gentle the life of this world.'' To these ends he directed his many talents: a creative and facile mind, a sparkling wit, a joy in people, a zest for the political arena, tolerance for all and a passion for human rights and progressive causes. Michael loved others, not only in the abstract but also in countless interactions, large and small, with real people, marking his every day with acts of kindness and compassion. An incomparable and loyal friend, he was giving, nurturing and empathetic, always putting others above himself. He lived with genuine humility and not a trace of egotism. His irrepressible spirit will ever be a presence, and an inspiration, in the many lives fortunate enough to have been touched by his. I join with Gail Shaffer, Jim Baldwin, Tom Matthews, Bill Brown, Barbara Chocky, Teresa Davenport Carter, Cheryl Parsons Reul, Maggie Quinn, Barbara Kozack, Sue DiDonato, Gene Labocetta, Ginny Kintz, Sam Messina and Michael's many other friends and colleagues in mourning his loss. ``Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.'' Michael, all who knew you loved you. Our lasting tribute to you is to carry on your goodness in our own lives and to others.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on and to include extraneous material on the special order of the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) on the subject of the 150th anniversary of the State of California.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of joint resolution 99, which disapproves the President's determination to waive the Jackson-Vanik freedom of information requirement for Vietnam. Others will point out that this debate is not about extension of normal trade relations with Vietnam but rather about the more limited issue of whether Vietnam should be eligible to participate in U.S. credit and credit-guaranteed programs. Technically, Mr. Speaker, that is correct. However, I think we all know that this debate is about something much more important. As I said last year, Mr. Speaker, I do not oppose the eventual normalization of relations with Vietnam, but I do oppose declaring business as usual while the remains of American servicemen are still being recovered. According to the Department of Defense, we are receiving newly discovered remains on a fairly frequent basis. As recently as June 3, last month, Mr. Speaker, the possible remains of three American military personnel were recovered. Can we not wait until this process is completed? Mr. Speaker, on August 9, 1970 my brother, HM3 William F. McNulty was killed in Vietnam. He was a Navy medical corpsman transferred to the Marines. He spent his time patching up his buddies, and one day he stepped on a land mine and lost his life. That was a tremendous loss for our family, and I can tell my colleagues from personal experience that while the pain may subside it never goes away. There is a difference between what the McNulty family went through and what an MIA family goes through. Because Bill's body was returned to us, we had a wake and a funeral and a burial. What we had, Mr. Speaker, was closure. I can only imagine what the family of an MIA has gone through over these past several decades. Mr. Speaker, until there is a more complete accounting of those missing in action, this waiver should not be granted. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that half of my time be yielded to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and that he be permitted to allocate that time as he sees fit.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in support of the joint resolution.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ron Cima and Chuck Henley of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the briefing that they gave me last week on the search for our MIAs. I am grateful to them, to Pete Peterson, and to all of those who are working to bring our MIAs home. As I grow older, Mr. Speaker, I try to keep my priorities in proper order. I am not always successful at that, but I work at it. That is why when I get up in the morning the first two things I do are to thank God for my life and veterans for my way of life. Had it not been for my brother Bill and all of those who gave their lives in service to this country through the years, had it not been for people like the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) and Pete Peterson and John McCain, who endured torture as prisoners of war, had it not been for people like Pete Dalessandro, a World War II Congressional Medal of Honor winner from my district who was just laid to rest last year in our new veterans' cemetery in Saratoga, had it not been for them and all of the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military through the years and put their lives on the line for us, we would not have the privilege of going around bragging about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on Earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a tremendous price for it. And we should always remember those who paid the price. So today, Mr. Speaker, based upon the comments that I made earlier on behalf of all 2,014 Americans who are still missing in southeast Asia, on behalf of their families, I ask my colleagues to join with me, the American Legion, the National League of POW/MIA Families, the National Alliance of POW/MIA Families, the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition, the Veterans of the Vietnam War, and the Disabled American Veterans in supporting this resolution of disapproval.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green). (Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the Chair about the procedure for closing statements? It is my understanding that the order would be the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), followed by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), followed by myself, and then followed by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane); is that correct?

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4654.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, on this Flag Day 2000, I rise to salute and pay tribute to the people of Troy and surrounding areas for the wonderful display of patriotism which I witnessed over this past weekend. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people from Troy and surrounding areas came together to celebrate the fact that we live in the freest and most open democracy on the face of the Earth. They actually recognized the fact that freedom is not free, and that we paid a tremendous price for it. And so today, I remember with gratitude all of those who, like my brother, Bill, made the supreme sacrifice, all of those who in the past wore the uniform of the United States military, like some of the people I am looking at in this very Chamber. Also, I thank all of those who currently are in active service in our military protecting our interests here at home and around the globe.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, we cannot emphasize too much how big a risk this is for peace. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, a little more than 50 years ago, the people of Israel have had to fight five wars just to survive, and I am proud of the fact that the United States of America has been an ally to Israel all throughout those years. I am proud of the fact that Harry Truman was the first world leader to step forward and recognize the State of Israel. From time to time I am asked by my constituents why I am such a strong supporter of aid to Israel, and I give them many answers. Two of them are these: Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and Israel is the best ally that the United States has at the U.N. Another thing Harry Truman used to say is, ``Let's look at the record.'' I have looked at the record and Israel is our best ally. Now, some might say, well, we have a lot of other allies around the world. But a lot of time when push comes to shove, they are not there for us, they do not vote with us, they do not act with us. I remember in the early days of the Reagan administration, when President Ronald Reagan wanted to do a retaliatory strike against Libya for its terrorist activities. We went to one of our traditional allies, which would not exist if it were not for the United States of America and what we did in World War II, and we did not ask for money, we did not ask for any military personnel, and we did not ask for planes. The President said, on our way to do the mission, can we fly through your airspace. And our ally said, no. I submit to my colleagues that with allies like that, we do not need enemies. So I stand here before my colleagues today in support of a true ally, who once again takes the risk for peace. And as they step forward and take that risk again, I join with my colleagues in making the point that it is now time for Syria to reciprocate.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. McNULTY

Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide. From 1915 to 1923, the world witnessed the first genocide of the 20th century. This was clearly one of the world's greatest tragedies--the deliberate and systematic Ottoman annihilation of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children. Furthermore, another 500,000 refugees fled and escaped to various points around the world--effectively eliminating the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. From these ashes arose hope and promise in 1991--and I was blessed to see it. I was one of the four international observers from the United States Congress to monitor Armenia's independence referendum. I went to the communities in the northern part of Armenia, and I watched in awe as 95 percent of the people over the age of 18 went out and voted. The Armenian people had been denied freedom for so many years and, clearly, they were very excited about this new opportunity. Almost no one stayed home. They were all out in the streets going to the polling places. I watched in amazement as people stood in line for hours to get into these small polling places and vote. Then, after they voted, the other interesting thing was that they did not go home. They had brought covered dishes with them, and all of these polling places had little banquets afterward to celebrate what had just happened. What a great thrill it was to join them the next day in the streets of Yerevan when they were celebrating their great victory. Ninety-eight percent of the people who voted cast their ballots in favor of independence. It was a wonderful experience to be there with them when they danced and sang and shouted, `Ketze azat ankakh Hayastan'--long live free and independent Armenia! That should be the cry of freedom- loving people everywhere.