John Mica

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of H. Con. Res. 138, the concurrent resolution just agreed to.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Again, I am deeply indebted to the gentleman for his kind words, not only about me and my brother and the Democrat side of my family, but also for mentioning my long-enduring and suffering-of-31- years wife. That will certainly enhance the remainder of my day.

Mr. MICA. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In conclusion, again, I am here to present House Concurrent Resolution 139, which authorizes the publication of some very important documents, including the Constitution of the United States, ``Our Flag'' and ``How Our Laws Are Made,'' tools that are important to constituents, to students, and a great resource of this body, a somewhat mundane, but necessary, obligation of the Committee on House Administration. I am sorry that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the chairman of the Committee on House Administration on which I am privileged to serve, is not able to be with us; but I know he supports this publication and also this House concurrent resolution, and I am honored to have the opportunity to act in his stead, to move and recommend for passage by the House H. Con. Res. 139. I urge passage of this measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I thank the chairman both of the full committee and of the subcommittee. Amendment Offered by Mr. Allen

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I believe it is absolutely critical that Congress understand the threat of shoulder-fired missiles and respond now accordingly. Therefore, the focus of my amendment was to reduce the cost and use existing military technology and adapt that technology to the commercial aviation environment. I have, however, decided not to offer the amendment tonight because I understand this issue will be addressed in conference, and it is also my understanding that the gentleman from Kentucky has agreed to support language in the conference report that would require the Transportation Security Administration to report to Congress within 30 days and that report will specify the financial and technical requirements of reducing the costs and also adapting existing military missile defense technology for deployment on our commercial aircraft. I just want to thank again the gentleman from Kentucky and would ask the gentleman from Kentucky whether this is his understanding as well.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate what the gentleman who has offered this amendment has intended, and that is to assist our first responders, and we want to make certain that those who are protecting our streets, those who are protecting and defending our communities against the threat of terrorism have the adequate resources to do that. But this is, unfortunately, an ill-conceived amendment. It would do a great deal of damage. I have chaired the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, and I can tell my colleagues that we finally have the opportunity, the glimmer of hope of bringing under control some of the devastation that is being wrought by the illegal narcotics that are being produced in Colombia. Today, Colombia provides 90 percent of the cocaine and 60 percent of the heroin sold or seized on America's streets. To put this in perspective for my colleagues, drug-related deaths in the United States now exceed homicides. Fifty American lives are lost every day. Before this day ends, 50 Americans will die in the streets and communities across our Nation, most of them young people, and most of the deaths are a result of drugs and narcotics coming from Colombia. So this is a bad amendment and bad timing, because we have a President now who is supportive of our efforts to curb terrorism, to curb narcoterrorism, and to curb the narcotics that are coming into our streets and communities and killing countless Americans. So I ask for my colleagues' careful consideration and defeat of the McGovern amendment. I know it is well-intended, but it is inappropriate at this time.

Mr. MICA. I thank both the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), and I am pleased to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young). First of all, I want to thank both the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the Committee on Appropriations for bringing this supplemental appropriations measure to the floor. As my colleagues know, I was going to offer an amendment that would have provided $30 million for research, development, and the initial deployment of technology to protect our commercial aircraft from the threat posed by shoulder-fired missiles. A terrorist attempting to attack a commercial aircraft is most likely to use a small portable surface-to-air missile. Unfortunately, there are thousands of these weapons worldwide that are available and obtainable on the black market. At least some 27 nonstate groups have these weapons. But there is military technology to defend against this particular potential threat, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) can elaborate on this issue.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I am pleased again to bring before the House, House Concurrent Resolution 40 which would permit the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. I urge my colleagues to pass this concurrent resolution and also for them to reflect upon the time in history that we face, the potential for another Holocaust and the easy route of ignoring the world situation and the potential for human disaster. Difficult choices in our times, but we cannot afford to ever experience what we will commemorate and remember, victims of the Holocaust from World War II, on this occasion and use of our rotunda.

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

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 40) permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise here today for consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 40, which is necessary to permit the House and the Congress to use the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was charged with providing appropriate ways for the Nation to commemorate the days of remembrance as an annual national and civic commemoration of the Holocaust. As a result of this legislation, the very first ceremony of remembrance was held in the rotunda in 1979. It has been held there every year since that time except for periods when the rotunda has been closed for renovations. House Concurrent Resolution 40, the resolution before us, will provide this year's national ceremony which will be conducted on April 30, 2003, in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. The purpose of the days of remembrance, again, is to ask all citizens, all Americans, to reflect on the Holocaust, to remember the victims and to strengthen our sense of democracy, our demand for human rights. This ceremony will be the centerpiece of similar remembrance ceremonies to be held throughout the Nation. Members of the Congress, government officials, foreign dignitaries, Holocaust survivors, and citizens from all walks of life have attended previous ceremonies. At last year's days of remembrance commemoration in the rotunda of our Capitol, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Condoleeza Rice, was the keynote speaker. Two years ago, President George W. Bush gave the keynote address. The theme for this particular day of remembrance is ``For Your Freedom and Ours.'' How fitting and how proper that it be in honor and remembrance of those courageous individuals in the Warsaw ghetto who valiantly rose up against their Nazi oppressors some 60 years ago. In remembering those who took a determined stand against Nazism, we honor the memory of those who perished, and of course we are reminded that individuals do have the power, and the choice, to make a difference in the fight against oppression and murderous hatred. And we are so much reminded of that today as we make choices here in this Congress and as our President makes choices, not only for our Nation but the world, against similar oppression and potential Holocaust. Madam Speaker, I urge that we support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 67) permitting official photographs of the House of Representatives to be taken while the House is in actual session on March 12, 2003.

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, this is a bipartisan request. It is too bad that the picture is not taken today when we all look relaxed, refreshed, coming back from our districts, but it will be taken, as I said, March 12. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise here today for some mundane business, but important as far as the history of the House is concerned, and that is consideration of House Resolution 67, which would authorize the use of the Chambers of the House for a photograph, official photograph of the House of Representatives for the 108th Congress while we are in session. I am pleased to do this today on behalf of the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Ney) of the Committee on House Administration who is not able to be with us; but as a Member I am pleased that the official photograph of the House will be taken, and I will announce this on March 12, 2003. Payments associated with the taking, preparing, and distributing of the photo may be made from the applicable accounts of the House. The official photo of the House of Representatives, as we all know, has become a tradition for each of our Congresses. I believe this photograph is not only an appropriate moment to the Members serving in the 108th Congress but also a valuable historical record. I urge full support of this bipartisan request for this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of H. Con. Res. 40.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of House Resolution 67, the resolution just agreed to.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I accompanied President Bush to Florida to meet with our military service personnel and business leaders in Jacksonville, and could not vote on rollcall No. 27. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, not only is this an excellent bill that gives the President the flexibility he needs to provide homeland and domestic security, but this bill has some excellent provisions relating to aviation security and the future security of the aviation industry and our Nation. Let me address a couple of points that have been made here today. First of all, the extension on the checked baggage screening requirement. The week of November 12, 2001, when we passed the bill before it was signed into law November 19, we knew that we could not manufacture the equipment necessary, that it would be ludicrous to spend billions of dollars to try to meet arbitrary deadlines with equipment that does not work. But what we provided for here is equipment that will work, that can be installed on a realistic basis; and we have assisted our airlines in not compromising security by putting in place in fact the very best measures. We also put a provision in here to arm our pilots. They asked for that protection. That is a good provision and it is long overdue, because we know they are the last line of defense; and they have requested this, seeing the gaps in the security system in transition. So I am pleased with that provision. Finally, the survival of the aviation industry. The war risk provisions and liability provisions are excellent. We held hearings on this issue, and one of the greatest areas of loss for our aviation industry is not being able to either obtain or obtain at reasonable cost liability and war risk insurance. This does not compromise security, it does not compromise jobs, and it does not compromise the future economy and progress of this Nation. So, Mr. Speaker, this is not a perfect bill. But it is a good bill, and it has some excellent provisions. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a perfect world, if given a simple choice, no rational human being would advocate war over peace. No father and no mother would ever want to send their daughter or son into harm's way. No truly civilized people would ever want to sit idly by and let their friends and allies be annihilated. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, these are principled beliefs, all of which confront us at this difficult time. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, today we do not live in a perfect world. Tonight, however, as we debate the question of giving our President and Commander-in-Chief Congress' authorization to conduct war, we must remember the lessons of history. More than 60 years ago, many closed their eyes, many covered their ears, or chanted the same chorus for peace that we now hear. Mr. Speaker, when will we learn that we cannot trust, we cannot pacify, and we cannot negotiate with a mass murderer? Mr. Speaker, humanity cannot afford ever to experience another Holocaust as a cruel reminder. Israel is not an expendable commodity. Tonight, just a few miles from here near our Nation's Capitol, a mad killer lurks. Think of the terror tonight of those in range of that single madman. Think also of the terror in Israel, never knowing true security. I ask the Members, is that the kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to live in? I say no, a thousand times no. That is why tonight I will support this resolution. I rise in support of the resolution and our President to ensure that we do not repeat history, or that we do not have our children live in that kind of world.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 253 recommending the integration of the Republic of Slovakia into NATO. The people of the Slovak Republic understand the importance of national security and having the ability to maintain their national identity and sovereignty. Time and time again over the past centuries the Slovak people have been denied their independence. That is why they value the protection and security offered by membership in NATO. The Slovak Republic has made great strides and significant progress since its peaceful separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. While the transition to a newly independent nation has been at times difficult, the Slovak people are heroes who have survived imposed monarchy, fascism, communism and forced integration. The Slovak people are heroes again even in the face of economic challenges and all the problems of transforming a state economy into a free market and free enterprise society--they again displayed their courage to align with the West, free institutions and democracy. Therefore, it is fitting today that the United States Congress express its support for the people of Slovakia and their newly independent nation to join in the security afforded by the NATO organization. My hope is that Slovakians independence will be protected and preserved for future generations by its integration into NATO. I am pleased to join as a cosponsor of this legislative resolution. I am pleased to be the grandson of Slovak immigrants to the United States. May God Bless the Slovak people and May God Bless the United States in these difficult times of national security.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time, and I also extend my condolences to the Hawaii delegation and especially to John Mink, to John and his daughter Wendy. It is hard to believe that Patsy Mink is gone. Patsy Mink was truly an American icon. I had the wonderful privilege and opportunity to serve with Patsy. She was my ranking member as I chaired the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. Sometimes in this body we get to know folks from a distance, but sometimes when you work with them as I worked with Patsy, you get to know them as a friend. This House and this Nation and certainly Hawaii just received a tremendous legacy from her service. This lady served in this Chamber as a role model for young women, for Asian Americans and for all Americans. I remember Patsy because of her conviction, because of her determination, because of her caring and love for people truly in her heart, and I honestly cannot believe she has left us. Not only will she be remembered for her public service in local government, in the territory of Hawaii and in the State of Hawaii, but for all she has done for so many people. She worked with me on our national drug policy, and the education program that we now have nationally is a legacy from Patsy Mink. Again, her heart, her trust, and her love was with the people that she represented. So I salute her on her years of service. I will miss her from the bottom of my heart. As I came to the Capitol, I saw the flags flying at half mast, and how proud she would be that we honor her today for her service, which she so richly deserves. She was a great American and a great colleague, Patsy Mink, the gentlewoman from Hawaii.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon we take up as a body Senate Concurrent Resolution 110. That resolution addresses a long overdue requirement of this House, and that is to honor the heroism and also the courage displayed by our flight attendants not only on September 11 but on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, more than 3,000 innocent people lost their lives. This devastating number includes some 25 flight attendants who were on board the four hijacked aircraft on that day. As a result of the tragic events of that fateful day, the vital role that these men and women play as a very first line of defense became painfully evident. Flight attendants react and they also provide essential guidance to passengers during emergency situations. Flight attendants are in fact responsible and primarily concerned with passenger safety. Once the aircraft door is closed, they not only provide safety for the traveling public but also become our very first line of defense in aircraft security. They also guarantee that there are in fact additional eyes and ears on guard for suspicious and threatening behavior. Examples of their acts of heroism and service include the actions of the 25 flight attendants who lost their lives on September 11 in the four aircraft that were hijacked that day. Mr. Speaker, we have honored firefighters, police, pilots, and ordinary citizens. Today it is fitting that we take some time to recognize those flight attendants who served both the aviation industry, the public, and America so well. It is also important to note that we also have the remarkable assistance that these flight attendants provide every day and particularly on the day that those flights around the Nation and around the world were diverted. The flight attendants on American Airlines Flight 63 last December recognized the terrible threat that that aircraft faced. It was not security guards. It was not air marshals. It was not a large force. It was flight attendants who helped subdue the attempted and now somewhat infamous shoe bomber, Richard Reid. They acted. They saved the lives of countless passengers on that aircraft. We are indebted to those flight attendants. Also flight attendants helped prevent another tragedy on a flight. United Flight 855 in February of this year, a deranged individual attempted to break into a cockpit. I believe that was on a flight from South America to Miami. They also acted with heroism. In recognition of their vital role as a first line of defense, the House voted in July to strengthen the flight attendant training program, and those reforms are long overdue because sometimes these flight attendants are left at bay to fight these terrorist acts and other disruptions on aircraft. H.R. 4635, which is primarily devoted to arming pilots and allowing pilots to defend themselves, also requires that flight attendants receive much needed hands-on training in self- defense so they too can defends themselves, the passengers, the aircraft, and again serve as a first line of defense. As H.R. 4635 demonstrates, the House supports these brave men and women and wants to ensure their safety and their security along with that of the flying public. So today we are considering Senate Concurrent Resolution 110. The House passed a similar version of this concurrent resolution earlier this month. The concurrent resolution recognizes the over 100,000 airline flight attendants who have dedicated themselves to serving and protecting our passengers, the flying public, on a daily basis. It also recognizes the courage and heroism of those who lost their lives on September 11. It expresses Congress' profound gratitude to airline flight attendants and it rightfully honors their courage and dedication. For all these reasons and many more, I encourage my colleagues in the House to pass the Senate concurrent resolution so rightfully honoring our flight attendants. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.