John Murtha

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. This is his resolution. The first encounter with the casualties in this war, I had two young widows come to my office. They wanted to go to Walter Reed because they had lost their husband and they wanted to talk to the soldiers and tell them how lucky they were that they were still alive. One was 23 with two children. One was 19 without any children. I thought how proud I was of them. Another young man from my district was blinded and lost his foot. They did everything they could do for him in Walter Reed. And then he went home and his father was in jail. His mother had not seen him. There was no one at home and he was by himself. The VA has done everything they could to help him. They sent him to Johns Hopkins to see if there is a possibility for him to see and found out that he could not see. And then they started sending bills. Collection agencies sent him bills. Imagine. He is by himself in his own home and a collection agency from Johns Hopkins sends him a bill. Obviously we straightened it out, but that is the kind of thing that happens when you forget about the veteran. I had a soldier that lost both legs and an arm. Bill has seen the young fellow from Micronesia. We visited a mental health ward. You know what they said to me? Fifty thousand of them are going to have some kind of battle fatigue. They said that we don't get Purple Hearts. We don't get any recognition at all. We get shunned aside as if we were cowards. A young woman from Notre Dame lost her arm and she was worried about her husband losing weight. She was the one that lost her arm. It makes me so proud. A Seabee was lying in intensive care with his three children and his mother and his wife in tears because he was paralyzed from the neck down. This young Marine, his father had been a Marine. His father was there. His father was rubbing his hand. He says, please get my son's brother home. He wants to see his brother. I called the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps said, he doesn't want to come home. So I went back and told his father. He said, please get him home. So I told the Marine Corps and they got him home. I said, you get him out of that country blank-blank right now, and they did. Another Marine lost both his hands, blinded. I went to the hospital. After I talked to him, I said how proud, as I do to all of them, how proud I was of them. Is there anything you can do for them, I said? He said, yeah, get him a Purple Heart. Why wouldn't he get a Purple Heart? Because he was demobilizing from the friendly bomblets that had been dropped and hadn't exploded, thousands of them. Finally one of them blew up, blew his hands off and killed the guy behind him and blinded him. The Marine Corps said, we have regulations about Purple Hearts. It was friendly fire so he can't get a Purple Heart. I told the commandant, If you don't give him the Purple Heart, I'm going to give him one of mine. I was going to go out on Thursday, the commandant went out on Wednesday and he got his Purple Heart. Our troops have become the enemy. Folks, it is easy to sit here in your air-conditioned offices and say, send them into battle. It is easy to sit here in the Capitol of the United States and say, stay the course. But when there is not a plan, when the families write to me and say there is not a plan, when they don't understand, when they believe that Captain Fishback came to see me, he says, You're complicit with the administration in torture, Congress is, because you're looking the other way. I said, We didn't know a thing about it. And one of the things that turned the Iraqis against us was the tragedy that happened at Abu Ghraib. Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our obligation to speak out for them and that is why I am speaking out. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Governor Ed Rendell and Congressman Bob Brady of Pennsylvania for their key roles in facilitating successful contract negotiations between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the labor union. The following article, ``The Pair Who Powered the SEPTA Deal,'' illustrates Governor Rendell's and Congressman Brady's skillful and active leadership in resolving the issues between the parties. They saw a large problem facing the region and without hesitation waded in, rolled up their sleeves, and brought everyone together. I believe their hands-on approach and the confidence that both sides placed in their ability to handle the issues fairly serves as an excellent reminder of the kind of dedicated public service everyone looks for in their elected leaders. [From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 8, 2005] The Pair Who Powered the SEPTA Deal (By Larry King and Marcia Gelbart) At 3:45 a.m. yesterday, he paced alone on an empty, shadowed sidewalk at Broad and Walnut Streets. He was not part of the SEPTA contract negotiations taking place above him on the 11th floor of the Bellevue in Center City. But like an anxious mother hen, neither was he ever far from them. A passerby recognized the barrel-chested figure in the dark-blue warm-up suit, a thatch of gray curls atop his head. Congressman Brady? ``Yeah, how you doin'?'' came the familiar gruff voice. Any news? ``They're done.'' Done? When? ``About 10 minutes ago.'' Two hours passed before Gov. Rendell emerged with union and SEPTA leaders to announce the deal that ended the region's transit strike. Together, the governor and U.S. Rep. Robert A. Brady (D., Phila.) were called prime catalysts in events leading to the proposed settlement. The duo worked like this: Rendell relied on his power over the state-created agency, and Brady relied on his patience to deal with the personalities of its managers and union leaders. As for other officials, State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.) was around but talking mostly through the ear of Brady. House Speaker John M. Perzel (R., Phila.) was set to jump in today, at a scheduled meeting at the Holiday Inn City Line, with SEPTA board chairman Pasquale T. ``Pat'' Dean. And Mayor Street played a low-key role. He met with union leaders for five hours on Friday, phoned Deon later that day, and then made at least two calls to the governor late Sunday. While Street was limited by strained ties with Harrisburg lawmakers, Rendell had ``no choice'' but to wade in, said J. Whyatt Mondesire, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. Rendell ``could not have an election campaign gearing up after the holidays, and a bitter public-transit strike in his backyard,'' he said. And Brady, Mondesire said, was ``a natural bridge . . . . He talks a straight workingman's kind of language . . . and because he has political connections, the SEPTA people listen to him.'' All involved with the negotiations said Brady--a labor leader from the carpenters' union and a peacemaker with a long record of settling feuds as a longtime head of the city's Democratic Party--cajoled them to talk, to keep talking, to talk until their minds could meet. Brady ``was very instrumental in this,'' said Jeffrey Brooks, president of Transport Workers Union Local 234. Brady, of course, demurred--just as he did seven years ago at the end of the last SEPTA strike when he stood three rows deep at a news conference to announce a deal he helped broker to end that 40-day walkout. ``I just keep 'em talking, that's all,'' he said in yesterday's early hours. ``They didn't talk for what--two, three days? This morning I met with the governor and Jeff at 8. They agreed to try and kick-start this thing back again. I told them, `If you do, please don't stop until it's over. It's got to be done sooner or later, so why not do it sooner instead of later?' '' Brady was the first politician to visibly inject himself into the negotiations, turning up late Tuesday as the contract negotiations briefly resumed at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Rendell, meanwhile, was the hands-on deal maker. He spoke out first from Harrisburg on Thursday, warning both sides that the strike was ``killing'' chances of getting the dedicated source of state funding that the perennially strapped SEPTA so sorely needs, And once in town, he said, he made a point of sitting down with Brooks and assuring him that SEPTA's pot of money for crafting a deal was finite--that it was all a matter of slicing it fairly. That was the point made at a noon meeting on Sunday, where Brooks made his case to 50 or so mostly elected officials whom Brady assembled at the Democratic City Committee headquarters. ``That's one thing we made clear to both sides,'' Rendell said. ``If the strike goes on too much longer, or if the settlement is not seen as affordable, then that seriously decreases our chances of getting dedicated funding.'' City Councilman Michael A. Nutter said, ``That meeting was certainly a part of what led to the contract.'' All week long, Brady had been calling Brooks two or three times a day. Now, in what would be the final moments, Rendell and his staff stuck side by side with SEPTA's chief labor negotiator, Patrick Battel, from ``basically 9 a.m. Sunday until we signed the memorandum of agreement at 5:30 a.m.,'' according to Battel. The governor, he said, ``is a skilled mediator and a skilled politician.'' To be sure, there were other factors. ``Looming in people's minds was the 40-day strike,'' said State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.). ``People knew they could not afford to do that.'' There was also, he said, the uncertain fate of SEPTA's financial future. ``Rendell's message was `there is not going to be any new money,' and that is the same message Perzel and I were putting together as legislative leaders,'' Evans said. As it turned out, that message was no longer needed.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus as it celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2005-2006. From its humble beginnings to its present status, Penn State Fayette had played a key role in the social, cultural, and economic development of Fayette County. Penn State first came to scenic Southwestern Pennsylvania following the establishment of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension Service and its county agricultural agents in 1907. In 1934, Penn State established an Undergraduate Center in Uniontown that provided the first two years of a college education to area residents ``location bound'' and/or unable to afford studies at the University Park campus. This Center closed in 1940 as the nation turned its attention to the approaching war. However, Penn State returned to Southwestern Pennsylvania with undergraduate educational programming on June 1, 1965, when it opened the Fayette campus to serve the residents of Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. Penn State Fayette began by first offering classes in several buildings in downtown Uniontown. Then, in 1968 the Fayette Campus Advisory Board acquired 27 acres of the Garner Farm, located between Uniontown and Connellsville. Since that time, the campus has grown to about 100 acres and 10 buildings: the renovated Eberly Building (named for Orville S. Eberly), the University House (once the Garner home), the Williams Building (the redesigned student center named for J. Lewis Williams), a state-of-the- art library, a gymnasium, an engineering building, the Biomedical Technology Building, and several other farm and maintenance buildings. Penn State Fayette now has five baccalaureate degrees in Administration of Justice; Nursing; Human Development and Family Studies; Letters, Arts, and Sciences; and Business Administration. Penn State Fayette also offers nine associate degrees: Architectural Engineering Technology; Electrical Engineering Technology; Business Administration; Human Development and Family Studies; Letters, Arts, and Sciences; Information, Sciences, and Technology; Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology, Science, and Nursing. Responding to urgent statewide needs in 1987, Penn State Fayette established a training and certification program for emergency medical technicians. Today the Continuing Education Department offers credit, non-credit, and management development courses both on campus and off campus at the Uniontown Mall, United Parcel Services in New Stanton, and Somerset Hospital, Uniontown Hospital and Frick Hospital. The faculty at Penn State Fayette fulfill two roles for the student body with their commitment not only to teaching but also to advising. The faculty have received national and University awards for teaching, research, community outreach, and performance in English, art, philosophy, history, physics, chemistry, administration of justice, and engineering technology. The size of the student population allows for personal interaction between instructors and students, and the dedication of the faculty makes this interaction a tremendous aid to learning. The many campus activities and events contribute to an atmosphere of unity. Over twenty-five clubs and organizations match the interests of almost every student. The intramural organizations include eight different sports occurring year round. Students have access to a large, well-equipped library, a state-of-the-art engineering building with a CAD lab, new computer labs, a student activity and cafeteria facility, multimedia rooms, and a fully equipped gymnasium. For various activities and events, the campus possesses video-conferencing capabilities, Internet connectivity, and satellite communications. In addition, the campus' Coal and Coke Heritage Center preserves coal-mining related artifacts, interviews and other memorabilia from the area. Many campus enhancements have marked the last few years at Fayette. Fayette opened the BioMedical Technology Building, housing the science and nursing programs, in July of 1999. During the fall of 2001, the University reopened Eberly Building, which had been shut down for one year to transform it into one of the most technological state-of-the- art learning environments in the world. The renovations have proven to be a great success and feature many new technologically advanced facilities, including a Corporate Training Center, a new Information, Sciences and Technology (IST) lab, a technology center, a new Administration of Justice (ADMJ) crime lab, art facilities and a child- care center, the Cub's Den. In the fall of 2002, the theater in the Williams Building was remodeled and renamed Swimmer Hall. In August 2005, a new community center was opened. This 52,000 sq. ft. addition to the campus includes a 1,500-seat NCAA gymnasium, racquetball courts in the center and an auxiliary gym. In addition, a 450-seat auditorium and the new cafeteria are housed in the community center. This center promises to provide top facilities for athletic, cultural and civic events. The 2004-2005 school year saw the dedication of our new Cultural Center as well as the new Student Center. Again I offer my congratulations to Penn State Fayette for reaching the milestone of its 40th anniversary and I am confident that with such excellent programs the campus will continue to be a vital asset to the region for another 40 years and beyond.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Cambria City Mission as it celebrates its 75th year of serving the Johnstown community physically, mentally, materially, and spiritually. The non- denominational mission is entirely financed by contributions from local churches, community service groups and generous individuals; operating without government assistance and following its Mission purpose for the last 75 years: ``To promote the Christian way of life and build character by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. To provide spiritual inspiration through worship services and educational activities. To improve the home life of the community through boys' and girls' clubs and camps. To mold a greater love for country through an understanding of its opportunities and challenges.'' Through the years, the Mission has experienced many growing pains and undergone many changes, but the commitment to its purpose stands firm. The Mission was founded in 1930 by the First Presbyterian Church of Johnstown as a Home Mission project. Bertha Bell, a member of the church, was asked to be the first executive director. She rented a storeroom at 602 Board Street, and began her work in December of 1930. When the Great Depression affected all communities, including Johnstown, the Mission ministered to all who came for help. Food was prepared and served daily for hungry children who came after school, and clothing was distributed to families who were in need. Today, in addition to Sunday school classes for children and adults, the mission also provides Sunday worship Bible study, craft, sewing and knitting classes and meeting facilities. Mother-daughter and father-son banquets are held annually, as well as vacation Bible school. Camp Harmony and Camp Allegheny remain the high points for the children of the Mission. As the programs and attendance at the Mission expanded, the need for larger facilities fulfilled with the 1958 purchase of a double house at 906-908 Broad Street. However, the building burned in 1970. A new building was completed in 1972, and although it was severely damaged by the Johnstown flood of 1977, the building was restored and reopened in 1984. Again I offer my congratulations to the Cambria City Mission and its interdenominational board of directors representing many churches in the Johnstown area.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with you and my Colleagues a tribute to a man who has contributed to the economic development and community development of the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, Mr. William C. Polacek, who has over twenty years of knowledge working in the steel fabrication industry. Mr. Polacek is not only a business man, but a civic minded individual who gives back to his community. Born and raised in Daisytown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Polacek started out working in the family business, Johnny's Welding. In 1987, he purchased the business from his father; and through a great work ethic and superior workforce, the company has thrived and grown over the years to over seven hundred employees in two states. As well, he owns other businesses in the area. Mr. Polacek has always focused on ``treating employees the way he would want to be treated.'' Mr. Polacek has received numerous awards and honors for his success in business. His many awards are: 1994 Who's Who in Business; 1995 Dale Carnegie Highest Achievement; 1996 Western Pennsylvania Entrepreneur of the Year; 1997 Featured in ``Follow That Dream,'' a Public Broadcasting Station national documentary; 1997 Cambria/Somerset County Entrepreneur of the Year; 1998 Arthur Anderson award for ``Motivating and Retaining Employees in Western Pennsylvania; 2002 Chapel of the 4 Chaplains Award; 2004 ``Forbes Magazine'' story about his Entrepreneur character and for creating and keeping jobs in Johnstown. Community service will be a legacy he will leave with our area for generations. Mr. Polacek and his family founded a non-profit organization, The Polacek Family Human Needs Foundation, which is devoted to assisting the community. Besides his foundation, other civic groups benefit from his involvement, such as the Junior Achievement, Mom's House, Johnstown Area Heritage Association, The Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board, Johnstown Area Regional Industries, Geistown- Richland Pee Wee Football League, and Venture Quest (a local entrepreneur group). Currently, Mr. Polacek, his wife Sherry and their four children live in Richland Township. Johnstown Welding and Fabrication Industries was founded on a commitment to family and family values and continues to flourish in the Johnstown area. These values will be a lasting tribute to Mr. Polacek and his family. Here in the 12th Congressional District, we are grateful to Mr. Polacek not only for his economic investment in the community, but his civic legacy to the future. I wish to congratulate Mr. William C. Polacek on receiving The Inter-Service Club Council of Greater Johnstown Achievement Award, and I wish him continued success.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding naval officer, Rear Admiral Dennis Dwyer, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Admiral Dwyer has served with considerable distinction and dedication for the past 32 years, and I would like to thank him for his service and many contributions to the defense of our great Nation. On July 29th, RADM Dwyer will retire from the Navy after 32 years of active duty, and will leave command of the Navy's Program Executive Office for Aircraft Carriers here in Washington, DC. During his tenure as Commander of the Navy's Aircraft Carrier Programs, Admiral Dwyer was responsible for the delivery of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the complex nuclear refueling overhaul on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and the development of the ``6 plus 2'' aircraft carrier surge plan now considered the centerpiece and backbone of the U.S. Navy's Strike Warfare Operations Plan. As Life Cycle Manager for the entire Carrier Fleet, Rear Admiral Dwyer significantly increased the material readiness of the Force. In 2003, as a result of this increased posture, the United States was able to surge eight aircraft carriers, on short notice, to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, the Fleet was again able to simultaneously surge seven aircraft carriers world- wide for Exercise Summer Pulse, once again demonstrating the Navy's ability to execute the new Fleet Response Plan engagement strategy. This high state of combat readiness would not have been possible without Rear Admiral Dwyer's improvization of a brillant Class Action Maintenance Plan. However, his most enduring legacy will certainly be the strategic vision and hands-on leadership he provided throughout the concept and detailed design process of the CVN-21 Class of Future Aircraft Carriers. This new class of ships was developed utilizing revolutionary aircraft carrier designs and advanced computer modeling techniques. He relentlessly drove future technologies forward, established and led the largest government and industry ship design team ever assembled, and created a world class modeling environment that significantly reduced design costs throughout the life cycle of this next generation of Aircraft Carriers. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to offer my personal gratitude to Admiral Dwyer and his wife Eva for their honorable and faithful service to our Nation, and I urge my fellow Colleagues to wish them continued success and the traditional Naval blessing of ``Fair Winds and Following Seas'' as he closes out a very distinguished military career.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Madam Speaker, the Intelligence Authorization Bill provides resources vital to the continuing effort to improve our nation's intelligence capabilities and to transform the intelligence community to ensure that we do everything possible to prevent another event like September 11, 2001. As such, I support this legislation. In particular, I am gratified that this bill provides resources above the President's request to increase our human intelligence capabilities. This is an issue that has concerned me for many years and one that I have worked to correct. The House-passed FY 2006 Defense Appropriations bill includes substantial, new HUMINT resources, which I will make every effort to protect as we go into conference with the Senate later this year. Additionally, the authorization bill includes provisions to strengthen Ambassador Negroponte's hand as he undertakes the tremendous responsibility of defining the role of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and transforming the intelligence community. I am hopeful that the authorizers and the appropriators can work together to support the DNI in this critical first year. Certainly, there are areas of the bill, particularly some of the technical programs, where I am a little disappointed in the resource levels recommended by the Intelligence Committee. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to find a mutually acceptable approach to meet the nation's space platform requirements. However, overall, I believe that this is a good bill that goes a long way to meeting the needs of the intelligence community.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I say that I agree with the chairman completely. It is the best we could do with the amount of money they gave us. It is completely bipartisan. It takes care of the troops. It has been distributed to everybody. We will go right to the 5-minute rule. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, when I went down to Austin after the election, but before the inauguration, I said to President Bush, President-elect Bush, we should worry more about terrorism and nuclear nonproliferation than worry about missile defense. But we worked out the best we can work out. I mean, we know they have not spent nearly the money they have, and I think the gentleman just stated that, I do not remember an exact amount, but I think it is only 1 or 2 percent of what we have already appropriated for nonproliferation. So I would appreciate it if the gentleman would consider letting us work on it and seeing what we can do. But we are just about to the point where I do not think we can put any more money in that they will spend. If it looks like we can work out a deal where they are going to spend more money, then it would be well worth considering what the gentleman has in mind. But, as it is, I feel the same way; but we tried to work out a balance where we knew we could get a bill signed, and I think we have come pretty well where it is. But I still think we would be quite willing to work with him.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, what I said when I went down to Austin is exactly what I am repeating now. We have to worry about nonproliferation and terrorism and not as much about missile defense. But I am saying, and the gentleman knows the bill we put together, we have to be realistic. So I am asking the gentleman to just desist and let us see what we can work out.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, we have said for the last year and a half, if you remember I said a year ago, we are not going to be able to prevail unless we get the Iraqis to take over the fighting themselves. Now, we put $5.7 billion in. I think we are going to consider a little bit later lifting the cap on the $500 million so it can be spent. So if the gentlewoman would withdraw this amendment, we will try to work this thing out. Because it is such a delicately balanced bill, if we go through a long harangue about something we are already trying to do; in other words, we put $5.7 billion in. We have $500 million in this bill. We just remove the limitation if the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee) prevails. I think that will solve your problem.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee).

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I understand that, but what I am saying is under the Constitution we have a responsibility. I do not think any of us want to cede that responsibility to any President, no matter if he is Democrat or Republican. The only time it happens is when we may be misled or something like that, but as a whole the Congress wants to do what is right. I would be very concerned if we passed something that might limit us here. I appreciate the passion of the gentleman. I feel the same way. I feel just as strongly as he does, that the Congress has the ultimate say about whether we go to war. I would urge the Members to vote against this amendment.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I have seen a lot of chairmen presiding over the House in the many years that I have been on one side or the other of this bill. And I want to tell you, you do as good as job as anybody. And my compliments to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) for the way you handled this bill.

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

Mr. MURTHA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, you think he is kind of giving us a little business here, Mr. Chairman, on this thing here? We did the best we could do under the circumstances. Right?

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. I would hope that the gentlewoman would withdraw this amendment. We have worked so hard to balance this out. And I understand her sentiments, and we appreciate that, but I would hope that we could take a look at this in conference.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, and I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt).

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.