Sue Myrick

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. On Wednesday, the Committee on Rules met and granted a structured rule for H.R. 534, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act. As an original cosponsor of this legislation, I am very pleased to see it is one of the first top priorities of the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, this is a fair rule which will permit a thorough discussion of all of the relevant issues. The first of these issues is the Greenwood substitute which allows human cloning for medical purposes. I personally oppose the Greenwood amendment because it is wrong to create human embryo farms, even for scientific research. Research cloning would contradict the most fundamental principle of medical ethics, that no human life should be exploited or extinguished for the benefit of another. Anything other than a total ban on human cloning would be virtually impossible to enforce. I understand there is no way to control actual implementation of these fetuses into a woman's uterus, so cloning of children could still happen. The Justice Department submitted testimony explaining that once countless human embryos are created by cloning, there would be no practical way to enforce the prohibition on transferring such embryos into wombs. The Committee on Rules, though, recognizes that the gentleman from Pennsylvania's proposal is the leading alternative to the ban on cloning. And because we are aiming for a fair and thorough debate, we should make it in order on the House floor. Human cloning is a deeply troubling issue to me and to most Americans. Life is a creation, not a commodity. I also agreed with President Bush when he said that science has set before us decisions of immense consequence. We can pursue medical research with a clear sense of moral purpose, or we can travel without an ethical compass into a world we could live to regret. Science now presses forward with this issue of human cloning. How we answer the issue of human cloning will place us on one path or the other. I spent a lot of time considering this issue because it is so complex, and I have decided to once again vote to ban human cloning. It is simply wrong to clone human beings. It is wrong to create fully-grown, tailor-made cloned babies, and it is wrong to clone human embryos to experiment on and destroy them. Anything other than a ban on human cloning would license the most ghoulish and dangerous enterprise in human history. Some of us can still remember how the world was repulsed during and after World War II by the experiments conducted by the Nazis during the war. How is this different? Congress must act now. We can no longer wait for another biotech company to claim that they have produced cloned children, despite the fact that laboratory cloning of animals has led to spontaneous abortions and terrible, terrible abnormalities. Congress will not face a weightier issue than the ethics of human cloning, and Congress should not run away from this problem. It is our job to address such pressing moral dilemmas, and it is our job to do so in a deliberative way. That is what we will do today. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), the author of this legislation.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder). (Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry). (Mr. TERRY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey).

Mrs. MYRICK. At this point, I only have two that are here. I have some others signed up, but they are not here yet. I only have two more.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave). (Mrs. MUSGRAVE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin). (Mr. AKIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, Susan B. Anthony is best remembered as a great women's rights campaigner. On February 15th, her 183rd birthday, we recognize that she was indeed instrumental in helping women achieve the right to vote. Another piece of her legacy that is often brushed over but equally important is her commitment to the rights of unborn children. Susan B. Anthony believed that all people should be treated equally, and she made no exception for unborn children. She did not see a difference in fighting for women's rights and protecting the right to life for all children. This is why I am taking this opportunity to honor her birthday today. As we think back on Susan B. Anthony's tireless work to promote the dignity of all life, let us renew our own commitment to fight for equal rights, especially for unborn children who have no voice to fight for themselves.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 5, on ordering the previous question, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to a young man in my congressional district that truly deserves recognition. Chris Leak, a senior at Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C. set the national record for high school football touchdown passes. This past weekend, Chris threw his 171st touchdown to break the previous record of 170. In breaking the record, Chris displayed the same natural ability that has generated national attention by throwing for 457 yards, 5 touchdowns and securing Independence High School's 41st straight win. Chris is considered by many football analysts to be the top quarterback prospect in the country, and he is being actively recruited by major universities. I am proud to recognize his achievement today and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, Joseph Bracey will retire from the United States Probation System in November after 25 years of distinguished service. The ideals and values his role model father, a North Carolina State Trooper, instilled, led Joe to choose a career in law enforcement. After graduating from UNCC in Charlotte, Joe began his career as a North Carolina Probation/Parole Officer and then became a Special Agent for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. In 1977, Joe was appointed as a United States Probation Officer in the Western District of North Carolina. Joe has held positions of Drug Specialist, Supervising United States Probation and Deputy Chief United States Probation Officer. As one of the first Firearms Instructors in the Federal Probation System, Joe has dedicated his career to officer safety programs and is widely known for his expertise in this area. Joe's career has been highlighted by his genuine love of his country and his profession. He has served both exceptionally and is to be commended for his dedicated service. I wish him well in his retirement.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, September 6 of this year, a special Joint Session of the United States Congress gathered in New York City to remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This special session reminded us of the lives that were lost and the heroes that were found all across this country on that terrible day. I am honored to have taken part in this unique session. We convened at Federal Hall, where the first Congress met over two centuries ago, and a few blocks from where the World Trade Center towers once stood proud and tall. Mr. Speaker, we met to remember the thousands of lives that ended so abruptly that day. We prayed for the families of those that were lost. We prayed for the families who had to say goodbye before they were ready. The wound that America suffered on that day will always be remembered. We also expressed our most sincere thanks to the firefighters, police officers emergency personnel, and all others who risked and gave their lives on that day. These brave men and women, along with their peers across the country, risk their lives every day to protect those around them. Expressing our thanks to them is a long overdue action. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we recommit ourselves to eradicating terrorism from the world and to making sure that those responsible for this horrible attack on America are brought to justice. American soldiers are now stationed across the globe, helping to create a world where those who live in freedom can also live free of the fear of terrorism. America and the world owe these soldiers a debt of gratitude. I am proud to have joined Congress on September 6, to remember the lives that were lost and to show those who would harm America that we will not forget, but we will overcome.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 578 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. Mr. Speaker, the rule waives all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 5011, Military Construction Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2003, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. Mr. Speaker, I find this bill very timely and of the utmost importance since this morning the House voted to authorize the use of the United States Armed Forces against Iraq. We are asking a lot of our military today. Our military personnel on active duty know that they may very well be deployed overseas and perhaps on dangerous missions. So we want to provide them a quality of life for themselves and for their families that will allow them to serve, knowing that their families will be taken care of in good housing and with good health care. H.R. 5011 recognizes the dedication and commitment of our troops by providing for their most basic needs, improved military facilities, including housing and medical facilities. Mr. Speaker, we must honor the most basic commitments we have made to the men and women of our Armed Forces. We must ensure reasonable quality of life to recruit and retain the best and the brightest to America's fighting forces. Most importantly, we must do all in our power to ensure a strong, able, dedicated American military so that this Nation may stay ever vigilant, ever prepared. H.R. 5011 provides nearly $1.2 billion for barracks and $151 million for hospital and medical facilities for troops and their families. It also provides $2.87 billion to operate and maintain existing housing units and $1.34 billion for new housing units. Military families also have a tremendous need for quality child care, as do other people in the country, especially single parents and families in which one or both parents may face lengthy deployments. To help meet this need, the bill provides $18 million for child development centers. Mr. Speaker, earlier today we passed the resolution to authorize the President to use military force against Iraq, if necessary, so now it is time for Congress to keep its promise to our Armed Forces. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and to support the conference report. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.