Sue Myrick

Mrs. MYRICK

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

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

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

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

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. If I had not been one who was given intelligence briefings, I may well have opposed this resolution. But since I know the facts, I support it. I am a mother and a grandmother, and no one knows the horrors of war more than I do. None of us wants to rush into this war. For months, our President has demonstrated that he will exhaust all avenues for peace before taking military action. However, we must remember that America has been trying for years to stop Iraq's weapons program through diplomacy; and it has not worked. Saddam Hussein threatens America and his allies at home and abroad. It is easy to point out that Saddam is not at present invading other sovereign nations. However, it is not 1940. Saddam Hussein does not have to leave home to wreck havoc on humanity all around the globe. We Americans cannot understand the mind of a tyrant or a terrorist. If we think we can just live and let live, we must understand that they read that as weakness; and they will not let us live. America has always achieved peace through strength and not always by going to war. Remember the Cold War. Some say, if we attack, it will further inflame the Muslim world. But we do not have a problem with all Muslims, only terrorists and tyrants. People who have been taught hate and have nurtured that from birth, hate for America, they do not need further cause. It is ingrained in their psyche, and pacifism on our part will not change that. I am hearing people today say, well, let us wait until we see what they do and then we will discuss what we do. Or Saddam Hussein will not have weapons of mass destruction for another 10 years. Let us wait and see. Wait until they attack us and kill who knows how many more Americans? What will then be the satisfaction in being able to say, well, gee, I guess President Bush was right? President Bush is not the aggressor. Saddam Hussein is the aggressor who has chosen to live by the sword. Let us never forget that 9/11 was not the first terrorist attack on America or American interests. We not only have a right but we have a responsibility to defend our Nation and its citizens. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

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: October 3, 2002, rollcall vote 437, on approving the journal, I would have voted ``yea''.

Mrs. MYRICK

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 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts).

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

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

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

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).

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

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes). (Mr. HAYES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) 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 Tuesday, the Committee on Rules met and granted a closed rule for the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002. H.R. 4691 strengthens existing law by saying that health care entities should not be forced by the government to provide abortions. It is a very small but very important step in the right direction. It simply protects conscience rights of those organizations who do not want to be involved in abortion. I urge Members to act promptly to enact the Abortion Non- Discrimination Act, which will address the crisis of conscience rights and begin to eliminate the intolerance, coercion and discrimination against health care participants who do not believe in participating in abortion procedures due to moral or religious beliefs. In 1996 Congress passed a law that forbids government discrimination against health care entities that refuse to undergo training in the performance of induced abortions, to require or provide such training, to perform such abortions or to provide referrals for such training for such abortions. However, due to recent judicial misrepresentation, H.R. 4691 is needed to clarify that health care entities include all health care organizations, including hospitals. It is a simple, commonsense and technical change. I am pleased that in my home State of North Carolina a physician or a nurse does not have to perform abortion if it is against their religious principles. The same applies for hospitals and health care institutions. In fact, 44 other States have similar conscience clauses. So this is not something new and different. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I am very pleased to see it reach the floor of the House. I also believe that today a growing number of health care practices, procedures and medications present serious moral concerns for many health care providers. Recent medical and pharmacological developments increasingly put health care entities at the vortex of some of society's controversial moral dilemmas. Increasingly, there is pressure upon health care providers, both individuals and organizations, to put aside personal moral beliefs in order to facilitate convenient access to new drugs, procedures and technologies. In the ordinary course of professional life, without any additional pressures, these dilemmas arise often enough to create crisis for tens of thousands of health care entities. However, in addition to these dilemmas, there are increasing pressures upon health care participants to facilitate or provide products or services which violate their own conscience. Advocates of particular procedures and programs, particularly major promoters of abortion, are systematically singling out health care providers and entities to squeeze and compel them to abandon their moral values as the price to pay to remain in the profession or in the market. Mr. Speaker, health care providers want this bill in overwhelming numbers, believing in their hearts that they too have a right to choose, a right to choose not to be involved in destroying life. 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, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 546 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, rollcall vote 396, on approving the journal, I would have voted ``yea.''

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: September 12, 2002: rollcall vote 385, on motion to go to conference, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 386, on approving the journal, I would have voted ``yea.'' September 18, 2002: rollcall vote 391, on agreeing to H. Res. 528, 1 would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for bringing this bill forward today. I do come in support of H. Con. Res. 435, the Candace Newmaker Resolution of 2002. I introduced this resolution in July to honor a little girl from North Carolina who lost her life tragically because of voodoo science called rebirthing. She was a beautiful 10-year-old girl, her whole life ahead of her; and she died tragically in April of 2000 because she was forced to take part in a rebirthing therapy session. Candace had been adopted out of the foster care system by a single woman; and like any child would, she missed her parents and her siblings, and her adoptive mother claimed that she and Candace were not ``bonding'' properly. While searching the Internet for help, Candace's adoptive mother discovered ``reactive attachment therapy.'' It is a disorder treatment, a clinical term for what folks see as a child's ability to bond with new adoptive parents. A therapist, who never even met Candace, diagnosed her with this disorder; and her mother took her to Colorado for treatment. A radical attachment-disorder therapist was paid $7,000 for a 2-week course of treatment for Candace. This was not a licensed psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist. The supposed therapist's highest degree was a master's in social work. After a few days of other attachment therapy, the therapist thought that Candace was ready for the rebirthing therapy. This was supposed to simulate Candace's trip through the birth canal and would symbolically deliver her to her adoptive mother and erase her natural birth 10 years ago. The therapist and her assistant, along with two other helpers, wrapped Candace tightly in a flannel blanket and covered her with eight cushions. Then the four adults put their combined weight of 673 pounds on Candace's 70-pound body, bounced on her and squeezed her to simulate contractions. During the 70-minute procedure, the adults taunted Candace to try to fight her way out of the cocoon. Ten minutes into the procedure, Candace begged to be let out because she could not breathe. Her sobs and her pleas were ignored, and she was even told to go ahead and die by the therapist. Candace continued to cry for her life for 30 more minutes. Forty minutes into the procedure, she spoke her last word, ``no.'' The adults continued to sit on her and taunt her for 30 more minutes. When they finally unwrapped Candace, she was dead. Her adoptive mother had witnessed the entire episode, and the therapist had even videotaped the procedure which was used against her in a court of law. She and her assistant were convicted of reckless child abuse resulting in death and were sentenced to 16 years each. Colorado has since passed a law to outlaw this horrendous practice; and other States, including my State of North Carolina, will hopefully do so soon. The resolution I introduced, H. Con. Res. 435, would express the sense of Congress that this ``rebirthing'' therapy is dangerous and should be prohibited. This therapeutic technique is not recognized by any professional psychological groups, and many have specifically denounced the practice, including the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Judge David Bazelon Center for Mental Health, and the National Council for Adoption. I encourage all States to outlaw this voodoo science and prevent another tragedy from happening. Candace's grandparents, David and Mary Davis, who are my constituents and who are here today, have been tireless advocates for outlawing this procedure. They do not want their granddaughter to have died in vain. I ask my colleagues to join me in passing this resolution to ensure States to outlaw this procedure.