Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 266) supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 266 that supports the goals and the ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day. This occasion is a day of remembrance of all Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials who were killed or disabled in the line of duty during the past year. Peace Officers Memorial Day highlights National Police Week, which is observed with several events in Washington this week, from May 15 through May 21. More than 20,000 peace officers and their families are expected to congregate here in the Nation's Capital for National Police Week 2005. Mr. Speaker, on October 1, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law legislation that designates both May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week containing May 15 as National Police Officers Week. However, the first National Peace Officers Memorial Day service was not officially held until May 15, 1982, and since then May 15 has indeed been a solemn date on the law enforcement calendar. In addition to the focus of the observance here in Washington, National Police Week is also recognized by police officers across the country. And since we all witnessed police officers' indescribable bravery on September 11, 2001, Americans have intensified their appreciation for the men and women of our Nation's law enforcement. These courageous individuals are the essential parts of our entire homeland security effort. They deserve to be thanked by each and every one of us for the protection that they provide and for the freedom that they ensure. Peace officers are true American heroes. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), a great friend of law enforcement, for sponsoring House Resolution 266. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that all of my colleagues will join the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and myself in supporting this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 266.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1760) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Madison, Wisconsin, as the ``Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Post Office Building''.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This important legislation, introduced by the distinguished gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), names a Post Office in Madison, Wisconsin as the ``Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Post Office Building.'' Robert La Follette, Sr. was a giant in Wisconsin and American politics around the turn of the 20th century. He served the people of the Badger State as a Congressman, a Senator, a Governor, and even ran and finished third in the 1924 presidential election, falling to incumbent President Calvin Coolidge. His passion and his rousing speaking style earned him the nickname ``Fighting Bob.'' As a member of this body, he was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture in the 51st Congress, after which he lost a reelection bid in 1890. He returned home to a law career in Madison that began before his first stint in Congress. Sixteen years after his defeat in 1906, he was elected to return to Washington, this time as a United States Senator. He was reelected three times before he died in office in 1925, shortly after his bid for the presidency ended the previous year. His legacy was further enhanced when his son actually succeeded him as a Senator and went on to a significant political career of his own. Another son also held up the family name by becoming Governor of Wisconsin in 1931. Mr. Speaker, all seven members of the Wisconsin delegation have joined Congresswoman Baldwin as cosponsors of H.R. 1760 to prove the stature of Robert La Follette in Wisconsin political history. This Post Office in Madison will be an appropriate memorial to his legacy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 627, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, all Americans are distressed by the anti-American images that surfaced this weekend in Afghanistan. United States flags are being burned, the American military is being harshly criticized, our good name is being stained. What is more, people are dying. All of this because of the carelessness of one group of magazine editors at Newsweek magazine. This magazine recently reported that U.S. investigators had determined American guards at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base had desecrated the Quran by flushing the holy book down the toilet. Now we have learned that Newsweek has acknowledged errors in its story. The source used by Newsweek's reporters was anonymous, and it is obvious that the magazine failed to fully investigate this ``source'' and his or her claims. Newsweek decided to publish these accusations in haste, without regard for the great pain and suffering that they could, and ultimately would, cause. Some in the media are simply fanatical about being first, and we as a country and as a culture must draw the line and demand more from our media. Today, I call on Newsweek to fully retract its story and to apologize to the people of Afghanistan whose lives have been forever impacted by this carelessness and to the American people for damaging our good name.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, since September 11 of 2001, we have been a Nation at war. We are engaged in a worldwide war on terror, a battle against the forces of terror, terrorists who hate our freedoms, who hate democracy. But the fact of the matter is that the forces of freedom are winning. We have liberated Afghanistan and brought democracy to that Nation for the first time in its history. Afghanistan has gone from a haven for terrorists to an ally in the War on Terror. We have liberated Iraq. In January, we saw the dramatic results when the people of Iraq defied the terrorists and went to the polls to elect a new government. We saw another major step with the formation of a new democratic government in Iraq just the other day, and we have seen democratic movements break out in Lebanon. We have seen the Libyan government renounce terror and weapons of mass destruction, and we have seen the leaders of al Qaeda rounded up, including just yesterday, when the number three terrorist in that organization was captured in Pakistan. Yes, war is difficult, but as we have found throughout our Nation's history, freedom is not free. That is why we in Congress must take this step today and approve the emergency wartime supplemental. We have a responsibility to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools that they need to take the fight to the enemy, and we have an obligation to the families of those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and security to ensure that they are cared for. We have an obligation to the newly democratic allies that we have to ensure that they will survive and not revert to repression and to terror. We have a responsibility to keep the heat on the terrorists. They can run and they can hide, but not forever. For those who say that we are spending too much on this war, I would ask what price do you put on freedom and on security? I urge my colleagues to support the rule and this measure. We owe our troops, our allies, and the American people no less.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 232. This is a resolution permitting the taking of the official photographs of the House of Representatives. It is a biennial official photo of the House of Representatives. It has really become a tradition for this institution. It not only is a keepsake for the Members, but it also serves as a very valuable and important historical memento as well and a record for future generations. The picture actually will be taken tomorrow morning, I think right after 1-minute speeches. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of this resolution. Ms. Millender-McDonald. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I support this routine resolution required to authorize the official photographs of the House. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 232) permitting official photographs of the House of Representatives to be taken while the House is in actual session on a date designated by the Speaker, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Committee on House Administration will be holding a hearing on regulation of the so-called 527 political organizations. We all remember the promises that campaign finance reform was supposed to remove unregulated money from the political process. Well, not only did it fail to deliver on its promise, an argument can be made that it actually is worse. 527 groups have grown in importance and influence with little or no disclosure of who funds them. According to published reports, staffers of the distinguished House minority leader acknowledge they hold weekly meetings with the leaders of MoveOn.org. A recent fundraising e-mail sent on by MoveOn.org stated, ``Now it's our party. We bought it. We own it, and we're taking it back.'' Strange that a group that claims to be nonpartisan for tax purposes claims to have bought a political party. The limited disclosure required by these groups makes it nearly impossible to determine who is claiming to have bought the Democratic Party. 527 groups spent over half a billion dollars in 2004 with no regulation from the FEC. If we truly want to enhance disclosure and remove unregulated money from the political process, we must do something about 527s.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as a proud second-generation Scottish American, I join my colleagues in recognizing the tremendous contributions of Scottish Americans who immigrated to America because they hoped for a better life and all the wonderful possibilities that is America. Their ambitions, their braveness, their pioneering spirit helped build our economy, helped build our culture and, more than anything, contributed to our history. I think it is significant to note, certainly, that one-half of the signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and at least 11 United States Presidents have been of Scottish ancestry. They were pioneers, of course, but they also had an ability and the desire to work hard. Some of the great Scottish Americans include Alexander Hamilton, one of the architects of our Constitution and the first Secretary of the Treasury; John Paul Jones, the father of the United States Navy; Andrew Carnegie, one of the most successful businessmen ever, renowned for his charitable activities; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone; Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, who both captured the imaginations of the entire world by floating above it and exploring what no person had ever explored before. In fact, the term `Great Scot' is meant to express oneself in the presence of something extraordinary. I think I speak for all Americans of Scottish heritage and lineage when I say that the Scots brought a spirit of freedom and rugged individualism that found fertile soil in America. On a final note, I might add that it was the Scots, of course, who originated the game of golf, and it is well known that, less than 1 hour after golf was invented in Scotland, that the first golf joke was heard. Mr. Speaker, Scots are usually members of a clan, from the term `clanna' which means ``group function as a family,'' coexisting, succeeding and overcoming as a family. Today, we pay tribute to all Scottish Americans who have strengthened our American family. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I have listened to the debate, I feel more strongly than ever that this amendment would severely weaken the impact of H.R. 841. I urge my colleagues to reject the Millender-McDonald amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, who has been a driving force in bringing this legislation to the floor today.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the legislation that we are going to be considering today deals with a very, very serious issue, the possibility actually of a tragic attack that would result in the death of a significant number of our colleagues in the House. Though I think it is safe to say that none of us are eager to consider this issue, the events of September 11, 2001, forced this House to consider the ramifications of a successful terrorist attack against this body. On that fateful day, the enemies of freedom clearly targeted the pillars of our Nation. The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center which represented our economic freedom. They attacked the Pentagon which represents our military strength. And, by all accounts, Flight 93 was targeted either at the White House or at this building, both symbols of our form of democratic government and of our freedoms. In fact, only the heroic actions, the unbelievable bravery of those brave passengers on Flight 93 prevented that particular plane, that particular flight, from reaching its intended target. And so, Mr. Chairman, we begin to think about the unthinkable, to do our duty and to plan for every eventuality. H.R. 841, the Continuity in Representation Act, provides a very reasonable, very well thought-out mechanism for the reconstitution of the House of Representatives in the event of such a tragedy. The sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) are to be commended for their great commitment and dedication in crafting this bill and bringing it to the floor today. The Congress must ensure that the government remains strong and stable during and following a terrorist attack, and this legislation would accomplish that goal. Mr. Chairman, all the other branches of government already have contingency plans in place. In the case of a vacancy, the President would be replaced quickly by the existing line of succession. The courts would be replaced quickly by presidential appointment. The Senate would be reconstituted very quickly through gubernatorial appointment as is outlined in the 17th amendment. Only the House would be unable to function quickly in a time of national emergency. The Continuity in Representation Act would correct this problem by requiring States to hold special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives not later than 49 days after the vacancy is announced by the Speaker of this House in the extraordinary circumstances that vacancies in representation from the States exceed 100. Mr. Chairman, as we grapple with this issue, we must remind ourselves that the U.S. House of Representatives is the people's House. For the entirety of our national existence, Members of the House have been directly elected by the people. Article 1, section 2 of our Constitution states: ``When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of elections to fill such vacancies.'' The key word here is ``elections.'' No event should be reason enough to change this historic and constitutional constant. The bill under consideration today allows us to remain true to the course charted for us by our Founding Fathers. There have been a number of suggested alternatives to the proposal in this legislation. Some have called for perhaps temporary appointment of the Members of Congress in such an emergency either through gubernatorial appointment like that in the Senate, or even by a sitting Member naming a successor to take the seat in the event of that Member's death. Any of these ideas would require a constitutional amendment, which would be a change from both tradition and constitutional mandate which expressly calls again for the direct election of Members of the House of Representatives. Concerns have also been expressed regarding the requirement that special elections be completed within 49 days of the Speaker's announcement of 100 existing vacancies in the House would be difficult. Mr. Chairman, before I came to Congress actually, I was honored to serve as Michigan's Secretary of State for 8 years with a principal responsibility of serving as that State's chief election official, so this is an area that I do have some expertise in. Some have argued and will argue that more time is necessary, but I disagree. Under this legislation, States would have the option, let me repeat, the option, of eliminating the primary election and permitting political parties recognized by State law to choose their candidates. In turn, this would eliminate the petition requirements and the verification process that accompanies it. Additionally, it is important for us to remember that the U.S. Representative position would really be the only one on the ballot which would dramatically ease printing, programming and testing. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, HAVA as we commonly call it, has helped to prepare local election officials more than ever to conduct special elections. HAVA is granting Federal dollars to the States in historic proportions, quite frankly, dollars that they are using to eliminate antiquated election equipment and purchasing new state-of-the-art equipment. States have either constructed or are moving very quickly toward construction of statewide computerized voter registration files, similar to the one that we built in Michigan several years ago. Technology actually allows for these lists to be updated daily so that a clean, up-to-date file can be printed out literally any day of the year anytime, and provided to the polling sites. Obviously this is a fantastic election tool for any election, but particularly so for an expedited election. Also, States are now moving toward uniformity of voting systems in their precincts. Uniformity of election equipment in a State will enable vendors to always have a camera ready template of the ballot, and then all they literally have to do is fill in the names of the nominees for U.S. Representative and go to print. Having a uniform system will eliminate confusion amongst poll workers and further ease election preparation. H.R. 841 also protects the ability of military personnel and overseas citizens to participate in a special election by requiring that absentee ballots be transmitted to such voters within 15 days of the Speaker's announcement and that such absentee ballots be counted if they are received not later than 45 days after the State transmits them. In fact, even now the Department of Defense, the DOD, is moving towards a program where service men and women stationed overseas can actually download their ballots via the Internet. Some will make the argument, again, that 49 days is simply not enough time for the States to prepare. To that argument, I would simply point out that some States today already have requirements that special elections be held in much less time than the 49-day period. So I believe that argument is obviously moot. Mr. Chairman, I certainly do not intend to imply that this would be a simple task. There is no question there is lots of hard work. Regardless, it has been my observation and my personal experience that the fine men and women who administer our elections always rise to the occasion to complete the required work on time. I have no doubts that they would do so in a time of national emergency. While I hope, Mr. Chairman, that we never have to face this situation, we must nonetheless prepare for it. Clearly it is incumbent on us to find a solution to this issue which honors the wishes and the wisdom of the Founding Fathers that the House of Representatives remain the people's House. Mr. Chairman, it has been said that the price of freedom is remaining ever vigilant. I believe passing H.R. 841 is a step in showing the enemies of freedom that America is remaining ever vigilant. Similar legislation received over 300 votes in the last Congress, and I would, again, ask my colleagues for their strong bipartisan support of this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the centennial celebration of Bad Axe, Michigan, the capital of Huron County. This beautiful city was founded originally in 1861 in the ``thumb area'' of Michigan, and it has remained a distinct part of history as it has continued to grow and to prosper over the past 150 years. Bad Axe is a unique city. In fact, its very name gives it a very unique distinction. It is located in one of the most beautiful areas in the State of Michigan. It is a favorite destination for so many people who love the outdoors, either hunting or fishing or just enjoying the magnificent scenery. Bad Axe's rich history includes some outstanding Michiganians, including Albert E. Sleeper, who became Michigan's 29th Governor, served from 1917 to 1921, certainly leaving his mark on the entire State as he worked to establish the State highway system and the State park system. So it is fitting that some of the most beautiful State parks are in Bad Axe area. I am proud to represent this unique city in Congress as it has developed and transformed over the years. From its pioneer beginnings during the Civil War, Bad Axe has managed to leave its mark on history. Mr. Speaker, I wish the city and its citizens the very best as they celebrate the future and as they remember the past.