Patrick Murphy

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the St. Joseph the Worker Church, in Fallsington, Pennsylvania, for its 50 years of service and continued dedication to the Bucks County community. The St. Joseph of the Worker Parish was founded by Archbishop--and future Philadelphia Cardinal--John F. O'Hara on October 1, 1956. A church that once consisted of a small group meeting in a local elementary school has now developed into a vibrant and growing congregation. In the spirit of St. Joseph, the parish church and school are committed to hard work for the betterment of their community--for the religious and laity alike. Madam Speaker, a strong community can shape the lives of children and young adults--something I saw first hand growing up in a working class family in Northeast Philadelphia. The St. Joseph the Worker Parish School educates 165 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students of the Parish community. Through quality education and service projects, St. Joseph students learn how to help others and become the leaders of the future. Over the past 50 years, the parish has helped create a new St. Joseph's Home for Boys and the Martha's Cupboard food pantry. The food pantry's 12 hardworking volunteers service between 10 and 20 families each week with a 2-week supply of non-perishable food. The food is contributed largely from parishioners, in addition to school and community food drives. In conjunction with other organizations, parishioners package and deliver meals, and purchase Christmas gifts for local needy families. Madam Speaker, the St. Joseph Church and its congregation have long served as a model for community service, proving that the efforts of the few have profound effects on the many. I offer my congratulations as the parish welcomes Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia and concludes their 50th anniversary ceremonies on Sunday, September 30, 2007. The motto for the 50th anniversary events, ``Celebrating the Past and Embracing the Future,'' embodies the true mission ofthe St. Joseph the Worker Church. Madam Speaker, I am honored recognize the church's years of history and I thank the parishioners and elergy for their ongoing efforts to educate the youth and improve our society. I wish them another 50 years of success.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the continued need for accountability in the war on terror. I support the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, but must register my concerns about the money we pledge to send to Pakistan. Clear rules and accountability are vital to winning the war on terror. Just as we attach benchmarks and set goals for the money the United States sends to Iraq and Afghanistan, we must do the same for Pakistan--especially if Pakistan is to continue as a true partner in this fight. While Iraq continues to smolder, Osama bin Laden--the murderer of more than 3,000 innocent Americans is still at large. President Bush said at a press conference 5 years ago, that he ``didn't spend much time on him.'' Recently, when asked why bin Laden hadn't been brought to justice yet he said: ``Why is he still at large? Because we haven't got him yet . . . That's why. And he's hiding, and we're looking, and we will continue to look until we bring him to justice.'' This is not good enough. Meanwhile, the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan and American commanders on the ground are asking for more troops to fight terror, hunt down al Qaeda and kill Osama bin Laden. Madam Speaker, we need to win the war on terror--and that means hunting down bin Laden and al Qaeda wherever they are. That means-- above all else--success in Afghanistan. Our troops over there are doing an amazing job and they deserve our continued support. It is getting harder for them, especially along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan--and in some of the areas where we believe bin Laden is still at large. I have always said that we needed to be tough and smart in fighting the war on terror. That means asking tough questions--even of our friends. One question that needs to be asked--especially as we prepare to send them $300 million dollars--is about Pakistan's President Musharraf. Right now we can count President Musharraf as an ally but is he doing all he can to hunt bin Laden? We cannot afford to let a mass murderer slip through our fingers again. The U.S. has sent $5.6 billion in military reimbursements to Pakistan for counterterrorism efforts--this is $80 million a month. We are about to vote to send them even more. In the early days of the war in Afghanistan, President Bush decided to out-source the hunt for bin Laden in Tora Bora. Now we need to examine--are we relying too much on Pakistan and their accord with tribal warlords near the Afghan border for the same reason? Why do we, the United States of America, continue to send roughly $1 billion per year to Pakistan if they are going to slash patrols through the area where al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are most active? Why, as Senator Reed has said, are we reimbursing Pakistan for their efforts instead of, ``paying for specific objectives?'' Is it true, as two American analysts and one American soldier reported--that Pakistani security forces fired in direct support of Taliban ground attacks on Afghan Army posts? Families in the 8th District of Pennsylvania voted me here to ask tough questions and demand accountability. I hope over the coming weeks and months this Congress gets answers to these vital questions so we can effectively prosecute the war on terror. We can win the war on terror but after more than 4 years in Iraq and nearly 6 years in Afghanistan, we need to demand more results. Madam Speaker, by asking the tough questions we can continue to support the troops who are fighting bravely to secure our Nation.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Srecognize Charles Kane, a man who dedicated his life to serving seniors, children and anyone in need. Earlier this month, Mr. Kane passed away after a fight with cancer. With his passing, Bucks County lost a great community leader and a committed advocate for senior citizens. Mr. Kane was well known for his work in Bucks County, where he led numerous services agencies, including the Area Agency on Aging. By those who had the pleasure of working with him, Charlie will surely be missed, not only for his exceptional talent but his unwavering compassion. He truly cared about the many individuals he helped on a daily basis throughout his impressive career. Madam Speaker, Charlie touched countless lives and his kindness will always be remembered. Composed and professional, there was never any question about his passion. Charlie Kane had the enthusiasm and creativity to always find a way to get his job done to serve Bucks County. Madam Speaker, there was no challenge too insurmountable and no case too difficult for Mr. Kane. He was a man that the community could rely on. Mr. Kane will always hold a place in our hearts. Our community must embrace the passion for helping others that Charlie exemplified. Even in this time of sadness and mourning, we must see Charlie and his work as an inspiration. Madam Speaker, Mr. Kane's efforts on behalf of Bucks County residents will have a lasting impact and his legacy will be that of a man who dedicated his life to helping others. Madam Speaker, I thank the other Members of Congress for joining me in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Charles Kane.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Project Transition for 25 years of service and support to people suffering from mental illness. By providing the necessary care and assistance, Project Transition has paved the way for adults with psychiatric problems to recover and contribute to society. Project Transition's unique communities offer not only medical treatment, but also diverse opportunities for healing of the mind, body and spirit. Throughout their stays, residents learn to rebuild hope and trust. Patients are exposed to treatment and instruction that cultivates the skills necessary to live a normal life as a member of our community. The Project Transition team is made up of professionals with the right experience and know-how in psychiatric and psychological treatment. They work to teach social skills, management of psychiatric conditions and help reintegrate patients back into the community. Their innovative approach has earned them both national acclaim and sincere gratitude from the many families they have helped. Madam Speaker, this year Project Transition celebrates its 25th anniversary as an organization serving Bucks County adults with psychiatric disorders. Project Transition has earned the appreciation of the hundreds of adults now able to live a full and healthy life. I join them in thanking this wonderful organization for their efforts, commend them on their work and wish them a future of continued success.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Nina Tinari, who was recently selected by Women Making a Difference, Inc. as one of Philadelphia's Next Generation of Women Leaders.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Rovner--the 2007 recipient of The Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope. Mr. Rovner is being recognized by this outstanding organization for achievements in his field and his exceptional service to our community. To be honored by a group with such a noble cause is a great distinction, one for which Mr. Rovner is certainly worthy. For years, City of Hope has been committed to the kind of medical research that has brought hope to millions of people living with a lifethreatening disease. Madam Speaker, Bob Rovner represents the type of spirit and dedication that make organizations like City of Hope as successful as they are. He has spent years championing worthy causes, helping to publicly guide our community in a positive direction. Mr. Rovner has spent his life performing an inspiring array of accomplishments in public service. Mr. Rovner began his career as an assistant district attorney under Sen. Arlen Specter and alongside Gov. Ed Rendell. He was then elected as the youngest ever member of Pennsylvania's State Senate, where he sponsored the Lottery Bill to direct all oflottery's profits to benefit senior citizens. Mr. Rovner went on to a successful business career and became highly involved in the community, serving on the board of trustees for Temple University and hosting several popular radio shows. Beyond his impressive resume and his reputation for public service, I can say from personal experience that Bob Rovner has affected many lives for the better. Madam Speaker, Mr. Rovner's influence on the community has been undeniable and his continued work will shape the future of our region. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Rovner for this award, but I am more honored to consider Bob Rovner a colleague and a friend, and I would like to thank him on behalf of those whose lives he has touched.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. You know, it is funny. This is my first time as a member of the 30- Something Group, and I know I am the puppy of the group because I am only 33 years old. So when I ran for Congress, I had tremendous support from the network community, those bloggers out there all across America. But there are bloggers, especially in Philadelphia and greater Philadelphia and the suburbs that blog every day, and they got so excited when the 30-Something Group was their voice when you were in the minority. Your voice in talking about progressive values, talking about the things in the New Direction, that if we were just given the chance, we would lead. And when we got that chance just a few months ago in the 110th Congress, those bloggers, that network community, are just so proud of their efforts. And it is neat for me to be here to think that when we had a rebirth in our country and Philadelphia, the city of Philadelphia was part of that rebirth and to know that six of the ten biggest bloggers in our country are from Philadelphia and the Philadelphia suburbs. People like Chris Bowers of MyDD and Duncan Black of Atrios and how they are following the 30-Something Group every day and to be part of this group now is just a really proud moment. And another proud moment that the gentleman from Florida mentioned is the fact that today is the 20th anniversary of the public service of the Speaker of the House, Ms. Nancy Pelosi from California. And when I was in this body just a few months ago speaking and taking that oath of office, taking that oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States as a Member of Congress, and when I was there with my wife, Jenni, and my 6-month old, at that time a month old, daughter, Maggie Murphy, and I know, Mr. Speaker, that they are watching at home on C-SPAN because I am down here trying to work on behalf of our great country, I know that I was thinking of not just the folks that are over in Iraq, those men that I served with or those men that I had taught when I was a professor at West Point, but I thought about my month-old daughter, Maggie, and I thought about what an incredible story it is that when she was born into this great country, the third most powerful person is a woman, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. And I thought about a role model. Here is this Italian Catholic woman originally from Baltimore, now in San Francisco, and the criticism about the Speaker before she got in here was that she wasn't going to do a good job or she was going to lead from the left. She has really made this a House united. She has reached across the aisle to the Republicans. She has tried to lead in a moderate fashion, and I think we have to give her a lot of credit. I know the analysts have said that she is getting high marks as the Speaker, and I know that I am proud that she is our Speaker and I am proud to serve under her leadership. I will keep my remarks relatively brief. It is my maiden voyage here with the 30-Something Group, and I am joined as well with one of my brothers, the other Murphy, Chris Murphy, who is the elder statesman from Connecticut, who is a whole, I think, 30 some days older than I am, and I know tonight the Speaker Pro Tempore is the gentleman from the great State of Indiana, the sheriff, but tonight I want to speak about the New Direction that we are bringing about. Finally, the rubber stamp Congress of the past is gone and the do something Congress is here. And we all campaigned in saying that we were going to hold President Bush accountable. And I had served in Baghdad as a captain with the 82nd Airborne Division, and I am so proud of my military service. My father served during Vietnam in the Navy. My grandfather served. My brother is still serving in the Air Force. And I think back to those times and what you come to expect of the Congress. And our men and women who are serving so honorably fight for our country. They fight to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and they execute the public policy as it is drafted and implemented here in Washington. And I know that I get e-mails from Iraq and Afghanistan and those heroes talk about sometimes they don't know what the policy necessarily should be, but what they do appreciate is the fact that we are actually having a debate, that we are actually asking the tough questions necessary. So when we talk about a New Direction in this 110th Congress, when we talk about accountability, part of that is what we just passed out of the Armed Services Committee with the defense appropriations bill. Talking about in Iraq when we give the Iraqis support, why is it that 4 years later they are still, for the most part, sitting on the sidelines? Why is it that we gave them pallets and pallets, crates and crates of literally U.S. money and pallets stacked this high, shipped it over to Baghdad, gave it out, and billions and billions of dollars are simply missing? When we talk about accountability, we have to talk about the weapons that we have given the Iraqis. In the United States military, and I joined it back in 1993, we are taught pretty early that your weapon is your best friend. There was even a cadence that I used to sing when I would jog in the morning and run troops, ``I used to date a beauty queen; now I date my M-16.'' And it is kind of funny, but it is true in that you are always around your weapon. It is part of that accountability. If you lose your weapon, that is the end of your career. You will be lucky if you don't get court-martialed. But how that relates to Iraq is we have given the Iraqis 14,000 weapons, AK-47s, M-16s, that are now missing. Think about that. We have given 14,000 weapons to the Iraqis that are completely missing, unaccounted for. That is not the accountability that our taxpayers are expecting. That is not the accountability that we should be expecting when we fight the war on terror because when you give billions of dollars over in Iraq, when you give 14,000 weapons to Iraq that are now just missing, that affects the lives of our soldiers. And we cannot stand for that. I would also like to talk about accountability when it comes to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Almost 6 years ago, our Nation was attacked by Osama bin Laden. Thousands of innocent civilians, innocent Americans were murdered on September 11 of 2001. The culprit: Osama bin Laden. He was in Afghanistan. He trained al Qaeda, and al Qaeda was really given a free pass by the government there, the Taliban. And we made a decision. We got a coalition. We got Canada and all these other countries going in there in Afghanistan to do the job. And then a short time later, President Bush said, no, let's change our focus to Iraq. Well, we have ten times more troops now in Iraq now than in Afghanistan. And when we talk about accountability, you have to ask the question, what are we doing to get Osama bin Laden? Why is it that we give Pakistan billions of dollars? We actually give Pakistan $80 million a month because we have intelligence that is unclassified that we can talk about here in this setting that Osama bin Laden is in Afghanistan and possibly on the border of Pakistan. So we need Pakistan's help as an ally. Why is it that President Musharraf has outsourced the hunt for Osama bin Laden to his regional warlords? Years ago we learned that we outsourced the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora and he slipped through our fingers when we had a chance. We can't repeat the same mistakes. So if we are giving support to Pakistan and Afghanistan, which we should, they are our allies, we need to demand accountability. We need to demand the accountability that the American taxpayers, that the American families, and that the American soldiers deserve. And the last point I would like to bring up on my maiden voyage here in the 30-something Group is education. One of the greatest jobs I ever had was being a professor at West Point teaching constitutional military law. And it was the Constitution that those young cadets who were about to become second lieutenants were going to take an oath to support and defend. And education is vital for Americans and our students to be more and more competitive in a global economy. I joke with the gentleman from Florida we are not competing in my district in Bucks County for jobs against Florida. As I look at Mr. Altmire, we are not competing with the folks in Pittsburgh in Bucks County. I look at the congressman from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy). We are not competing with jobs necessarily against the folks in Connecticut. We are competing for jobs with people in China and South Korea and Japan and in Europe. And we need to have high investment in education so we remain more competitive. And this gets me into our national debt. Right now our debt is over $9 trillion. So that means every man, woman, and child in America owes over $29,000 to our national debt. So that means when my daughter, Maggie, was born 6 months ago at Lower Bucks Hospital in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, she was born in that hospital and she owed $29,000 to our national debt. That is a debt that we owe to foreign countries like communist China, like Japan, like South Korea, like Mexico. We keep borrowing and borrowing and borrowing and borrowing. Now, when I am back home, people say to me, Patrick, we are at war. Of course it is going to cost money. And I say, $9 trillion we have in debt, $9 trillion; yet this war in Iraq has only cost at this point about $450 billion. That is a huge difference. And how it relates to education is just in March of 2007, we paid $21 billion just that month on the interest rate to this debt, just paying off the interest rate that we owe, $21 billion. But that same month we only paid $5 billion in education. So what we spend on education, $5 billion, we spend four times that much that same month on our interest rate on our debt. We need a change and we are making that change happen here in the 110th Congress. And I am proud to be part of it. I am proud to be part of the leadership to make sure we do what is necessary, establishing a pay-as-you-go system, doing the things necessary to hold all of us accountable and this government accountable. So I would say to the gentleman of Florida, thank you for giving me the opportunity on this maiden voyage. I look forward to many more times back here with the 30-something Group, and I am proud of all those supporters not just back home in Bucks County and northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County and the network community. I am proud, on this 20th anniversary, of the public service of our leader, Speaker Pelosi, to be here amongst the 30-something Group. Thank you so much.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arkansas, and point out when I was in an earlier deployment before Iraq, I was in Bosnia in 2002. Our soldiers on the ground there would often call the contractors Kellogg Brown & Root ``Kellogg Brown & Loot,'' because of the looting, of what they were doing to their own country when it comes to our fiscal dollars. And I am not trying to be cute or funny. That is a sad commentary on what is really going on over there in these deployments. Mr. Speaker, when I heard my colleague, Mr. Donnelly, here from the great State of Indiana, and I know he went to the University of Notre Dame, I was with a colleague of mine on the phone yesterday. I was driving back from a memorial service for Private First Class Bobby Dembowski, who was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division who was killed recently in Iraq. He was from Bucks County, in my district. When I was driving back from his memorial service yesterday with a heavy heart, I called my buddy, who is also a University of Notre Dame graduate, Captain Kobe Langley. I called Kobe, Mr. Speaker, and I said to him, ``Kobe, I am coming back.'' He said, ``How are you doing, Murph?'' I said, ``Kobe, not too good. I am coming back from another memorial service for one of our heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice.'' He said, ``Well, you got to keep fighting. You got to keep doing what you are doing.'' He asked, What was the press conference you gave the other day? I said I was standing up to this administration. I have the great honor of serving on the Armed Services Committee. I know my colleague and my fellow Blue Dog Representative Donnelly serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. We were both cosigners for House Resolution 162 because we want to hold this administration accountable when the Armed Services Committee says our troops deserve a 3.5 percent pay increase and there is already a wide gap between military pay and civilian pay. The people who join the military are not trying to get rich. But if you are a private in Iraq, I don't think making $18,000 a year is too much to ask for. We were trying to give those privates and everyone across the board a 3.5 percent pay increase to lessen that gap. President Bush in writing said a 3.5 percent pay increase for our troops is, I quote, ``unnecessary.'' Unnecessary. A private first class making $18,000 a year in Iraq is unnecessary. It is too much money to ask for. So this House bill in which the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Donnelly cosponsored says a sense of the Congress is it should be a 3.5 percent pay increase. We support the troops and understand their sacrifice. We can find the money through PAYGO rules which the Blue Dogs believe in. As the gentleman from Arkansas says, $9 trillion is what we owe in debt. So my daughter Maggie, who is home with my beautiful wife, when my daughter was born in Lower Bucks Hospital 6 months ago, she was born $29,000 in debt, a debt that we all owe combined, every man, woman and child, $9 trillion. Some folks, when I am meeting folks in my district, they would say, Patrick, we are at war. Of course, it is going to cost money. I tell them this Iraq war has cost $450 billion, now up to maybe $500 billion. We owe $9 trillion to Communist China, to Mexico and to Japan. In March, 2007, the interest that we pay on that debt was $21 billion. Now I know those folks at home who believe in what the Blue Dog Democrats believe in, of fiscal responsibility, of accountability. They say to themselves, wow, Congressman Murphy, $21 billion just in interest. When I tell them how I used to be an educator at West Point and how we need to be more and more competitive in a global economy, I show them the numbers, we only spent $5 billion in education in March, 2007, yet $21 billion on the interest rate and the debt that we owe that we continue to rack up and rack up. Finally, the Blue Dogs are taking such an incredible leadership role, establishing a PAYGO system and doing the things necessary to put our fiscal house back in order. Mr. Speaker, I know you cannot speak, but I know you are a Blue Dog, and I am proud that you are up there; and, Mr. Ross, I am proud you are one of our leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition. I am also proud of the freshmen Blue Dogs that I serve with, because we will demand answers and we will demand accountability of this administration and the next administration, hopefully a Democratic one, to make sure that we continue the progress that we are making in this 110th Congress.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Richard Coe for his exceptional career in education and his tremendous contributions to the community. Dr. Coe is retiring after nearly four decades as a teacher and administrator, roles in which he served as an inspiration to both students and colleagues alike. For the past eight years, Dr. Coe has served as the executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. Through his leadership and guidance, this organization has improved the quality of education for students all across Bucks County. His steadfast commitment to students and teachers has motivated educators throughout our community to follow his example of compassionate dedication. Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe has been devoted to ensuring the education of all children, especially those with special needs. He began his career as special education classroom teacher, later becoming an administrator of special education services. Dr. Coe intimately understands our society's fundamental responsibility to educate our youth. This means helping students overcome obstacles, no matter how great or small. Like all great educators, Dr. Coe can see the potential and ability in every student. Each student is equally special and equally important. Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe will be missed in his role with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. But Dr. Coe will leave behind a legacy that will continue to inspire his colleagues. We can all rest assured that retirement will do nothing to hinder Dr. Coe's enthusiasm for education. Dr. Coe has actively served the community with same eagerness and commitment that he has shown in the classroom. A long list of community organizations have benefited from Dr. Coe's service. Madam Speaker, Dr. Coe has been instrumental in the positive development of our youth and our community, and I would like to thank him on behalf of those whose lives he has touched.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Ross for yielding me this time. Just a few days ago we stood here, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, my chairman, Congressman Ike Skelton, who has two sons who are currently serving in the military, who is a great leader in this Congress. In the Defense bill, we did several things. We wanted to make sure that the troops knew that we supported them. When we stood there, Congressman Ross, we said thank you, Chairman Skelton, because you believe what all Blue Dogs believe, accountability and responsibility. It established those benchmarks, that oversight which is so needed right now. So in the Defense bill that gave the troops a 3.5 percent pay increase, a pay increase because there is such a gap, such a disparity between the private sector and our servicemen and women and their salaries. When they join the military, they are not trying to make a lot of money. But the fact is that those privates who are making $17,000 a year, those privates that are leaving their wives and kids at home, many of whom have to survive on food stamps, those privates who saw what we did in the Defense bill, who said that is great, 3.5 percent pay increase, a couple hundred dollars a year. The President of the United States said, Private, thank you for your service to your country, but that is too much of a pay increase. Mr. Speaker, I hope the people at home are watching. The President of the United States said a couple hundred dollars more a year to a private making $17,000 a year is too much. Now the Blue Dog Coalition believes in two things: one, fiscal responsibility; two, strong national defense. How do the soldiers feel that are running convoys up and down Ambush Alley, scouting on the streets for roadside bombs and looking for snipers on rooftops, when they hear their President back at home, the President of the United States thinks a couple hundred dollars more a year is too much. The President says, hey, it would add up over the next 5 years, $7.3 billion; that is a lot of money. But the same standard that the President uses where he says it is too much for the troops, it is not too much for the contractors who have proven that they mismanage over $9 billion of our hard-earned money, the contractors who don't want any accountability and don't want to see the light of day. The President has threatened to veto the pay raise of our soldiers. I believe that is morally wrong during a time of war, especially when you are saying we are not asking for a 10 percent or 20 percent or 30 percent increase in their pay when they make $17,000, just a couple hundred dollars more a year, not even reaching $1,000 more. The President says no. In the Defense bill that we passed that the President has said he will veto, and this was not some sly comment he said as an aside, the President pointed to a document and said, a 3.5 percent increase is too much. Mr. Speaker, I ask that everyone in America write the President of the United States and say 3.5 percent increase in pay for our troops is not too much to ask for; a 3.5 percent increase during the Memorial Day weekend when we honor their servicemembers is not too much to ask for. This is a pattern, Mr. Speaker, that upsets me greatly, a pattern of neglect that this White House has for our troops. See, when I was in Baghdad in 138-degree heat and this White House and the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld floated out the idea and said, Let's take away their imminent danger pay, their combat pay, a couple hundred dollars a month, because mission is accomplished. Let's take away their combat pay. It's over. Now, fast forward 4 years later, the President says, hey, 3.5 percent is too much. This is a pattern of neglect of our troops. It is okay when the President wants to use our troops as props for a fancy speech in the Rose Garden. But when it comes to budget time when budgets are moral documents, the President says, too much. I respectfully beg to differ. When we look at the debt of our country, just under $9 trillion, with $29,000 that every single man, woman and child in the United States owes towards our national debt. In March, 2007, we paid $21 billion in interest alone. Does it get any better? No. Why? Because there is no accountability. There is no tightening of the belt. It is wrong to pass this debt, this $9 trillion of debt, on to our children. That is wrong. Mr. Speaker, when I know my wife, Jenny, and daughter, Maggie, are home in Bristol, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when I know that they are watching on C-SPAN, I know that they know that their daddy and husband is fighting a good fight. They know that I cannot stand here in good conscience, Mr. Speaker, and allow this President to use our troops as props and yet can't give them a couple hundred dollars of pay increase to try to alleviate some of the pay disparity with the private sector. I can't stand here in good conscience and pay our good tax dollars, $21 billion a month, just to pay the interest, without cutting off the spending spigot. We need to rein in the spending of this country. The Blue Dogs are absolutely committed to doing that. We need partners from the other side of the aisle. We might be Democrats, and there might be Republicans on the other side of the aisle, but we are all Americans and we all owe $9 trillion in debt in America to foreign countries like Communist China and Mexico and Japan. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. Enough is enough, and the Blue Dog Coalition, my brothers and sisters in this coalition, are taking the floor of the House of Representatives and all across America. We need the help of the American people to make sure people understand what is at stake. What is at stake is the future of America. What is at stake is the security, the financial security, of our country and the country that our children will inherit. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time tonight.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and personal gratitude that I recognize ther remarkable work of the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project (BMKP), whose organizers took bold initiative to provide much needed disaster relief services to Hancock County, Mississippi in the aftermath of Katrina Hurricane. In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project developed a community-to-community disaster response model. By creating a partnership between Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania and Hancock County in Mississippi, a $1.25 million child care center was created. Furthermore, homes were rebuilt, schools were repaired and community projects were aided. In addition, the University of Pennsylvania School of Society Policy and Practice is partnering with the BMKP to help fix the Hancock County human services system. Funding for these projects came solely from private and corporate donations and in-kind services. Through outstanding effort and vision, this project brought hope to the Gulf Coast community by establishing a proactive disaster relief program. Madam Speaker, the experience gained by BMKP and its partner organizations has inspired them to present their program as a national disaster relief model designed to bring together the military, governmental agencies, regional groups and national organizations. Madam Speaker, as you know, the victims of Hurricane Katrina have been slow to receive the necessary and promised support from our government. The Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project has successfully provided private support to one community. Their disaster relief model, if promoted nationally, will expand on that success and greatly improve our Nation's ability to respond to man-made and natural disasters.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 353, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the efforts of the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition. We are all aware of the dangerous rise in teen substance abuse. It is therefore reassuring to see area youth stepping up to help each other avoid the mistakes too many have made. The members of the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition have taken it upon themselves work against teen substance and alcohol abuse. The success of their marketing campaigns speaks for itself. Madam Speaker, they can claim credit for 15 percent reduction in tobacco use among high school seniors, a 5 percent decrease in alcohol use among high school sophomores and a 44 percent decline in tobacco use among eighth-graders. These numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of the teen-to-teen strategy that they have implemented to protect their peers--our children. The students in the Coalition began the school year passing out thousands of small buttons with the letters OMG--a common teenage online abbreviation. Next, they distributed hundreds of t-shirts and decals saying ``2outta3.'' Finally, they handed out more than 1,100 t- shirts and 5,000 wrist bands reading ``2outta3 don't drink,'' completing the message that two-out-of-three Upper Bucks teenagers don't drink. The Coalition members have also enlisted local sports coaches to train them to focus on the incorporation of youth development strategies into coaching. Local businesses are also joining the fight. The area Burger King franchise and other local stores have raised millions of dollars in support of Project CARE, which trains adults working with young people and awards higher-education scholarships to students formerly with alcohol, drug, or mental health problems. I am not the first to recognize their great work. The White House National Drug Control Strategy cited the Coalition as an example for groups across the United States to follow. Madam Speaker, these students have demonstrated great initiative in working to help their peers. On behalf of the entire 8th District of Pennsylvania, I would like to congratulate them for their efforts and their success, and urge others to use these remarkable young people as an example for true community service.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge support for greater research into the possible link between breast cancer and the environment. I am a supporter of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act and I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation, as a tribute to all of our mothers on Mother's Day. This bill would invest in the research still necessary to determine the potential links between breast cancer and the environment, so we can better treat and eventually eradicate this terrible disease. Madam Speaker, families in the 8th District of Pennsylvania have urged me to fight for increased research into the potential links between the environment and breast cancer. It is especially important to me personally, as my own mother battled and beat breast cancer when I was a young child. I continue admire her bravery and determination, and I hope we can look to that strength as a model as we commit to doing everything in our power to find a cure. A woman in the United States has a 1 in 7 chance of developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime--this risk was 1 in 11 in 1975. Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. While important advances have been made, we still do not know what causes this disease, or how to prevent it. What better way to honor our mothers this year then to commit to finding answers to a disease suffered by more than 3 million women in this country? Let's declare war on breast cancer, and invest in getting the answers we need to eradicate this disease. I urge my fellow members to support of the bipartisan Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in honor of our nation's teachers, who every day, are inspiring people--of all ages--to dream, learn and achieve. Today, on National Teacher Day, it is important that we pause to thank educators everywhere for their service to our communities and our country. We entrust teachers with the development of our children--they are responsible for our ability to build a better future. National Teacher Day should be an opportunity to think about the debt we owe our nation's teachers. Madam Speaker, We thank teachers for showing children the satisfaction and fulfillment of achieving their goals. We thank them for proving that learning can be fun. We thank them for contributing to the moral development of students. We thank them for guiding our children through every new challenge. But most of all, we thank teachers for dedicating their lives to inspiring and leading the next generation of Americans. Madam Speaker, I am passionate about education because it has always been such an important part of my life. As a former educator and the brother of a schoolteacher I know how important teaching is and how rewarding it can be. I was honored to serve as an associate professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point where I was able to teach the next generation of military leaders. Just recently I saw a former student, who is now an officer in Iraq. Seeing the way he has grown as person and succeeded as a professional is truly gratifying. All of us had teachers that changed our lives. Outside of our families, teachers are responsible for who we are and how we view the world. And the job can be tough, it can be tiring and it can be thankless. Madam Speaker, that is why it is so important for all of us to take time to show our appreciation, not just today, but anytime we remember a lesson learned and overcome a challenge. I will take time today to think about the teachers who helped shape my life and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Newtown, Pennsylvania Chapter of Hadassah on its 20th anniversary. The Newtown Hadassah should be commended for its remarkable efforts as both a women's organization and an advocate for the Jewish community. Hadassah was founded in 1926 by Henrietta Szold and has since grown immensely in membership. With chapters in all fifty states and Puerto Rico and with more than 300,000 members in the women's Zionist organization, Hadassah has bridged the divides among religions, creeds, races, and political beliefs through its presence in more than thirty countries worldwide. Its primary focuses are in five areas: health, Jewish growth and community, partnerships with Israel, social action and advocacy, and life skills. Through these different areas Hadassah shows its allegiance to the improvement of society, by all and for all. The Newtown, Pennsylvania Chapter of Hadassah, founded in 1987, celebrates this year their 20th anniversary. It has more than 500 members and these women work to educate themselves and the community about Judaism and Israel. They help others to understand their connections to history and to life in the United States. The members are active in local Jewish and secular communities and reflect the national and international efforts of the greater Hadassah organization. Madam Speaker, the Newtown Hadassah has spent the last 20 years showing their devotion to our community, enriching our society and strengthening our values. Today, they are working to usher in a new era of Hadassah's growing membership. It is with great pride that I honor and thank the Newtown Chapter of Hadassah for their tireless work in the past and urge them to continue their great work in the future.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, during Rollcall vote No. 289 on H.R. 1867, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record immediately following Rollcall vote No. 289. Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Campbell of California

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bucks County Community College in celebration of National Community College Month. By providing a gateway to higher learning for those who would otherwise be unable to continue their education, community colleges, like Bucks County, are improving our society and our communities. We need to continue to work to make college more accessible, so that we continue to build a more competitive workforce. Madam Speaker, by supporting these important institutions of higher education we can ensure their ability to serve students eager for knowledge and a path to a successful future. Madam Speaker, I am a strong advocate of community colleges because I am the product of a community college. After graduating from high school, I enrolled at Bucks County Community College, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, where I gained the ability and confidence to achieve. My year at Bucks County Community College was very important. It prepared me for King's College, Widener University School of Law and eventually to serve as an educator myself at West Point. My love of learning and teaching blossomed at Bucks County Community College--an experience no doubt shared by so many across our great Nation. For more than 40 years, Bucks County Community College has provided a critical service to Bucks County. Whether students are there as a stepping stone to another college or university, or preparing for jobs in business, public service or health care, Bucks provides a high quality education and a great environment in which to learn. The college has expanded its services by opening two campuses in addition to its main campus in Newtown. This has increased accessibility, especially for those continuing their education while working full- time. As one of the oldest community colleges in Pennsylvania, Bucks County Community College has established itself as a leader in education, not just among other community colleges, but among all colleges and universities. If not for Bucks County Community College, I would not be where I am today. I know that mine is not the only case in which a community college changed the life of a young student. With 11 million students enrolled at more than 1,200 community colleges nationwide, these schools provide an invaluable service to a large portion of our community. Madam Speaker, these affordable, local institutions give every student, of every background, the ability to experience the benefits of higher education. It was at Bucks County Community College that I learned how hard I could work and how much I could achieve. Like millions of other students, all I needed was an opportunity, and I took advantage of it. Madam Speaker, this is the unique and necessary function of our community colleges. They give every student a chance to succeed. Madam Speaker, my appreciation for the opportunity provided by our community colleges is personal and near to my heart. I Urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 334.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute Richard Gresko, one of America's true heroes. The reason for my statement today, however, is to correct a grave injustice done to him by our country. In March of 1970 Richard Gresko was in Vietnam serving as a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps. On the night of March 11, 1970 Gresko was leading three of his fellow marines in an ambush to protect a village from the Viet Cong. Around midnight Gresko's team was surprised from behind by the enemy. A firefight ensued and one of the enemy threw a grenade in between Gresko and his men. As the citation on his military award reads, ``With complete disregard for his own personal safety and fully aware of the dangers involved, he unhesitatingly threw himself on top of the grenade, absorbing most of the blast fragments with his own body in order to protect his men from certain injury and possible death.'' Despite being painfully wounded, Gresko continued to direct his men in combat. When he was helicoptered out to receive medical treatment, he continued to give information about the enemy despite bleeding profusely with hundreds of pieces of shrapnel in his face, arms and chest. Madam Speaker, it is a miracle that he survived. Madam Speaker, I wish I could be here today to say that Richard Gresko, a man who unhesitatingly risked his own life to save his fellow marines, received the recognition that he deserves, but sadly I cannot. Mr. Gresko's bravery, sacrifice, and valor are beyond question, yet he has not been honored as he should. To truly honor this brave American, he should be awarded the Medal of Honor. Despite the fact that Gresko's commanding officer immediately put him in for the Medal of Honor, 6 years would pass before any recognition of Mr. Gresko's heroism was made by our Nation when he was awarded the Navy Cross. Madam Speaker, as a former soldier I appreciate the amount of courage and bravery it takes to do what Mr. Gresko did for his men. There is no room for subjectivity in this matter. Richard Gresko risked his life to save men under his command. That is the highest form of sacrifice a serviceman can make and it deserves the highest honor that our Nation can bestow. For over 30 years Mr. Gresko has patiently waited for the recognition that he deserves. His case has undergone countless reviews but each time is caught in a web of bureaucracy and dead ends. It is high time that we honor this hero and pay tribute to him for what he did for us. For that reason, Madam Speaker, I am introducing a bill to authorize and request that the President of the United States award Richard Gresko the Medal of Honor for his acts of valor on March 11, 1970, in Vietnam. As if his gallantry on the battlefield was not enough, Mr. Gresko is also a pillar of his community in Newtown, PA, in my district. He is a father, a grandfather, and a husband of more than 38 years. Even today, despite the fact that he lives in constant pain from the injuries he sustained that night, Mr. Gresko is adamant that he would do it all over again. His instincts told him to run from that grenade, but Mr. Gresko says, ``You have to overcome that. You know you're gonna die, but you have to protect your men. Sometimes the whole is more important than the one.'' Madam Speaker, Richard Gresko is truly among the finest that America has to offer. It is my hope that with the introduction of this bill we will move one small step closer toward correcting an injustice that has gone unrecognized for almost 4 decades. Our Nation must do right by this hero whose actions define the phrase ``above and beyond the call of duty.''

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lenape Middle School of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. This school has consistently stretched beyond its own expectations, and was recently distinguished as a Don Eichhorn School to Watch. This honor is bestowed upon Lenape by a coalition comprised of the Pennsylvania Middle School Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Lehigh University, Gettysburg College, and Duquesne University. It is one of only three Pennsylvania schools credited with this achievement, and should serve as inspiration for other schools around the country. It is through the dedicated efforts of teachers, administrators and students that America will keep its place at the pinnacle of success in education. Lenape Middle School is a prime example of the success for which we strive each and every day. Through hard work, Lenape reaches new heights every school year. It meets and exceeds expectations, and celebrates learning. Beyond academics, however, Lenape creates a flexible learning environment conducive to the struggles and pressures of early adolescence. Students are provided with the best teachers and resources available, and have the opportunity to excel in the areas they most enjoy. The performance of Lenape Middle School has once again raised the bar throughout the country, and they are to be applauded for their accomplishments. Madam Speaker, strong public education sets the United States apart from the rest of the world. Lenape has been recognized as a Don Eichhorn School to Watch because it is a leader in public education; it is blazing a new trail in middle school education that other schools will do well to follow.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. This week, nine of my fellow paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were killed in Iraq. Nine more heroes killed, nine more paratroopers returning home in coffins draped in the American flag. Mr. Speaker, Daniel Webster's words that are etched in the marble above implore each of us in this room, and I quote, ``To see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered.'' Mr. Speaker, I know the task is daunting, but let this Congress be remembered for leading our country in a new direction in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, I was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Nineteen of my fellow paratroopers I served with never made it home from the streets of Baghdad. I carry their names with me every single day to remind myself of the solemn responsibility we face each time the Speaker bangs down her gavel. Nineteen men, including Specialist Chad Keith from Indiana. Nineteen guys who never made it home to their families. Specialist James Lambert III, from North Carolina. Nineteen all Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Private Kyle Gilbert from Vermont. Nineteen men who are missed. Private First Class Marc Seidan from New Jersey. Nineteen men. Now we have nine more paratroopers to add to this list. Mr. Speaker, how many more suicide bombs must kill American soldiers before this President offers a time line for our troops to come home? How many more military leaders must declare the war will not be won militarily before this President demands that the Iraqis stand up and fight for their country? How many more terrorists will President Bush's foreign policy breed before he focuses on developing a new strategy, a real strategy for fighting and beating al Qaeda? Mr. Speaker, this bill says enough is enough. No more shortchanging our troops. No more open ended commitment in Iraq. No more refereeing a religious civil war. Mr. Speaker, on the fourth anniversary of the war, I led this body in a moment of silence. Now my fellow Democrats offer a time line to bring our troops home. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are about to vote ``no'' on this bill, will you stand with us next year to offer a time line on the war's fifth anniversary? How about a time line on the sixth? How about a time line on the 10th? Because that's what voting ``no'' does. It says no to the tough questions. No to accountability and no to providing our troops on the ground with a clear mission. Mr. Speaker, I may be hopeful, but I am not naive. I hear Vice President Cheney taunt patriotic Americans who are concerned with the direction of our country. I see the President using his veto to hold our troops hostage to further his failed strategy in Iraq. I read the Bush Republicans' attacks questioning my patriotism and support for my fellow soldiers. But, Mr. Speaker, we have all heard these attacks before. The American people know that President Bush and his allies are sadly out of touch. The American people know that supporting the troops means demanding accountability. The American people know we need a change. Mr. Speaker, one of my fellow soldiers lost his brother in the World Trade Center on September 11 of 2001. This soldier is now in Iraq serving on his second deployment. And last week he sent me a message, unsolicited. It said, and I quote, ``Never did I think I would disagree with our foreign policy 5 years after my brother was murdered. Our latest mission here is to secure the Iraqi people. I signed up to secure the American people.'' My fellow colleagues, this bill, this vote helps us secure the American people. For too long the American people have been craving leadership, craving accountability, and craving a new direction in Iraq. Let's give this to them today.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization dedicated to improving volunteer service, United Way of Bucks County. The selfless work of the volunteers of United Way has made us a stronger community in countless ways. For more than 50 years, United Way has been devoted to improving the community at large through the use of social services and volunteer projects. Upon its founding in 1952, it was known as ``The Bucks County United Services Foundation.'' Since then, it has exceeded its own expectations, surpassing its own fundraising goals and touching more lives than was originally thought possible. Today, United Way of Bucks County strives to spread its impact to the greatest number of people. Funding is distributed to three fundamental categories: ages and life stages, promoting self-sufficiency, and building a healthy community. The services of the organization extend to one in three Bucks County residents, and have forever changed the lives of many. Madam Speaker, simply put, the work done by United Way of Bucks County touches the lives of thousands of families. The generosity of its members reminds us of the basic giving spirit of Americans. The inner strength and compassion of humanity is exemplified in these outstanding volunteers. The work of United Way of Bucks County has provided scholarships for daycare and camps, dignity for the elderly, stability and friendship for those who need it most and employment and training for the developmentally disabled. Most importantly, however, they have offered hope and extended a hand to those who most need help. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate, thank and honor United Way of Bucks County for years of philanthropic contributions to society and for making our community stronger.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Thanks, Congressman. I appreciate it. Thank you to the gentleman from Minnesota, and to the gentleman from Connecticut, my colleague, the other Congressman Murphy up there. Today is an important day in our country's history. We are the new Congress, the 110th Congress, and we came together from all over the country to really change the direction of our country. I am so proud that I wore the Army uniform for the first time in 1993, following in the footsteps of my father and my uncle and my grandfather and my brother, who serves in the Air Force, that we served with pride and gave it our best. When I was asked to join the faculty at West Point, when I taught there, we took pride in ourselves in saying we are developing leaders of character for a lifetime of service. Yes, we were making military officers. Yes, they were tacticians on the law and the profession of arms, but they were leaders of character. They stood up for the truth. They stood up for justice. When our Nation was attacked on 9/11 of 2001, many of us who were called to serve deployed for our country. And I am proud that I deployed twice, first to Bosnia and then to Baghdad, Iraq, as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. So, within the first 100 days of this Congress, as you mentioned, when we took the steps to say we are going to be coequal branches of government, you see, when I was at West Point, I taught constitutional law and I taught about what this country was all about, and it was that we have three coequal branches of government. See, we did not believe in the theory of King George, one person being infallible, running a country. That is why we had the American Revolution. Our democracy evolved over 200 years to now, today, where we have leaders from both parties willing to stand up and say, enough is enough. Mr. President, we will not continue to give you a blank check while the Iraqis still sit on the sidelines. We will not sit there and say everything is okay when we understand what the truth is on the ground in Iraq. When I was there in 2003, I remember when it was August. I remember having the combat gear on. I remember riding up and down in what is called Ambush Alley in 138-degree heat and wondering when that next roadside bomb might go off, scouting it out, looking, always being vigilant to make sure the men I was leading down that path were safe. Now, what this 110th Congress has stood up to do and why I am so proud of the freshman class for doing is, when we had the emergency supplemental, the Iraq supplemental, we said, we will give you, Mr. President, every single dime, every single penny that you ask for to support the troops, but there is a policy attached. No longer is there an open-ended commitment. No longer is there unaccountability. This is a different Congress. This is the 110th Congress. This is a Congress that will stand strong, stand together, even though we know the political attacks are going to come, even though we know it takes personal courage, and even though they are going to try and distort what we are actually going to try to do. And what we are trying to do is to hold the Iraqi people accountable, now, over 4 years later. At 6:12 a.m. this morning, I got an e-mail from Iraq. It was from a former cadet that I got to know who lost his brother on 9/11. He said to me, Sir, this is the first time I have ever written you, but he said, I want you to know there are legions, legions of junior officers, now company commanders, in Iraq and in Afghanistan and all over this country that are watching you, that are watching this 110th Congress, and that you are saying thank God someone is standing up and speaking truth to power. He said, I would never think that 5 years after my brother was murdered at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 that I would stand up against the foreign policy of the United States of America when it comes to Iraq. I want you to know that I am keeping you in my prayers, and if there is anything, anything I can do to help your cause, to put our country back on the right track, I am there. That is what is happening with all these Congresspersons here in Washington. When I get letters from people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, or northeast Philadelphia, and they say, thank God we have a Congressman that is going to stand up for us, for our veterans, thank God that they are speaking truth to power, that is what is going on. There is a movement, and it is a movement again to believe in America, a movement again to say, listen, we understand there are coequal branches of the government. We understand what the Congress is trying to do. We understand they are trying to do what is right. And it is not about partisan politics. It is not about Bush Republicans versus Democrats. It is not about that. I joke. My wife Jenni is at home. I just talked to her on the phone. My 4-month-old Maggie just laughed for the first time today. It puts it all in perspective. But my wife was a lifelong Republican. She still considers herself a Republican. She said to me when we first met, and she gave me a hard time for being a Democrat, she said, you know, Patrick, I will support you, and I will support you for one reason and one reason only, besides the fact that I am in love with you. She said, I was a YAFer. That is called a Young American for Freedom; it is a conservative wing of the Republican Party. She said, the Republican Party left me; I did not leave the Republican Party. So when I talk about what we have done, what we have accomplished in the supplemental bill against all odds, because we remember, we were through this when we were voting for this, we understood when they said, why are you wasting your time trying to pass this emergency supplemental, putting a timeline on Iraq? Why would you do that? You know it is not going to pass. I was there and talking to the press, and I said, I will give every cent, every fiber of my being, to talk to my colleagues together, all of us as one, and say how important it is to pass this. Then when we passed it against all the odds, when they told us it wasn't going to happen, and we passed it, then they said, well, why did you do that? The Senate is never going to pass it. The Senate responded and the Senate took our bill, and now it is in conference and they passed it, also a supplemental bill with a timeline. That is why it is so important that all of us do not lose hope, all of us continue to stand up and speak truth to power, all of us stand up and say, no longer are we just going to have an open-ended commitment in Iraq. Because when you look at the full spectrum, some people say, bring all the troops home tomorrow; we don't care, just bring them all home tomorrow. Others say, it is the President, he is infallible; you can't ask any tough questions, you can't give him a timeline. You can't demand accountability from the Iraqis, who are still sitting on the sidelines 4 years later. But this 110th Congress, made up of all races, of all sexes, of all parties, came together and we said, this is a moderate approach, this is an approach that will change the direction in Iraq. When we look at how almost every day hundreds of people are dying there, and we said to the Iraqi people that we will support you, but we will not sit idly by. We will not stand idly by and watch you continue to sit on the sidelines, when our troops, our men and women who wear the military uniform of our country, continue to lead the efforts there when, now, it is 4 years later and it is imperative that they stand up for their country. Because if we remember when it was the American Revolution, it was America's revolution; it was the Americans standing up. When it was the American Civil War, it was the Americans fighting each other. So that is why all of us in good conscience cannot stand here while our brave young men and women serve in places like Iraq and referee a religious civil war. That is not what they were supposed to do. That is not in the national interests of the United States of America. That will not keep our families safe. When we all vote, when we all take these so important and these crucial votes and these timely votes and these historic votes, when we vote for our families and for our constituents, we think about how is it going to affect our children and our children's children. How is it going to affect my daughter, Maggie Murphy, when she reads in the history books what we have done? How is it going to affect who we call Joe, that GI Joe, that soldier on the ground in the 138-degree heat in Baghdad, those members of the 82nd Airborne Division that I so proudly served with that are now back over there on their third deployment? When I was there weeks ago, and I know some of my colleagues here were also just recently there, I talked to these guys. I talked to the guys I served with. I talked to the guys, Sergeant Juan Santiago, who left his wife and two kids at home, is now in his third deployment in Iraq. I broke bread with him over there. I said to him when I was in Baghdad, he used to be Private Santiago, now he is Sergeant Santiago, and his nickname is Santi. I had lunch with him. I said, ``Santi, what is going on?'' And he said, ``Sir, it is like Groundhog Day, but 4 years later. They are still sitting on the sidelines. We are still doing everything for them. I don't know what it is going to take to get them to come off the sidelines.'' What it is going to take is the political pressure so we are clear and we act as one; that we tell the Iraqis that the 110th Congress is different; that the spirit of America is there and we love you, but we cannot hold your hand. You need to stand up finally for your country. You need to stand up and secure your neighborhoods, secure your street corners. You need to be the ones that are leading those convoys up and down Ambush Ally, not our troops. That is exactly what our supplemental did and what we will do when we vote on it after it comes back from conference in just a few days. With that, I would now take it back probably to the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Ellison. Thank you.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Timothy Block for his efforts in the research of Hepatitis B. This truly remarkable individual has dedicated his life to expanding knowledge of and solutions to a disease that kills one million people each year. Motivated to cure Hepatitis B by one afflicted area family with nowhere else to turn, Dr. Block established the Hepatitis B Foundation in 1991. Its mission: to discover a cure and to help patients with the disease. In 2003, Dr. Block and the Hepatitis B Foundation created the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research, a nonprofit organization that researches the disease in search of a breakthrough. As volunteer President of the organization, Dr. Block led the formation of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, Pennsylvania's first Biotech center. In addition to his work with Hepatitis B research, Dr. Block has initiated a Summer Research Internship Program. The program affords college students the opportunity to participate in research careers under the supervision of scientists. The Hepatitis B Foundation also hosts an annual convention called the ``B Informed Patient Conference,'' at which people from around the country can share experiences and learn from experts. Madam Speaker, Dr. Block has brought hope to millions of Hepatitis B patients and has spearheaded discovery research in the field. His zeal for helping other members of his community is unparalleled and the personal responsibility he has taken on for Hepatitis B patients throughout his career is commendable. I applaud his service to his community and to those affected by a deadly disease.

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania

Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary Eighth District resident. Mr. Gil Cohen has recently received the Bucks County Arts Award for his devotion and talent as an artist. An exceptional aviation artist, Mr. Cohen is a member of many local art groups. As a young boy in Philadelphia, Mr. Cohen became an expert in identifying the various World War II planes flying overhead. He combined this knowledge with a love of history and a gift for painting, first as an artist with the United States Army in West Germany and later as a freelance artist. One of his greatest accomplishments is a series of oil paintings depicting the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Mr. Cohen has received a number of awards for his work, and he has exhibited his paintings at the National Military Park system, the Kennedy Center and the Pentagon. He is a member of the Air Force Art Program, the New York Society of Illustrators, and the American Society of Aviation Artists. He is also a past Vice President and Chairman of the Exhibition Committee of the American Society of Aviation Artists. He is a Coast Guard Illustrator and has served as a member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Byers Bucks Fever Art Exhibition committee. Madam Speaker, Mr. Cohen has proven himself to be both an accomplished artist and an upstanding citizen. His past service to the United States of America as an Army and Coast Guard illustrator demonstrates his commitment to his country, as does the work he still does in his community. Madam Speaker, such an exemplary model for society is seldom found, and I rise today to honor Mr. Cohen for his service and commend him for his talent.