Nancy Pelosi

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary leadership of Mr. David Obey, who understands that the strength of our country is indeed measured in our military might but also in the health and well-being of the American people. Thank you for bringing this important legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, today is indeed an historic day. Today, this new Congress will take the first step: it will vote to end the war in Iraq. Any statement on the war in Iraq must begin with a tribute to our troops. Today and every day we thank our troops for their courage, for their patriotism, for the sacrifice that they and their families are willing to make. For 4 years and under the most demanding and dangerous conditions imaginable, they have worked together to do everything that was asked of them. As Members of Congress, our first responsibility under the Constitution, the preamble to the Constitution to which we take an oath of office, is to provide for the common defense. We here in this body have an obligation to work together to do that for the American people. Mr. Johnson, our colleague, you, Patrick Murphy, and everyone in between who has served our country have helped make it the home of the brave and the land of the free. I salute you both. I would like to also acknowledge two people who have been the champions of our troops and experts on our national security in this body. The two of them are the leading proponents on the legislation that is on the floor today: the Chair of the Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton; and the Chair of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Jack Murtha. The two of them care deeply about the well-being of our troops, the readiness of our troops and its importance to our national security, and they are proposing that we pass this legislation today. I have said from the beginning of this war, this war is a grotesque mistake. Last year's bipartisan Iraq Study Group said: ``The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.'' They called for action. The facts on the ground are these: after 4 years, Iraq is in chaos and the government is not being held accountable. The administration is sending troops into the battle who are not mission-ready. And when they come home, our veterans are not being honored as the heroes they are. The revelation of appalling conditions at Walter Reed Hospital and VA facilities across the Nation remind us, once again, that our troops are being sent into a war without the right preparation to welcome them home when they return. What kind of message does that send to our troops? In terms of the chaos in Iraq, our Commander in Iraq, General Petraeus, recently said, ``There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.'' General Petraeus. Yet, the President's response to escalating levels of violence is to deploy more troops, a strategy that has been tried and failed, tried and without success three times already. In the short time since the escalation began, disturbing facts have come to light. The admission by General Peter Pace, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he is, ``not comfortable'' with the readiness of Army units in the United States. The declaration whereby the Department of Defense has finally admitted that elements of a civil war do exist in Iraq; in fact, it is even worse than that. Yesterday, in terms of reconstruction, the conclusion of the Special Inspector General that the failure of the reconstruction effort in Iraq was caused by a lack of planning, coordination and oversight. In fact, more than $10 billion has disappeared, with no accountability. Waste, fraud and abuse are rampant in the reconstruction in Iraq. How are we going to win the hearts and minds if the money is disappearing in thin air? We must address those and other facts about the war in Iraq. The bill we debate today, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act, does that by rebuilding our military, honoring our promises to our veterans, holding the Iraqi Government accountable, and enabling us to bring our troops home. Rather than sending more troops into the chaos that is the Iraqi civil war, we must be focused on bringing the war to an end. We can do that by passing this bill that transforms the performance benchmarks that have already been endorsed by President Bush and the Iraqi Government into requirements. When those benchmarks are met, or when it becomes clear, after a reasonable amount of time, that they will not be met, the bill requires that our troops leave Iraq on a schedule that our former colleague, Lee Hamilton, a cochair of the Iraq Study Group, called responsible, not precipitate. Benchmarks without deadlines are just words. And after 4 years of this war, words are not enough. As Former National Security Advisor Brzezinski wrote in a letter endorsing this bill, ``It is clear that a different approach is needed if the Iraqis are to be encouraged to make the political accommodations necessary to promote stability and national reconciliation.'' That should have been happening a long, long time ago. Bring the troops home too soon? It is too late for that, 4 years into a war, a war in which we have been engaged longer than we were in World War II. This bill, in its wisdom, calls upon the Defense Department to adhere to its own readiness standards. The benchmarks were endorsed by the President and the Iraqi Government. The guidelines for the readiness standards are the Defense Department's own. Those standards are intended to assure that before our troops are sent into harm's way, they have the training and the equipment they need to enable them to perform their missions successfully. That simply is not happening. The war in Iraq has produced a national security crisis, well described by Mr. Murtha and Mr. Skelton and others in the course of the day. Our readiness is at its lowest level since the Vietnam war. By addressing that crisis, the bill supports the troops, supports the troops, and protects the American people. How do we support the troops by sending them into harm's way without the proper training and equipment, without the proper dwell time at home, and taking them there and overextending their stays and redeploying them over and over again? This bill says, adhere to your own guidelines. Over and over again, Senator Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, and I have appealed to the President to have a new direction in Iraq, change the mission from combat to training, enabling us to redeploy our troops for limited purpose in Iraq. Engage in diplomacy, encourage the Iraqis to engage in the regional diplomacy so necessary to bring stability to the region. Have real reconstruction. Real reconstruction, reform it; reconstruction, not corruption. And have the political change that is necessary, amend the Constitution to relieve the civil unrest and strife that has produced so much violence. When we do that, we can bring our troops home. We can redeploy them out of Iraq, and we can turn our attention to the real war on terror in Afghanistan. A matter of weeks ago I was in Afghanistan with some of our colleagues, and the commander of the coalition forces there told us, flat out, that if we had not taken our attention away from Afghanistan, if we had stayed focused there, the al Qaeda and the Taliban would not have the opportunity that they have there now to make a comeback. That is where the war on terror is. The war in Iraq is a separate war from the war on terror. It is a separate war. Again, the American people have lost faith in the President's conduct of this war. The American people see the reality of this war. The President does not. Today, the Congress has an historic opportunity to vote to end the war in Iraq. Each Member of Congress will make a choice. The world is watching for our decision. The choice is clear. Will we renew the President's blank check for an open-ended war without end, or will we take a giant step to end the war and responsibly redeploy our troops out of Iraq? The American people want a new direction in Iraq. Today the Congress will provide it. The American people do not support a war without end, and neither should this Congress. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and his leadership in bringing this very important legislation to the floor. This is a happy day indeed. It is an historic day. It is a day when the people of the District of Columbia will finally have their voices heard and represented. This is a personal joy for me as well, because when I was born all those many years ago, my father served in the Congress, and he became the Chair of the District of Columbia Appropriations Subcommittee. As such, that was a time when there was no Mayor, no home rule, no anything; that committee practically ran the District of Columbia. My father was a strong advocate for home rule for the District, and, of course, we had hoped eventually, and still do, statehood. It took a long time, but at last today we will get a vote once again for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. She has really been a champion for the District. Even without the full vote, her impact is felt here, but it is the right thing to do for her to have the vote. Congressman Davis, as Chairman Davis and now as ranking member, has always been a strong advocate for this, as has Henry Waxman, the Chair of the Government Reform Committee, and you, Mr. Chairman, from the standpoint of the Judiciary Committee. How impressive it was to see the Iraqi vets, these young people, coming back from the Iraq war, and those serving in Afghanistan, where they were willing to make any sacrifice for our country. Their courage and patriotism is honored by all of us. They came and pled to us for the District of Columbia to have the vote. They live here, they went to war from here, they wanted to come home to the fullness of democracy for the District of Columbia. Today's vote affirms an enduring principle of our democracy, the right to be heard and represented. They fought for that in Iraq. They should have it here in the District. For more than 200 years, the people of the District of Columbia have been denied full representation. This carefully crafted, bipartisan legislation corrects a serious flaw in our democracy. America is at its best honoring the cause of freedom and justice when all voices are fully represented. The effort to politicize the issue of fundamental fairness disrespects the ideals of this Nation and the people of the District of Columbia. We must honor our democracy. House Democrats will not rest until full representation in the House is granted to the District of Columbia. This is an important day on which I congratulate Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and the people of the District of Columbia for having this right come due.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary K. Podesta, and those who loved her especially her sons John and Tony. Known affectionately as ``Mama Podesta'' to friends, neighbors, and many of us here in Congress, Mary was a fixture in the Washington political scene for more than two decades. Mary was born in Chicago to Greek immigrant parents. Upon marrying John Podesta Sr., she devoted herself to raising her two sons, John and Tony, and instilling in them a love of country and a commitment to public service which they both demonstrate today. With the death of her husband nearly 30 years ago, she moved to Washington to be close to John and Tony. Her sons had a history of hosting prominent fundraisers and socials, but it was Mary who turned them into truly family affairs. Raised Greek, and married to an Italian, Mary was a tremendous cook. Her meatball recipe was as delicious as it was secret. When I visited, she always made sure she had an order for me ``to go.'' Her astute political advice and encouragement provided even more nourishment than the food she prepared. And though she counted a President, and numerous congressional leaders among her close friends, it was her close relationships with her own family of which she was most proud. As we pay tribute to Mary, we take comfort in our fond memories of her. I extend my deepest condolences to the many who loved Mary, especially her sons John and Tony, her sister Evelyn, and her three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I hope it is a comfort to them that so many people are praying for them and mourning their loss at this sad time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, as the war in Iraq enters its fifth year, we take time to reflect on those who have made the greatest sacrifices because of this war, our troops. We all salute them because of their courage, their patriotism and the sacrifices they are willing to make. They have done everything asked of them, and we are forever in their debt. That debt extends to their families, who have also made sacrifices. The missed family events, births of children, deaths of loved ones, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays are losses which cannot be replaced. We owe to these families a renewed commitment to support them in whatever way may be required and to make sure that our troops have everything they need to do their job and to come home safely and soon. To those who have been wounded, our Nation has promised to care for you as you have protected us. This is a solemn promise, and it will be honored. The debt which can never be repaid is to those whose lives have been lost in the war, and as a Nation we mourn them. Their absence is felt each day, each and every one of them; but on this day in particular, their sacrifice should be remembered in a special way. I therefore salute our colleague, Congressman Patrick Murphy, for leading us in a moment of silence in memory of his colleagues who were lost in the war and all others as well. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago today, our Nation launched a war of choice in Iraq. The war has claimed the lives of over 3,200 American troops and wounded tens of thousands more, some of them permanently. Any U.S. military engagement has to be judged in three ways: does it make our country safer, our military stronger, and the region in which we are engaged in the conflict more stable. The war in Iraq has failed on all three counts. In fact, the administration's policy in Iraq has diminished the safety of our country by reducing the strength of our military. The readiness has sunk now to levels lower than Vietnam, it has failed to hold the Iraqis accountable for the future of their own country, and it has dishonored our commitment to our veterans. It has cost billions of dollars and significantly damaged our reputation in the eyes of the world. When our young men and women are placed in danger, we owe it to them to provide them with the best training and equipment possible and a strategy worthy of their sacrifice. The generals have told us over and over again, across the board, generals on active duty, General Petraeus as recently as last week, and many retired generals: there is no military solution to the war in Iraq. It cannot be won solely militarily. Instead, we must leverage all of our political, economic, and diplomatic strengths. Again and again Senator Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, and I have urged President Bush to adopt a plan for Iraq that contains the following elements: Change the mission. Transition the mission from combat to training. That will enable us to responsibly redeploy our troops. Third, we must build consensus for political accommodation in Iraq. They must amend the constitution to be more inclusive to end the civil strife. Fourth, we must encourage a robust diplomatic effort, primarily involving Iraq's neighbors. The first meeting of neighbors was held. That is a good step. It was at a low level, appropriately, and now it has to move to the ministerial level. We then must reform and reinvigorate the reconstruction effort. $10 billion is unaccounted for. $10 billion in thin air of the reconstruction effort is unaccounted for. How do we answer to the American taxpayer, when this war is costing $2 billion a week on the military side, and on the reconstruction side we can't account for the money? When we do this, when we transition, when we change the mission, redeploy the troops, build political consensus, engage in diplomatic efforts and reform and reinvigorate the reconstruction effort, then we can turn our attention to the real war on terror, in Afghanistan. I hear the voice of the future in the Chamber. What a beautiful sound. What a beautiful sound. Later this week, Mr. Speaker, we will debate a plan to bring the war to an end. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act will rebuild our military, protect our troops, provide for our veterans and hold the Iraqi Government accountable. The benchmarks for the Iraqi Government set forth in this bill are the benchmarks endorsed by President Bush on January 10. They are: improvement in the performance of the Iraqi security forces; a greater commitment by the Iraqi Government to national reconciliation; and reductions in the level of sectarian violence in Iraq. After 4 years of war, it is reasonable to expect these benchmarks to be met this year. Four years. We are in this war longer than World War II. There is no end in sight. There is no end in sight. There is an unlimited commitment, with no strategy to match the sacrifice of our troops. Democrats will be offering later in the week, and hopefully with Republican support, we will pass a supplemental that will, that will, place a time frame. And I am really pleased that so many retired generals have come out in support of a time certain that relates to the performance that the President himself established, that the Iraqi Government themselves agreed to. This isn't anything we created. It is the President's benchmarks. The Iraqis agreed to it. We want to see progress. But if we don't, we will begin the redeployment of our troops out of Iraq in 6 months from that date. Then we will leave troops there for training, for protecting our diplomats, for fighting terrorism, for force protection, but only for those purposes. I welcome the debate over this bill and the opportunity it provides for Members of Congress to express themselves in what I consider is the greatest ethical challenge to our country, how we send our young men and women into battle; how we send them without the training, without the equipment, without the rest time at home, and overextend them when they are there. How we send them into battle without plans to honor our commitment to them. In the military they say: On the battlefield, we will leave no soldier behind. We say: And when they come home, we will leave no veteran behind. Apparently our country, our great country, has to make a decision for greatness on how we are viewed in the world, on how we project our power and our ideals to make the world a more peaceful place, to honor our commitment to our troops, to honor our commitment to the future, and to honor the sacrifice and the vision of our Founding Fathers. This is a very important decision for our caucus, for our Congress, for our country, and I hope that the debate will be in the spirit as it was a few weeks ago. It was a great commitment to our troops with knowledge of substance, based on values and respecting the patriotism of each and every person who serves in the Congress. I know for certain as Speaker of the House that every single person who serves here is patriotic and wants to honor our veterans. I know for certain because I have seen every single person here take an oath of office to protect and defend our Constitution and our country. It is in that spirit that we offer this supplemental that makes America safer, that strengthens our military, and brings stability to the world.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, next week, one of our most respected former colleagues, Stephen J. Solarz, will receive the President's Award from the International Crisis Group for his role in the creation of that highly respected organization and his other vital contributions to international public policy. This award is richly deserved, and calls to attention the accomplishments of this remarkable public servant. His career in public office--which included 6 years of service in the New York State Assembly and 18 years representing Brooklyn's 13th district in this chamber--was characterized by tireless advocacy, unyielding resolve, historic vision, and a deep sense of civic duty. His career was marked by exceptionally strong service in the international arena. Mr. Solarz served for 18 years on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including service as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Subcommittee on Africa. His record of achievement mirrors the historic and positive changes that occurred in the world during that period, A champion of human rights and democracy, his name figures prominently in the history of South Africa for his efforts to help end apartheid and build a non- racial democracy; in the Philippines for his tireless work in supporting democratic transformation and good governance; and in Cambodia for his public and private initiatives to help build a sustainable peace and national reconciliation in the wake of tragic mass killings. His vision in promoting democratization and European integration of the nations of Central and Eastern Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall was essential in promoting peace and stability throughout the European continent. His deep-seated resolve to contribute to international peace and justice did not cease after he retired from Congress in 1993. Mr. Solarz then served President Clinton as special envoy to Cambodia and as Chair to the Board of the Central Asian-American Enterprise Fund. He has stayed active since then, contributing frequently to the public discourse on international events through his writings and teachings. Mr. Solarz also played a vital role in the creation and early leadership of the International Crisis Group, which has emerged as a respected conflict prevention and resolution organization. As part of a group of prominent international citizens and foreign policy specialists who were appalled by the international community's failure to respond to crises of the mid-1990s in Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda, Mr. Solarz recognized the need for an organization, wholly independent of any government that would help governments, international organizations, and the world community to prevent, contain, and resolve deadly conflict. In the early stages of its formation, Mr. Solarz traveled to two dozen countries to discuss the proposed organization, garner support, and raise funds. The vision of that group was realized, and Mr. Solarz went on to serve first as the organization's first vice chairman and now serves on its board of trustees. It is with great pride and admiration that I join the International Crisis Group in celebrating this great American and distinguished veteran of the House of Representatives. I thank his wife of 38 years, Nina Koldin, and his two children for sharing their husband and father with us. I am proud to pay tribute to Stephen Solarz for his contributions to the people of New York, the United States, and the entire world.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. To both of them, thank you for bringing this resolution honoring Leo McCarthy to the floor. He was a very special person to us, and I thank you. Congresswoman Eshoo, thank you for your leadership in bringing this as well. I am pleased to join my California colleagues, and others, in singing the praises of one great man, Leo McCarthy. Mr. Speaker, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, there is a chapter known as the Eulogy of Heroes; its words could be used to describe Leo McCarthy. ``Now let us praise great men, the heroes of our nation's history, through whom the Lord has established His renown and revealed His majesty. Some were sage counselors who led the people by their counsel and by their knowledge of the law; out of their fund of wisdom, they gave instruction. They were men of loyalty, whose good deeds have not been forgotten.'' I know that all who knew Leo McCarthy knows how fitting that description is of him. Leo McCarthy was indeed such a person. And as the Eulogy of Heroes proclaims, ``He will be buried in peace, but his name lives forever, as people recount his wisdom.'' Leo's great wisdom was in knowing that the future of his children, Sharon, Conna, Adam and Niall, was linked to the destiny of all children. There were many years when, as the most senior Democrat in California politics, Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy was the main person standing between drastic cuts to benefits for our children, the elderly and the disabled. Leo took seriously the responsibility to carry the banner of the Democratic Party, as he advanced social and economic justice. As Speaker of the State Assembly House and Lieutenant Governor, Leo promoted a values-based agenda to educate our children, grow our economy and protect our environment. He did so living up to the highest ethical standards, and he always strove to act in a bipartisan way. Leo's word was his bond. And when he promised that he would protect our seniors and stand up for California's magnificent coastline, he kept his word. In fact, Leo was so scrupulously principled and honest that there are those of us who thought he must be wearing a Boy Scout uniform under his business suit. What was under there was a heart of gold. And really, in all of the testimonials that followed Leo's passing, I said he had the heart of a lion; they said he was a lion. Leo opened public service to so many Californians, opening up the Democratic Party and welcoming in the grassroots. As a former staffer of his said, Leo liked to take chances on talent. From him they got not only their start but also their ethics, how to look after their family, their community and their country at the same time. He also encouraged the next generation of leadership through his work at the University of San Francisco as head of the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good. Leo helped to give me my start, encouraging me not only to support candidates but to run in my own right. I consider him both a dear friend and a purposeful mentor. He made my first run for Congress a family affair, with my children working alongside his children to elect me to Congress. I said, again, he had a heart of gold, he also had the heart of a lion which sustained him through his illness. With all the strength that he could muster and a clear mind, he gave me sage counsel and wise instruction, as the eulogy said, through this last campaign, always reminding me that it was necessary to win in order to keep faith with the American people. And I know he took special joy in our victories in November, indeed, they were his victories as well. Leo was optimistic to the end. And as recently as Saturday night, which was the Saturday night before he passed, I spoke to him and he said, My morale is high. I am home with Jackie, that is his wife, and my children and my grandchildren are with me. More than anything, Leo loved his family, his wife Jackie, his children and grandchildren. My husband Paul and I and my entire family extend our deep sympathy to Jackie, Sharon, Conna, Adam and Niall. Again, I hope it is a comfort to them that so many people mourn their loss, sing Leo's praises and are praying for them at this sad time. Mr. Speaker, Leo McCarthy will be buried in peace, but his name lives forever as people recount his wisdom.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his great leadership, along with Chairman George Miller, in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I proudly rise in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. I salute again the leadership of the committee. This legislation has long enjoyed bipartisan support; it took a Democratic majority to give us a chance to vote on it on the floor. The Employee Free Choice Act is the most important labor law reform legislation of this generation. But this legislation is about more than labor law: it is about basic workers' rights. It is about majority rule. It is about ending discrimination and harassment in the workplace over organizing, and it is about protecting jobs. Under this bill, when a majority of workers say they want a union, they will get a union. It is important to note, Madam Chair, that many of the benefits all workers, union members and others, all workers enjoy today are the results of the struggles of organized labor. Their victories have not just benefited union workers, but all workers. Millions of those who have never had the chance to join a union enjoy better wages, safer workplaces, and greater rights because of the battles fought by union members. Unions have helped make America the most prosperous, most productive Nation in the world with a vibrant middle class, so essential to our democracy. Organized labor has helped put America in the lead. Today, 57 million workers say that they would join a union if they had a chance, to be part of an effort to keep America number one. And many, many hundreds of thousands of employers throughout this country work cooperatively with their unions representing their employees. In fact, this bill is very fair to employers, giving them recourse should they question the validity of the signatures on the card check. The Employee Free Choice Act puts democracy back in the workplace so that the decision to form a union can be made by the employees that the union would represent. This is a standard right that we routinely demand for workers around the world. And it illustrates not only a respect for workers but a commitment to democracy. We should accept no less a standard here in America. Many people, including the NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, many religious organizations support this legislation because it is fair. It has been cosponsored by 226 House Democrats. It has the support of 69 percent of the American people. Democrats believe that we must make our economy fairer, and we began in the first 100 hours by passing the minimum wage bill with a strong bipartisan vote. Today, we will take the next step with a strong bipartisan vote to ensure that America's working families have the right to organize, because the right to organize means a better future for them and for all of us. It means a future that is economically and socially just. It is that economic and social justice that drew so many religious organizations in support of this legislation, a future where the workplace is safe, a future where retirement is secure. Madam Chair, every day when we begin the Congress, we begin with a pledge to the flag and how proud we are to do that. And we all take great pride in pledging the flag, to very clearly enunciate ``under God,'' ``one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'' That is the pledge we make every morning, and we pledge it under God, liberty and justice for all. Well, it is I think a disservice to that pledge and a dishonor to God whom we invoke in that, if we don't do in our work here, work that promotes liberty and justice for all. And that is what this bill does. It is about justice for all: all who want to express themselves in a way so they can bargain collectively, so that workers have the strength and the leverage to strengthen our middle class, to reach the fulfillment for their families, to make our democracy stronger. I believe that this bill, the Employee Free Choice Act, is an honest continuation of the pledge that we make in the morning for liberty and justice for all.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you very much, Congressman Davis, and thank you for bringing this opportunity to the fore for us to sing the praises of the great Governor of Texas, Ann Richards. I am proud to join you today, Mr. Davis, in honor of Ann Richards, a true pioneer and one of Texas' great daughters. Ann Richards expanded the realm of what is possible for women. As she loved to say: ``A woman's place is in the dome.'' She is certainly smiling down on us today. As more women than ever rise to elective office, we owe a great debt to Ann Richards for helping to blaze the trail. So important was she to the women in Congress who serve here now, as part of my swearing-in festivities, I had a tea honoring Ann Richards in which we reviewed a film of her life in which her beautiful granddaughter, Lily, made a presentation about her grandmother, from which we all drew strength and inspiration about this woman, a true, true pioneer. Ann Richards will be remembered for her devastating wit and gigantic heart, which led her to make real and lasting improvements for all Americans. From health care, to education, to opening the doors of government to all, Ann Richards was one of our Nation's most fierce champions for expanding opportunity. Just as Ann was an advocate for all of America's children, she was particularly proud of her own. Ann's daughter Cecile Richards was an essential member of my team when I became leader and has since become President of Planned Parenthood of America. I know Ann was equally proud of her three children, Daniel, Clark and Ellen, and her eight grandchildren, I mentioned Lily. She was proud of all of them. I hope it is a comfort to her entire family that so many people here in the Congress, indeed in the country, remember Ann with great enthusiasm and are grateful for her leadership. She has been gone a number of months now, but it is a loss that we sorely feel. It is a memory that we greatly cherish of a great woman, a leader in our country, and a person. As I say to all of us in Congress or in elective office, all of us owe Ann Richards a great debt of gratitude. She is the gold standard for statesmanship, man or woman. Again, we are especially proud of the leadership she provided as a woman leader in our country.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 74 which has been introduced by my colleague from California, Congressman Mike Thompson, and co-sponsored by Democratic and Republican Members alike. H. Con. Res. 74 encourages additional support for research into the prevention and treatment of the neurological condition hydrocephalus. It is a chronic medical condition that, like other conditions affecting a relatively small number of people, receives inadequate attention and resources, which delays research that could achieve great breakthroughs. Passage of H. Con. Res. 74 will demonstrate the support of the Congress for aggressive research to find improved methods for detecting and treating hydrocephalus not only among children, but within the increasingly large number to adults who are affected by late onset of the condition. I am especially proud that the Hydrocephalus Association is headquartered in my congressional district in San Francisco, and that the couple whose pioneering efforts have encouraged and supported so many people with hydrocephalus and their families are San Franciscans-- Emily and Russell Fudge, as is the Association's Executive Director, Dory Kranz. Under their leadership, together with the board composed of leading physicians and researchers, parents and people with hydrocephalus, the Hydrocephalus Association has raised public awareness of this condition and the enormous impact it has on over one million Americans. Because of the medical advances and the advocacy efforts promoted by the Association, most of these children and adults are able to lead full and productive lives and make enormous contributions to our society. These successes have inadvertently complicated the efforts to advance research, diagnosis and treatment. The typical surgical treatment--the insertion of a shunt to carry away excessive cerebral fluid from the brain--was developed over 50 years ago. Because shunting has alleviated many of the more grave aspects of pre-shunt hydrocephalus, many believe it represents a cure. But it does not. Shunt surgery and the frequent repairs, which are well known to those with hydrocephalus and their families, are not only serious operations, but cost a billion dollars a year, much of which might well be averted with development of advanced treatment strategies. Promoting additional research through increased federal support is the goal of this resolution. Those advances will benefit not only those with hydrocephalus, but will help to reduce excessive costs in our health care system, and allow hundreds of thousands of people with hydrocephalus to live even fuller lives freed from the anxieties and costs associated with shunt failure and related complications. Seven of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health-- including the Office of Rare Diseases--sponsored a major national conference in September 2005 on ``Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions'' which has encouraged aggressive action in the areas of research and treatment. Now it is time for the Congress to join the campaign to expand our understanding of the causes and modernize the treatment of hydrocephalus. I call upon my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 74 to encourage our nation's leading medical institutions and researchers to expand their focus on achieving breakthrough research in the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his exceptional leadership in the national security of our country. My colleagues, for 3 days and nights, more than 350 Members of Congress have come to the floor to speak their conscience about the war in Iraq and the President's escalation proposal. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the tenor, for the most part, and the substance of their remarks. There is one proposition on which we can all agree: Our troops have performed excellently in Iraq. They have done everything asked of them. And as the resolution states, Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq. We owe our troops a debt of gratitude for their patriotism, for their courage, and for the sacrifices they are willing to make. As a sign of our respect for them, particularly those who have lost their lives in the war, and for their families, I request that we observe a moment of silence. Thank you. We owe our troops a course of action in Iraq that is worthy of their sacrifice. Today, we set the stage for a new direction on Iraq by passing a resolution with fewer than 100 words which supports our troops and disapproves of the President's escalation proposal. Instead, Democrats have proposed a different course of action to the President. Over and over again we have suggested a different plan. One year ago, Senator Harry Reid and I stood with House and Senate Democrats to propose our agenda for real security, to project our power and our values, to protect the American people. Consistent with our real security agenda, Democrats have sent the President four letters, starting in July, and the most recent one the end of January, urging him to adopt a strategy for success, containing these elements: change of mission, redeployment of troops, building a political consensus, engaging in diplomacy, reform of reconstruction and a refocus in the war on terror. In terms of changing the mission, U.S. forces in Iraq must be transitioned from combat to training of Iraqi forces, real counterterrorism activities, force protection and logistics. A shift in mission will allow the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to be reduced, diminishing their presence in the daily lives of Iraqis and minimizing the chance of these troops being caught in the crossfire between rival Iraqi factions. Ending the emphasis on a combat mission will allow the phased redeployment of our forces from Iraq beginning within the next 4 to 6 months. Declining troop levels will require fewer bases, and none of them will need to be permanent, consistent with legislation introduced and passed by this House by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and also introduced by Congressman David Price. A smaller military presence in Iraq will also relieve some of the strain on our troops, their families, and our military equipment. Success in Iraq requires more than military force, and that really is what this debate is about today. General Peter Chiarelli, a three-star General, until recently the Commander of the Multinational Corps Iraq, observed in December, and I quote, ``We need to get out of thinking that this is solely a military conflict where we must simply apply more U.S. or coalition or Iraqi forces against an enemy that we can destroy. All our Nation's strengths--diplomatic, economic, political--must be leveraged to help the Iraqis find their way through this process.'' Unfortunately, there has been no sustained and effective effort to engage Iraq's neighbors diplomatically. Iraq's neighbors have the greatest stake in Iraq's stability and the role it will play in the region. Leaders of those countries are best able to help Iraqi leaders improve security by reducing ethnic tensions. To this end, an international contact group should be established to support a political settlement in Iraq and preserve Iraq's sovereignty. Senator Reid and I also wrote to the President that an international conference should be convened to broaden support for the reconstruction effort that is essential if Iraqis are going to be put to work building their country's future. On the subject of reconstruction, there has been little effective reconstruction in Iraq because of mismanagement and disappearances of funds. That is why we propose that, in order for the reconstruction of Iraq to attract international support, it must be conducted according to practices which are honest, transparent, and accountable. Reconstruction must be guided by the kind of process set forth in legislation introduced by Congressman Patrick Murphy and the Blue Dog Coalition. The United States should take the lead on accountability in reconstruction. Politically, there has been no sustained and effective effort to engage rival Iraqi factions. The U.S. must insist that Iraqi leaders make the political compromises needed for a broad-based and sustainable political settlement that will produce an inclusive political system in Iraq. A good beginning would be to press Iraqi leaders to amend the Constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources. That was promised at the time of the referendum over 1 year ago. The resulting political consensus will allow Iraqi security forces to challenge the militias on behalf of the nation and to disarm them. Proponents of the President's escalation are equating the war on terror to the war in Iraq. As our esteemed chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri, a great patriot, has observed, ``Two conflicts. Two wars. And the two should not be confused. There are those who attempt to fuzz the two conflicts together as `the war on terror,' but the wars are truly separate and distinct,'' Chairman Skelton stated. The war in Iraq continues to detract from our ability to fight against the war on international terrorism effectively. We need to finish the job started more than 5 years ago in Afghanistan against al Qaeda and the Taliban and address other conditions around the world in which the appeal of terrorism breeds. The longer it takes us to resolve the situation in Iraq, the longer resources and attention will continue to be diverted from the war on terrorism. Our ability to respond to the escalating conflict in Afghanistan and other potential crises in the world is constrained severely by the deterioration in military readiness to levels not seen since the Vietnam era. There we have the six elements that we talked about: change of mission, redeployment of troops, building of political consensus, engaging in diplomacy, reform of reconstruction, and a refocus on the war on terror. By placing so much emphasis, instead, on dealing with the problems in Iraq militarily and not enough emphasis on sustained political and diplomatic engagements, the President's escalation plan repeats past mistakes. The stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success. The bipartisan resolution today may be nonbinding, but it will send a strong message to the President. We here in Congress are committed to protecting and supporting our troops. The passage of this legislation will signal a change in direction in Iraq that will end the fighting and bring our troops home safely and soon. Our troops are working together to secure our Nation, and we in this House must work together to secure our Nation as well and to do so in a way that honors their sacrifice. I urge my colleagues to support our troops and a new direction in Iraq by voting ``aye'' on the bipartisan Skelton-Lantos-Jones resolution.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and having this Special Order to honor the life and service of our colleague Congressman Norwood. It is with great sadness that we received the news first of his illness and then of his passing. We had hoped to have an occasion such as this before he died so he could hear the praise of his colleagues on the floor. I know that many conveyed their good wishes to him personally. He left us in a very dignified way. He decided that he would be, as he lived, surrounded by his family at home so that he could die in peace. Congressman Norwood, as we all know, as our minority leader mentioned, he had his own particular style, plain spoken, very eloquent, and he was a passionate public servant. He served our country and his own community in Vietnam in service to our country and in the Congress of the United States. Again, in this Congress he did his best to serve his constituents, his conscience, and his country. Again, he faced the end of his life and his sickness with great bravery and dignity. Our thoughts and prayers, I have conveyed to his wife Gloria, but I say again on this floor that our thoughts and prayers are with Gloria and his two sons, Charles and Carlton, and his four grandchildren. I know that I can speak for all Members of Congress when we convey our sympathy to them. I hope that it is a comfort to them that so many people mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding and the solemnity with which he introduced this debate. My colleagues, in a few weeks the war in Iraq will enter its fifth year, causing thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of casualties, costing hundreds of billions of dollars, and damaging the standing of the United States in the international community. And there is no end in sight. The American people have lost faith in President Bush's course of action in Iraq, and they are demanding a new direction. On January 10, President Bush proposed deploying more than 20,000 additional combat troops to Iraq. This week we will debate his escalation. In doing so, we must be mindful of the sacrifices our military personnel are being asked to make in this war and the toll it is taking on them, on their families, and on our veterans. Each one of us must determine, in a manner worthy of their sacrifice, whether the President's proposal will make America safer, make our military stronger, and make the region more stable. As this debate begins, let us be clear on one fundamental principle: we all support the troops. In this bipartisan resolution that is before us today, it clearly states: ``Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq.'' We honor the service of our troops by asking the difficult questions about this war. As Republican Senator Robert Taft of Ohio said 2 weeks after Pearl Harbor: ``Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any democratic government.'' And just 10 days ago, President Bush told House Democrats: ``I welcome debate in a time of war . . . I do not believe that if you don't happen to agree with me, you don't share the same sense of patriotism I do,'' the President said. In the spirit of responsibility to our troops and the patriotism we all share, let us consider whether the President's escalation proposal will lessen the violence in Iraq and bring our troops home safely and soon. From the standpoint of the military, the President's plan must be evaluated for its prospects for success. It is based on a judgment that the way out of Iraq lies in sending more troops in. Our experience in Iraq has proven just the opposite. Four previous troop escalations have resulted in escalating levels of violence. And as with any military action, the President's plan must also be evaluated on the additional burdens it will place on our troops and military families who have already sacrificed so much, the impact it will have on the already dangerous state of our military readiness. Our military has done everything they have been asked to do, and they have performed excellently. But in order to succeed in Iraq, there must be diplomatic and political initiatives. There has been no sustained and effective effort to engage Iraq's neighbors diplomatically, and there has been no sustained and effective effort to engage Iraqi factions politically. The Iraqi Government has failed to honor promises made last year when the constitution was adopted by failing to propose amendments to include all sectors of Iraq in the civic life of the country. As a result, today we are confronted by little political accommodation, hardening sectarian divisions, ethnic cleansing by neighborhoods, and waves of refugees burdening neighboring countries. After the Members of this body, this House of Representatives, have fully debated the President's escalation proposal, we will have a straight up-or-down vote. In a few days, and in fewer than 100 words, we will take our country in a new direction on Iraq. A vote of disapproval will set the stage for additional Iraq legislation which will be coming to the House floor. Friday's vote will signal whether the House has heard the American people: no more blank checks for President Bush on Iraq. Our taxpayer dollars must go to protect our troops, to keep our promises to our veterans, and to provide for the safety of the American people. In light of the facts, President Bush's escalation proposal will not make America safer, will not make our military stronger, and will not make the region more stable; and it will not have my support. I urge my colleagues to support our troops and vote ``aye'' on the bipartisan Skelton-Lantos-Jones resolution before us today

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, to live up to the principles on which this great nation was founded, we must stand for freedom for all Americans, in wartime and in times of peace. On February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was signed, ushering in one of the darkest periods in our nation's history. During World War II, more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent were removed from their homes and placed in internment camps. Under baseless fears of Japanese Americans disloyalty, families were ripped apart and entire communities uprooted. History has shown that this action, as well as restrictions on Americans of German and Italian ancestry, was not only wrong, but also indefensible. The National Day of Remembrance is an opportunity to learn from the lessons of our past as we work for a better future. I join Representatives Honda, Becerra, Wu, Scott, Abercrombie, Matsui, Bordallo, Hirono, and many of our colleagues for a National Day of Remembrance on February 19. In these difficult times of war, as we face the threat of terrorism, the lessons of that dark chapter are especially relevant today. As we protect and defend the American people, we must protect and defend the Constitution and the civil liberties that define our democracy. I join my colleagues, especially the Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, who fight for justice and equality every day, to ensure that history is never repeated again.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this week the State of California and indeed the Nation has lost a great leader. Leo McCarthy was a statesman, he was a great champion for justice, and he was a dear friend and purposeful mentor to me. As speaker of the California State House and Lieutenant Governor, Leo McCarthy promoted a values-based agenda to educate our children, grow our economy and protect our environment. After he left office as the head of the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good at the University of San Francisco, Mr. McCarthy taught children and students about promoting justice according to the highest ethical standard. He was brilliant, he was principled and committed to the future. I am proud to have called Leo a friend for more than 30 years. He encouraged me not only to support candidates and be involved in the political process, but he was the main force in encouraging me to run for office in the first place in my own right. Again, he was my friend and mentor, but he was that to so many people in California. Many who serve in this Congress today were mentored by Leo McCarthy, going back many years. As recently as Saturday night when I spoke to Leo, he was optimistic about the future. He said, ``My morale is high. I am surrounded by my children and my grandchildren,'' and of course his wife, whom he adored, Jackie. ``They are with me, and I am not getting better as quickly as I would like, but I am happy.'' My husband, Paul, and I and indeed our entire family, extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to many who loved Leo, especially his wife, Jackie, who he adored, and his children, Sharon, Conna, Adam and Niall. I also want to recognize our former mayor of San Francisco, Art Agnos, who was a dear friend of Leo and a great comfort to him in his last months. I know Congresswoman Eshoo and I were regular visitors to Leo McCarthy's bed side, and he followed the proceedings of Congress with great interest right up until the last day. I hope it is a comfort to his family, as I said, whom he adored, that so many people are praying for them at this sad time and that are mourning his loss. I just wanted to make our colleagues aware of the loss of Leo McCarthy, a great person, a great friend, a great American. He served our country in the military, he served our country in the legislature. He served our country by teaching our young people. He will be sorely missed.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, a little over a week ago our country suffered a great loss with the passing of Father Robert Drinan. He was a great man. He was a great humanitarian. He was a priest and he was a Member of Congress. When asked to talk about Father Drinan, it is impossible not to speak in the superlative in every case. And also the words that I would like to use are to quote a great man, Father Drinan himself. At his funeral, which I had the privilege to eulogize Father Drinan, I said that when Saint Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of my City of San Francisco, when St. Francis of Assisi was asked what a person had to do to lead a good and virtual life, he said, Saint Francis did, ``Preach the gospel. Sometimes use words.'' Father Robert Drinan preached the gospel, sometimes from the pulpit, sometimes from the floor of this House for 10 years as a Member of Congress, and sometimes from the classroom at the Georgetown University School of Law. But he always preached the gospel through the power of his example. Father Drinan lived and legislated according to an expansive view of the gospel, believing that it had something to teach us about the whole range of public policy, from war and peace to poverty and justice, to how we treat our children and our parents. It was because of his faith that he was one of our great champions for human rights. He believed that there was a spark of divinity in every person, and he acted upon that belief. But he did so selflessly. When the Soviet dissident Anatoly Sharansky was freed after 8 years in a Siberian labor camp, it was because of years of advocacy by many. Yet, at a reception welcoming him to the United States that was held in this Capitol, Sharansky, surrounded by supporters and admirers, looked to the back so he could find and thank the man who was his major champion, Father Drinan. That was Father Drinan, eager to help, slow to accept credit. I was particularly honored that earlier, it was the beginning of January actually, Father Drinan celebrated a mass at my alma matter, Trinity College, before I was sworn in as Speaker. He said that mass in honor of the children of Darfur and Katrina. And he prayed there that ``the needs of every child are the needs of Jesus Christ himself.'' Those were Father Drinan's words. He challenged us by saying, ``Imagine what the world would think of the United States if the health and welfare of children everywhere became the top objective of America's foreign policy! It could happen, and it could happen soon, he said, if enough people cared.'' He continued, ``Let us reexamine our convictions, our commitments and our courage.'' He emphasized courage. ``Our convictions and our commitments are clear and certain to us. But do we have the courage to carry them out,'' he asked? ``God has great hopes for what this great Nation will do in the near future. We are here to ask for the courage to carry out God's hopes and aspirations.'' He inspired us with those words, and as he led us in prayer that day, Father Drinan said, ``We learn things in prayer that we otherwise would never know.'' That day in church at his funeral, and since then, we are praying for the courage of Father Drinan. That may have been Father Drinan's last sermon from the pulpit, but afterwards, he sent me a letter asking that I place that sermon in the Congressional Record. And I commend to all of you his call for ``peaceful revolution'' to all who read our Record. He quoted John F. Kennedy, who said that we could make that possible with our actions. These words join the many courageous words Father Drinan said on this House floor. He came to Congress to oppose the war in Vietnam. They join his powerful words on the day, last May, when Congress had the privilege of honoring him with the Congressional Distinguished Service Award. He received that award, along with our former Ambassador to the Vatican and our former colleague in this House, Ambassador and Congresswoman Lindy Boggs. In his service, it was repeated during the communion service, ``Where there is charity there is Christ. Where there is charity there is God.'' Ubi caritas Deus ibi est. And on that day, in the Capitol, when we honored the two of them, charity was present and so was God's goodwill. They also, Father Drinan's words that we have submitted to the Congressional Record, join the words he shared with his students. He was a priest, he was a politician, he was an American patriot who loved our Constitution and fought for our civil liberties, and he loved his students as a teacher. When he left here because Pope John Paul II, when he became Pope said he had to choose between being a priest and being a Member of Congress, he said, ``I am a priest forever,'' and he left the Congress. His successor, I know, is a source of great hope to the people in his district. Congressman Barney Frank will be leading the special order in honor of Father Drinan shortly. But as a teacher, as I say, he loved his students, his law students. And just before graduation of one class, Bob Hickmont told me this, who was one of his students, Father Drinan offered advice to a group of Georgetown law students. He said, ``As I look out at all of you, with your new and expensive law school educations, I would urge you to go forth into society not as mere legal tradesmen, but as moral architects. Design, create and build a better and more equitable society and use your skills to help those who are otherwise not being served.'' Father Drinan, this statement and others of your statement are entered into the Congressional Record. Again, those words, with those of your 10 years in Congress, will serve as an inspiration for all who follow the proceedings of Congress and all who ever knew you. Again, to his family, the Drinan family, to Helen and all of the family, his sister-in-law, Helen, I hope it is a comfort to them that so many people mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time. And I extend my deepest sympathy to his family.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I request that the remarks of a former Member of this body, Father Robert Drinan, at a Mass at Trinity University prior to my swearing-in as Speaker, be included in the Congressional Record. Remarks of Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, at a Mass Honoring Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi at the Chapel of Trinity University in Washington, DC--Wednesday, January 3, 2007 Today is a new epiphany for all us, for our country and for the world. Epiphany brought the three Magi to worship the new born child. We are here to venerate that child and to pledge that the message of this infant Jesus will be followed in our country and throughout the universe. This is a new and wonderful moment for all of us. The new Congress has 16 percent women and for the first time the Speaker is a mother. We re-pledge our lives to the love of children. In this regard the Holy See has shown us the way. In 1981 the Vatican was the fifth nation of the Earth to ratify the United Nations Covenant on the Rights of the Child. That magnificent treaty has now been ratified by all of the 192 nations in the world--except Somalia and, we say it with shame, the United States. The children protected by the U.N. Covenant now number some three billion--almost one-half of the 6.4 billion in the world. Today we re-pledge ours elves to pray and work for those children. We must continue to be shocked that 31,000 of those children will die today and every day--from diseases and malnutrition that are clearly preventable. Imagine what the world would think of the United States if the health and welfare of children everywhere became the top objective of America's foreign policy! It could happen--and it could happen soon--if enough people cared. Today at this moving and unforgettable Mass we gather to pray, to reflect and once again to commit our lives to carrying out the faith we have that the needs of every child are the needs of Jesus Christ himself. The tragedies of the children of Darfur and the victims of Katrina have made us feel guilty for the neglect of the young people in these nations. That guilt has to be developed so that the United States and other developed countries will use their resources to help the 800 million people in the world who are chronically malnourished. We must also remember the 100 million children who are not enrolled in any school--and that 70 percent of these children are girls. In addition, children are still being injured by land mines placed by the United States in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Vietnam, Kuwait and elsewhere. We have come to this beautiful place to pray for our new leaders and for ourselves. We are ashamed that we have been so careless and thoughtless about the rights of children. We cannot forget Christ's personal love of children and his affirmation that ``whatsoever you do for the least of my brethren you do for me'' We are increasingly aware that the world--especially the 48 Islamic nations--have the deepest doubts about the intentions and activities of the United States. They know that the United States has less than five percent of the world's total population but consumes 40 percent of its resources. We pledge again before the Blessed Sacrament that we will deepen our love for all children. It is depressing to realize that only 18 percent of America's children are registered in Head Start and that an appalling number do not graduate from high school. We are aware at this holy place of the weakness of our faith and the fragility of our love. Let us reexamine our convictions, our commitments and our courage. Our convictions and our commitments are clear and certain to us. But do we have the courage to carry them out? God has great hopes for what this nation will do in the near future. We are here to ask for the courage to carry out God's hopes and aspirations. Let us not disappoint our Redeemer. We learn things in prayer that we otherwise would never know. Let us pray now and always. If a plane crashed this afternoon at Dulles with 310 children aboard the whole world would cry and cry and cry. But a tragedy like that happens 100 times each day--3l,000 children every day--needlessly--die because the heedlessness of all of us. President Kennedy once said that those who ``make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.'' We pray here today and ask God's help in our ardent desires to ``make peaceful revolution possible.''

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, with deep sadness, I rise to pay my respects to one of San Francisco's most beloved and admired community leaders. Naomi Thomas Gray died peacefully on December 29 at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco after a lifetime of service to our City and our Nation. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Naomi earned a Master of Science Degree in Social Services at Indiana University. She moved to New York to work for Planned Parenthood as a field organizer, quickly rising to Vice President for Field Services. For two decades, she crisscrossed America developing community education and organizing programs for Planned Parenthood. She lived among migrant workers where she taught family planning. She forged links with black communities in the rural South by winning over Baptist preachers. She served as a consultant to family planning programs around the globe. Upon retirement in 1972, she turned her knowledge and might to San Francisco, where she became a champion of the African American and health communities. Naomi served as a consultant to numerous family planning and health organizations. She founded and served two terms on San Francisco's Health Commission, where she worked to increase access to health care for our City's most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents and she strengthened the affirmative action programs at the San Francisco Department of Health. She warned of the danger of HIV/AIDS to the black community and founded the Black Coalition on AIDS and the African American AIDS Leadership Group. She was an intrepid champion of the African American community. As founder and president of the Institute for Urban Affairs, she focused on issues of concern to African American children and families. As Executive Director of the Sojourner Truth Foster Family Service Agency, she advocated for and mentored children in the foster care system. She was President of the Black Leadership Forum, member of the Black Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Public Housing and the Mayor's Task Force on Children, Youth and Their Families. An advocate for excellence in education, Naomi Gray founded the Twenty-First Century Academic School and co-founded the African American Education Leadership Group. She received awards and commendations too numerous to list. For 30 years, I have been blessed with her support, advice, and friendship. It is an honor to stand before the House to celebrate the life of San Francisco's beloved Naomi Gray. I hope it is a comfort to her loving nieces, nephews, and other extended family that so many people are mourning her loss and praying for them at this time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a longtime San Francisco community leader and friend, Joe Lacey, wno died on December 30, 2006. Joseph Patrick Lacey's family moved to San Francisco in 1921. As a scholar athlete, Joe attended St. Ignatius High School and the University of Santa Clara on a football scholarship, playing in two Sugar Bowls. In 1940, Joe won the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Boxing Championship. In 194I, Joe played on an All Star Football team in Hawaii where he met his beloved wife of 55 years, Katharine Faye Dooling. He served our Nation with distinction in the Navy on the USS Yarnall DD 541 in World War II participating in several Pacific battles, including Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and again in the Korean War, serving on the USS Walker. After the war, Joe began the next chapter of his life, starting a successful homebuilding company whose work includes thousands of homes in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. Later in life, he taught special education in the Watsonville, Newark and San Francisco County school districts. Joe was a life-long volunteer, dedicated to children and our city's most vulnerable residents. He was active in youth sports and a champion of San Francisco's homeless and elderly populations. He served on the boards of several non-profit organizations in San Francisco for more than 25 years, including Old St. Mary's Housing Committee, Catholic Charities, Senior Action Network, Planning for Elders and TURN. Joe was well known in the halls of San Francisco city government buildings, representing nonprofit organizations. Mayor Willie Brown appointed Joe as a commissioner on the San Francisco Commission on Aging, where he proudly served until his death. With great appreciation for his extraordinary work and service to our city and our Nation, I extend my deepest sympathy to his large and loving family. He will long be remembered by countless individuals whose lives he touched. He was a great friend to the people of San Francisco, and we are diminished by his passing.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, since 1983, the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag and Bundesrat have conducted an annual exchange program for staff members from both countries. The program gives professional staff the opportunity to observe and learn about each other's political institutions and interact on issues of mutual interest. A staff delegation from the U.S. Congress will be selected to visit Germany from April 20 to 29 of this year. During this 2-week exchange, the delegation will attend meetings with Bundestag/Bundesrat members, Bundestag and Bundesrat party staff members, and representatives of numerous political, business, academic, and media agencies. Participants also will be hosted by a Bundestag member during a district visit. A comparable delegation of German staff members will visit the United States for 2 weeks July 14 to 22. They will attend similar meetings here in Washington and visit the districts of Members of Congress. The U.S. delegation is expected to facilitate these meetings. The Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Exchange is highly regarded in Germany and the United States, and is one of several exchange programs sponsored by public and private institutions in the United States and Germany to foster better understanding of the politics and policies of both countries. This exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The U.S. delegation should consist of experienced and accomplished Hill staff who can contribute to the success of the exchange on both sides of the Atlantic. The Bundestag reciprocates by sending senior staff professionals to the United States. Applicants should have a demonstrable interest in events in Europe. Applicants need not be working in the field of foreign affairs, although such a background can be helpful. The composite U.S. delegation should exhibit a range of expertise in issues of mutual concern to the United States and Germany such as, but not limited to, trade, security, the environment, economic development, health care, and other social policy issues. This year's delegation should be familiar with transatlantic relations within the context of recent world events. In addition, U.S. participants are expected to help plan and implement the program for the Bundestag/Bundesrat staff members when they visit the United States. Participants are expected to assist in planning topical meetings in Washington, and are encouraged to host one or two staffers in their Member's district in July, or to arrange for such a visit to another Member's district. Participants are selected by a committee composed of personnel from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State and past participants of the exchange. Members of the House and Senate who would like a member of their staff to apply for participation in this year's program should direct them to submit a resume and cover letter in which they state their qualifications, the contributions they can make to a successful program and some assurances of their ability to participate during the time stated. Applications may be sent to the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, HB-28, the Capitol, by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21, 2007.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and applaud him, Mr. Davis of Illinois, and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), for bringing this resolution to the floor to honor a great man, and I rise today to join them in paying tribute to the life and leadership of President Gerald Ford. I would like to also recognize Mrs. Betty Ford and the wonderful children, Michael, Jack, Steven, and Susan, who with their love and support helped to make President Ford's leadership possible; but they made a contribution in their own right. Betty Ford really changed the way people in America talked about their health and the challenges in their lives. Every family in America respects her, every family in America is in her debt for, again, changing how people speak about their physical and other challenges. Mrs. Ford, we all give you our condolences and our respect and admiration for your leadership as well. Having also served as House minority leader, as President Ford did, I have great respect for the fair and reliable leadership that President Ford displayed throughout his service in the House. He was effective and respected on both sides of the aisle. He recognized that however much we may disagree on political questions, we serve the people of the Nation, the great institution, the House of Representatives. He later became President, and another President, Thomas Jefferson, said: ``Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.'' Gerald Ford knew that. Gerald Ford followed that. He assumed office during one of the greatest times of challenge for our Nation and provided the American people with the steady leadership and optimism that was his signature. The outpouring of emotion and affection displayed by the American people last week and the week before reminds us that they desire the kind of leadership President Ford embodied. In this hour, we need and pray for President Ford's character, courage, and civility to affect us. He healed the country when it needed healing. This is another time, another war, and another trial of our American will, imagination, and spirit. I ask our colleagues, let us honor his memory not just in eulogy but in dialogue and trust across the aisle. Once again, our condolences to the family. I hope it is a comfort to the Ford family that so many people mourn their loss and are praying for them at this time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you, Leader Boehner. Thank you, my colleagues. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speakers. I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and I look forward to working with you, Mr. Boehner, and the Republicans in the Congress for the good of the American people. After giving this gavel away in the last two Congresses, I am glad someone else has the honor today. In this House, we may be different parties, but we serve one country, and our pride and our prayers are united behind our men and women in uniform. They are working together to protect the American people; and in this Congress, we must work together to build a future worthy of their sacrifice. In this hour, we need and pray for the character, courage, and civility of a former Member of this House, President Ford. He healed the country when it needed healing. This is another time, another war, and another trial of American will, imagination, and spirit. Let us honor his memory not just in eulogy, but in dialogue and trust across the aisle. I want to join Leader Boehner in expressing our condolences and our appreciation to Mrs. Ford and to the entire Ford family for their decades of leadership and service to our country. With today's convening of the 110th Congress, we begin anew. I congratulate all Members of Congress on your election. I especially want to congratulate our new Members of Congress. Let's hear it for our new Members. The genius of our Founders was that every 2 years, new Members would bring to this House their spirit of renewal and hope for the American people. This Congress is reinvigorated, new Members, by your optimism and your idealism and your commitment to our country. Let us acknowledge your families whose support have made your leadership possible today. Each of us brings to this Congress our shared values, our commitment to the Constitution, and our personal experience. My path to Congress and to the speakership began in Baltimore where my father was the mayor. I was raised in a large family that was devoutly Catholic, deeply patriotic, very proud of our Italian-American heritage, and staunchly Democratic. My parents taught us that public service was a noble calling, and that we had a responsibility to help those in need. My parents worked on the side of the angels, and now they are with them. But I am so happy that my brother, Tommy D'Alesandro, who was also a mayor of Baltimore, is here leading the D'Alesandro family from Baltimore today. He is sitting right up there with Tony Bennett. Forty-three years ago, Paul Pelosi and I were married. We raised our five children in San Francisco where Paul was born and raised. I want to thank Paul and our five children, Nancy Corrine, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul, Jr., and Alexandra, and our magnificent grandchildren, for their love, for their support, and the confidence they gave me to go from the kitchen to the Congress. And I thank my constituents in San Francisco and to the State of California for the privilege of representing them in Congress. St. Francis of Assisi is our city's patron saint, and his prayer of St. Francis is our city's anthem: Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; where there is darkness may we bring light, where there is hatred may we bring love, and where there is despair, may we bring hope. Hope, that is what America is about. And it is in that spirit that I serve in the Congress of the United States. And today, I thank my colleagues. By electing me Speaker, you have brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage and America's hope. This is a historic moment, and I thank the leader for acknowledging it. Thank you, Mr. Boehner. It is a historic moment for the Congress, and it is a historic moment for the women of America. It is a moment for which we have waited for over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women were not just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them. The election of 2006 was a call to change, not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in the war in Iraq. The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the Nation on the subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the President to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to responsibly redeploy our troops. Let us work together to be the Congress that rebuilds our military to meet the national security challenges of the 21st century. Let us be the Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect the American people from terrorism. Let us be the Congress that never forgets our commitment to our veterans and our first responders, always honoring them as the heroes that they are. The American people also spoke clearly for a new direction here at home. They desire a new vision, a new America built on the values that have made our country great. Our Founders envisioned a new America driven by optimism, opportunity, and courage. So confident were they in the America that they were advancing that they put on the seal, the great seal of the United States: ``Novus ordo seclorum,'' a new order for the centuries. Centuries; they spoke of the centuries. They envisioned America as a just and good place, as a fair and efficient society, as a source of hope and opportunity for all. This vision has sustained us for over 200 years, and it accounts for what is best in our great Nation: liberty, opportunity, and justice. Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new America into the 21st century. A new America that seizes the future and forges 21st-century solutions through discovery, creativity, and innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our national security. A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle class for whom college is affordable, health care is accessible, and retirement reliable. A new America that declares our energy independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and combats climate change. A new America that is strong, secure, and a respected leader among the community of nations. And the American people told us they expected us to work together for fiscal responsibility, with the highest ethical standards and with civility and bipartisanship. After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt. In order to achieve our new America for the 21st century, we must return this House to the American people. So our first order of business is passing the toughest congressional ethics reform in history. This new Congress doesn't have 2 years or 200 days. Let us join together in the first 100 hours to make this Congress the most honest and open Congress in history. 100 hours. This openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As Thomas Jefferson said, ``Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.'' My colleagues elected me to be Speaker of the House, the entire House. Respectful of the vision of our Founders, the expectation of our people, and the great challenges that we face, we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to work for all Americans. Let us stand together to move our country forward, seeking common ground for the common good. We have made history; now let us make progress for the American people. May God bless our work, and may God bless America. Before we move forward, because there are so many children here and so many of them asked me if they could touch the gavel, I wanted to invite as many of them who wanted to come forward to come join me up here. I know my own grandchildren will. Let's hear it for the children. We're here for the children. For these children, our children, and for all of America's children, the House will come to order. I am now ready to take the oath of office from the Dean of the Congress of the United States, Mr. Dingell. In acknowledging him, I also want to acknowledge Speaker Foley who has been with us as well. Mr. DINGELL then administered the oath of office to Ms. Pelosi of California, as follows: Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you God. (Applause, the Members rising.)

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to salute Dennis Hastert, Speaker Dennis Hastert, the longest serving Republican Speaker in history. And long may that record stand. This record is a testament to Dennis Hastert's leadership within the Republican Conference, in this Congress and in this country. But Dennis's public service began long ago. He spent 16 years as a teacher and a coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois, and that is the best kind of public service, shaping the minds of our young people. Then he went into politics, and after 6 years in the Illinois State House, he came to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, Dennis Hastert's colleagues elected him Speaker of the House, the third highest official in the United States of America. While we have often, from time to time, disagreed on issues, we agree on the importance of public service, the kind of public service that has been the hallmark of Speaker Hastert's career, whether in the classroom or in the House. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for many people in this room and across the country when I thank you for one thing in particular: Rosa Parks made history a long time ago and changed America. She also made history when she was the first African American woman to lie in state in the Capitol of the United States. That honor would not have been possible without your leadership, and we are very, very grateful. I, too, want to join the Speaker in acknowledging the Hastert family, Jean and Ethan and Joshua, and the entire family for sharing Dennis with us. We know the sacrifices are great, and I want to acknowledge them as well. My colleagues in Congress, we hold the title of ``Honorable'' because we serve in Congress. We hold the title of ``Honorable'' by virtue of our office. Dennis Hastert holds it by virtue of his character. I salute him for service to our Nation and look forward to many more opportunities. Happily, he is staying with us for us all to work together. In your remarks, Mr. Speaker, you referenced that very sad evening when we joined together on the steps of the Capitol and sang ``God Bless America.'' Among God's many blessings to this country, to America, is the service and leadership of Speaker Dennis Hastert. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. And I commend the chairman, Mr. Ehlers, and Ranking Democrat Congresswoman Millender-McDonald for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note that the money contained in this bill, the severance pay, is 100 percent for the Republican staffers who will be losing their jobs. When the Democrats lost the Congress in 1994, there was so much unrest and uncertainty among those who served on committee staffs. Every one of us who is elected to Congress and our staffs know that we have a 2-year term and the period from the election day and the swearing in of the new Congress is our severance pay. We have a 2-year term; that is it. But the professional staff of the committees serve from term to term, and in losing the majority, the Republicans have to dismiss many of their professional and other employees. So it is just a sense of fairness, I believe, that we in the soon-to-be-majority, but the minority, recognize the need for these families to have a severance pay. If they get employed between now and before the 2 months expire, they don't get the full amount. But this isn't about leadership and committee. It is about the Republican leadership and the Republican committee staff. And as Democratic leader, I think that the fair thing to do is to treat those families with the respect they deserve for the service that these people have given to our country. It is hard. People don't know if they are going to make their mortgage payment or if they are going to pay the tuition installment or what, and this at least gives them 2 months of certainty if they do not find employment in the meantime. So I want the record to be clear. This is about the Republicans. It is the appropriate thing to do for the Republican staff, and I urge our colleagues to support this act of fairness in supporting this legislation.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is probably one of the last opportunities I will have to enjoy the back and forth of debate on the floor of the House. And I can't resist coming to the defense of the Republican Members' committee staff people who will lose their jobs because of the results of the election. But I want to make this point, standing up again, seeking recognition again: first I hear the distinguished gentlemen from various States stand up and say we shouldn't be spending this money, it is $10 million-plus, to give severance pay to families who have lost their jobs. One hundred percent of those jobs will be lost by Republicans, so as the Democratic leader, I want to support the Republican employees getting the severance pay. Then I hear the gentlemen stand up and various ones say that we oppose the expenditure because it's not a good use of the taxpayers' money and why aren't you spending more to cover the personal offices? And the point is clear. All Members of Congress are elected for 2 years, our staffs understand it is a 2-year job and our opportunity to find employment is between November and January. But all of this reminds me of a story that was told about Yogi Berra, which may or may not be a Yogi Berra story, because many stories are attributed to him. When asked about a particular restaurant, he said, ``I don't like to go there. The food's lousy. Besides, the servings are too small.'' That is really what this reminds me of. I am opposed to this spending of money because we shouldn't be spending money to help these families, and why aren't we spending more to help the other families? This is really the fair thing to do. Again, I urge my colleagues to very forcefully support this act of fairness for the Republican committee staffers.