Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that this House is considering this resolution that honors a great American with whom many Americans may not be very familiar. House Concurrent Resolution 71, introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), recognizes Ambassador Ralph Bunche, a great diplomat, scholar and human rights champion. Mr. Speaker, one could begin nearly anywhere in discussing the resume and accomplishments of Ambassador Bunche. He earned his doctorate at Harvard University before he single-handedly established the political science department at Howard University here in Washington. After World War II, Ambassador Bunche left Howard and became one of the most influential founders of the United Nations, helping to draft the U.N. charter. In 1948, he became mediator of the U.N. Special Committee on Palestine and played a critical role in engineering the armistice that ended the Arab-Israel conflict in 1949. His work on negotiations earned him the honor for which he may be best known, the 1949 Nobel Peace Prize. Ambassador Bunche was the first African American to win this prestigious award. Ultimately, he became the Undersecretary General of the United Nations in 1955. Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Bunche was an unrelenting advocate for human rights both at home and abroad; and this House justifiably recognizes his distinguished life. For this reason, I urge all members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 71. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 476, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 460 and 461 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we are accountable not only to the constituents who elected us, but to all American taxpayers. We are responsible for making informed decisions, that incorporate a base of knowledge. The Mercatus Center at George Mason University provides a valuable, objective, independent evaluation to Members of Congress and taxpayers, by reviewing the annual performance reports of the 24 CFO Act agencies and ranking them according to three criteria: transparency, public benefit, and forwardlooking leadership. Mercatus evaluates the Annual Performance and Accountability Reports of each of these Agencies to determine how transparently an agency reports its successes and failures, how well an agency documents the tangible public benefits it claims to have produced, and whether an agency demonstrates leadership that uses annual performance information to devise strategies for improvement. Their analysis and the report I submit to the Congressional Record, allows us as Members of Congress to have a common understanding about which agencies report to the public most clearly. Their analysis also allows agencies to learn from their colleagues how best to present useful data about the performance of their organizations. Armed with this report, and upon reviewing performance information provided by agencies, we can and must determine appropriate resource allocations, based not on the amount appropriated and spent last year, but on what benefit was earned from this expenditure. We owe it to the people who pay our salaries, to demonstrate the public benefit created with the money entrusted to us. And where the government is a poor steward of funds, we must intervene to improve the Federal Government's role in providing efficient and effective service to the American people. I commend the Mercatus Center's report to my colleagues. Executive Summary Public disclosure is the mechanism used to report on performance to those who are entitled to know. In this Scorecard we assess how effective reports of the agencies of the federal government are in disclosing pertinent information to the American people. We review these reports with the mindset of ordinary citizens, who are interested in looking for the benefits that the agencies provide and the effectiveness of the agencies' efforts. Thus, our research efforts emphasize an assessment of an agency's transparency of communications with the general public, identification and assessment of the public benefits it provides, and its leadership vision for the future. In an era of increased demand for accountability, disclosure and transparency, the government has a responsibility to supply the American people with quality disclosures on the public benefits it provides. Clear, descriptive disclosure of the public benefits provided by governmental agencies allows ordinary citizens to understand the strategic goals and assess the agencies' performance relative to those goals. Annual performance and accountability reports are one avenue for agencies to communicate with both citizens and policymakers. The purpose of this Scorecard is to encourage improvement in the quality of reporting on results achieved by government agencies. We do this by evaluating and ranking (1) how transparently an agency reports its successes and failures; (2) how well an agency documents the tangible public benefits it claims to have produced; and, (3) whether an agency demonstrates leadership that uses annual performance information to devise strategies for improvement. Researchers at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University conducted our fourth annual evaluation of the reports produced by the 24 agencies covered under the Chief Financial Officers Act, using similar criteria to evaluate the fiscal year (FY) 2002 performance and accountability reports. By assessing the quality of agencies' reports (but not the quality of the results achieved), we wish to learn which agencies are supplying the information that Congress and the public need to make informed funding and policy decisions. The importance of quality reporting has taken on added significance in light of the President's Management Agenda that highlights the intent to use agency performance information to make budget decisions. Best Reports: For FY 2002, the Department of Labor (Labor), the Department of Transportation (Transportation), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans) produced the highest rated reports. Three of these agencies, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs were rated the top three agencies for FY 2001 as well. The SBA joins their ranks this year. Reports Most In Need Of Improvement: The Department of Defense (Defense), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Energy (Energy) earned the lowest rankings for FY 2002. Most Improved Reports: Eleven agencies improved their scores from FY 2001 to FY 2002. Of these, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of State showed the most improvement in their rankings. The Small Business Administration moved from 16th to 3rd in the rankings, the Federal Emergency Management Agency jumped from 19th to 8th, and the Department of State moved from 20th to 11th. Most Common Strengths: (1) accessibility of reports, and (2) clarity of reports. Most Common Weaknesses: (1) weak or missing explanations of failures to achieve strategic goals, and (2) lack of well- articulated descriptions of changes in policies or procedures to address weaknesses or failures. Mixed results: The average score of the 24 reporting agencies was 30, a 4.1 percent increase for FY 2002 reports compared to FY 2001. The average scores for seven of the twelve criteria improved this year, led by improvements of 26.9 percent for accessibility and 19.7 percent for better explanations of the linkages between the agencies goals and results to their costs. However, on average, agencies did not make progress in several areas, particularly in providing quality trend data (decline of 13.0 percent) and clearly articulating their goals and objectives as outcomes (decline of 9.9 percent). Scorecard Rankings for FY 2002 (1) Labor; (2) Transportation; (3) SBA, Veterans; (5) Commerce; (6) EPA, Interior; (8) FEMA; (9) NRC, SSA; (11) State; (12) Agriculture, Education, GSA, Justice, NASA, OPM; (18) HUD, NSF, Treasury; (21) Energy, HHS; (23) USAID; and (24) Defense. Introduction Following the passage of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), federal agencies developed strategic plans, performance plans, and performance reports to explain what they are trying to accomplish, identify performance measures, and report on their results. A new reporting requirement for FY 2002 requires agencies to prepare and submit a combined performance and accountability report. The combined Performance and Accountability Report includes the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance reports previously included as well as a financial section, which incorporates the audited financial statements and report of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) on serious management challenges. President Bush's FY 2002 budget proposal called upon the federal government to produce better results for citizens by enhancing accountability for dollars collected and dollars spent. The administration also began using information on agency performance in the FY 2003 budget for a selected set of programs, a practice that has been expanded for the FY 2004 budget. Performance-based budgeting means that money will be allocated not just on the basis of perceived needs and policy priorities, but also according to the federal government's ability to address those needs and priorities effectively. Program proponents will have to demonstrate that the particular programs actually accomplish their stated goals. For performance-based budgeting to work, performance information has to be transparent, accessible, and reliable. GPRA and its amendments require federal agencies to produce annual performance reports. The purpose of these reports is to give Congress and the American people accurate and timely information that will let them assess the extent to which agencies are producing tangible public benefits. In line with expectations under the legislation, agencies published their first reports (for FY 1999) in spring 2000, the second series in spring 2001 (covering FY 2000), the third series in spring 2002 (covering FY 2001), and the current series in spring 2003 (for FY 2002). Beginning with FY 2002 reports, agencies are required to consolidate their performance reports with financial reporting information in a combined Performance and Accountability report. With society's increased emphasis on accountability, transparency, and disclosure, it is incumbent on the federal government and its agencies to meet the highest standards in their external reporting efforts. Effective accountability in public service requires that agencies present a comprehensive, concise, accurate, and reliable assessment of the benefits created for the public, as well as the costs of producing those benefits. Equipped with such information, the administration and Congress can allocate federal resources in ways that continually advance government's contribution to citizens' quality of life (The Mercatus Center has developed a seven-step process, called ``Outcome-Based Scrutiny,'' that provides a framework for comparing the results and costs of programs with similar objectives and assessing the likely impact of reallocating resources to the most effective programs. For a pilot study applying Outcome-Based Scrutiny to federal vocational training programs, see http://www.mercatus.org/ governmmentaccountability). To help policymakers assess this year's reports and agencies improve the quality of future reports, a Mercatus Center research team evaluated the reports produced by the 24 agencies covered under the Chief Financial Officers' Act. This marks the fourth year that researchers at the Mercatus Center's Government Accountability Project have evaluated agencies' reports. It is our goal that this annual assessment will not only help to inform decision makers, but that it will also inform the American people more generally. By promoting the American spirit of competition and accountability and applying it to government performance reporting, it is also our hope that agencies can and will improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of the services they deliver. Interpreting Our Findings It is important to emphasize that our research team evaluated only the quality of reporting, not the quality of results. Therefore, it would be a mistake to conclude that the agencies with the highest-scoring reports necessarily produced the best results for the country. Ideally, an agency's report reflects more about its managers' capabilities than just their ability to write reports. Instead, a high scoring report reflects an agency's ability to translate what it does into understandable and meaningful results that Americans can appreciate. Similarly, it would also be inappropriate to draw policy conclusions from our analysis. We offer no recommendations on whether the federal government should or should not be engaged in its current menu of activities. So what do the findings in this study really mean? By assessing the quality of agency reports, we are trying to evaluate the agencies that are supplying the information that Congress and the public need to make informed funding, budgeting, and policy decisions. An additional word on information quality is also in order. Our researchers assessed the quality of each report's disclosure of data verification and validation procedures. In the interest of producing a timely study, we did not, however, verify the performance information cited in each agency's report. Given the importance of accurate data for sensible decisions, we believe that verification and validation should be a high priority for Inspectors General, Congress, the General Accounting Office, and the Office of Management and Budget. For the complete report, visit the Mercatus Center's Government Accountability Project website at www.governmnentaccountability.org.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the new Department of Homeland Security is subject to the same financial management and accountability requirements as all other cabinet-level departments. This requires adding the new Department to the list of agencies that are covered by the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990 and making adjustments to provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make it consistent with the CFO Act. These changes will put the Department's CFO on the same footing as the CFOs at the rest of the cabinet-level departments by ensuring that the Department's CFO is a presidential appointee subject to Senate confirmation, that the CFO reports directly to the Secretary, and that the CFO is a part of the statutorily created CFO Council. The CFO Act of 1990 increased federal accountability by enacting much needed financial management reforms. Among the most important of these reforms was the establishment of a new leadership structure for federal financial management within the 24 largest departments and agencies as well as within the Office of Management and Budget. The CFO Act created 24 chief financial officers for the major executive departments and agencies as well as 24 deputy CFOs. The CFOs in the 14 cabinet-level departments, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are filled by presidential appointees, confirmed by the Senate. These CFOs serve as the leaders of financial management in these departments and agencies. The Department of Homeland Security, as one of our most important departments, should be in this framework. The newly created Department of Homeland Security is one of the most significant government reorganizations in the history of the United States. The Department faces the challenge of merging 22 agencies, 17,000 employees, and hundreds of computer systems and management processes. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency and Financial Management, I have seen how ineffective strategic planning can result in systemic problems in an agency's financial management. The Department of Defense is a good example of a situation where years of insufficient coordination among business units, improper financial planning, and the use of stove piped information systems has resulted in the inability of the Department to obtain a clean annual financial audit or fully account for the way it spends its budget. No one wishes to see these same mistakes made at the Department of Homeland Security. That is why it is extremely important to instill solid financial management practices in the Department from its inception through the establishment of a strong CFO that is on equal footing with the other CFOs at cabinet-level departments. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act makes important, common sense changes to the CFO position at the Department of Homeland Security. It is a good government measure that benefits the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to join with me in seeking prompt enactment of the bill.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the accomplished military career and life of Major General Robert Ivany, Commandant of the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA. General Ivany will officially step down as Commandant of the War College on July 28, 2003 and retire from the Army on September 30, 2003. Three-year-old Robert Ivany, the son of World War II refugees from Hungary, immigrated to the United States with his parents following the war. Our country has greatly benefited from his presence here ever since. Over the course of his 34 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, General Ivany served a combat tour in Vietnam, taught history at West Point, spent 2 years as an aide to President Ronald Reagan, and commanded forces throughout the world. General Ivany's career culminated with his appointment as the 45th Commandant of the War College at Carlisle Barracks, the Army's foremost institution for educating its leaders. As Commandant, General Ivany has brought each institution on post together to be a more cohesive team and better focused on the overall goals of the War College. Perhaps his greatest legacy will be his tireless efforts to improve the quality-of-life of the students, and their families, while attending the War College, as well as the officers and soldiers stationed at Carlisle Barracks. General Ivany has begun the process of upgrading housing, constructing a new classroom, and renovating other facilities. His vision will help guide the War College for years to come. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to General Ivany's family--his wife Marianne, sons Christopher, Marc, and Brian, and daughter Julianne. I am very much aware of and deeply grateful for the many sacrifices that military family members also make on behalf of their country. Major General Robert Ivany is a true patriot and public servant. His profound patriotism and dedication to duty serve as shining examples of citizenship for all Americans to emulate. I offer my most sincere thanks for all that General Ivany has given our great Nation.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 76th Annual Registers of Wills and Clerks of Orphans' Court Association of Pennsylvania Conference. The conference will be held July 21-25, 2003 in the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. In past years, the Conference has been held throughout the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am certainly very pleased that this year's conference is being hosted in my district by York County Register of Wills, the Honorable Bradley C. Jacobs. Among the many services available through the elected Registers of Wills and Clerks of Orphans' Court, constituents are able to probate wills, receive Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration, apply for marriage licenses and research their family genealogy. At the conference, Registers and Clerks will discuss more efficient policies and procedures related to their duties. As stated in the Constitution and by-Laws of the Registers of Wills and Clerks of Orphans' Court Association of Pennsylvania, an annual meeting must be held once a year in Pennsylvania as arranged by the President of the Association. President Larry Medaglia appointed Bradley C. Jacobs as host and Bill Walters, retired Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court of York County, as honorary chairman for the event. There will be approximately 120 attendees including elected Registers and Clerks, Deputies and other guests. In addition, attendees will be able to enjoy the wonderful food and musical entertainment in the City of York. I am pleased to welcome the 76th Annual Registers of Wills and Clerks of Orphans' Court Association of Pennsylvania Conference to the City of York and commend the commitment to public service of each of the Association's members.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 131 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 123, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 20, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 21 I was inadvertently detained. (Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome as Guest Chaplain on the floor of the House of Representatives an outstanding constituent and religious leader in my 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. The Reverend Sara ``Sally'' Gausmann. ``Pastor Sally,'' joined by her husband, Reverend Paul Gausmann, represent a thriving religious community, Saint Paul Lutheran Church in York, Pennsylvania. Together, pastor Sally and Pastor Paul successfully aid in the needs of their congregation and I am pleased to thank them for their exemplary status as role models in my district. Pastor Sally received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1981, before attending the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1991. She then served at several churches including Grade Lutheran Church in Rochester, Pennsylvania from 1991- 1993 and Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock, Iowa from 1993-1999 before serving as co-pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church. During her time at the Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Pastor Sally was the chaplain at the Pennsylvania State Sheriff's Convention in 2001 and is currently a member of the Global Mission Task Force for the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. As a husband and wife team, Sally and Paul Gausmann offer a united approach to their religious teachings that has flourished within this congregation. They have two children, a son, William, who is age 17 and a daughter, Laura, who is age 15. I am pleased to welcome Pastor Sally to the House Floor and would like to thank her for the inspirational prayer she presented this afternoon that reinforces the importance that our great nation exists as one ``under God.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to the five brave men and two brave women of the space shuttle Columbia, whose lives were tragically lost Saturday morning: Col. Rick Husband, a husband and father, faithful member of his church's choir, and an astronaut. Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., born in India and emigrated to the United States. She loved both her countries, and she was an astronaut. Commander William McCool, a husband and father, recipient of multiple Navy medals, and an astronaut. Captain David Brown, a physician and humanitarian, and an astronaut. Commander Laurel Clark, a wife and mother, recipient of numerous Navy medals, and an astronaut. Lt. Col. Michael Anderson, a husband and father, recipient of multiple Air Force medals, a Sunday school teacher, and an astronaut. Col. Ilan Roman, a husband and father, a hero to his people in Israel, and an astronaut. He is said to have carried with him on Columbia's fateful flight a small Torah scroll used at a bar mitzvah in a Nazi concentration camp. Not just their families, but their Nations--and the world--mourn the passing of these seven individuals because of what they represent, the very best in humanity: bravery, a pioneering spirit, the desire to learn, and the peaceful advancement of mankind. We will forever remember and always be grateful for the heroic sacrifices made by these courageous souls, along with their families, on behalf of all humanity.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding constituent and educator in my 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, Dr. Diane Stanitski-Martin, for her extraordinary effort to bring real scientific research to the classroom. Dr. Stanitski- Martin, a professor at Shippensburg University, was chosen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Global Programs to participate in a 3-week long research cruise in the Pacific Ocean. She participated in the retrieval and deployment of moored buoys that span the tropical Pacific Ocean as part of the TAO/ TRITON array, a complex climate observation system central to describing, understanding and predicting the phenomenon known as El Nino. Diane Stanitski-Martin embarked on the NOAA Ship Ka'imimoana August 16, 2002 in Honolulu and arrived on September 1, 2002 in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands. While onboard, Diane hosted several live Web broadcasts, taught her undergraduate and graduate classes, wrote lesson plans, maintained a daily log, took photographs, interviewed scientists, and engaged in dialogue with other teachers and students, as well as the general public. She described her experience to be ``a perfect chance for my students to learn more about current research which would help inspire them to pursue careers in the atmospheric and physical sciences.'' At a time when we are discovering how immense an influence the oceans play in the world's climate system, Dr. Stanitski- Martin's adventurous research effort will hopefully inspire younger generations to have an interest in climate science as well as the social dimensions of climate change. I am very pleased to thank NOAA for its sponsorship of Dr. Stanitski- Martin's participation in the Teacher-At-Sea Program. I am also pleased to commend Dr. Stanitski-Martin for her devoted efforts to educate and inspire her students. Dr. Stanitski-Martin has certainly set a wonderful example for her fellow educators to follow.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, just off the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building stands a statue of a fellow Pennsylvanian by the name of John Muhlenberg. In early 1776, this 29 year-old Lutheran Minister gave a sermon in Woodstock, Virginia in which he called upon the men of his congregation to join him in fighting for our Nation's independence. Quoting the Book of Ecclesiastes, Pastor Muhlenberg said: ``There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven . . . A time for war and a time for peace.'' Contending that the time for war had arrived, Pastor Muhlenberg then concluded his sermon by casting off his clerical robes to reveal the uniform of a Continental Army officer. Pastor Muhlenberg went on to serve as a general in the Continental Army. More than a century and a half later, in an address at Chautauqua, New York in 1936, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated, ``I hate war.'' Yet, after Pearl Harbor roused our nation from a slumbering isolationism, President Roosevelt knew that the time for war had come. The actions of Pastor Muhlenberg and President Roosevelt remind us that, from the very beginning of our great Nation to modern times, war is always regrettable, but sometimes necessary to protect the lives of our citizens and to secure the important principles for which our Nation stands. As our Nation now seeks to address the very serious and immediate threat that Saddam Hussein's regime poses to American lives, both abroad and here at home, it remains to be seen whether war will be a necessary part of our Nation's efforts. I certainly hope and pray that it will not. Unfortunately, however, Saddam Hussein's actions, past and present, do not provide much reason to believe that my hopes and prayers will be fulfilled. If diplomacy is to have any chance of success, Saddam Hussein must fully and unequivocally understand that, if necessary, the United States and other peace-loving nations will no longer stand idly by while he further enhances his chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and aggressively pursues the production of nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein must understand that, if necessary, we will use military force to eliminate the threat that his weapons pose to our citizens. It is thus imperative for the United States Congress to pass legislation authorizing President George Bush to use military force to ``defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq'' and to ``enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.'' I therefore join my Republican and Democrat colleagues in voting in favor of this legislation, House Joint Resolution 114. Importantly, H.R. Res. 114 requires that, prior to using military force against Saddam Hussein's regime, President Bush must officially determine that further reliance on ``diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either will not adequately protect the national security of the United States'' or will not likely ``lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.'' Such determination must be shared with the House and Senate. My decision to support H.J. Res. 114 followed much deliberation and was the product of countless hours of careful review of information from many sources. I have fully considered the views and concerns of hundreds of 19th District residents. As a member of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations, I have participated in numerous classified briefings with various Administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, and Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John McLaughlin. I have also met overseas and in Washington with leaders of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), a coalition of Shi'a, Sunni, and Kurdish Iraqi dissidents seeking to liberate their people from Saddam Hussein's oppressive rule. Although very diverse in their backgrounds, they are united in a common belief that Saddam Hussein's military regime must be replaced with a more humane government. My interactions with the INC representatives leads me to believe that the removal of Saddam Hussein will be embraced enthusiastically by the overwhelming majority of the Iraqi people--just as the people of Afghanistan embraced their liberation from the Taliban. My challenge is to fully explain my support for H.J. Res. 114 when much of the most important factual basis for this extremely serious decision is classified information. While I cannot legally share such classified material publicly, I can frankly and honestly state that my review of said material has wholly convinced me that Saddam Hussein's military regime poses a grave threat to the safety and security of American citizens, including here at home. There is compelling evidence of Iraq's biological and chemical capabilities and Saddam Hussein's intended use of such weapons. There is also strong evidence of his pursuit of nuclear weapons. Of significant concern is Iraq's growing fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are capable of dispensing biological or chemical weapons. As President Bush stated in his recent address to the Nation, our intelligence information indicates that Saddam Hussein is ``exploring ways of using these UAVs for missions targeting the United States.'' Please allow me to address various actions by Iraq over the past 11 years that are in the public domain. First, Iraq has a long record of abetting terrorist groups. For example, Hussein has regularly praised Palestinian suicide bombers who have taken the lives of countless innocent civilians, including American citizens. He has also financially rewarded the families of said suicide bombers. Although no direct Iraqi involvement in the September 11 attacks has been proven, there is also strong evidence that Iraq is serving as a safe harbor for al Qaeda terrorists since the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Second, as part of the United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement following the liberation of Kuwait, Iraq agreed to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs and allow inspections to ensure its compliance with the agreement. Iraq has been in continuous violation of the cease-fire terms, playing ``cat-and-mouse'' games with United Nations inspectors while continuing to develop WMD. Since weapons inspectors were effectively expelled in 1998, Iraq has been completely free to continue its pursuit of developing WMD and the means to deliver them. Saddam Hussein has used chemical WMD in the past against a neighboring country, Iran, as well as against his own people, including innocent children. Third, Saddam Hussein has demonstrated his continuing hostility towards the United States by attempting to assassinate former President George Bush in 1993 and firing regularly on U.S. aircraft attempting to enforce United Nations-sanctioned ``no fly zones'' in northern and southern Iraq, the only protection that the persecuted people in those regions possess. In fact, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. and other allied aircraft enforcing the ``no fly zones'' have been fired upon several thousand times by Iraqi military units. Fourth, Saddam Hussein has engaged in heinous human rights violations against his own people. He has intimated political opponents by ordering the systematic rape of wives and mothers of said opponents and he has forced parents to watch their children be tortured as a means of political coercion. ``Finally, it is important to note that `'regime change'' in Iraq is not a new policy adopted by the Bush Administration. Rather, the Iraq Liberation Act, which states that it is the policy of the United States government ``to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime,'' was enacted in 1998. Sponsored by Congressman Ben Gilman in the House and Senators Trent Lott and Joseph Lieberman in the Senate, the Iraq Liberation Act passed the House by a vote of 360-38 and the Senate unanimously. President Bill Clinton signed this act into law on October 31, 1998. If the use of military force against Saddam Hussein's regime does prove to be necessary to protect our Nation's security, such military action must be carefully designed to minimize the risk of injury and death to Iraqi civilians and American military personnel. The enemy is the regime of Saddam Hussein, not the Iraqi people. Ideally, President Bush, working hand-in-hand with our allies and the United Nation's Security Council, will be successful in fully addressing the threat that Saddam Hussein and his military regime pose to world peace and to our Nation's security without having to resort to military force. But if diplomatic efforts fail to truly eliminate this grave threat to American lives, then we must be prepared to act decisively, just as our forefathers did during the Revolutionary War and World War II. President Bush well captured the challenge before us when he stated, ``As Americans, we want peace. We work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 438 I was attending a White House briefing on Iraq. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me this time. One year ago today, the lives of all Americans were forever changed. For the terrorists, the story of the September 11 attacks is one of immense hate, a hatred for the principles of freedom, liberty, and equality for which our great Nation stands. For Americans, however, the story of September 11 is a story of immense love, a love of country, a love for human life. Firefighters, police officers, and everyday citizens were heroic in rescuing victims of the attacks, and later in recovering the remains so as to properly honor those lost. Countless other citizens volunteered to assist and encouraged relief workers. Across the country, flags waved, hands were clasped in historic unity, and voices joined in prayer and in patriotic song. In response to the attacks, America has been made stronger. Americans better appreciate the sacrifices that police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel make every day to ensure our safety. And we certainly have a much deeper admiration for the courageous devotion to duty of our servicemen and women, our men and women in uniform, who fight to defend our precious freedoms throughout the world. President Bush so profoundly captured the enduring spirit of America when he stated last year, ``We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail. United we stand.'' God bless those who lost loved ones in the attacks of September 11 and those who gave their lives seeking to save the lives of others, and certainly God bless the United States of America.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and respect that I offer congratulations to my constituent, Anthony A. Minissale, D.O. of York, Pennsylvania. On July 20, Dr. Minissale will be inducted as the President of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) at its annual House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Minissale will serve from July 2002 through July 2003. Dr. Minissale is a board-certified osteopathic surgeon. He will lead 47,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) and the AOA, an association organized to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine by promoting excellence in education, research and the delivery of quality and cost-effective healthcare in a distinct, unified profession. In addition to protecting the right and privilege to practice osteopathic medicine, Dr. Minissale will work with the AOA to enhance professional unity, ensure quality education and training and preserve osteopathic principles. Dr. Minissale, vice president of medical affairs and director of medical education at Memorial Hospital in York, earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a rotating internship at Green Cross General Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and a residency in general surgery at Parkview Hospital in Philadelphia. A member of the AOA for 45 years, he has served as a member of its Board of Trustees for nine years and as a delegate to its legislative body, the House of Delegates, for over 20 years. Additionally, he has chaired all departments of the AOA and acts as the AOA's internship inspector, a post he has held since 1973. Dr. Minissale, a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, also serves the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA). A member of POMA since 1961, he has worked in such capacities as vice chairman, secretary/treasurer, and board member. A founding member and chairman of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Surgical Society, Dr. Minissale is also a member of the York Osteopathic Medical Society. Above and beyond his osteopathic duties, Dr. Minissale has worked with civic organizations, such as Leadership York, the Coalition for a Healthy York, and the Gladwyne Civic Association. Dr. Minissale resides in York with his wife, Adele, and their two children, Anthony and Angela. Mr. Speaker, osteopathic medicine plays an important role in the health of my fellow Pennsylvanians. We are proud to be the home of two osteopathic medical schools--the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Over 4,600 osteopathic physicians serve residents of the Keystone State. I am pleased to congratulate Anthony A. Minissale, D.O. on achieving the high honor of being named President of the American Osteopathic Association. I look forward to working with him to advance the health of my fellow Pennsylvanians and all Americans.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4865.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman knows, I requested that his subcommittee authorize the first phase of an important 5-phase project to replace seriously deteriorated family housing at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, which is in my district. The first phase is a modest beginning of 27 new units costing $5.4 million. I understand that there was insufficient money to accommodate all Members' requests, however worthy. However, I have been informed that the Army intends to fund this project in the fiscal year 2004 budget that will be submitted in February 2003. Mr. Chairman, this project is sorely needed, and I ask that the gentleman support this needed family housing project when his subcommittee reviews the Army's military construction request next year.

Mr. PLATTS. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his interest and support on this issue, and I also look forward to working with him, and I thank him for his fine leadership.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, I first would like to add my words of thanks and praise to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) for his fine leadership for the Committee on Armed Services and doing right by our armed men and women in uniform. I rise for the purpose now of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Girl Scouts of America. The Girl Scouts turn 90 years old this year, and have a long and progressive history in our country. The Girl Scouts were started in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Lowe. Her belief that all girls should experience physical, mental and spiritual growth through community involvement soon grew from a 18 member organization in 1912, to a 70 thousand member organization in 1920. Over the past 90 years, the Girl Scouts have: sold war bonds during World War One; led community relief efforts during the Great Depression; helped tackle illiteracy with then First Lady, Barbara Bush; and most recently, Girl Scouts donated a personal gift of one dollar each to help support the children of Afghanistan--no small amount with a membership of nearly 4 million girls. Within the Senior Girl Scouts division, young women are challenged to serve their community through Gold Award projects. Scouts strive for two years to earn a series of required badges, pins and patches. A scout must then plan and execute a year-long Gold Award project under the guidance of a certified volunteer. The Gold Award is the Girl Scouts highest award, with less than 4,000 scouts receiving the award each year, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support their local Girl Scout chapter and participate in at least one Gold Award ceremony in the next year in order to fully appreciate the hard work and enormous effort each Girl Scout must exert to achieve her goal.