Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, as a founding member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, I rise in strong support of our brave troops and in strong support of Congressman Murtha's plan for a responsible redeployment from Iraq. Americans want the truth about the Iraq war. Americans deserve the truth, and despite all the talk from those who declared this war, ineptly pursued this war, and still today justify this war, the American people in overwhelming numbers have determined for themselves the truth about this war. Polls taken even after the killing of al Zarqawi show that only 33 percent of American adults think that the results of the war were worth the loss of life and other costs. Only 33 percent approve of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq. Only 26 percent of Americans feel that the United States is better off because of the war. The American people in their wisdom have been able to distinguish reality from rhetoric. The truth has been a major casualty in the war of Iraq. It is worth reviewing just a few of the statements presented as truth that have been proven to be not true, never true, and still today not true: Dick Cheney said in August 2002, ``Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.'' In March 2003, Donald Rumsfeld said, ``We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.'' The President said in May 2003, ``We found the weapons of mass destruction.'' And Donald Rumsfeld on the cost, ``Well the Office of Management and Budget has come up with a number that is something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that will be the U.S. burden and how much will be other countries is an open question.'' Dick Cheney said May 30, 2005, ``I think they are in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.'' And what happens to those experts who tell the truth? Are they heeded and embraced by the Bush administration? Hardly. Although it is now universally agreed we didn't have enough troops to avoid the chaos and violence after the initial invasion, when the Army's top general, Eric Shinseki, testified in February 2003 ``something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers'' would be necessary to achieve victory in Iraq,'' he was immediately and publicly repudiated by Secretary Rumsfeld who said that ``the idea it would take several hundred thousand U.S. forces I think is far off the mark.'' Shinseki was quietly ushered into retirement, and Secretary Rumsfeld remains in place leading the failed Bush administration policy in Iraq. When Dr. Lawrence Lindsey, former assistant for economic policy to the President, told the Wall Street Journal in September 2002 that the war's cost could reach $200 billion, he was fired by the President. Yet by the end of this year we will have spend $450 billion in Iraq. Some say at the end of the day the war will cost $1 trillion taxpayer dollars. Since the time the President announced on May 1, 2003 that ``major combat operations in Iraq have ended,'' more than 2,350 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives, and the President has not attended a single one of their funerals. And the United States is spending in excess of $8 billion a month to wage the war. That is $266 million a day, $11 million an hour, $185,000 a minute and $3,100 a second, every second for this war. Certainly we could have afforded body armor and proper Humvees for our soldiers. We could have insured 165 million children for 1 year, provided more than 13 million American students with 4-year scholarships at public universities, fully funded global anti-hunger efforts for 11 years, give basic immunization to every child in the world for 92 years, and I believe that would have bought us more security than invading Iraq has done. Our military men and women have done a magnificent job in the Iraq theater and deserve better. The civilian leadership in the White House and the civilian leadership in the Pentagon have failed. Time after time they have been wrong. They projected the cost of the war and got it wrong. They predicted the length of the war: wrong. They predicted the existence of weapons of mass destruction: wrong. They predicted the Iraqi reaction to our occupation: wrong. They got the reconstruction of Iraq wrong. When it came to providing needed equipment, they got it wrong. And who will pay the price for those mistakes? None of the architects of this war. No one of them has been held accountable. The only ones paying the price are dead and wounded soldiers, our men and women in uniform. We need a new direction in Iraq. The majority has nothing to offer in terms of a plan, just more political ploys, more talk, more mistakes like those cited today. It is time to redeploy our troops from Iraq. There is a plan, the Murtha plan; and we should make sure that we are not establishing a permanent military presence there. Parliamentary Inquiry

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give well-deserved recognition to Joel M. Carp, who is retiring this month as the Senior Vice President for Community Services and Government Relations of the Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Joel Carp has been serving the people of my district and Illinois for over 30 years. As a social worker taught to help individuals deal with problems and gain opportunity, he has also used his professional training to promote policies and initiatives that will serve many, many people whom he will never meet face-to-face. Joel Carp is a tireless and passionate advocate. It doesn't matter whether someone is native-born or an immigrant, Jewish or not, young or old--he is there to provide assistance. For over three decades, he has fought to create services to meet the health, housing, nutrition and other needs of Illinois residents. At the Jewish Federation, he is responsible for projects like Chicago's Jewish Refugee Resettlement Program and Project EZRA (Services for the Homeless, Chronically Mentally Ill and Economically Disadvantaged). He serves on the Illinois Department of Human Services' Family Self Sufficiency Council, the Governor's Families and Children Leadership Sub-Cabinet, and the Lt. Governor's Ethnic Affairs Council. Joel Carp is also a force for change at the national level, where he has worked with OMB Watch, Independent Sector, and the National Immigration Forum and for policies to improve health and employment opportunities. And somehow he finds the time to publish, teach and mentor. Joel Carp is a dynamo whose actions are directed to improving people's lives and the strength of our community. We have been fortunate to be able to benefit from his skills, his passion, his commitment and his compassion. While I know that he will continue those efforts even after his retirement this month, I want to take this time to recognize his extraordinary accomplishments and to thank him for his excellent work on behalf of everyone in the 9th Congressional District and for this personal friendship.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5254, the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act. This bill would endanger the environment and the health of communities across America in order to provide another giveaway to the oil and gas industry which is reaping record profits. The oil industry is responsible for limiting refinery capacity. During the 1990s, the American Petroleum Institute encouraged the oil industry to limit refining capacity in order to boost profits. The industry followed instructions, closing 176 refineries since 1980 and failing to fully utilize available capacity. According to the Washington Post, between September 2004 and 2005, refineries marked up their prices 255 percent while gasoline retailers only marked up their prices by 5 percent. The five largest oil companies, many of which own refineries, reported record profits of $110 billion in 2005. ExxonMobil reported the largest annual profit of an American company in history. Environmental regulations are not standing in the way of new refineries being opened. The CEOs of Shell and ConocoPhillips have testified that no Federal or State regulations had prevented them from siting new refineries. Only one energy company, Arizona Clean Fuels, has filed a permit to open a new refinery in over 20 years. When Arizona Clear Fuels was granted that permit, the company never actually opened the refinery. Its inability to find investors, not environmental regulations, prevented the company from opening a refinery. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, refinery outages caused a supply shock that was in part responsible for a rise in gasoline prices. The Democrats, under the leadership of Representatives Dingell, Stupak and Boucher, proposed the creation of a strategic refinery reserve which would ensure that the U.S. had an adequate supply of refined product in case of national emergency. Republicans have repeatedly rejected Democrats' efforts to create that reserve, which would put the interests of consumers before the profits of the oil industry. Republicans have also rejected an attempt by Ranking Member Dingell and Energy and Commerce Democrats to make this legislation bipartisan. This bill is another giveaway to the oil and gas industry that could impose refineries on communities throughout the country. It requires President Bush to designate three closed military bases as sites for new refineries, waiving local and State regulations and giving communities little input in the process. It allows Secretary Rumsfeld to sell or transfer the land to an oil company at no cost. Congress should know by now that billions of dollars in giveaway to the oil and gas industry has only led to record profits and record energy prices. This bill again demonstrates the misplaced priorities of this Republican Congress. While my constituents are paying $2.96 for a gallon of regular gas in Chicago, we are considering legislation that would do nothing to bring down gasoline prices. Nothing in this legislation forces oil companies to utilize all of their available refining capacity, nor does it protect our supply in the case of a national emergency. This bill will lead to higher profits in the boardroom and more pain at the pump.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the McGovern-Lewis amendment to cut funds for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, WHINSEC, the successor organization to the U.S. Army School of the Americas. Sadly, despite a shameful history of training and support from some of our hemisphere's worst known human rights abusers, the only thing that has changed is the name. Funding an institution that has been directly responsible for the training of foreign soldiers who have perpetrated horrific atrocities against civilian populations is not the way to accomplish our foreign policy goals or more security in the region. Besides, enrollment has declined by 40 percent at WHINSEC, yet our funding for it remains constant, and the cost to maintain operations at the institute have gone up year after year. I traveled with Mr. McGovern to Colombia in 2001. We visited the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado. We talked to community leaders, the families and children. They just wanted to live in peace, free from conflict and arms. We also met with military forces in the area, and they denied any involvement in past atrocities. On February 21 and 22, eight members of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community, including three young children, were brutally massacred. Witnesses identified the killers as members of the Colombian military. And peace community members saw the army's 17th Brigade in the area at the time of the murders. General Hector Jaime Fandino Rincon is the commander of the 17th Brigade of the Colombian Army, the unit implicated in the massacre. This man received training and planning in conducting what they call ``small unit tactical operations'' at the institute, at WHINSEC. In December of 2004, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Since the massacre, the Colombian administration of Alvaro Uribe has done little to investigate the murders. Sadly, this is not an isolated matter. It is an unacceptable record at WHINSEC, an unacceptable legacy, and a shameful policy. We should all support this amendment.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan McGovern amendment which I am also proud to cosponsor. That passionate speech against liberals and against this piece of legislation might be interesting, but it is absolutely wrong. The fact that we have spent billions and billions of dollars in Colombia, and the gentleman talked about success and failure, and all of the evidence, the objective evidence, shows that this policy of fumigation and drug eradication unfortunately has been an abject failure. As far as ending violence in Colombia, I want to just give a couple of facts that the gentleman from Massachusetts mentioned. On May 22 of this year, soldiers of the Army's Third Brigade killed 10 members of Colombia's most elite police unit against narco- trafficking, trained by the DEA, in what evidence shows was a premeditated ambush. The police unit members who were killed had captured 205 drug traffickers, 23 of whom had been sent to the United States for trial. Armed Forces chief Mario Montoya initially called the killings a case of friendly fire. On June 1, two officers and six soldiers were arrested for the massacre. Colombian Attorney General Mario Iguaran said in announcing the arrests: ``It was not a mistake. It was an ambush planned as a favor to the drug traffickers.'' The Army officers apparently were working for the mafia. The International Committee of the Red Cross found that 13.6 percent increase in forced disappearances between 2004 and 2005. According to CODHES, the Colombian nongovernment organization that maintains data on forced displacement, the number of people forced from their homes by violence increased by 8 percent from 2004 to 2005. But you know what, we are not really having a debate about that because the modest offsets that we are talking about still leaves the accounts for drug eradication at $9 million above the President's request, but let us look at how that money has been spent. In Colombia and in the Andean region, as I said, the U.S. has invested billions of dollars, hundreds of millions year after year of our taxpayers dollars, and what have we gotten? Plan Colombia was supposed to reduce Colombia's cultivation and distribution of drugs by 50 percent, but 6 years and $4.7 billion later, the drug control results are meager at best. If you look at the U.S. government data, our own data, there is as much coca today in Colombia and as much cocaine in the United States as there was 6 years ago. But I want to get back to the point. What we are trying to do is to have a commonsense and compassionate effort to produce modest additional resources to help President Bush alleviate some of the world's most dire humanitarian crises. There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help. That is what this is about. I have travelled to places like Colombia and places where people are suffering. We are asking for a modest amount of money to be transferred out of this account, and the simple choice is should we overfund our efforts in Colombia by a lot or a little or should we do all we can to maximize the President's power to help the powerless suffering as a result of genocide and other crises.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to the passage of S. 193, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. I object to the passage of this bill because of my strong belief that in any legislative attempt to express disapproval of what some consider to be objectionable speech or acts, we must be careful not to infringe upon the Constitutionally-protected right to free speech. This legislation is an overreaction to the 2004 Janet Jackson ``wardrobe malfunction.'' I am a grandmother of four and I am concerned about what is making it onto the airwaves. I understand that many find the content and language used in some programs intolerable, especially for children. However, because I am also a strong proponent of the First Amendment and oppose inappropriate restrictions on free speech, I must weigh concerns about questionable content against the need to protect free speech. I think we also need to be careful about passing a bill that gives ``Big Brother'' a heavy hammer to punish those who violate his notion of decency. I believe that increasing fines to $325,000 per incident would have a chilling effect on creativity, lead to second-guessing of material, pulling programs, and other forms of censorship. As I have said before, we run a great risk when our legislation threatens to undermine both our Constitution and our creativity. If we are serious about improving broadcast content, which is what I think people really want to do, then we need to address the fact that large media conglomerates are allowed to gobble up independent stations that are much more sensitive to the communities they serve. Large media conglomerates are the main sources of indecent programming. Since 1999, 80 percent of the indecency findings have been against two media giants: Clear Channel and Viacom. Not only do they lack knowledge of local community standards, but they also drown out the diversity of voices and viewpoints. Our constituents would be better served if we were voting to limit the over-concentration of media ownership, not to increase fines. While I do not support S. 193, I am glad that my colleagues agree that the even more problematic H.R. 310 is not the route to take. Censoring artists with outrageous fines and threatening broadcasters' licenses should something ``indecent'' make it on the airwaves would have caused even more damage to our First Amendment than the bill before us today. Regardless, I think S. 193 opens the door to future attacks at one of our Nation's fundamental freedoms and I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, I am proud to pay tribute to Dr. Allan Alson upon his retirement as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School (ETHS). Over the past 16 years at ETHS, two as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and 14 as Superintendent, Dr. Alson has served the Evanston community with honor and distinction. Dr. Alson's vision, courage, and commitment to give each young person the gift of a quality education has helped make Evanston a more unified, respectful, and tolerant community. Under Dr. Alson's leadership, Evanston Township High School has advanced its reputation as one of the very best high schools in America. In addition to promoting academic success, Dr. Alson's long list of accomplishments also includes improvements in the arts, athletics and extracurricular programs. Dr. Alson has helped unite community resources and build diverse partnerships to solve community problems and enhance the educational experience of ETHS students. During Dr. Alson's service, Evanston Township High School has forged partnerships with the city of Evanston, its business and health- care communities, and Northwestern and National-Louis Universities. Examples of effective collaborations spearheaded by Dr. Alson's administration include an award-winning School Based Health Center, student workforce training, and an interagency consortium for youth advocacy. Throughout his tenure as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School, Dr. Alson has made the achievement of students of color an essential goal. In 1999, Dr. Alson founded the Minority Student Achievement Network, a national consortium of 25 urban-suburban districts devoted to improving the academic achievement of students of color. Dr. Alson has helped foster a culture of excellence and a climate of high expectations for all students. While more work remains to be done, Evanston Township High School has seen the rate of college attendance for students of color rise from 65 percent to almost 80 percent. Dr. Alson will long be remembered with gratitude for his tireless efforts to promote academic excellence and social justice. However, most importantly, he can look about the community and see a legacy made of the thousands of young people, parents, teachers, administrators and community members whose lives he has touched. It is a legacy for which he can be immensely proud. In honor of his legacy of service, I offer Dr. Alson this United States flag as a symbol of appreciation, esteem and good wishes. This flag was flown over the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC in honor of an outstanding educator, advocate, true public servant, and my valued personal friend. On behalf of the community to which he has given so much, I congratulate Dr. Alson and offer him my best wishes for many years of health, happiness, and continued success.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be withdrawn as a cosponsor of H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the do-nothing Republican Congress continues to move along at a snail's pace, refusing to address any of the tough decisions that Americans so desperately want this Congress to tackle. Today is the 160th day of the year, but only the 40th voting day here in the House. Imagine that. It is no wonder that the American people have lost faith in Washington. The House Republican leadership has simply run out of ideas. Rather than proposing a forward-looking energy initiative, House Republicans continue to push Big Oil's tired old ideas, ideas that will do absolutely nothing to lower gas prices for the American consumer. Rather than explore ways to help Americans better afford ever- increasing health care premiums, House Republicans will once again follow the playbook of the insurance industry when, later this month, they will propose health care bills that only help enrich insurance companies. Mr. Speaker, time is running out for the House Republican do-nothing Congress to actually provide some real leadership and some new ideas. The American people are waiting.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate and honor two outstanding police officers, detectives Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski for the recognition they received last week by the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO). On May 12, 2006 Detectives Fennelly and Zielinski, officers with the Morton Grove Police Department, were awarded NAPO's ``Top Cops'' award for their heroic service in the line of duty. On January 21, 2005, with the assistance of Chicago Police Sergeant Richard J. Plotke (also awarded a Top Cops honor) the officers tracked down two suspects who had forcefully entered a home in Morton Grove and held hostage, robbed and brutalized the woman residing at that property. While attempting to serve a warrant at the suspects' apartment, all three officers came under heavy gunfire. Despite the violent onslaught, and injuries sustained during the suspects' violent attack, the three officers relied on their skills and training to successfully disarm and render the assailants harmless. By successfully tracking down those dangerous criminals, putting themselves in the line of fire and ultimately disarming the assailants, Detectives Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski (and Sergeant Plotke) prevented the serious threat posed to their fellow law enforcement professionals and to the entire community. Their heroic demonstration of bravery, team work and public service certainly makes them Top Cops in my book and in the eyes of their peers. On behalf of the entire 9th Congressional District and along with Morton Grove's Police Chief, Paul Tasch, Jr. and Mayor, Richard Krier, I want to commend and thank our Top Cops Detective Brian Fennelly and Detective Robert Zielinski for their heroic service to our community. I urge all members of the House to recognize their outstanding service and the service of all public safety and law enforcement personnel throughout the country.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Republican budget resolution. The Republican's 2007 budget--and the signing of tax cuts for millionaires today--reflects priorities that are not in line with what our country stands for or the values in which most Americans believe. In keeping with an unfortunate tradition, the Republicans have once again put tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of national security, investing in our economic competitiveness, and meeting the needs of seniors, families, and students. This budget puts K Street ahead of the needs of Main Street. The Republicans claim that this budget will decrease the massive Bush-era deficit. However, even with all the cruel cuts they make to medical research, health care, and nutrition assistance, their tax cuts add another $1.1 trillion to the deficit. Is that responsible? The Republicans claim to have our country's best interests in mind. Yet, they slash funding for education and job training by $4.6 billion. Is that in our best interest? The Republicans allege that their fiscal policies spark economic growth and prosperity. In reality, income is dropping, poverty has increased over the last several years, and 7.1 million Americans remain unemployed. Is that growth and prosperity? What is responsible is funding vocational education to train our future workers, as the Democratic alternative to this budget would do. It is in our country's best interest to fund port security and homeland security. The Democratic budget recognizes that by providing $6.5 billion more than Republican budget does for homeland and port security. What would spur economic growth is funding initiatives like the Community Development Block Grants program, not cutting it by $736 million as the Republicans do. That money would help revitalize our dilapidated neighborhoods. As I have said time and time again, budgets reflect what we value and what is important to us as a country. I value senior citizens--and that is why I cannot support a Republican budget that cuts their housing assistance by 26 percent. I believe it is important to prepare for our future so I cannot support a plan that cuts 42 education programs. I support our troops and refuse to support any budget that would cut veterans' health care by $8.6 billion even as new veterans, many severely wounded, are returning home every day. But that's what the Republican budget does. I urge my colleagues to vote with our common American values and dreams in mind and support the Democratic and Congressional Black Caucus budgets and oppose the Republican budget that sells out the needs of the majority of Americans to make room for tax cuts for millionaires and K Street interests.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with Jewish Americans from Maine to Hawaii to celebrate the designation of this May as the first ever Jewish American Heritage Month. On Thursday April 20th, President Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. I was a proud cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 315 when it unanimously passed the House of Representatives on December 15th, 2005, urging the President to do just that. Now for the first time there will be a national month recognizing the 352-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. As a first generation Jewish American, I have witnessed firsthand Jewish immigrants who have come to this Nation in order to create a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. Since the first Jews settled here over 300 years ago, Jewish Americans have made endless contributions to our country through technology, the economy, entertainment, academia, politics, art, medicine, military service, and more. Like other important immigrant communities, the Jewish experience in the United States represents the ideal of freedom and the promise and opportunity of America. Through educational programming, Jewish American History Month will help raise the awareness of a people, their history and contributions. It will help combat anti-Semitism, a phenomenon that is on the rise and that unfortunately still exists in our Nation. At no time in recent history has the need for this observance been greater. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) most recent Hate Crimes Statistics, 67.8 percent of criminal incidents motivated by religions bias stemmed from anti-Jewish prejudice. The 1essons from the Holocaust have taught Jewish Americans that we must never turn a blind eye to terror or discrimination. It is necessary to combat hate wherever it exists. As a Jew I cannot sit idle while genocidal atrocities continue to unfold in Darfur, Sudan. I was proud to witness American Jewish organizations found the Save Darfur Coalition in June 2004 to mobilize a coordinated interfaith response to the ongoing humanitarian disaster. I hope every American will lend their support to this critical effort. I look forward to the celebrations that will take place each May for years to come and I encourage everyone to help make this inaugural year's observance memorable by developing educational and celebratory programs in your communities. And I wish you a happy Jewish American Heritage Month.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago this week Vice President Cheney convened his secret energy task force, bringing Big Oil and energy lobbyists together to craft the Bush administration energy agenda. Last year House Republicans rubber-stamped that agenda, and the administration happily signed the legislation into law. Today, the results are in. Big Oil is laughing all the way to the bank. During the first quarter of this year, the big five oil companies reported profits of $32.8 billion. These profits are a direct result of those secret Cheney meetings. Big Oil has experienced record profits because Washington Republicans chose to shower Big Oil with more than $20 billion in gifts. While Big Oil is prospering, the decisions made in those secret Cheney meetings are not paying off for the American consumer. Over the past 5 years the average American family is paying $2,000 more a year in gas, home heating and electrical bills. Washington Republicans continue to hurt everyday Americans by cozying up to Big Oil. Is it any wonder that Americans are demanding change? Democrats will end Big Oil price gouging and rapidly move our country to energy independence and a renewable, clean energy future.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to begin by thanking Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton and their Armed Service Committee staffs for working with me to bring this amendment dealing with private military contractors to the floor. I really appreciate your help and that of your staff. My amendment would provide for additional oversight and accountability of the Defense Department contractors deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contractors compose the second largest force in Iraq after the U.S. military. This amendment does not attempt to make any statement on the decision to use contractors or about the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. Now that we are more than 3 years into the war in Iraq, this amendment is intended to give Members of Congress new tools so that we can exercise our oversight responsibilities on what has become a major component of our military and to clarify the role of contractors. We can all acknowledge that military contractors should require the same stringent accountability and oversight standards as the U.S. military. After all, private contractors often served side by side with our brave troops, and these same United States troops are often tasked to protect our contractors who are paid with billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars. This amendment would help to provide increased accountability and oversight for our Defense Department contractors by, first, implementing a policy for conducting comprehensive background checks on foreign nationals hired by our contractors. We want to know who these individuals are and what their backgrounds are and if they are suitable for that role. It also prohibits the hiring of any person that has been convicted of a violent crime or a human rights violation. Second, this amendment makes retroactive new Department of Defense rules for contractors on contracts that are already in existence or on any contract extension. For example, it makes perfectly clear that combatant commanders are in charge. It outlines carefully that relationship between combatant commanders and contractors so that there is a structure of command or part of the chain of command. The combatant commander decides whether or not they carry a gun, what uniform they would wear and that they have to respond to the combatant commander. It also would say that anyone that is a contractor or an employee of a contractor must obey the laws of the host country, of international law and U.S. law. Third, it requires a Department of Defense Inspector General report on contractor overcharges, requires that there are sufficient contracting officers assigned to monitor contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that in the future I can continue to work with Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton to address additional oversight issues regarding the use of military contractors. I also hope we will continue to consider the impact that utilizing contractors has on our military. And I would also like to consider additional means to make it easier for Members of Congress to see Defense Department contracts so we can better monitor them for signs of waste, fraud and abuse. Again, I thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton. I appreciate your support and attention to this important issue.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, there are times that I wonder whether my colleagues on the other side of the aisle live in a different reality from the rest of us. This resolution encourages senior citizens and persons with disabilities to carefully review all the part D private plan options before them and determine whether to purchase a policy. We all want senior citizens and disabled people to make informed choices, and we have been helping them, but the reality is there is no way that the millions of beneficiaries who have not enrolled are going to be able to do that in the next 5 days. The Republican resolution completely ignores the complicated mess that the Republican Congress created in part D. It ignores the fact that current HHS Secretary Leavitt's parents, who he helped, got it wrong and had to change plans. It ignores the Kaiser Family Foundation report that nearly half of all citizens don't know about the May 15 deadline or the lifetime financial punishment they will face if they miss it, permanent higher premiums as long as they live. It ignores the GAO report that the Medicare hotline gave inaccurate or inadequate information on which was the best plan to 60 percent of the callers. It ignores the fact that independent counselors are inundated and unable to provide unbiased advice to sort out the dozens of private plans available. It ignores the Family USA Report that three out of four low income seniors have not signed up. It ignores the fact that half of the seniors who didn't have drug coverage last year still don't have it today. That is 10 million people. It ignores the fact that yesterday's CNN poll said that 47 percent of seniors said the part D program isn't working. As hard as the Republicans may work to ignore reality, the real reality out there for most people, it won't go away. And the pressure should not be on older and disabled Americans to act over the next 5 days. It should be on the Republican majority to extend the deadline and fix this mess.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidity with Jews across this nation and around the world to pay tribute to those who perished at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. Today in the Nation's Capital, we gather to pay our respects at the National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance. I would like to thank the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for arranging this important and emotional event. My district, the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, is home to perhaps the largest concentration of survivors in the country and certainly in the state, and this day holds deep meaning for those individuals and the entire community. Recent events in the Middle East and around the world underscore the importance of this day. Anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric and demonstrations continue in numerous countries. And the President of one these countries, Iran, has threatened to use nuclear weapons to wipe Israel off the face of the map. With anti-Semitism on the rise we must be reminded that ``Never Again'' is not a guarantee, but a pledge that we must uphold through education, dialogue, and determination. It also reminds us that we must continue to strengthen the U.S. commitment to the security of Israel. Moreover, we must redouble our efforts to bring lasting peace to the Middle East. ``Never Again'' means that we must combat hate wherever it exists. While the Holocaust was a unique incident, a genocide is taking place right in front of our eyes in the Darfur region of Sudan. I recently traveled to Darfur where President Bush and the U.S. Congress have officially acknowledged ``genocide'' is taking place. According to official estimates, out of an estimated pre-conflict population of 7 million in Darfur, anywhere between 180,000 and 400,000 Darfurians have already died and over 2 million have been displaced. The conflict has spilled across international borders and hundreds of thousands have fled into Chad. The window to provide security and hope is narrowing. According to the Commander of the African Union forces who briefed the participants of my Congressional Delegation in Darfur, ``There is no sense of urgency outside.'' As a Jew I cannot sit idle while these atrocities continue to unfold in Darfur. The lessons from the Holocaust have taught us that we must never turn a blind eye to terror or discrimination. We must demand that our government hold those who carry out acts of needless brutality accountable. I believe that everyone should take a moment today to consider the role of the U.S. in the prevention and prosecution of genocide. We must honor those who were lost during the Holocaust by carrying on and living honorable and productive lives. At the same time we must also honor them by carrying out measures to bring to justice those who were implicated and who profited from their suffering. And we must do everything within our power to provide the utmost measure of restitution for those who survived the Nazi's evil plan. The Holocaust was the most horrific human atrocity the world saw during the last century and perhaps in the history of the planet. Millions of Jews and others were brutalized, raped, beaten, dehumanized, enslaved, robbed, and murdered. While it is hard to grasp how terrible those events must have been, what all of our children, and us must do is to listen to the stories of those few remaining survivors of the Holocaust and ensure that their stories and their suffering are a permanent part of history. Today we honor and mourn those who perished. We vow to live our lives in a way that pays tribute to their memory and ensures others will not suffer their fate.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 282, the Iran Freedom Support Act, which has 360 bipartisan cosponsors who represent approximately 216 million Americans. Following continued Iranian threats to develop and deploy nuclear weapons, increasing evidence that Tehran is interfering with stabilization efforts in Iraq, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust and comments that Israel should be wiped off the map, and ongoing Iranian support of international terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, it is time for the United States to take concrete steps to hold Iran accountable for its actions. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 282 because I feel it is a priority to ensure that Iran is not abusing the basic rights of its people, endangering the well-being of its neighbors, or destabilizing the region. H.R. 282 strengthens existing United States sanctions against Iran, authorizes support to democratic reformers within Iran, and calls for American investors to divest their holdings of companies invested in Iran's energy sector. The legislation is designed to deny Iran the necessary funds to advance its quest for nuclear weapons. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has foresworn acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet, it operated a clandestine nuclear program for nearly two decades before it was exposed in 2002. Iran's continued behavior has led to the decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council. Late last month, the Security Council issued a unanimous statement reiterating calls by the IAEA and members of the international community for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment efforts and permit U.N. inspectors to reenter Iranian nuclear facilities. Now the United States Congress must use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to address this situation. While Iran must be held accountable for its actions, I will be demanding that the President of the United States seek the consent of Congress before any military plans are considered. There is no military solution to resolving this conflict. The only solution is to use diplomacy, work with the international community, and promote change in Iran from within. Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons threatens the stability of the entire Middle East and could spark a dangerous and unprecedented nuclear arms race. I urge all of my colleagues to act now and support H.R. 282.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan for his great leadership to try and help consumers to bring the price of gasoline down. Mr. Speaker, gasoline prices have doubled since the Bush administration took office. On Sunday, Secretary Bodman declared there was an energy crisis in this country, and the Republicans are scrambling to play catch- up. Since last September, Speaker Hastert has blocked action on Congressman Stupak's bill, which would impose tough criminal penalties on oil and gas companies that engage in price gouging. Congressional Republicans have consistently voted down efforts to give the FTC new authority to prosecute companies that price gouge. Instead, Republicans passed an energy bill which the Energy Information Administration said would raise gasoline prices, and it has. Last Tuesday, President Bush called on his administration to investigate possible price gouging, even though the FTC was completing a report on price gouging that Congress requested last year. Then, on Friday, the President said, ``I have no evidence that there's any rip- off taking place.'' Think back to the investigation. Is it any wonder, Mr. President, that Americans are skeptical that you are serious about investigating your Big Oil buddies? On Friday you said, ``It's the role of the FTC to assure me that my inclinations and instincts are right.'' Was that an order for a rubber stamp, Mr. President? No wonder the American people are a bit skeptical, Mr. President, that your oil- dominated administration will work to protect them or, once again, to protect the oil and gas companies, but we need to begin with a serious investigation of those oil companies. I hope that you are really serious.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, when are House Republicans going to stop being a rubber stamp for President Bush and join us in being on the side of seniors and the disabled instead of the pharmaceutical companies? House Republicans don't have too much time left to make the right decision. As this calendar shows, Congress has only 19 days left to act on behalf of millions of American senior citizens who have still not chosen a drug plan. Despite a multimillion-dollar campaign and months of heavy promotion by the administration, only 8 million uninsured Medicare beneficiaries have voluntarily signed up so far for a private drug plan, leaving 14 million seniors still without any drug coverage. Well, some of these seniors have simply determined that the new prescription drug plan will not help them and their prescription drug bills. Others are still navigating through dozens of different plans hoping to find one that will help them. House Republicans should not add to this pressure by supporting the President's unreasonable May 15 deadline. House Republicans should join the Democrats in extending the deadline until the end of the year. As we mark off another day, the countdown continues.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, as a former teacher, mother, and grandmother, I rise in opposition to H.R. 609, the so-called College Access and Opportunity Act. H.R. 609 represents a major missed opportunity to make college more affordable and accessible, to boost America's economic competitiveness, and to invest in America's future. The Republican majority is bringing this bill to the floor just 2 months after they passed the Budget Reconciliation Act, which slashed federal student aid programs by $12 billion. H.R. 609 does nothing to reverse this raid on student aid, nor does it do anything to make college loans more affordable. In fact, this bill freezes the authorized level of the maximum Pell grant scholarship. If this bill is passed, Pell grants would be frozen at just $200 above the current level until 2013. This would mean less money to help students go to school. With millions of American families struggling to pay for college, it is critical that Congress act to make college more affordable. I would like to share with my colleagues part of a letter that a constituent from Des Plaines, Illinois, recently wrote to me: My son who is out of college for 2 years, makes about $30,000. His major was public relations, but could not get a job in that field since he had no experience. So he finally got a job in sales. Since he went to school in Iowa, we consolidated his loans with an Iowa firm. His loans were over $100,000. His monthly payment was about $500 [in addition] he has the federal loans [amounting to] over $100. As of Feb. 6th he will pay over $700 a month for his private loan plus his federal loans which will bring him over $850 a month. This is for the next 20 years . . . I would like for someone to tell me how does the government expect kids to be able to make a life for themselves when the interest rates keep going up on school loans? Why can't students have a lower fixed rate? I also understand that when kids get out of college you are figuring that you will be making enough money to pay their loans. But what about the kids that aren't engineers, doctors, or lawyers? What about those average kids who go to college because they know in order to get a job these days you need that degree but do not make large salaries and barely make enough money to live. My kids are used to hard work, for example, working two jobs. I guess I figured that once you have that degree, it would be a little easier to get a job. Obviously, that is not the case. This is just one of thousands of such stories. The members of the majority must be hearing them too. However, H.R. 609 contains little assistance for the millions of low- and middle-income families who continue to struggle to pay for college. Instead the majority chose to make tax breaks for the wealthy a priority over helping the next generation of Americans go to college. That is why I encourage all of my colleagues to support the Democratic alternative. The Democratic alternative would cut in half the student loan interest rate for borrowers who are most in need. The substitute also establishes a new Predominantly Black Serving Institution program, a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution program and Minority Teaching Centers for Excellence to increase the number of highly qualified teachers, including minority teachers. The substitute provides for year-round Pell grants. It establishes a minimum grant of $500,000 for tribal colleges. It repeals the single lender rule, which requires student borrowers to consolidate their loans with their existing lender. Under the substitute, the borrower could choose which lender he or she wishes to use to consolidate loans. At a time when the United States needs to invest in innovation and education in order to compete in the 21st century, H.R. 609 leads us in the wrong direction. It will force many students to forgo college altogether. For many students, financial barriers are the principal factor that determines whether they will successfully complete college or not. American students need and deserve more affordable college opportunities, not additional barriers to achievement and opportunity. I literally shake my head in wonder at these counterproductive cuts. We should be increasing opportunities for Americans to further their education. The Republican majority has instead given us a shameful sham of a bill. I urge all of my colleagues to adopt the Democratic alternative and to oppose H.R. 609, the ``Republican Missed College Opportunities'' bill.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the FY06 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill because it is long overdue that we end the failed policy in Iraq. I voted against giving the President the authority to go to war against Iraq in October 2002, and I have opposed supplemental funding that would extend the conflict ever since. I ask my colleagues to recall the comments of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who said in January 2003 that the war would cost ``something under $50 billion.'' Unfortunately, since that time we have appropriated more than $250 billion in supplemental funding alone. And a new study by Columbia University economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, who won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2001, and Harvard lecturer Linda Bilmes concludes that the total costs of the Iraq war could top the $2 trillion mark. Secretary Rumsfeld also told us in February 2003 that ``it is unknowable how long that [Iraq] conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.'' On May 1st, 2003, President Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared Mission Accomplished. And on May 30th, 2005, Vice President Cheney declared that ``I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.'' However, this week we are celebrating the 3 year anniversary of the war, 2176 brave men and women in uniform have died in Iraq since the President declared Mission Accomplished, and it has become clear that the Iraqi civil war that many of us feared would occur has begun. Although there is an attempt by the Bush administration to convince the American people that our military is helping to quell the sectarian violence, recent events have proven the administration wrong. Our occupation of Iraq has isolated us from a large segment of the international community, and has prevented us from capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders. The war has also distracted us from two of the most critical issues in the region--the development of nuclear weapons in Iran and the Israeli/Palestinian peace process. In addition, the war has diverted attention and resources from critical homeland security needs. A continued United States presence in Iraq will do nothing but exacerbate these problems. It is for our brave troops, and for the security of the international community that I cannot vote to continue the war in Iraq. Like everyone, I want to avoid a radical and unstable Iraq in the future. However, I believe that the ongoing presence of the U.S. military in Iraq is putting those brave troops at risk and creating a situation where the majority of Iraqis support U.S. withdrawal. I know that the Republican supplemental appropriations request will pass the House of Representatives. Our troops will not be stranded in the field. None of us would allow that to occur. And I know that this supplemental will also contain money for important issues such as Katrina relief, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and assistance to Darfur and Liberia, which I strongly support funding. However, Iraq war funding makes up approximately 80 percent of this supplemental. The Republican majority has employed a cynical tactic to attach worthy causes onto an Iraq war funding bill in an attempt to force members of Congress who oppose the war into voting for it. Also, crafting an ``emergency'' supplemental for a war that is three years old is simply another example of the majority's poor leadership in this Congress. I would like to encourage all my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring two bills, which if passed together, add up to a sensible policy that would provide our troops with the resources they need to complete a safe and honorable redeployment from their current combat areas. The first is H.J. Res. 73, known as the Murtha Resolution, which calls for the immediate redeployment of U.S. forces in Iraq, the creation of a quick-reaction and over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines in the region, and the pursuit of stability in Iraq through diplomacy. This resolution would allow the U.S. footprint to be minimized on the ground in Iraq, while still providing a military presence that can assist Iraqis in securing their nation. I support this resolution precisely because I want to help our troops who are in harm's way. The second bill, H.R. 4232, the End the War in Iraq Act introduced by Representative James McGovern, would prohibit funds from being appropriated to deploy, or continue to deploy, U.S. Armed Forces to Iraq. Exceptions to this rule would be made if the funds are being used to provide for the safe and orderly redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq, to ensure the security of Iraq and its transition to democratic rule by carrying out consultations with the Government of Iraq, other foreign governments and international organizations, or by providing financial assistance or equipment to Iraqi security forces and international forces in Iraq. In addition H.R. 4232 would permit the use of funds to carry out social and economic reconstruction activities. Simply because we must reposition our armed forces, does not mean we can abandon our obligation to the Iraqi people to help them create a positive future for themselves and future generations. I am pleased that my colleagues accepted the Lee/Schakowsky/Allen/ Hinchey Amendment which would prohibit permanent military bases from being constructed in Iraq. I will work to make sure this amendment is accepted by the Senate. However, I cannot vote today to continue this misguided war in Iraq. My no vote is an expression for my desire to support our troops and to begin to restore the credibility of America in the eyes of the international community.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to Chicago Olympic speed skater Shani Davis for his triumphant performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Shani Davis has achieved excellence at the world's highest level and in doing so he has blazed a new trail in Olympic and speed skating history. The Olympic Games are a celebration of the sporting spirit that unites all athletes of the world. No performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics was more demonstrative of this spirit than that of Chicago's Shani Davis. On February 18, 2006 he became the first African-American to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympics history by finishing the 1,000 meter competition in 1 minute 8.89 seconds. Three days later he added to this amazing accomplishment by winning the silver medal in the 1,500 meter event. On March 19, 2006, with the Olympic flame still burning brightly in his heart, Shani Davis set a new world record in the men's 1,500-meter event at the International Skating Union all-around speed skating world championships in Calgary, Canada. Davis finished in 1:42.68 lowering the previous world record by 0.1 second (1:42.78). These remarkable accomplishments are a testament to Shani Davis' courage and reflect his many years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I am particularly proud to know that Shani Davis' journey to sports greatness has deep roots in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. Shani Davis lived in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and began his speed skating experience at the tender age of six under the tutelage of Sanders Hicks at the Robert Crown Ice Rink in Evanston. Shani Davis trained and enhanced his skills as a member of the Speed Skating Club at Robert Crown. Even though he has already established an outstanding speed skating career, I believe that the future will be even richer and brighter for Shani Davis. I have witnessed his interactions with young people and I know his experiences have helped spark their imaginations and inspired them to achieve greatness in their own lives. The lessons of setting high goals, being persistent and believing in yourself are lessons that all children need to learn, lessons that are abundantly evident in the power of Shani Davis' example. Shani Davis' world record and outstanding contributions to the legacy of the Olympics will forever serve as a source of pride and inspiration for the people of Evanston, Chicago, and all Americans. In honor of his remarkable achievements, I offer Shani Davis this United States flag as a symbol of appreciation, esteem and good wishes. This flag was flown over the United States Capital building in Washington, DC and is a fitting gift for a patriot and champion. On behalf of the people of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, I offer Shani Davis my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for his continued excellence.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to cosponsor the Lee amendment to prohibit any funds from the supplemental from being used to enter into a basing rights agreement between the United States and Iraq. It is clear that the Iraqis, Shiites and Sunnis alike, in overwhelming numbers, do not want us to stay there. And the Secretary of Defense has said that there are no plans or discussions under way to have permanent bases in that country. So this would codify that. This would make sure that that is true. And yet it has been suggested by top military leaders, including General John Abizaid, as recently as this week, that the United States may want to keep a long-term military presence in Iraq. If true, this is a scheme fraught with danger. As anyone knows that watches television or reads the paper, the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq has been a powerful recruiting tool for the Iraqi insurgency. And General George Casey has agreed with that, saying that by getting our troops out of there that we would take away one of the elements that fuels the insurgency. Please support this amendment. It is good for our troops and good for our country and theirs.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I rise in support of the Waxman-Dingell amendment which is about waste, fraud and abuse. That is it. And this is the full extent of the amendment, eight lines, very simple. All it says is that none of the funds appropriated or made available by this Act shall be obligated or expended by the Secretary of the Army to any contractor if the Defense Contract Audit Agency has determined that more than $100 million of the contractor's costs for contracts involving work in Iraq under one or more Army contracts were unreasonable. So we have set up a process to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse. How long does it take to figure that out? I cannot imagine that anybody in this body wants to fund waste, fraud and abuse, particularly in excess of $100 million. That is what this is about. Last June, Congressman Waxman released a report documenting a stunning $1.4 billion in questioned and unsupported charges by Halliburton in Iraq. Don't we want to know about that? Last month, The New York Times reported that the Bush administration ignored 97 percent of the recommendations made by Pentagon auditors and awarded Halliburton over $250 million under its Iraq oil contract. And just last week, a Federal jury found that another firm, Custer Battles, defrauded the government by millions of dollars under just one of its Iraq contracts. So how does this Congress justify ignoring blatant stealing? Do we not all want to get at that? I mean, too many of our soldiers have been asked to do without proper body armor and equipment, and they come home to reduced benefits, and this Congress has found it easy enough to say no to our soldiers; and yet every single time we have been able to say yes to Halliburton. Is it not time that all of us agree that it is wrong to have this kind of waste, fraud and abuse and to pass this simple amendment? I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, 3 months into the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit, one thing is perfectly clear, and that is the ``D'' in part D stands for disaster. Beneficiaries are being bombarded by marketers and have been victimized by fraud. Forty percent of beneficiaries have yet to choose a plan because they remain perplexed and frustrated. $1.2 trillion seniors and people with disabilities deserve better than this. The Berry amendment would provide beneficiaries an additional 6 months to choose a plan. This is the least that we can do for our senior citizens. I cannot imagine that any Member has not gone home and found hundreds and thousands of seniors who cannot figure this out. Only a small fraction are computer literate, and they are trying to figure it out. Let us give these seniors a little more time to try and figure this out. In the meantime, maybe we can fix this plan so that it can be serving them rather than the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance industry. This is a very, very sensible amendment. I know that there are people on both sides of the aisle who are feeling the pressure just to give a bit more time to our seniors. I hope you will all support this amendment.