Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, President Bush went to New York yesterday to tout his confusing and failing prescription drug plan for seniors. The Bush administration has botched this plan since day one. For one, Medicare itself put out all kinds of wrong information that increased confusion among already frustrated seniors. Second, low-income seniors that were promised an easy transition from State programs to Federal programs ran into huge problems, leaving some seniors no choice but to go without their drugs. Third, States were forced to step in and pick up the tab for the Federal Government's incompetence. It is no wonder that only about five million seniors have willingly signed up for the plan. Seniors should not be penalized for the Bush administration's incompetence. Unfortunately, that is exactly what will happen if President Bush does not extend the deadline for seniors to sign up for the plan. Two months from today, May 15, is the deadline for seniors to sign up for a plan; and if they do not, the administration will permanently increase their premium with a 1 percent penalty for every month they wait to sign up. Democrats want this deadline extended, and we want to fix the drug plan so it works for seniors and the disabled and not just the drug and insurance companies.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has opened a new chapter in Africa's history as its first female head-of-state. Her election marks a turning point for Liberia, a long-time ally of the United States, which has recently been debilitated by war, corruption, and civil strife. I met with President Sirleaf in Liberia three weeks ago and I know she has the skills and vision it will take to rebuild Liberia and bring hope to its people. In her inaugural speech, President Sirleaf promised to give Liberian women ``prominence in all affairs of our country.'' The 21st Century could well be the century of the woman, not only in Liberia, but around the world. In the past year, first female heads of state were elected in Liberia, Chile, and Germany, and Finland re-elected its first female president. A recent U.S. poll showed that 92 percent of Americans are ready to elect a female president. But for now, Liberia is a step ahead of the United States. The U.S. and Liberia have long shared close ties, dating back to 1819, when Congress appropriated $100,000 that helped lead to the founding of the country. The end of Liberia's civil war and President Sirleaf's election present a unique opportunity to maximize the close ties between our countries. I support Congressman Jesse Jackson and Chairman Jim Clyburn's call to include appropriations for Liberia in the President's supplemental request. President Bush has committed to spreading democracy around the world. This is a unique opportunity to build a democracy in a nation that is starting anew. Rewarding Liberia for its democratic progress would send the right signal to other African nations. President Sirleaf still faces many challenges and will need our support to succeed. Despite its small gross national income, Liberia has $2.56 billion in outstanding international debt. HIV/AIDS is spreading at an increasing rate and 708,000 Liberians, just under a third of the population, receive food assistance each month. U.S. assistance to Liberia has decreased in recent years; it will have to increase for President Sirleaf to meet these humanitarian needs. President Sirleaf will also need help building democracy. Consolidating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2003 and pursuing transitional justice against war criminals remain immediate priorities. The U.S. should offer its diplomatic backing to encourage other states in the region to help Liberia find resolution. In her inaugural address, President Sirleaf committed to a new era of democracy, economic renewal, and good governance for Liberia. Upon her second state visit to the United States, we welcome President Sirleaf and offer our support for her mission to lead Liberia to better times.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4472, the Chidren's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act. By bringing to the floor bills that already passed the House but with a few key provisions stripped, the House leadership is using procedural maneuvers to thwart the bill supported by a bipartisan majority of House members and by a significant majority of Americans. I am particularly outraged that the leadership jettisoned the hate crimes provisions from H.R. 3132, which passed by a strong bipartisan vote of 223 to 199 last September. While all of us want to protect our children, we cannot fully reduce crime and protect child safety without acknowledging the terrorizing impact that hate-motivated violence has in our society. I have serious concerns with several provisions included in H.R. 4472, most notably the provisions that would impose harsh, new mandatory minimums, expand the number of federal crimes that carry the death penalty, and subject children to adult trials and adult sentences. However, I have more concerns about what is not in the bill. Last September, the House voted to protect children from sexual predators and from the perpetrators of hate-crimes. This bill retreats from that position and will leave our children vulnerable to violence on the basis of their sexual orientation, disability, gender, ethnicity, race or religion. Our children deserve better from us. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 4472 and enact long overdue hate crimes legislation that will send a clear message that hate violence has no place in America.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 2271, the PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act, which does not correct the core problems with the original act. Republicans and Democrats alike have asked for moderate changes that would have ensured that these extraordinary new powers are directed solely at terrorists and that each new power had meaningful court review. These efforts that would have put the PATRIOT Act in line with the Constitution and American values were ignored. Not only does the bill remain deeply flawed, S. 2271 was brought to the House under suspension, a procedure limiting debate to 40 minutes and preventing any amendments to address the many concerns expressed by organizations and many of my colleagues. Under S. 2271, the government will still be able to use National Security Letters and secret orders under section 215 to obtain a wide array of private, confidential records--including the medical, financial, library, and bookstore and gun purchase records of individual Americans. The bill requires no evidence linking those records to a suspected terrorist or spy, requires no court oversight or independent review of these secret orders, and prohibits the recipient of such an order from challenging the legality of the order for a year. Second, this bill adds no meaningful protection for library records. It only exempts libraries from National Security Letters if they don't offer Internet access--and the American Library Association puts the number of libraries without Internet access near zero. With over 30,000 national security letters issued every year and two federal courts ruling NSLs unconstitutional, I continue to have strong concerns that this bill does nothing to protect bookstores, libraries, and their customers from excessive searches by the government. Third, under this bill the government can still conduct secret physical searches of homes and offices under a vague standard; and notice can be delayed for weeks, months, or even longer. The Justice Department admits that at least 88 percent of such searches conducted between fall of 2001 and spring of 2005 actually had nothing to do with terrorism. The government can search private homes of Americans who have no connection to terrorism and not even inform them that their home was searched. Finally, roving wiretaps provisions would allow the government agents to eavesdrop on innocent Americans' private conversations without first verifying that a terrorist suspect is actually using the facility or device involved. That means that, on a daily basis, the government can listen in on hundreds, maybe thousands of Americans' private conversations that may not have any connection to terrorism. Given the Bush Administration's extraordinary assertions of presidential power to authorize the National Security Agency (NSA) to engage in intrusive domestic spying of Americans, it is more vital than ever that Congress reasserts its rightful role by correcting the flaws in the PATRIOT Act. I join the majority of Americans who want to protect our Nation's security while preserving Constitutional freedoms and civil liberties. Towns, cities, counties and states have passed over 400 resolutions in opposition to the PATRIOT Act, including the City of Chicago and Evanston in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. Sweeping and unnecessary Federal surveillance and unchecked law enforcement powers undermine the rights that are the cornerstone of our democracy. The PATRIOT Act debate is far from over: secret record searches must be reformed so they are focused on suspected foreign terrorists and not used to invade the private records of ordinary Americans. Congress can, and must, take steps to fix the Patriot Act to keep America both safe and free. I urge my colleagues to reject the PATRIOT Act and instead call for meaningful checks on the PATRIOT Act's extraordinary powers.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, in honor of the 90th birthday of Harry Berger, I am proud to share with my colleagues a tribute to this great American, lovingly written by his son Robert I. Berger. Clearly Mr. Berger is deserving of this recognition by the United States House of Representatives. Harry Berger was born on March 26, 1916 in Hungary. During World War II, he and his family were forcibly removed from their homes and taken by the Nazis to live in a crowded Jewish ghetto. Not long after, my father, along with other men his age, were taken by German and Hungarian soldiers to work as slave laborers for the balance of the war. After my father was liberated by American soldiers, and unable to return to his home because it was then under Russian control, he obtained a temporary visa to live and work in Brussels, Belgium. It was there that my father met my mother, Helen Berger, a survivor of Auschwitz, with whom he will celebrate 58 years of marriage on February 28, 2006. My parents, together with me age 2\1/2\, arrived in the United States on January 6, 1952, and settled in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. My sister Margaret was born in Chicago in 1954. My parents and I became naturalized citizens in 1957. In 1964, my parents achieved the American dream and purchased their own home in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago where they lived until 1992 when they moved to Lincolnwood, Illinois. My father worked as a tailor at Broadlane Clothiers in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago from the time he arrived in the United States until the store closed in approximately 1980. My father then worked for Lytton's and then Mark Shale on Michigan Avenue, where he was awarded Employee of the Year honors before retiring in 1995. In addition to having worked hard to provide for his family, my father made time and worked tirelessly for many good causes in the service of others. My father served on the Synagogue Board and Men's Club Board of Congregation Ezras Israel in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and served two terms as President of the Men's Club and two terms as President of the Congregation. More amazing is that my father served as President of the Congregation when he was in his mid- eighties. My father was also a Board Member and two term President of the Zionist Organization of Chicago (ZOC), the Chicago chapter of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). The ZOA is one of the oldest and largest Israel advocacy organizations in the United States. Founded in 1897, to support the establishment of a Jewish state, past presidents of the ZOA include Justice Louis D. Brandeis. In 1996, the ZOC honored my father and mother with the State of Israel Award for their long-time commitment and service to the organization and to the State of Israel. My father has also helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the State of Israel. In 2001, my father and mother were honored at an Israel Bond Luncheon that raised over one half million dollars in Israel bonds. My father has supported many other Jewish charities including the JUF. My father has lived in the United States for the past 54 years and has loved all of the ideals for which this country was founded. He has been an exemplary citizen, never taking for granted the freedom and opportunity that this country afforded him and his family. He has voted in every election, he has always kept informed of the issues facing America, and he has worked for candidates for various elective office. My father has lived the American dream. He came to this country a Holocaust survivor and refugee with a wife and young son and barely a penny to his name. He worked hard, bought a home, paid off the mortgage, raised two children, provided for his family, and has and continues to live a decent and productive life. One of my father's great pleasures is sports. As a young boy in Hungary he loved to play soccer. In his new home, he came to understand and love baseball, football and basketball. He loves the White Sox, Cubs, Bears and Bulls, and would often take me to games on Sundays, his one day off of work. My father's joy was immeasurable when his beloved White Sox finally won the World Series this past Fall. My father's 90 years, 54 of them in the United States, is an example of what Tom Brokaw called ``The Greatest Generation.'' He provided for his family and found time and energy to help others. His life is to be celebrated and honored.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, across the country, there are more than 6 million children living with their grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives. In my State of Illinois, 9 percent of the children live with nonparent relatives. Children enter relative care for many reasons: death of a parent, neglect, abuse, military deployment, or poverty. But regardless of the reason, every child deserves a safe home and an opportunity for a good life. I commend grandparents and other relatives who step forward to care for children, keeping them out of foster care while providing safe, stable homes, often at great personal sacrifice. Supportive programs like subsidized guardianship help children exit foster care into the permanent care of nurturing relatives. Recently, the Pew Commission on Children and Foster Care noted that permanent guardians offer the best hope and future for many of these children. After extensive study, the Pew Commission recommended permanent guardians receive financial assistance in the form of subsidized guardianship. A 2004 study by the University of Illinois showed that States with federally funded subsidized guardianship through IV-E waivers are much more effective in both reducing their foster care rolls and achieving permanence. Subsidized guardianship provides the financial support to make it possible for relative caregivers to provide a permanent and loving home for children, while giving guardianship to the relative instead of the State. The Guardianship Assistance Promotion, GAP, Act, H.R. 3380, introduced by my colleague Representative Danny K. Davis, is designed to support children living with legal guardians by allowing subsidized guardianship and expanding eligibility to children who are eligible for foster care payments. I urge my colleagues to join this important effort to encourage safe and permanent homes for children in foster care. Grandparents and other relative caregivers are often the best chance for a loving and stable childhood for the children in their care, but their hard work and dedication often go unnoticed. Today, I offer my deep appreciation for the ongoing service of these caregivers to our children.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act. H.R. 4167 is intended to provide uniform food safety warnings and notifications. As written, however, it would hinder my state of Illinois' ability to protect the food supply and to respond quickly to local food safety concerns. The National Uniformity for Food Act would weaken Illinois' ability to protect its residents from contaminated food by adding a layer of bureaucracy before such food could be removed from the shelves. Eighty percent of the country's food safety inspections are completed at the state and local levels. The bill preempts state food safety rules, which are often more stringent than federal standards and threatens the states' capacity to respond without delay to food safety issues. For example, in 2002, 40 Illinois school children became sick after eating what appeared to be ammonia-contaminated chicken. Our Department of Public Health issued the necessary embargoes and the product was immediately removed from schools so no other children became ill. H.R. 4167 would prevent our state health department from taking immediate action in a similar situation. In addition, H.R. 4167 would erect a number of legal hurdles. The bill would force state standards and procedures to be made identical to federal standards and procedures. H.R. 4167 would therefore prevent Illinois from taking action to keep any contaminated product regulated under the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act out of the marketplace. For example, the bill would: remove Illinois' ability to take emergency action to keep contaminated food from reaching the public; prohibit Illinois from providing state-level consumer food warnings, including the mercury contamination in fish, the content of fats and oils in food, and the use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables; remove the state's ability to ensure the safety of food and color additives; and preempt state laws that require stores selling alcoholic beverages to post warning signs about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Every year, 76 million Americans suffer from food poisoning resulting in approximately 5,000 deaths. The stakes are only growing now that mad cow disease has been discovered in the United States. In addition, we must remain aware that our food supply is a potential target of terrorism. Now is the time to strengthen, and not dilute, our efforts to detect unsafe food products before they reach grocery store shelves. I have received nearly 500 letters of opposition to H.R. 4167 from my constituents, in addition to letters of opposition from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Governor Blagojevich writes: ``Regulating and protecting the food supply is a responsibility shared by local, state and federal governments. In fact, approximately 80 percent of food safety inspections in the United States are completed at state and local levels. Therefore, passage of House Resolution 4167, preempting state rules on food supply that may be stronger than federal law, could put Illinois' residents and visitors at risk.'' I cannot support legislation which would hinder Illinois' ability to respond quickly to local food safety concerns. I encourage my colleagues to join me in opposing this legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, they pay taxes, raise children, attend church, and participate in community activities and institutions. Yet, when America's day laborers go to work, they have experiences that would shock any other upstanding community member: police harassment, violence at the hands of employers, withheld wages and conditions so dangerous that is not unusual for them to be sidelined for more than a month with work-related injuries or to work for weeks on end in pain. In Illinois and in other States in the Midwest, day laborers work under more dangerous conditions, are more likely to suffer labor abuse, and are also more likely to suffer police harassment compared to workers in other regions. This is the vivid portrait painted by the first nationwide study of America's 117,600 day laborers. The result of research by social scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and New York's New School University, ``On the Corner: Day Labor in the United States,'' presents findings from a survey of 264 hiring sites in 143 municipalities in 20 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. ``The goal was to document a population that, though quite visible on the corners of U.S. cities, is poorly understood by the public and by policy makers,'' said Nik Theodore, an assistant professor in the Urban Planning and Policy Program at UIC, and one of the study's three lead authors. ``We hope to inform policy debates so that decisionmakers can devise thoughtful and effective strategies for resolving many of the problems that day laborers face.'' According to the national study's findings, worker centers give a voice and power to people who often lack both. They are gateway organizations that meet immigrant workers where they are and provide them with a wealth of information and training. In all too many cases, these centers are the only ``port in the storm'' for low-wage immigrant workers seeking to understand U.S. labor and immigration laws, file back wage claims, and organize against recalcitrant employers. The Latino Union of Chicago runs the only worker center for day laborers in the Midwest, located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. If the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Act (H.R. 4437) is enacted, this comprehensive community approach would come to an end. It would destroy the very institutions in our communities that have developed real solutions. Day labor centers (and the private individuals, churches and government agencies that work with them) could face thousands or even millions of dollars in fines if they assist in the process of connecting day laborers to employers. The trust that day labor centers have built with communities would be eroded as the centers become responsible for verifying workers' immigration status. Volunteers and staff of worker centers would be turned into criminals and work center property could be seized. Good work, such as providing ESL classes and job skills training or leadership development, would be equated with alien smuggling. H.R. 4437 and bills with similar provisions don't just jeopardize the lives of some immigrants, they are attacks on all our communities. As a first-generation American and as a Congresswoman who is honored to represent one of the most richly diverse districts in the country, I believe Washington must act now on immigration reform that keeps the American dream alive--not roll back the good work that day labor centers do every day across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to look at the national study released by UIC and UCLA, which I hope is the first of many, to help us understand the problems day laborers and immigrants face in our country. On the Corner: Day Labor in the United States (By Abel Valenzuela, Jr., Nik Theodore, Edwin Melendez, and Ana Luz Gonzalez) Executive Summary This report profiles, for the first time, the national phenomenon of day labor in the United States. Men and women looking for employment in open-air markets by the side of the road, at busy intersections, in front of home improvement stores and in other public spaces are ubiquitous in cities across the nation. The circumstances that give rise to this labor market are complex and poorly understood. In this report, we analyze data from the National Day Labor Survey, the first systematic and scientific study of the day-labor sector and its workforce in the United States. This portrait of day labor in the United States is based on a national survey of 2,660 day laborers. These workers were randomly selected at 264 hiring sites in 139 municipalities in 20 States and the District of Columbia. The sheer number of these sites, combined with their presence in every region in the country, reflects the enormous breadth of this labor market niche. Our findings reveal that the day-labor market is rife with violations of workers' rights. Day laborers are regularly denied payment for their work, many are subjected to demonstrably hazardous job sites, and most endure insults and abuses by employers. The growth of day-labor hiring sites combined with rising levels of workers' rights violations is a national trend that warrants attention from policy makers at all levels of government. In some cities, the rise of day labor has been accompanied by community tensions, in part because of inaccurate and unsubstantiated portrayals of these workers. The aim of this study is to provide sound empirical data on the day-labor phenomenon that can inform public discussions and provide the basis for thoughtful policy approaches to this complex issue.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, our country was established as a government `of the people, by the people, and for the people.' The Republican majority has turned it into a government of, by, and for a few of the people. We need to address the Republican culture of corruption and lead the charge to restore honor and dignity to the House of Representatives. America can do better. The American public deserves better. Mr. Abramoff and his associates have clearly broken the law. It takes two to tango. I believe Republican Members of Congress who put America up for sale should also be held accountable for their corrupt dealings and ``pay for play'' politics that put special interests first at the expense of the priorities of the American people. Americans pay when lobbyists are granted special access in the legislative process and democratic procedures are abandoned on the floor of the House. Americans pay for the cost of corruption in many ways: a prescription drug bill that puts the greed of pharmaceutical companies ahead of the need of senior citizens for affordable prescription drugs; energy legislation that gives tax breaks and subsidies to oil companies while Americans pay record prices at the pump and for home-heating; and a waiver of liability so that vaccine manufacturers can profit while Americans can be hurt. To end this culture of corruption and restore integrity and openness to the House, Democratic Leader Pelosi and my Democratic colleagues have introduced the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act that will eliminate the K Street Project that trades legislative access for Republican-only employment, stop the revolving door between government and lobbyists, end the ``dead of night'' special interest provisions, prohibit cronyism in key appointments, and eliminate contracting abuses like those benefiting Halliburton. I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to enact and vigorously enforce needed reforms. I am, however, concerned with the proposal to ban all privately- funded congressional travel without making a distinction between social or recreational trips and educational travel. Travel that includes lobbyists funding lawmakers to go to luxurious resorts for golf trips is abuse of House rules, and I believe we need to put an end to it. But fact-finding trips on the other hand are an important way to educate members of Congress about issues. Banning them would make it harder for Members to get real-world understanding of matters that arise on Capitol Hill. I want to make sure that nonprofit organizations, whether they undertake no lobbying or devote a very small percentage of their budgets to lobbying, are not precluded from taking members on these trips because of this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue. The intention of our Founding Fathers was for Congress to be a marketplace of ideas. Democrats are leading the effort to once again put power where it belongs--in the hands of the American people. I look forward to enacting real reform that addresses serious ethical abuses, increases the transparency and openness of government, and enforces the rules and laws already on the books.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today we honor the 97th Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Since the NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, it has been committed to achieving its goals through non-violence. As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States, NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Its half million adult and youth members throughout the United States are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. This resolution allows us to acknowledge the efforts of the NAACP, including its leadership in lobbying for the passage of landmark laws such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP launched the Disaster Relief Fund, which has raised almost $2 million to aid the survivors in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Alabama. Once again, the NAACP is helping individuals, families and communities in their efforts to recover from disasters and build for the future. We also celebrate the life, legacy and struggles of civil rights pioneers. Recently, the nation suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Mrs. Rosa Parks, two phenomenal women who were advocates for civil rights and aided in the mission of the NAACP. Today, the NAACP remains a valiant crusader for freedom and equality. This anniversary is the occasion to celebrate a heroic past and great achievements and to redouble our efforts for the future. We've come a long way but we have many miles yet to go. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the NAACP on its 97th Anniversary.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues a letter that was published in the November 8th edition of the New York Times. The letter was composed by my constituent--Mr. Benjamin Solomon of Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Solomon writes about the critical importance of openness in government, the serious nature of war, and the importance of honoring our nation's veterans. I hope that the words of Mr. Solomon, who is a veteran of World War II, are taken into serious consideration. [From the New York Times, Nov. 8, 2005] Killed, Then Exploited To the Editor: ``The Mysterious Death of Pat Tillman,'' by Frank Rich (column, Nov. 6), left me sick at heart. I am a World War II veteran in my later 80's who still thinks of his tent mates who were lost to enemy action. Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals defensive back who volunteered for the Army, was killed last year in Afghanistan, apparently by friendly fire. The cynical exploitation of his death and the lies surrounding it are a betrayal of this brave soldier and his family, of all the others who made the same sacrifice in Iraq, and of the ideals of decency we claim for our nation. The thought that the responsible high-level officials in the Pentagon and the White House are still in power frightens me. Benjamin Solomon, Evanston, Ill., Nov. 6, 2005.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, February 7th was a very special day for a fine American who had been very special to me and my family. It is the 90th birthday of William ``Bill'' Korr, across-the-street neighbor and family friend throughout my childhood. Bill was born in 1916 in Chicago. His parents, Ben and Ida Korofsky, were immigrants from Russia who arrived in the U.S. via Ellis Island near the turn of the century. When the stock market collapsed in 1929, knocking his parents out of the real estate business they had built, Bill at age 16 essentially ran a family grocery business on the west side of the city. He graduated from Englewood High School in 1934. He also attended the University of Chicago for 2 years but was forced to leave for financial considerations due to an illness in his immediate family. Because of health issues he was not accepted into the Armed Forces during the WWII era. In 1948 Bill cofounded National Hobbymodel Distributors, a wholesale operation servicing independent retail hobby shops nationwide. Most importantly, he was one of the six original founders of the Hobby Industry of America, HIA, known today as the Craft & Hobby Association, CHA, an organization that caters to a multi-billion dollar industry including craft, hobby, floral and scrap-booking products among its mix and whose leadership includes top executives from numerous prestigious and publicly traded companies. From 1961 to present, Bill was involved as the principle of the William Korr Sales Company, a manufacturer's representative firm specializing in the floral, craft and hobby industries that today has grown to an operation which has three regional offices and accounts for over $15,000,000 in annual sales. Bill continues to go into the office 4 days a week. Bill has three sons, Jerold, 60--Sheila, Elliott, 56--Janet, and Bruce, 52--Kimberely. He was married to Florence Tirengel Korr for 54 years before her passing in 1997. He has four granddaughters, Gail, Karen, Linda, & Alexandria, and just recently became a great grandfather when Gail gave birth to Sarah Nicole Atlas on December 5, 2005. Bill has always been active in his synagogue and community and served as a scout master, long-term board member, and contributor of both funds and wisdom. He remarried at the ripe old age of 87. His new bride is Sally Wisper Korr. Golden words of wisdom: ``The DJIA will never go above 1,000,'' ``My advice is worth what you're willing to pay for it,'' ``Nixon's the one.'' I remember Bill as a kind and gentle man, always nice to all the kids on the block. He lived directly across the street from me on Jarvis Avenue in the unpretentiously middleclass Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. It was a tight-knit block on which everybody knew everybody and the families took care of each other. The man I called ``Uncle'' Bill is a great example of a hardworking, honorable and honest American, loved by his family and community, and I wish him a very happy birthday.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 487, which would establish January 13 of each year as Korean American Day to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean-American immigrants to the United States (January 13, 1903). The Korean American community has added so much to the vibrant culture of Chicago and our country. Illinois has the 4th largest Korean population in the United States, and Chicago alone has close to 12,000 Korean residents. Korean-Americans have taken root and thrived in the United States through strong family ties and community support. Through hard work, Koreans have invigorated businesses, churches, and academic communities in the United States. My constituents like Mr. Jin Lee, have made tremendous contributions to my city of Chicago. At the age of fourteen, Mr. Lee arrived in this country and has since been actively serving the Korean-American community. He co-founded the Keumsil Cultural Society, which promotes Korean American culture. He was Executive Director of the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Village of Skokie's Immigrant Advisory Task Force and a committee member of the Skokie Festival of Cultures. He works hard on behalf of the community and has been recognized and honored by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Republic of Korea and Mayor Richard M. Daley's office. He also served as goodwill ambassador for ``Visit Korea 2001'' and served as Vice President of the Korean American Association of Chicago. He recognizes the importance of promoting cultural diversity and supporting the immigrant community. As a first generation American and as a Congresswoman who is honored to represent one of the most richly diverse districts in the country, I have a deep appreciation for the invaluable contributions Korean- Americans have made to the United States. Korean-Americans, like Mr. Lee, contribute so much to and are an inspiration to others seeking to share in the American dream. This resolution provides much needed and deserved recognition to the Korean-American community for the invaluable mark they have had on the diversity and prominence of our great nation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 218, a resolution to recognize 2006 as the centennial of sustained immigration from the Philippines to the United States and to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Filipino Americans over the past century. Immigration from the Philippines to the United States began in 1906 when the first significant numbers of Filipino immigrants arrived in Hawaii to work on the island's sugar plantations. Today, a century later, the Filipino-American community's numbers increase by nearly 60,000 new immigrants per year, making Filipinos the largest immigrant group from the Asia-Pacific region. The Filipino-American community has added so much to the vibrant culture of Chicago and our country. The 9th Congressional District boasts about 17,000 Filipino residents, which makes it home to the 36th largest number of Filipino-Americans among Congressional districts. I am particularly proud of the achievements by my constituents like Ms. Aurora Abella-Austriaco, a lawyer, who immigrated here from the Philippines. She was just appointed a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness, First District, by the State of Illinois Supreme Court on October 26, 2005. In addition to being partner of a Chicago law firm, she served as a member of the Filipino American Voters League from 1996-98. She is the current Chair of the Cook County States Attorney's Asian Advisory Council and member of the Attorney General's Asian Advisory Council and Clerk of the Circuit Court's Asian Advisory Council. She is the past Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Chicago and past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association. She also is Vice President of the Asian American Institute's 2005 Board of Directors. The history of America's Filipino-American community is the quintessential American immigrant story of early struggle, pain and sacrifice, leading to success in overcoming ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal barriers to win a well-deserved place in our national fabric. Filipino-Americans, like Ms. Abella-Austriaco, have made incredible contributions in all parts of our society, including business, labor, politics, medicine, media and the arts. Filipino- Americans have served and are serving with special distinction in our Armed Forces, from World Wars I and II through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Smithsonian Institution will be conducting the Filipino-American Centennial Commemoration 2006 with five public programs and at least six more in cities including the city of Chicago, which I represent. The programs will range from scholarly discussions and film showings to cultural performances providing historical overviews of Filipino- Americans in the United States. This centennial celebration will provide every American an opportunity to celebrate a century of Filipino immigration to the United States.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, forgive me if I haven't noticed that Christmas is under attack. Being Jewish, maybe I am simply incapable of judging. Silly me, I thought there were about the same number of Christmas trees, both in private homes and public places--that is, everywhere. Seems like Christmas music is still ubiquitous in elevators, grocery stores, the mall and while on hold on the telephone. No? Having just returned from Eastern Market, I still have the sounds of real live carolers in my ears, and, as a former community choir member, I knew all the words and sang along. (Is it anti-Christmas for a Jew to do that? I should check with Bill O'Reilly.) Santa was there as usual at Congressmen Barton's and Dingell's reception for the Energy and Commerce Committee, and adorable little children of Christian conservatives as well as moderates, and yes, even Democrats, were sitting on his lap. I thought I observed the same mix of awe, fear and delight as in years past, but Jewish eyes can deceive, I guess. I could be wrong, but I think it would be pretty hard not to guess that it is the ``Christmas season'' or that ``Christmas'' is coming if you turned on just about any channel, cable or broadcast, at just about any time of the day or night. Sometimes those reminders also include a request for you to call in and give your credit card number, and do it now, because there are only a few more days until ``Christmas.'' I'm pretty cheerful about responding to ``Merry Christmas'' with a ``Same to you.'' I can't recall ever scolding anyone in public or in private for missing the fact that I don't celebrate Christmas. I do try not to say it myself at my synagogue, unless I know for sure the person is Christian, and then I try especially hard to say it. I'm fond of candy canes. They seem to be available for free in many places at this time of year--``Christmas'' time. I try never to pass one up. I even try to like fruit cake, understanding it is one of the typical ``Christmas'' treats, but I think it may be like gefilte fish-- an acquired taste. If there are some Christians who think that Christmas has become too commercial--the symbol of Christmas being more the Visa or Mastercard than the nativity scene--then I think they deserve to have a serious discussion about that. That discussion, in my Jewish view, would be best held in church, or at home, or just about any place other than the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. All women and families should be free from fears of violence, but immigrant women face particular problems in confronting this crisis. That is why I am so pleased that provisions of my bill, H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, are included in this legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 612 and to congratulate parliamentary election. The citizens of Iraq who desire peace and a prosperous future have demonstrated their commitment to those goals by participating in three national Iraqi elections. Reports indicate that Iraqis turned out in unprecedented numbers to vote in yesterday's election. I congratulate them for braving the instability and violence on the streets of Iraq in order to cast their votes. Today, instead of offering a resolution to express our congratulations and hopes for a democratic Iraq, the Republican leadership has chosen to play politics, offering a divisive resolution. H. Res. 612 does nothing more than reiterate President Bush's failed strategy for Iraq. While all of us support democracy in Iraq, the Republican leadership has rolled over democratic procedures on the House floor, denying Democrats an opportunity to amend this resolution. In addition, rather than laying out an exit strategy, as was done by Congressman Jack Murtha almost one month ago, the Republican leadership continues to ignore the growing chaos and violence facing our soldiers. The Majority refuses to even debate this critical issue. Staying the course is a recipe for disaster that endangers our troops and the Iraqi people. The withdrawal of American troops should begin now. The new Iraqi government has been formed, and it must take responsibility for forging its own path toward stability and democracy. In polls, the Iraqi people have been clear: they do not believe coalition troops are providing stability and security, and they believe it is time for our troops to come home. The U.S. should provide diplomatic and financial support to an international effort to help the Iraqi government provide security and consolidate democracy. I have been contacted by many of my constituents who understand that H. Res. 612 is nothing more than a political stunt. The Republican Congress is no longer fooling the American people. In overwhelming numbers, they think it was a mistake to go to war in Iraq; they think the Bush Administration mishandled the war; and they don't support this war. Our troops remain far from home, endangered by a growing insurgency. Now that Iraq has a democratically-elected government, it is time for our troops to come home in order to spend the holidays with the ones they love.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to raise my concerns about the Medicaid provisions in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill and, in particular, the provision that imposes new documentation requirements on individuals and on states. There are many, many problems with the Medicaid bill. It would shift costs and take away benefits from those who need assistance the most: children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and frail senior citizens. The House-passed bill would do real harm--30 million Americans could face higher cost-sharing, 2 million children could lose coverage altogether, and 26 million individuals could lose benefits according to an analysis by the American Progress Action Fund. One of the most disturbing provisions in the bill--Section 3145-- would impose strict new documentation requirements on Medicaid applicants. Instead of allowing self-declaration of citizenship--as 47 states do today--applicants have to show documentation of citizenship status--such as a birth certificate or a passport. The authors are Section 3145 are apparently concerned that some ineligible immigrant pregnant woman, children or seniors--will slip through the cracks and get health care. Out of that unjustified and undocumented concern, they have created a provision that will actually penalize citizens and state Medicaid programs. First, there is no reason for Section 3145. It is a measure that seeks to address an illusory problem. Eligible immigrants already have to provide proof of their legal status when they apply for Medicaid, and states take steps to verify that status. Current law is working. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) looked at this issue and reported last July that they found no substantial evidence that immigrants are falsely claiming citizenship to qualify for Medicaid. OIG did not recommend eliminating the opportunity for self- declarations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has found no evidence that there is a problem and state Medicaid administrators have ``not seen a problem with self-declaration of citizenship'' based on the results of their quality control review systems. Second, Section 3145 would have a disastrous effect by erecting Medicaid barriers for U.S. citizens. These new requirements will mean that those who have no money to obtain these documents or no time to wait for care will be unable to receive medical services. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has concluded that the ``bulk'' of the $735 million, 10-year savings from Section 3145 would come from reducing or delaying enrollment for U.S. citizens. Many citizens--particularly low-income citizens--do not have birth certificates in their possession and do not have passports. And getting those documents is neither easy nor cheap. Getting a birth certificate can take weeks and cost up to $23. People born at home may not even have a birth certificate--a particular problem for people in some rural areas and elderly African Americans. According to information reported in Population Studies, as many as one-fifth of African Americans born around 1940 don't have a birth certificate. Getting a passport is even more expensive and takes even longer. Passports cost about $90. Just think about how these provisions will affect older women, living alone, possibly cognitively-impaired. Third, at a time when we are cutting federal Medicaid funds and states are struggling to pay their share of Medicaid costs, Section 3145 would impose a brand new and costly administrative burden on them. The OIG surveyed state Medicaid directors who allow self-declaration. Twenty-five said that they were encouraged by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to simplify their application processes in order to reduce barriers to health care access. 28 said the requirement for documentations would delay eligibility determinations, twenty-five said it would increase personnel costs, and 21 said it would be burdensome and expensive for applicants. This provision is not necessary but it is dangerous. It should be rejected.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and meanwhile, the Republicans are stealing from the stockings and taking away the hopes and dreams of aspiring students, slashing safety nets that help middle-income households get by, and kicking seniors to the curb with this budget package that is contrary to everything about the true spirit of Christmas as I understand it. People of all faiths know that budgets are not just about numbers or percentages. There is no more moral document that we in Congress work on than the budget. What we choose to pay for and what we choose to cut are moral choices about how to run our country, reflections of the values of our society. And it takes a special brand of callousness, in the day or the middle of the night, to propose big cuts to Medicaid, student loans and foster care, as we believe this budget does, when the needs of our country are greater today than they were just a few short months ago. When the need in the gulf coast rose, the need in the rest of the country did not subside. It is not the students who are responsible for historic deficits. Poor people did not cause our fiscal decline. If we want to get our fiscal house in order, then we should start with the tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthiest households. Millionaires are getting an average of $103,000 in tax cuts this year because of cuts from 2001 and 2003, and next year they are going to get another $20,000 as two more tax cuts take effect. And the Republican bills passed another $108 billion in tax cuts this year. Tell me, who is going to pay for those? Deficits matter. But the one we should be talking about today is the moral deficit of those who would balance tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of the working poor. I believe, as best said by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, that, ``the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.'' Mr. Speaker, tonight we have a choice about the type of leaders we want to be and what our country stands for. We can decide to do the morally responsible thing. We can do what is right. Mr. Speaker, together, America can do better.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today we are being asked to vote on the Department of Defense Authorization conference report. Once again, the House is being required to vote on a bill in the dead of night, without the opportunity to read the language or consider its ramifications. I am especially concerned about two provisions in this bill--provisions that were not in the original House bill, were not the subject of Congressional hearings, and have not been carefully scrutinized. Yet, those two provisions--one that undermines the fundamental right of habeas corpus and the other that undermines the ban on torture--will have profound implications for our legal traditions and our reputation throughout the world. The first provision, based on a Senate amendment, would limit U.S. courts' historic habeas corpus jurisdiction to review detentions. This would cut off access to the courts by persons held at Guantanamo Bay. Habeas corpus is one of the most fundamental precepts of American Constitutional tradition. The court-stripping provision included in this legislation would do grievous harm to the rule that the government cannot just lock up people without showing cause to a court. It is not a change that we should enact without careful consideration by the appropriate committees in the House and Senate. In a letter to Members of Congress commenting on the Senate amendment, Leslie H. Jackson, head of the POW organization, American Ex-Prisoners of War, said ``As we limit the rights of human beings, even those of the enemy, we become more like the enemy. That makes us weaker and imperils our troops. I am proud to be an American and proud of my service to my country. This Amendment, well intentioned as it may be, will diminish us.'' William D. Rogers, former Under Secretary of State during the Ford Administration, also expressed serious concerns about the possible impacts of this amendment. He warns, ``To proclaim democratic government to the rest of the world as the supreme form of government at the very moment we eliminate the most important avenue of relief from arbitrary governmental decision will not serve our interests in the larger world.'' Second, this legislation also includes a provision that would undermine a ban on torture by allowing testimony obtained by torture to be used to hold and to punish detainees. Both the House and the Senate have voted overwhelmingly in past weeks that our nation should prohibit the use of torture. We have agreed that the use of torture is antithetical to a moral nation and that it harms our reputation as the exemplar of democracy and freedom throughout the world. We have also heard from intelligence experts that information obtained in interrogations that use techniques like ``waterboarding'' or simulated drowning, often produce unreliable information. Yet, while this legislation condemns the use of torture on one hand, on the other hand it countenances the use of information obtained through torture to eliminate legal rights. I urge my colleagues to reject these provisions in order to protect our time-tested judicial review process and to keep our commitment to end the use of torture.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2017). The Torture Victims Relief Act (TVRA) has provided critical support to thousands of survivors of torture since it was first authorized in 1999. The sad fact is that torture is still used by governments around the world and the need for the bill is as pronounced as ever. With revelations of the U.S.'s own use of torture making waves around the world, we can ill afford to take a step back in the field of torture treatment. The United States must renew its commitment against the use of torture. And it must support efforts to ease the pain and suffering of those living in parts of the world where there are no other resources-- not to mention political motivation--to help survivors of torture. Currently, 27 programs in 17 states including Illinois receive assistance for torture treatment in the U.S. Treatment provided by these programs enables survivors of torture to recover their lives and become productive members of their communities. Many of these centers, including the center in Illinois, also train mainstream professionals. This increases the ability of health care providers, attorneys, leaders of faith, and others, to provide for the special needs of torture victims and contribute to the. prevention of torture. The TVRA is at work in my district, supporting the work of the Marjorie Kovler Center of Heartland Alliance. The Center provides medical, mental health and social services to more than 300 torture survivors every year. While these services are provided for people across the state and into Indiana and Wisconsin, the Center receives more referrals from my Congressional district than any other. These individuals make their way to our community at great personal cost. They come seeking safety, only to be confronted with the difficulties of adjusting to life in the United States. They each carry a heavy burden from the trauma they have suffered, and many would not become the productive members of the community that they want to be if it not for the services supported by the TVRA. In addition to the people in my district that the Center serves, I am proud to say that dozens of my constituents volunteer and work at the Marjorie Kovler Center. I have had the opportunity to meet many of them at events in the district over the past several years and am aware of their skill and commitment. The fact is that volunteer and in-kind donations worth more than $400,000 annually leverage funds from the TVRA spent in my district. This amounts to a one-to-one match of Federal funds provided by my community. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support the Torture Victim Relief Reauthorization Act, and I urge my colleagues to support funding for torture treatment centers.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, this House should not adjourn for the year before we extend the enrollment period for seniors to sign up for the Republican Medicare prescription drug plan. I did not support the law, because I favored a benefit within the actual Medicare program. Instead, Republicans chose a plan that forced seniors to choose from multiple plans. President Bush and congressional Republicans say it is necessary to have multiple drug plans competing in order to help drive down costs, but a report from the Government Reform Committee says the complicated drug benefit has failed to lower drug prices. The prices available to seniors are over 80 percent higher than those negotiated by the Federal Government for veterans and 60 percent higher than the prices available to consumers in Canada. Instead of lowering drug prices, the new prescription drug plan has resulted in mass confusion for seniors. Seniors should have the time to make the best choice for themselves rather than be penalized if they do not make a decision by May 15. We should extend the deadline by 6 months before we leave for the year and support the Stark-Schakowsky bill, H.R. 3861.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding to me. When I came to the House in 1999, I was often asked what surprised me the most. I answered that it was the passion, energy and depth of engagement of many of the longest-serving Members, and would cite John Dingell as the example. John Dingell has been the driving force behind major landmark progressive legislation, from the Children's Health Insurance Program, to electric utility consumer standards, to environmental protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act; and he is still going strong. A master of the legislative process, he is legendary for his oversight hearings, dogged in his determination to protect the public by holding government officials, corporations, and others accountable for their actions. John Dingell is a fighter. He continues to be a strong voice for consumers and workers in Michigan and across the country. He told us all at his magnificent 50th anniversary celebration that he has no intention of leaving the House anytime soon and that he intends to be chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee once again; and I fully believe it will happen, and very soon. When it does, I will do all I can to support him as he works to win his goal of securing health care for every American. Some have used the word ``feared'' when talking about John Dingell, and it certainly is true that you want to have him on your side and not against him. But the John Dingell I have personally experienced is a gentleman to all, a loving husband to his spectacular wife and partner, Debbie, a man who is respectful and generous to his staff, who in turn work tirelessly and effectively and are ever loyal to him. He is patient with newer Members, always willing to share his experiences and, when asked, offer solid advice. I feel privileged to serve with John Dingell, a patriot, a role model, mentor, and friend. I thank him for his 50 years of service to our country and wish him many, many more.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the President would have us believe that all is well with our economy. But the American people know better. Despite finally receiving some good economic news, middle-class families in this country continue to fall behind as incomes remain flat or drop. Gas prices fluctuate, health care costs soar, and home heating costs skyrocket. Americans this week are paying nearly 70 cents more per gallon on gas now than in the first year that President Bush came to office. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average family using heating oil or natural gas will pay nearly three times the amount families paid the first winter President Bush was in office. For the past 5 years, health care costs have increased by nearly 60 percent, driving up the number of uninsured by 6 million since the beginning of the Bush administration. Under President Bush, college tuition has gone up about 40 percent, even taking inflation into account. Meanwhile, real household income fell for the fourth year in a row in 2004. Together, America can do better than an economy in which middle- class families are seeing falling incomes in the face of rising prices. The American people know it and so should the President.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, there is nothing-- nothing--more serious that we will do in our lives as well as our careers than to send young American men and women to war. And there is no one in this body who understands the consequences of that decision more than Jack Murtha who served 37 years in the Marines, won two Purple Hearts in battle, and loves without reservation our soldiers in uniform. Over 2,070 Americans and tens of thousands of civilian Iraqis are dead, thousands more are horribly injured in this war that many of us believe to be completely unjustified. Yet the House Republicans are so morally bankrupt that they would turn to cheap political stunts in order to undercut Congressman Murtha's conscience-driven call for an end to the Iraq war, which he calls ``a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.'' But there is not a person in this House who is man or woman enough to ever undercut the credibility of Jack Murtha, no matter how many accusations they may throw at him, no matter how many names they call him, and no matter how many ``clever'' tactics they try. Shame on the Republican leaders for thinking it's ok to turn this war into a game and Representative Murtha into a political football. Shame on the Speaker for accusing Jack Murtha of insulting and demoralizing our troops. Mr. Murtha, this decorated war hero, is right when he says ``what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support.'' The Republicans don't demean Mr. Murtha, can't begin to demean Mr. Murtha, when they make baseless allegations and engage in pointless political stunts. They demean themselves and they demean the integrity of this House of Representatives. Shame on you. I support Jack Murtha's resolution to stop sending our soldiers to die in Iraq. I support him when he says, ``It is time to bring them home.'' The proper response from those who disagree with this revered Marine would be to have a serious discussion about how we got into Iraq, about the conduct of the war, and about how we get out. Instead we see the typical slash-and-burn personal attacks that are the mainstay of the Republicans, especially when they know they are wrong. And you are wrong. But you are no longer fooling the American people. In overwhelming numbers they think it was a mistake to go to war in Iraq; they think the Bush Administration mishandled the war; they don't trust the President to tell the truth; and they don't support this war. On the eve of Thanksgiving, even as our troops are doing their very best far from home and family, the Republicans have chosen to pull a cheap, demeaning political stunt. Shame on you.