THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The gentle lady from New York is regognized for 1 hour.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Thank you Mr. Speaker, for the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: purposes of debate
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: gentleman from California, Mr.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Dreier. All time yielded during consideration of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the rule is for debate only.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: legislative days within which
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: to revise and extend their remarks and to insert
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: extraneous materials into the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Record.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ithout objection.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: nd I yield myself such time as
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: entle lady is recognized.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: I may consume.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: r. Speaker, H. Res. 533
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: provides for consideration of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Act, under a closed rule.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: The rule provides 4 hours of debate, with 3 hours
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: equally divided and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: controlled by the chairman and ranking minority
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: member of the Committee on
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Armed Services and 1 hour equally divided and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: controlled by the Committee on
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Foreign Affairs. The rule waives all points of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: order against the bill and its
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: consideration except those arising under clause 9
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: or 10 under rule XX. The
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: rule provides for one motion to recommit.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Mr. Speaker, let's be very clear about what we
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: will be told today by the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: President. We will be told that adequate progress
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: has been made in some areas
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: of Iraq but more work needs to be done in others.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: What this really means, of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: course, is that once again security and political
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: benchmarks have not been
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: met, that vast areas in Baghdad that were
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: supposed to be under control by
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: now are not, that a drop in violence in some
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: areas has been met with increases
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: in violence elsewhere, that political compromises
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: are not being made with
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: sufficient speed by the Iraqi leadership, nor is
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: there any available evidence that
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the situation is going to change, that the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: escalation will suddenly become more
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: effective next week or next month. Instead, all
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: signs indicate that in September
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: when General Petraeus reports to Congress, he
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: will deliver the exact same
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: message that we are hearing today: to be patient.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: But patience means nothing when deadlines are
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: constantly moved. In January
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: a leading Member of the minority said that we
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: would be able to tell in a few
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: months if the escalation was working. Now we hear
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: it is still too early to tell.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: It's been 7 months. Which prediction are we
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: supposed to believe?
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: As time has advanced, an absence in progress has
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: not been met by an absence
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: in tragedy. At the present rates, between now and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: September, another 200
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Americans will be killed, 200 more families
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: changed forever. And hundreds, if
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: not thousands, more innocent Iraqis will have
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: died as well.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: We will hear today that to change our course in
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Iraq will signal defeat. But this
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: willfully ignores the entire history of the Iraq
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: War. After more than 4 years of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: relentless conflict, including recent months of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: historically high troop numbers,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: experts tell us that in Iraq al Qaeda is stronger
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: than ever. A military official told
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: ABC News yesterday, and I quote, al Qaeda's
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: ``operational capability appears
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: to be undiminished.''
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: The conclusion is clear: The American military is
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: not being given a chance to
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: bring peace to Iraq or to fight our enemies, not
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: because our troops are not good
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: enough but because the current mission is
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: inherently flawed.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: It is not weakness to admit a strategy is not
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: working and to change it. It is the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: very opposite: a sign of strength. Our leaders
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: corrected failing courses when
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: they arose during the Civil War and during World
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: War II. Why should this war
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: be different?
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: What Democrats are calling for today is not a
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: retreat. It is not a surrender. It is
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: a statement that Congress will not wait for
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: another ambiguous so-called
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: progress report and will not give the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: administration another chance to move
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the goalposts. Instead, we will refuse to
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: needlessly sacrifice our soldiers,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: weaken our military, undermine our national
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: security, and bleed our country
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: in ways that even the worst terrorists could ever
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: dream of. And it is a
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: statement to the Iraqi people that they will no
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: longer have to live as dual
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: victims: victims of violence and victims of a
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: flawed military strategy that is at
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: best failing to bring peace to the country and at
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: worst perpetuating their
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: suffering.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: The bill will refocus our troops on fighting
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: terrorists. By doing so, the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: disastrous strain being placed on our Armed
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Forces will be lifted without
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: sacrificing security objectives, and their
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: healing can begin.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Second, it will remove a strategy from the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: playing field that is certainly not
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: working and throw open the door to new approaches
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: which may actually
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: succeed. For example, the legislation requires
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the President to report by
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: January on how he is engaging U.S. allies and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: regional powers in the effort to
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: bring stability to Iraq. Far from abandoning the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Iraqis or lessening American
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: security, we will finally make the rehabilitation
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: of Iraq the international priority
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: that it must become. The only thing we will be
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: abandoning, in other words, Mr.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Speaker, is this administration's mistakes.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: And to my friends on both sides of the aisle,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: yesterday I received an advance
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: copy of a report from the Defense Department's
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Inspector General that will be
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: made public today. It detailed the work of some
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: of the first companies to make
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: armored vehicles and armored kits for our
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: soldiers in Iraq. They were given
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: sole-source, unbid contracts even though senior
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: defense officials objected,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: favoring a competitive process instead.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: I hope people heard what I said. Senior officials
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: at DOD wanted competitive
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: bidding for these machines, but they were
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: overridden by the Under Secretary of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Defense.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: The results were sadly predictable. The companies
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: failed to meet demand and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: sent critically important equipment late. Some of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the armor that our soldiers
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: were sent had cracks that had simply been painted
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: over to try to fool them
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: instead of fixing it. In certain instances two
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: left doors were sent for the same
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: vehicle. Troops already fighting a deadly foe had
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: to use their precious time and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: energy to improvise and to come up with ways to
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: turn useless equipment into
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: something that could protect them.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Our soldiers have been asked to endure terrible
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: hardships, as well have their
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: families, some of which, I am ashamed to say,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: have been the direct result of the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: practices of this administration, and they are
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: enduring them to this day and at
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: this very hour. For Congress to leave them there,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: to ask them to continue
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: fighting to survive under the mounting weight of
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: a flawed mission--that, Mr.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Speaker, is the true definition of abandonment.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: And after 4 years, Democrats
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: are tired of this Congress abandoning our troops
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: to a fate they have never
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: deserved.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: I would ask everyone in this Chamber how they
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: would justify this continued
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: carnage to the families of our soldiers. With all
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: we know now, how can we still
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: say to the children of those killed or to the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: young men and women maimed for
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: life, your loss was needed?
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: We cannot. What we must say to them is this: You
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: have given enough. It is
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: time to come home.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: The American people know what must be done and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the majority of this
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Congress knows what must be done. And all that
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: remains is for those of us
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: here who are still opposed to this bill to decide
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: that they too have had enough
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: and that they will join their countrymen in
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: voting not with the President but
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: with the troops, with the people of Iraq, and
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: with the people of the United
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: States.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: he gentle lady from New
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: York reserves the balance
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: of her time. The gentleman from California is
DREIER, DAVID: r. Speaker, I yield myself such
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: recognized.
DREIER, DAVID: time as I may consume. I
DREIER, DAVID: ask permission to revise and extend my remarks.
DREIER, DAVID: r. Speaker, here we go again. It
DREIER, DAVID: has actually been several
DREIER, DAVID: weeks now since we have had a meaningless vote on
DREIER, DAVID: the issue of Iraq, and so I
DREIER, DAVID: suppose we are overdue for another one. This
DREIER, DAVID: Democratic leadership, Mr.
DREIER, DAVID: Speaker, as we all know very well, still bereft
DREIER, DAVID: of any real ideas, has been forced
DREIER, DAVID: once again to resort to demagoguery, bringing up
DREIER, DAVID: a bill that they know, they
DREIER, DAVID: know full well, will not be enacted into law. And
DREIER, DAVID: knowing that their proposal
DREIER, DAVID: cannot withstand any critical scrutiny, they have
DREIER, DAVID: once again shut down the
DREIER, DAVID: process and brought this to us under a completely
DREIER, DAVID: closed rule, not allowing any
DREIER, DAVID: of the very thoughtful proposed alternatives to
DREIER, DAVID: be considered whatsoever.
DREIER, DAVID: Now, Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the Rules
DREIER, DAVID: Committee, I offered an amendment
DREIER, DAVID: that would have allowed us to have the
DREIER, DAVID: opportunity to substitute their policy
DREIER, DAVID: with the very thoughtful and responsible
DREIER, DAVID: recommendations that were included
DREIER, DAVID: in this bipartisan Iraq Study Group package of
DREIER, DAVID: recommendations proposed by
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Baker and Mr. Hamilton, a group of Democrats
DREIER, DAVID: and Republicans, very
DREIER, DAVID: respected, authorized by this Congress. And they
DREIER, DAVID: refused to allow us to have
DREIER, DAVID: any opportunity whatsoever to even debate, much
DREIER, DAVID: less vote, on the issue of the
DREIER, DAVID: Iraq Study Group recommendations.
DREIER, DAVID: Now, just yesterday morning in an interview on
DREIER, DAVID: National Public Radio, our
DREIER, DAVID: former colleague Mr. Hamilton, who, as I said,
DREIER, DAVID: was the co-Chairman of the Iraq
DREIER, DAVID: Study Group, had a very eloquent and thoughtful
DREIER, DAVID: interview on the need for us
DREIER, DAVID: to implement the Iraq Study Group
DREIER, DAVID: recommendations. Unfortunately, the
DREIER, DAVID: Democratic leadership, I guess fearful that
DREIER, DAVID: responsible policy would prevail and
DREIER, DAVID: that this institution might, in fact, pass the
DREIER, DAVID: measure calling for implementation
DREIER, DAVID: of the Iraq Study Group, prevented us from having
DREIER, DAVID: the chance to debate or vote
DREIER, DAVID: on the Iraq Study Group recommendations.
DREIER, DAVID: The last time we went through this charade, they
DREIER, DAVID: at least had the luxury of
DREIER, DAVID: making dire predictions of failure for the new
DREIER, DAVID: strategy in Iraq led by General
DREIER, DAVID: Petraeus, and the distinguished Chair of the
DREIER, DAVID: Committee on Rules has once
DREIER, DAVID: again basically talked about failure and said
DREIER, DAVID: that we haven't met any
DREIER, DAVID: benchmarks. Even then, Mr. Speaker, the strategy
DREIER, DAVID: was actually showing early
DREIER, DAVID: signs of success. But this time, this time, the
DREIER, DAVID: counterinsurgency offensive is
DREIER, DAVID: well under way and making clear and irrefutable
DREIER, DAVID: progress.
DREIER, DAVID: I will say once again, Mr. Speaker, that we are
DREIER, DAVID: seeing clear and irrefutable
DREIER, DAVID: progress taking place. As one major newspaper
DREIER, DAVID: recently editorialized, and I
DREIER, DAVID: quote, ``Demands for withdrawal are no longer
DREIER, DAVID: demands to pull out of a
DREIER, DAVID: deteriorating situation with little hope. They
DREIER, DAVID: are now demands to end a new
DREIER, DAVID: approach to this conflict that shows every sign
DREIER, DAVID: of succeeding.''
DREIER, DAVID: Now Mr. Speaker, U.S. forces, working side by
DREIER, DAVID: side with Iraqi Army and police
DREIER, DAVID: forces, have penetrated enemy strongholds in the
DREIER, DAVID: belt surrounding Baghdad
DREIER, DAVID: and are driving them out. They have cut off al
DREIER, DAVID: Qaeda's supply lines and
DREIER, DAVID: transport routes. They are destroying car bomb
DREIER, DAVID: factories. Sectarian deaths
DREIER, DAVID: have plummeted. Al Qaeda operatives are finding
DREIER, DAVID: themselves increasingly
DREIER, DAVID: isolated, their safe havens destroyed, and their
DREIER, DAVID: ability to move freely between
DREIER, DAVID: neighborhoods severely diminished.
DREIER, DAVID: Now Mr. Speaker, our efforts have been
DREIER, DAVID: significantly bolstered by former Sunni
DREIER, DAVID: insurgents who have joined the fight against al
DREIER, DAVID: Qaeda. I am going to say that
DREIER, DAVID: again. Former Sunni insurgents have now joined
DREIER, DAVID: our effort in the fight against
DREIER, DAVID: al Qaeda. Nowhere has this process been more
DREIER, DAVID: critical than in the al-Anbar
DREIER, DAVID: province.
DREIER, DAVID: Last year, a leaked Marine intelligence report
DREIER, DAVID: conceded this province as
DREIER, DAVID: completely lost. That was the report that came
DREIER, DAVID: out. Today, Mr. Speaker,
DREIER, DAVID: al-Anbar is our best success story, and a
DREIER, DAVID: template for U.S. Forces working
DREIER, DAVID: together with both Sunni police and Shia army
DREIER, DAVID: forces to combat al Qaeda.
DREIER, DAVID: General David Petraeus, the man who has received
DREIER, DAVID: bipartisan praise and was
DREIER, DAVID: confirmed unanimously by a vote of 82-0 in the
DREIER, DAVID: United States Senate as he
DREIER, DAVID: began his work, he said to the New York Post,
DREIER, DAVID: ``We are beginning to see a revolt
DREIER, DAVID: of the middle against both extremes.''
DREIER, DAVID: Now, Mr. Speaker, it is our commanders on the
DREIER, DAVID: ground who have repeatedly
DREIER, DAVID: pointed out that the tipping point didn't come
DREIER, DAVID: until the tribal leaders sought a
DREIER, DAVID: prolonged offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces.
DREIER, DAVID: Now, let's think back to what life was like in
DREIER, DAVID: Iraq under Saddam Hussein. After
DREIER, DAVID: a quarter-century reign of terror by Saddam
DREIER, DAVID: Hussein, Iraqis clearly would not
DREIER, DAVID: immediately rise up against any force until that
DREIER, DAVID: force has been driven into
DREIER, DAVID: retreat. We had to demonstrate our strength and
DREIER, DAVID: our commitment before we
DREIER, DAVID: earned the trust of the tribal leaders and their
DREIER, DAVID: support in the fight against al
DREIER, DAVID: Qaeda. That is exactly what we're doing today in
DREIER, DAVID: Baghdad and the surrounding
DREIER, DAVID: areas.
DREIER, DAVID: The New York Times recently reported on the Anbar
DREIER, DAVID: success and how we are
DREIER, DAVID: currently applying it to the fight to secure
DREIER, DAVID: Baghdad. According to a July 8
DREIER, DAVID: report, former insurgents in Sunni neighborhoods
DREIER, DAVID: of Baghdad are now taking
DREIER, DAVID: up arms against al Qaeda. Now, that is July 8th,
DREIER, DAVID: a report that came out just 4
DREIER, DAVID: days ago. It quotes Petraeus as saying, and I
DREIER, DAVID: quote , ``Local security is helped
DREIER, DAVID: incalculably by local support and local
DREIER, DAVID: involvement.''
DREIER, DAVID: Now, Mr. Speaker, this success is so critical
DREIER, DAVID: because it gets to the heart, it gets
DREIER, DAVID: to the very heart of our twin goals in Iraq.
DREIER, DAVID: First, that Iraqis will be able to
DREIER, DAVID: provide their own security, that we have an
DREIER, DAVID: increased ISF, the Iraqi Security
DREIER, DAVID: Forces, and that they are trained adequately; and
DREIER, DAVID: second, that this security will
DREIER, DAVID: provide the environment that makes a political
DREIER, DAVID: solution possible.
DREIER, DAVID: The quicker that Iraqis achieve security and a
DREIER, DAVID: peaceful, stable democracy, the
DREIER, DAVID: quicker our troops will come home. And as we
DREIER, DAVID: listen to the speeches that will
DREIER, DAVID: come following mine about the quest for our
DREIER, DAVID: troops to come home, make no
DREIER, DAVID: bones about it, I share the goal and the vision
DREIER, DAVID: that is put forth by our friends,
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. McGovern and Ms. Slaughter, and others, who
DREIER, DAVID: will argue to bring our
DREIER, DAVID: troops home. We all want to make sure that that
DREIER, DAVID: happens.
DREIER, DAVID: Our new strategy, our new strategy, Mr. Speaker,
DREIER, DAVID: has clearly brought us closer
DREIER, DAVID: to that goal. And if our fight against extremism
DREIER, DAVID: was not urgent enough, the
DREIER, DAVID: Associated report that came out just late
DREIER, DAVID: yesterday afternoon that al Qaeda's
DREIER, DAVID: global network is again on the rise and has
DREIER, DAVID: regained much of the strength that
DREIER, DAVID: it had in September of 2001 is an important thing
DREIER, DAVID: for us to recognize.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, as the terror network rebuilds and
DREIER, DAVID: regroups, it seems absolutely
DREIER, DAVID: preposterous that we would abandon not only a key
DREIER, DAVID: front in the global war on
DREIER, DAVID: terror, but a place where we have al Qaeda on the
DREIER, DAVID: defensive and where we are
DREIER, DAVID: diminishing their capabilities, especially in
DREIER, DAVID: light of that report that came out
DREIER, DAVID: just last night about their renewed strength.
DREIER, DAVID: Yet, the Democratic leadership
DREIER, DAVID: inexplicably wants to pull the rug out from under
DREIER, DAVID: our military commanders.
DREIER, DAVID: Well, Mr. Speaker, perhaps not so inexplicable if
DREIER, DAVID: we consider that their planned
DREIER, DAVID: withdrawal would be complete just in time for the
DREIER, DAVID: 2008 elections.
DREIER, DAVID: But let's pretend that there is no election
DREIER, DAVID: looming on the horizon here.
DREIER, DAVID: Regardless of this bill's impact on American
DREIER, DAVID: electoral politics, what would be
DREIER, DAVID: the effects on Iraq? Now, Mr. Speaker, even the
DREIER, DAVID: New York Times editorial board,
DREIER, DAVID: which apparently doesn't often read its own news
DREIER, DAVID: reports and is calling for an
DREIER, DAVID: immediate withdrawal, acknowledges the inevitable
DREIER, DAVID: dire consequences of its
DREIER, DAVID: recommended course of action.
DREIER, DAVID: In the very editorial calling for surrender, it
DREIER, DAVID: outlines the overwhelming refugee
DREIER, DAVID: and humanitarian crisis that would immediately
DREIER, DAVID: ensue, how the fight would
DREIER, DAVID: spill out all across the region. And Mr. Speaker,
DREIER, DAVID: in the most callous way, it
DREIER, DAVID: acknowledges the terror that would be inflicted
DREIER, DAVID: upon those Iraqis who worked
DREIER, DAVID: with us because they believed our promises. How
DREIER, DAVID: cold and cynical. How callous
DREIER, DAVID: can we be to stand here and debate the notion of
DREIER, DAVID: abandoning the Iraqi people,
DREIER, DAVID: not only to genocide, but to the targeting of the
DREIER, DAVID: very individuals who have
DREIER, DAVID: bravely worked with us.
DREIER, DAVID: The Democratic leadership wants to wave a magic
DREIER, DAVID: wand and make this war go
DREIER, DAVID: away. I wouldn't mind a magic wand myself, and
DREIER, DAVID: certainly the American people
DREIER, DAVID: would appreciate a quick and tidy solution. But
DREIER, DAVID: I'm afraid that this solution
DREIER, DAVID: attempts to salvage nothing but party politics.
DREIER, DAVID: The Iraqi people, Mr. Speaker,
DREIER, DAVID: would not be quite so lucky.
DREIER, DAVID: Furthermore, NPR recently reported that the quick
DREIER, DAVID: withdrawal time frame that
DREIER, DAVID: the Democratic leadership dreamed up has no basis
DREIER, DAVID: in reality. It would take at
DREIER, DAVID: least a year or more to safely withdraw all U.S.
DREIER, DAVID: troops from Iraq, and it would
DREIER, DAVID: take significant combat forces to protect the
DREIER, DAVID: withdrawal. We would have to fight
DREIER, DAVID: our way out all the way to the Kuwaiti border.
DREIER, DAVID: There simply is no magic wand
DREIER, DAVID: in this war, Mr. Speaker.
DREIER, DAVID: Perhaps the greatest irony of this bill is that
DREIER, DAVID: it calls for detailed reports for a
DREIER, DAVID: strategy in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, we have a
DREIER, DAVID: strategy, and while it was only fully
DREIER, DAVID: operational less than 1 month ago, it is already
DREIER, DAVID: succeeding. The Democratic
DREIER, DAVID: leadership, in their absurdist logic, want our
DREIER, DAVID: military to abandon their strategy,
DREIER, DAVID: go home and write a report about what they would
DREIER, DAVID: have wanted to accomplish
DREIER, DAVID: if they had stayed. And if that weren't cruel
DREIER, DAVID: enough, Mr. Speaker, they would
DREIER, DAVID: have to watch terror and genocide unfold as they
DREIER, DAVID: retreated. Now, I cannot
DREIER, DAVID: fathom a more disastrous policy for our security
DREIER, DAVID: or the Iraqis'.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this
DREIER, DAVID: rule and the underlying bill
DREIER, DAVID: And with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
DREIER, DAVID: itself.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: he gentleman reserves.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The gentle lady from New
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: York is recognized.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: r. Speaker, I ask unanimous
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: consent to insert into
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the Record at this point an article from the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Washington Post this morning
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: entitled, ``White House Isn't Backing Iraq Study
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Group Follow-Up,'' It points
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: out that the House voted 355-69 last month to
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: reestablish the study group, but
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: the President is blocking it. [From
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: washingtonpost.com, July 12, 2007]
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: And I yield 4 « minutes to the gentleman from
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: Massachusetts, Mr.
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: he gentleman from
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: McGovern, is recognized for four minutes..
McGOVERN, JAMES: r. Speaker, I rise in support
McGOVERN, JAMES: of this rule and the
McGOVERN, JAMES: underlying bill, H.R. 2956, the Responsible
McGOVERN, JAMES: Redeployment from Iraq Act.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Mr. Speaker, I believe this House ought to voice
McGOVERN, JAMES: its gratitude to the
McGOVERN, JAMES: distinguished chairman of the Armed Services
McGOVERN, JAMES: Committee, Mr. Skelton, for
McGOVERN, JAMES: bringing before this House a thoughtful,
McGOVERN, JAMES: responsible bill that outlines what we
McGOVERN, JAMES: must do next in Iraq.
McGOVERN, JAMES: The bill clearly notes that our uniformed men and
McGOVERN, JAMES: women have carried out and
McGOVERN, JAMES: completed their mission for which they were
McGOVERN, JAMES: authorized by Congress. The
McGOVERN, JAMES: search for weapons of mass destruction is over.
McGOVERN, JAMES: There were none, not a single
McGOVERN, JAMES: one. The regime that put Iraq in an impossible
McGOVERN, JAMES: international position no longer
McGOVERN, JAMES: exists. So it's time that we draw down our troops
McGOVERN, JAMES: from Iraq and require this
McGOVERN, JAMES: administration to clearly define what the troop
McGOVERN, JAMES: requirements and costs will be
McGOVERN, JAMES: for the next phase of U.S. involvement in Iraq, a
McGOVERN, JAMES: far more limited mission to
McGOVERN, JAMES: root out al Qaeda and protect our diplomatic
McGOVERN, JAMES: personnel inside Iraq.
McGOVERN, JAMES: The bill also promotes the kind of active
McGOVERN, JAMES: diplomacy with Iraq's neighbors
McGOVERN, JAMES: necessary for achieving a more lasting climate of
McGOVERN, JAMES: stability in Iraq and
McGOVERN, JAMES: throughout the region. Much, much more, Mr.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Speaker, must be done. I expect
McGOVERN, JAMES: to see stronger legislation in September, but
McGOVERN, JAMES: this bill puts us on the right path.
McGOVERN, JAMES: For 5 long, deadly years, this Congress has done
McGOVERN, JAMES: nothing but rubber-stamp a
McGOVERN, JAMES: tragically flawed policy. It is shameful.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Whatever the cause the President and
McGOVERN, JAMES: many Members of Congress thought they were
McGOVERN, JAMES: pursuing in Iraq, it is lost.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Political leaders inside Iraq appear incapable of
McGOVERN, JAMES: putting national interest ahead
McGOVERN, JAMES: of sectarian and personal agendas. Iraqi security
McGOVERN, JAMES: forces operate more like
McGOVERN, JAMES: sectarian militias. And despite their best
McGOVERN, JAMES: efforts, the additional military forces
McGOVERN, JAMES: we have poured into the Baghdad region have not
McGOVERN, JAMES: been able to change the
McGOVERN, JAMES: equation.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Over 3,600 of our troops have lost their lives to
McGOVERN, JAMES: this battle. Thousands more
McGOVERN, JAMES: have been wounded. It is wrong, Mr. Speaker,
McGOVERN, JAMES: simply wrong to ask them to
McGOVERN, JAMES: continue to sacrifice their lives and their limbs
McGOVERN, JAMES: for this failed policy.
McGOVERN, JAMES: The war in Iraq is breaking the back of our
McGOVERN, JAMES: military. It is causing severe
McGOVERN, JAMES: damage to the Federal budget to the tune of $10
McGOVERN, JAMES: billion each month, and
McGOVERN, JAMES: causing grave harm to the future fiscal health of
McGOVERN, JAMES: our Nation. It continues to
McGOVERN, JAMES: undermine our most important political,
McGOVERN, JAMES: diplomatic, military and strategic
McGOVERN, JAMES: alliances. It saps our ability to focus on global
McGOVERN, JAMES: terrorism and to safeguard our
McGOVERN, JAMES: own people. And it has contributed to the chaos
McGOVERN, JAMES: inside Iraq.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Mr. Speaker, it is past time for change. And
McGOVERN, JAMES: while President Bush keeps
McGOVERN, JAMES: scorning deadlines and promising breakthroughs
McGOVERN, JAMES: that never come, it is clear
McGOVERN, JAMES: that he lacks the vision, the wisdom or the
McGOVERN, JAMES: courage to chart a new course. It is
McGOVERN, JAMES: frighteningly clear that the President plans,
McGOVERN, JAMES: instead, to stay the course and
McGOVERN, JAMES: dump this mess on the next President.
McGOVERN, JAMES: It is time for Congress to step up to the plate
McGOVERN, JAMES: and change direction in Iraq. It is
McGOVERN, JAMES: time for every Member of this House to work
McGOVERN, JAMES: together to draw down our forces
McGOVERN, JAMES: and bring our troops home to their families and
McGOVERN, JAMES: their communities.
McGOVERN, JAMES: For too long Congress has been complicit, and the
McGOVERN, JAMES: frustrated, and they are angry. We don't need
McGOVERN, JAMES: American people are
McGOVERN, JAMES: more studies or commissions. We
McGOVERN, JAMES: don't need more excuses. We don't need more
McGOVERN, JAMES: delay. Too many lives are being
McGOVERN, JAMES: lost. What we need is for Members of Congress to
McGOVERN, JAMES: make a choice, to stand up
McGOVERN, JAMES: and be counted. Will you continue to rubber-stamp
McGOVERN, JAMES: the current disastrous
McGOVERN, JAMES: policies in Iraq or will you vote for change?
McGOVERN, JAMES: We must act now, Mr. Speaker. This is simply too
McGOVERN, JAMES: important to wait any longer.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Too many lives are on the line.
McGOVERN, JAMES: All of us, no matter how we originally voted on
McGOVERN, JAMES: the war, share in the
McGOVERN, JAMES: responsibility in what is happening in Iraq. All
McGOVERN, JAMES: of us,
McGOVERN, JAMES: May I have an additional 30 seconds?
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: 0 seconds.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 0 seconds.
McGOVERN, JAMES: y not voting to change course,
McGOVERN, JAMES: are responsible for
McGOVERN, JAMES: sending so many of our brave men and women into a
McGOVERN, JAMES: civil war where far too
McGOVERN, JAMES: many of them have been killed.
McGOVERN, JAMES: If the President of the United States will not
McGOVERN, JAMES: respect the will of the American
McGOVERN, JAMES: people and end this war, then Congress must. Mr.
McGOVERN, JAMES: Speaker, I yield back my
McGOVERN, JAMES: time.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: he gentleman from
DREIER, DAVID: r. Speaker, as I yield to my
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: California .
DREIER, DAVID: friend from Pennsylvania, let me
DREIER, DAVID: just say, we do have a great chance to work
DREIER, DAVID: together, that's why we were, in
DREIER, DAVID: fact, proposing an alternative, that being a
DREIER, DAVID: chance for us to work on the
DREIER, DAVID: bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommendations.
DREIER, DAVID: With that, I'm happy to yield 4 minutes to my
DREIER, DAVID: very good friend from Erie,
DREIER, DAVID: Pennsylvania (Mr. English).
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: entleman from Pennsylvania
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: is recognized for four
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: minutes
ENGLISH, PHIL: thank the gentleman.
ENGLISH, PHIL: Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the strongest
ENGLISH, PHIL: possible opposition to this rule.
ENGLISH, PHIL: In the panoply of public policy issues, there is
ENGLISH, PHIL: no more important question
ENGLISH, PHIL: than starting or ending an armed conflict. The
ENGLISH, PHIL: decision we make today will
ENGLISH, PHIL: determine whether men and women will live or die,
ENGLISH, PHIL: not only on the battlefields
ENGLISH, PHIL: of Iraq but also potentially in the cities of
ENGLISH, PHIL: Europe and America.
ENGLISH, PHIL: The discussion that we conduct today should
ENGLISH, PHIL: transcend crass political
ENGLISH, PHIL: partnership and narrow ideology to reflect our
ENGLISH, PHIL: deepest concern for the Nation
ENGLISH, PHIL: and, indeed, for the community of nations.
ENGLISH, PHIL: The House of Representatives today should be
ENGLISH, PHIL: prepared to engage in a free and
ENGLISH, PHIL: fair debate regarding all of the potential
ENGLISH, PHIL: options for the future conduct of
ENGLISH, PHIL: combat operations and diplomatic initiatives in
ENGLISH, PHIL: Iraq and the broader Middle
ENGLISH, PHIL: East. We should be discussing the recommendations
ENGLISH, PHIL: of the Baker-Hamilton
ENGLISH, PHIL: Iraq Study Group. We should be examining some of
ENGLISH, PHIL: the ideas laid out by
ENGLISH, PHIL: Senator Lugar. We should be considering the
ENGLISH, PHIL: suggestion of Congresswoman
ENGLISH, PHIL: Heather Wilson and I that we made to the
ENGLISH, PHIL: President recently encouraging him
ENGLISH, PHIL: to convene a high-level summit of Iraqi sectarian
ENGLISH, PHIL: leaders. We should exclude
ENGLISH, PHIL: no viable alternative, even that offered by my
ENGLISH, PHIL: colleague from Ohio, Mr.
ENGLISH, PHIL: Kucinich.
ENGLISH, PHIL: The legislation we will consider later today does
ENGLISH, PHIL: have the potential to serve as a
ENGLISH, PHIL: starting point of determining a new course of
ENGLISH, PHIL: action in Iraq, but it is badly
ENGLISH, PHIL: flawed, and it needs substantial improvement, and
ENGLISH, PHIL: unfortunately, that will not
ENGLISH, PHIL: be possible. The rule the Democrats have laid
ENGLISH, PHIL: before the House today
ENGLISH, PHIL: demonstrates their motivations are, at core,
ENGLISH, PHIL: political. And I remember when
ENGLISH, PHIL: politics ended at the water's edge.
ENGLISH, PHIL: They do not offer us an open rule, allowing full
ENGLISH, PHIL: and free debate. They don't even
ENGLISH, PHIL: allow us a structured rule, permitting, at the
ENGLISH, PHIL: very least, discussion of some of
ENGLISH, PHIL: the major alternatives that I've outlined.
ENGLISH, PHIL: Mr. Speaker, we all know that certain parties
ENGLISH, PHIL: want things from this debate
ENGLISH, PHIL: today. They've already recorded their robo calls,
ENGLISH, PHIL: purchased airtime for their
ENGLISH, PHIL: attack ads. They've scheduled buses for their
ENGLISH, PHIL: rent-a-mobs. And the last thing
ENGLISH, PHIL: they really desire is a free, open and informed
ENGLISH, PHIL: debate that might result in a
ENGLISH, PHIL: unified policy regarding our Nation's future
ENGLISH, PHIL: efforts in Iraq. They seek not to
ENGLISH, PHIL: unite our Nation but to divide it.
ENGLISH, PHIL: The people who bring this rule to the floor today
ENGLISH, PHIL: do not allow amendments
ENGLISH, PHIL: because they're afraid. They're afraid that some
ENGLISH, PHIL: of these amendments might
ENGLISH, PHIL: prevail. They're afraid that, given viable
ENGLISH, PHIL: alternatives, some Members of their
ENGLISH, PHIL: own party will choose cooperation over
ENGLISH, PHIL: confrontation.
ENGLISH, PHIL: Mostly, they are afraid they might lose a major
ENGLISH, PHIL: issue for their campaign to
ENGLISH, PHIL: maintain their majority. Their fear may or may
ENGLISH, PHIL: not be justified, but its very
ENGLISH, PHIL: existence is a sad commentary on their faith in
ENGLISH, PHIL: the Members of their own party,
ENGLISH, PHIL: this body, and the American people.
ENGLISH, PHIL: I remind my colleagues that the only thing we
ENGLISH, PHIL: have to fear is fear itself. Reject
ENGLISH, PHIL: this cynical rule. Vote ``no'' on the previous
ENGLISH, PHIL: question. Let's have a full and fair
ENGLISH, PHIL: debate on this, the most critical issue of our
ENGLISH, PHIL: generation. And I yield back the
ENGLISH, PHIL: remainder of my time.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: r. Speaker, give me 3
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: seconds to say that under the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Republican administration, not a single Iraqi
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: measure was brought up under
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: an open rule.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: And now I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: gentlewoman from California,
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Ms. Matsui.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: he gentle lady from
MATSUI, DORIS: thank the gentlewoman from New
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: California.
MATSUI, DORIS: York for yielding me time
MATSUI, DORIS: and for her leadership on the Rules Committee.
MATSUI, DORIS: Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and
MATSUI, DORIS: in support of the underlying bill.
MATSUI, DORIS: Today presents us with another opportunity to
MATSUI, DORIS: change direction in Iraq, a
MATSUI, DORIS: change that is desperately needed. I have opposed
MATSUI, DORIS: this war from the beginning.
MATSUI, DORIS: I have long supported ways to bring this war to a
MATSUI, DORIS: responsible close. I urge my
MATSUI, DORIS: colleagues to seize this opportunity now before
MATSUI, DORIS: we do further disservice to the
MATSUI, DORIS: brave men and women in Iraq.
MATSUI, DORIS: The last time I rose in opposition to Iraq
MATSUI, DORIS: policy, I talked about George and Dee
MATSUI, DORIS: Heath from my hometown of Sacramento. All three
MATSUI, DORIS: of their sons served in Iraq.
MATSUI, DORIS: Recently, I learned that one of their sons,
MATSUI, DORIS: David, was hit in an RPG attack on
MATSUI, DORIS: his convoy. Thank goodness he was not wounded
MATSUI, DORIS: gravely, and he will be
MATSUI, DORIS: coming home to recover.
MATSUI, DORIS: Mr. Speaker, today's vote is about our
MATSUI, DORIS: responsibility to the Heath sons and to
MATSUI, DORIS: the more than 150,000 other men and women in
MATSUI, DORIS: harm's way. They are doing
MATSUI, DORIS: what is being asked of them heroically and
MATSUI, DORIS: patriotically. It fills me with sorrow
MATSUI, DORIS: that more than 3,600 soldiers have paid the
MATSUI, DORIS: ultimate price for their heroism,
MATSUI, DORIS: including 385 from my home State of California.
MATSUI, DORIS: Our responsibility to them as their elected
MATSUI, DORIS: leaders should be, it must be, to
MATSUI, DORIS: ensure that their mission is clear and
MATSUI, DORIS: achievable. Today, we have the
MATSUI, DORIS: opportunity to fulfill our responsibility as the
MATSUI, DORIS: President has not. Sadly, the
MATSUI, DORIS: President's disastrous leadership is ignoring his
MATSUI, DORIS: duty to the troops. We cannot
MATSUI, DORIS: sit idly by.
MATSUI, DORIS: The Iraqi Government is not meeting any of its
MATSUI, DORIS: political, economic, or military
MATSUI, DORIS: benchmarks. The President's surge policy has had
MATSUI, DORIS: disastrous results. In fact,
MATSUI, DORIS: 600 troops have been killed and more than 3,000
MATSUI, DORIS: have been wounded since he
MATSUI, DORIS: announced this policy.
MATSUI, DORIS: Our troops are stranded on the front lines
MATSUI, DORIS: without clear guidance, without a
MATSUI, DORIS: clear mission. In light of such inept leadership
MATSUI, DORIS: by the President, the American
MATSUI, DORIS: people have lost their patience. Most Americans
MATSUI, DORIS: support removing troops by
MATSUI, DORIS: April. They want us to refocus on terrorism. Yet,
MATSUI, DORIS: still the President refuses to
MATSUI, DORIS: reconsider. It is clear from the President's
MATSUI, DORIS: blind stubbornness that Congress
MATSUI, DORIS: must show the President the way.
MATSUI, DORIS: Our troops are at the breaking point. We are
MATSUI, DORIS: refereeing a civil war. The solution
MATSUI, DORIS: is a political one, not a military one. But in
MATSUI, DORIS: this late and crucial hour, you have
MATSUI, DORIS: to do more than talk about change. You have to
MATSUI, DORIS: vote for it. You have to fight for
MATSUI, DORIS: it. Chairman Skelton's bill keeps the safety of
MATSUI, DORIS: our troops and our Nation's
MATSUI, DORIS: security at the forefront by changing course in
MATSUI, DORIS: Iraq. I urge all my colleagues to
MATSUI, DORIS: support this bill and I yield back the balance of
MATSUI, DORIS: my time.
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: he gentleman from
DREIER, DAVID: r. Speaker, it is absolutely
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: California.
DREIER, DAVID: laughable to listen to the
DREIER, DAVID: distinguished Chair of the Committee on Rules,
DREIER, DAVID: after having berated us for the
DREIER, DAVID: longest period of time, use us as a model for the
DREIER, DAVID: procedure around which we
DREIER, DAVID: are considering this legislation. This is a bill,
DREIER, DAVID: not a resolution, which is what we
DREIER, DAVID: brought up in the last Congress.
DREIER, DAVID: With that I'm happy to yield 3 1/4 minutes to
DREIER, DAVID: the very distinguished
DREIER, DAVID: gentleman, a former member of the Rules
DREIER, DAVID: Committee, from Marietta, Georgia,
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Gingrey.
DREIER, DAVID: GEORGE GINGREY:. Mr. Speaker, I thank my former
DREIER, DAVID: chairman of the Rules
DREIER, DAVID: Committee, the gentleman from California, for
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this rule and
DREIER, DAVID: yielding.
DREIER, DAVID: condemn the underlying bill,
DREIER, DAVID: hastily leaving Iraq without any clear exit
DREIER, DAVID: strategy.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, the timing of this legislation
DREIER, DAVID: should raise some serious questions
DREIER, DAVID: for the American people. It comes at a critical
DREIER, DAVID: point in the global war on terror,
DREIER, DAVID: a point at which our efforts should be focused on
DREIER, DAVID: defeating terrorism inflicted
DREIER, DAVID: by Islamic jihadists, not usurping the power of
DREIER, DAVID: our military commanders, as
DREIER, DAVID: this bill clearly does.
DREIER, DAVID: Today's debate comes on the heels of an
DREIER, DAVID: intelligence analysis stating al Qaeda
DREIER, DAVID: has regrouped to a level not seen since 9/11 with
DREIER, DAVID: a greater ability to strike
DREIER, DAVID: inside the United States. It comes in the
DREIER, DAVID: immediate aftermath of the Muslim
DREIER, DAVID: extremist attacks in London and Glasgow. In sum,
DREIER, DAVID: it comes at a time when our
DREIER, DAVID: decisions must be based on strategic interests
DREIER, DAVID: and not political grandstanding.
DREIER, DAVID: However, Mr. Speaker, this bill is not designed
DREIER, DAVID: to help us fight terrorism to
DREIER, DAVID: secure the United States' interests. In fact, its
DREIER, DAVID: timing has nothing to do with
DREIER, DAVID: national security at all.
DREIER, DAVID: Today, the Democratic leadership want us to vote
DREIER, DAVID: on a change of course before
DREIER, DAVID: we have had the opportunity to fully analyze the
DREIER, DAVID: President's interim report on
DREIER, DAVID: our strategy in Iraq, and well ahead of the much
DREIER, DAVID: anticipated September report
DREIER, DAVID: to be delivered by General Petraeus and
DREIER, DAVID: Ambassador Crocker.
DREIER, DAVID: So why are we debating this now? Curiously, it
DREIER, DAVID: comes at a time when this
DREIER, DAVID: Democratic Congress has an approval rating as low
DREIER, DAVID: as 14 percent. That's right,
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, their approval is at an all-time
DREIER, DAVID: low. Their base is very angry, the
DREIER, DAVID: extremist left. They are angry at the Democrats'
DREIER, DAVID: Out of Iraq Caucus because
DREIER, DAVID: they failed to deliver. Indeed, Cindy Sheehan,
DREIER, DAVID: their poster child, has now
DREIER, DAVID: announced her candidacy against Speaker Pelosi.
DREIER, DAVID: So what do the Democrats do? They take another
DREIER, DAVID: shot at Old Faithful. When
DREIER, DAVID: all else fails, when they can't get anything
DREIER, DAVID: accomplished, when all they can
DREIER, DAVID: deliver to the American public is the most closed
DREIER, DAVID: Congress in history, they
DREIER, DAVID: engage in another round of political theater
DREIER, DAVID: engineered to do nothing but grab
DREIER, DAVID: a few headlines and appease that liberal base.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, let's not waste the time of this
DREIER, DAVID: body by debating vague bills with
DREIER, DAVID: absolutely no chance of becoming law. Let's
DREIER, DAVID: instead examine the upcoming
DREIER, DAVID: September report from our top military commanders
DREIER, DAVID: and then, yes, then make
DREIER, DAVID: informed decisions on the best path forward.
DREIER, DAVID: My friend, the distinguished chairwoman of the
DREIER, DAVID: gentlewoman from New York, stated in her opening
DREIER, DAVID: Rules Committee, the
DREIER, DAVID: remarks that if we wait
DREIER, DAVID: until September, as I suggest, 200 more troops
DREIER, DAVID: would be lost and the lives of
DREIER, DAVID: 200 families would be changed forever.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, let me remind my colleagues that
DREIER, DAVID: within a 20-minute period of
DREIER, DAVID: time on September 11, 2001, 3,000 lives were
DREIER, DAVID: lost, some of our brightest and
DREIER, DAVID: best; and, indeed, the lives of 3,000 families
DREIER, DAVID: were changed forever, and I ask
DREIER, DAVID: for 15 additional seconds from my colleagues.
DREIER, DAVID: Mr. Speaker, in those closing seconds, I just
DREIER, DAVID: want to urge my colleagues to
DREIER, DAVID: oppose this rule and to oppose the irresponsible
DREIER, DAVID: underlying bill, and with that I
DREIER, DAVID: do yield back the balance of my time.
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: r. Speaker, I yield 3
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: minutes to the gentleman from
SLAUGHTER, LOUISE: Vermont (Mr. Welch).
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: entleman from Vermont is
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: recognized.
WELCH, PETER: r. Speaker, I vigorously opposed
WELCH, PETER: the war in Iraq before it
WELCH, PETER: began, and now, well into its fifth year, the
WELCH, PETER: need for a new policy has never
WELCH, PETER: been clearer. The toll of this war has been
WELCH, PETER: devastating: more than 3,600 of our
WELCH, PETER: most courageous men and women killed, tens of
WELCH, PETER: thousands seriously wounded;
WELCH, PETER: the toll on civilians much higher still. And
WELCH, PETER: while we struggle to fund domestic
WELCH, PETER: priorities in Vermont, in all our States across
WELCH, PETER: this Nation, health care, a
WELCH, PETER: crumbling infrastructure for transportation, the
WELCH, PETER: cost of education, we now
WELCH, PETER: spend $12 billion every single month on this war.
WELCH, PETER: From last November's elections, to public opinion
WELCH, PETER: polls, to the comments I hear
WELCH, PETER: from Vermonters every single day, the voice of
WELCH, PETER: the American people is loud. It's
WELCH, PETER: clear. We must end this war. And since the
WELCH, PETER: President refuses, absolutely