[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4531-H4538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE BRUTAL KILLING OF MR. JAMES BYRD, JR.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of House
Resolution 466, condemning the brutal killing of Mr. James Byrd, Jr.,
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House; that debate on
the resolution continue not to exceed 20 minutes, equally divided and
controlled by the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) and myself;
and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the
resolution to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for a
division of the question.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters)?
There was no objection.
The text of House Resolution 466 is as follows:
H. Res. 466
Resolved,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The House of Representatives finds as follows:
(1) Mr. James Byrd, Jr., a 49-year-old disabled African
American male from Jasper County, East Texas, was last seen
walking home from a niece's bridal shower on June 6, 1998,
and allegedly was offered a ride by 3 young white men, who
then proceeded to physically and mercilessly beat Mr. Byrd in
Jasper, Texas, then chained him to the back of a pickup truck
and dragged him until the torso of his body was torn to
pieces.
(2) Mr. James Byrd, Jr.'s body was found Sunday, June 7,
1998, on a bumpy, winding country road about 10 miles from
his Jasper home, at the end of a trail of blood along a 2-
mile stretch of road with his head, neck, and right arm
severed.
(3) Mr. Byrd was so brutally disfigured that his head and
torso were completely severed, with his head, neck, and right
arm found about a mile away, and only finger prints could be
used to identify him.
(4) Mr. Lawrence Russell Brewer, 31, of Sulphur Springs,
Texas and Mr. Shawn Allen Berry, 23, and Mr. John William
King, 23, of Jasper, Texas, all of whom have past criminal
records and have served time in prison or were on probation,
have been charged with murder and are being held without
bail.
(5) The police released an affidavit of probable cause in
which Mr. Berry said they had been out drinking and picked up
Mr. Byrd as he walked down Martin Luther King Drive in Jasper
early Sunday.
(6) Mr. Berry said that he stopped at a convenience store,
but Mr. King was angry that he was giving a ride to a black
man, so he took over at the steering wheel and drove to a
remote area 7 miles outside of town, where they killed Mr.
Byrd.
(7) The 3 men were known to be members of various hate
groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Brotherhood.
(8) This was not a random act of violence, but a senseless,
hate-filled crime.
(9) The Federal Bureau of Investigation also is
investigating to see if the 3 could be charged with violating
Mr. Byrd's Federal civil rights.
(10) One of the suspects allegedly said that they wanted to
``start the Turner Diaries early,'' referring to a novel
about race war that is popular reading among some hate groups
and white supremacists.
(11) This incident is reminiscent of the brutal slayings
that occurred at the turn of the century and in the 1920s and
1930s, with brutal hangings which brought the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People into
existence and contributed to its growth in its early days.
[[Page H4532]]
(12) This and similar incidents threaten the peaceful
coexistence, security, and foundation of all communities.
SEC. 2. CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF JAMES BYRD, JR.
The House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the actions which occurred in Jasper, Texas as
unacceptable and outrageous, to be condemned by all people of
all races, creeds, and religions;
(2) pledges to do everything in its power, including
holding public hearings, to probe the underlying causes of
this brutal killing and to make sure that the United States
does not return to the days when such hatred, brutality,
violence, hangings, and murder were deemed acceptable;
(3) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Department of Justice, the White House, and all other Federal
law enforcement agencies to conduct an immediate, full, and
fair investigation into all of the facts of the case to
aggressively respond to this tragedy with indictments, and
urges the prosecution proceed aggressively with a fair but
speedy trial;
(4) calls upon each Member of Congress and every citizen of
the United States, in his or her own way, through his or her
church, synagogue, mosque, workplace, or social organization,
to join in denouncing and getting others to denounce this
outrageous murder of another human being; and
(5) pledges to join in efforts to bring an end to racism
and an end to the fear and hatred which underlie it, and to
encourage all Americans to dedicate themselves to ending
racism and violence in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the unanimous consent request,
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) will be recognized for 10
minutes and the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) will be
recognized for 10 minutes.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman
from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) and I be permitted to add the names of any
Members desiring to be original cosponsors by the end of business
today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following
Members be considered as original cosponsors of the resolution: Messrs.
Gingrich, Armey, Hastert, Boehner, Linder, Watts of Oklahoma, Gephardt,
Bonior and Fazio of California, Ms. Dunn, Ms. Pryce of Ohio and Mrs.
Kennelly.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters)
is recognized for 10 minutes.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, today the Congressional Black Caucus members and our
colleagues on both sides of the aisle join with many other citizens of
this country in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of
James Byrd, Jr. We, too, are pained by this senseless and racist
killing. We are outraged that three young white men with ties to white
supremacist hate groups apparently believed that Mr. Byrd's life had no
value, simply because he was black.
These men, who allegedly offered Mr. Byrd a ride home, beat him,
chained him to the back of a pickup truck and dragged him until his
body was torn to pieces. Mr. Byrd's head, arm and neck were severed and
strewn along a two mile stretch of country road about 10 miles from his
home in Jasper, Texas.
This is a hate crime, pure and simple, that is what it is, and it
should be charged as one.
Each and every Member of this body should join the Congressional
Black Caucus on this House resolution to condemn the murder as
unacceptable and outrageous and to pledge to do everything in his or
her power to probe the underlying causes of this brutal killing, to
make sure that the United States does not return to the days when such
hatred, brutality, violence, hangings and murder are deemed acceptable.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I also welcome this opportunity, however it is a very,
very sad time for this country in light of the very brutal slaying of
James Byrd. It is important and it is appropriate that this House pass
this resolution and state emphatically how important it is that we
resolve the racial separation that exists in this country today.
Officially we have to protect everybody's civil rights, and we know
that this resolution requests that we do that. But, far beyond the
legal responsibilities of protecting civil rights, we have to put the
prestige and the leadership of this Congress forward and say that it
collectively represents our personal sense of outrage.
{time} 1645
This goes way beyond our outrage at the violation of Mr. Byrd's legal
civil rights. Racial hatred is wrong. It is wrong in actions, it is
wrong in the mind, and it is wrong in the heart.
While the legal system will attack the actions, we have to, through
our message, say that racial hate is wrong in our heart and in our
mind. Every one of us and every American has to say in every way they
can I love you, I accept you, and I want to reach out to you.
We in this country of every race and especially to those that are
most vulnerable and in the minority have to say every way possible that
we want to share our lives, we want to share our neighborhoods, we want
to share our schools, we want to share our families.
In every way possible, we have to reach across whatever divides us.
This means every American. This means every neighborhood. This means
every economic group. In the end, this country will rise or fall as
one. We will be part of the same community, the same neighborhood, and
the same great country.
I believe in this country, Mr. Speaker. I believe in my friends on
this floor. I believe in our communities. I believe if we all use this
occasion to reach down as deep as possible and find as many ways as
possible to reach across the divisions we share and resolve to close
those gaps, to open those discussions, and to unite our hearts and
minds, that we will make a difference, and that James Byrd's very
brutal and outrageous killing will not be in vain.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers).
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, we are indebted to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) and the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs.
Northup) for bringing us together on this resolution. I join it.
I also would like to mention that, out of a discussion with the
chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Hyde), there is an agreement that we will hold hearings very
shortly on the measure, House Resolution 3081, which would make this a
Federal criminal offense.
Ironically, these kinds of civil rights violations are not violations
unless they occurred on Federal property or unless they are connected
to voter rights or civil rights activity. So it is with pleasure that,
out of this tragedy, it can bring us forward and move us, move us
forward, because every hate crime is an offense against the most basic
values of the American system.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The gentlewoman from
Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) has 7 minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
(Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, words are very inadequate to encompass the
dimensions of this tragic event. Everybody is shocked by it. It is a
tragedy of immense proportions. It is right that the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) and her colleagues bring this resolution to the
floor. Attention has to be paid to these acts of inhumanity.
It is my strong feeling that the problems of racism will never be
solved without a spiritual component until people realize we do share a
common humanity. We are made in the image and likeness of our creator,
and we are, indeed, brothers and sisters in the most profound way, not
in the superficial way.
These events have to shock the conscience of the country. When they
stop shocking us, then we have lost some sensitivity and some of our
humanity. So let us not forget that these things
[[Page H4533]]
happen. They happen today. They happen in our country. Let us not look
away. Let us not avert our eyes. Let us focus, let us try to find out
what crazy, irrational impulses cause this. Let us try to root them
out. Let us, again, take a renewed look at each other and try to find
the things that we share in common and remember we are children of God.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this week, we have
been revisited by an ugly period in the life of our country. We know
that we have had this in the past, and most of us thought it was a
thing of the past. I know that it can happen. It happened in Jasper.
My sympathy goes out to the families, to that community, to my
colleague who has stood up and been on target with the family and his
district. It is clear that we cannot allow this kind of incident to go
unnoticed. It is time for us to talk about it, educate each other, to
alert all of America that this kind of act will not be accepted in this
country.
It is clear that this community should not be singled out as a
community that perpetuates this kind of attitude. This is not that kind
of community. But it is an alertness to this entire Nation that the
time is here, that we must address this type of dastardly act.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. McInnis).
Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman from Kentucky
yielding me this time. I can tell you obviously this is tragic. It
shocked everybody that has heard about it. I am not one of those kind
of people that have a lot of forgiveness in my heart. I cannot forgive
them. I tell you, in my opinion, this is an example of death. That is
why I support the death penalty. This is inexcusable what those people
did.
But I also want to point out to our colleagues this is horrible, it
has got to stop, but it is not the only thing that has occurred in this
last week. In Albuquerque, New Mexico last week, a couple days before
this, did not get this kind of attention, we had a policewoman shot and
killed. We had a border patrolman shot and killed last week in the
State of Texas.
In my district, I am in the Four Corners, so actually within a mile
or two of my district as well, we had methodically, in four separate
incidents, two people, three people, one of them is now dead, shoot
methodically four separate police officers. They are still on the
loose.
The fact is we have some very, and I hate to use the word ``sick'',
because I am afraid the defense attorney will pick up my utilization of
the word ``sick'' on the congressional floor and have it assist in the
defense of insanity or something, but we have some very different
individuals out there.
In my opinion, the way to stop this, we can have lots of hearings,
but until we have punishment that really means something in this
country, we are not going to stop these kind of outrageous crimes.
I commend the gentlewoman from California for standing up and
bringing this resolution forward. Obviously the merits are very
substantial. I pass my sympathies on to the family.
But I do want to say to all of my colleagues this is not an isolated
incident. We do have problems with race out there we have also got to
overcome. We also have other problems out there with crime, like
shooting cops and some of the other shooting incidents. We need to
stand up and stop talking about all this forgiveness and punish these
people for what they are doing. That will stop them.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), our minority leader.
(Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues to condemn this
senseless, horrible, dastardly act of violence based on racial hatred.
I personally want to extend the prayers and thoughts of all of us and
our families to the family of James Byrd. They are in our hearts, in
our prayers, in our minds at this time of overwhelming sadness and
sorrow.
This death brings to mind the worst chapter in our Nation's history,
when violent racial intolerance was practiced regularly in our land.
While it is the Byrd family that will bear the greatest burden in
this tragedy, every one of us in America, every person is diminished by
this act of violence.
I would simply ask our entire Nation that we all reach out and
embrace this family as part of our American family and somehow help
them heal the wounds that have been opened by this act of violence. I
hope that some way we can work together so that this will not happen
again to someone else in Texas or in Missouri or some other State in
our union.
This is a shameful act. It is a dastardly act. It must not happen
again. I thought, and I believe you thought, that we had ended this
era. It has not ended. It must end. It must end.
Our prayers and thoughts, our belief, our compassion is with the
family of James Byrd.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the
chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus for her leadership, and I
thank the gentlewoman from Kentucky for her kindness in yielding me
this time.
I think we are well aware that each Member who has come to the floor
has not been in a shrieking voice. We have been in a strong voice. We
have been demanding, but we have not been shrieking.
The reason is because what has happened to Mr. Byrd and his family is
so very overwhelming that it takes almost a calmness to appreciate it
and understand it.
This was a physically challenged individual, someone who was leaving
a celebration by the family, walking home in a quiet, rural area of
Texas; and, tragically, people like Lawrence Brewer and Shawn Berry and
John King thought that they would have some fun and disregard his human
dignity and drag him through the streets of Jasper, Texas, not
reflecting upon those citizens, as my colleague and representative of
that area has already said and will say, the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Turner), but yet bringing to that community something that they will
never, never forget.
A question was asked earlier today: What do you think about this
happening in Texas? I simply said that Texas is not a poster child for
hatred. This happens all over the Nation. That is why it is so very
important that this resolution be confirmed, if you will, affirmed by
the entire body of the United States Congress.
I would ask the Attorney General to establish a task force that is
ongoing on investigating hate crimes across this Nation on why these
kinds of incidences continuously occur.
Lastly, I would ask, as was asked in this particular resolution,
that, as we go to our respective houses of worship this weekend
wherever we may be, we should denounce what happened, but we should
also pray. We should also ask that this cancer be removed from the soul
of America. We can not go into the 21st Century if we are to take this
cancer with us.
My sympathy to the family of Mr. Byrd. We should vote for this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my full heart felt support for this
powerful resolution from the members of the Congressional Black Caucus
and the Texas Delegation as we all stand united in our horror as the
gruesome reports about the brutal slaying of Mr. James Byrd in Jasper,
Texas this weekend, have been diligently uncovered. I surely do not
intend to sound callous, but as we all know, people in this country die
every day. Some people die peacefully, some painfully, some die
quickly, while others die patiently, but I can say without any
reservation, that only a handful of people to have ever lived, died as
savagely as James Byrd, Jr. did on a muggy Saturday night in Jasper,
Texas this weekend.
Mr. Byrd, a physically challenged African-American man of 49 years
old was discovered by his three Caucasian murderers because he was
minding his own business; I guess they felt outdone because he dared to
walk home in their presence after leaving the celebration
[[Page H4534]]
of his niece's bridal shower. Little did James know that this would be
the last walk he would ever take in his life. These three savage
butchers, Mr. Lawrence Brewer, Mr. Shawn Berry, and Mr. John King, took
it upon themselves to mercilessly and relentlessly beat James Byrd
until he reached the door of death, but somehow, even as they proudly
stood over his convulsing carcass, their unquenchable blood lust was
still not satisfied. So after taking a brief moment to decide what
other pleasures they could derive from torturing James Byrd's shivering
body, his murderers decided to take him on a ``ride''.
After making sure to thoroughly finish their vicious beating of a
defenseless man, these three social and moral deviants proceeded to
chain James Byrd's bloody and broken body to the back of their pick-up
truck, and just drive away. For two miles, 3,500 yards, 11,000 feet,
James Byrd's body was ripped and battered against the hard terrain of
that East Texas country road, for two miles, for two miles, for two
miles. The ``ride'' was so remarkably brutal that not only was James
Byrd's body disfigured beyond recognition when found, but different
parts of his body, like his head and arm, were found littered in a
trail of blood stretching two miles long.
My first request is that the President of the United States order the
Attorney General, Janet Reno, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Louis Freeh, to take swift and decisive action in this
matter. The President, as a man I know to be genuinely concerned about
the state of race relations in America today, has found a sad and
disheartening answer to his nationwide inquiries about race in the
broken, bloody and disfigured body of James Byrd. Mr. President, let's
not allow James Byrd to have suffered and died in vain.
Secondly, I hope that those of my colleagues who can legitimately
appreciate the brutality of this inhumane act will not casually
discount this slaying as an uncharacteristic, once-in-a-lifetime
manifestation of bitter racial hatred. Hopefully, they will see it for
what it is, merely the tip of the iceberg. Much like the scorching lava
that steadily boils from under the surface of the earth, so do the
fires of racial prejudice and hatred burn in the hearts of thousands
upon thousands of racially insensitive men and women in this country.
Some of them may not have the courage to beat a man and drag his dying
body from the back of their speeding car, but nevertheless, they still
find the courage to hate in their own special way.
Hate. It is always there, boiling just under the surface of where the
eye can see, always ready to explode. But every now and then, even
though America seems to have changed, a volcanic eruption of hatred and
prejudice spews forth, and an innocent man like James Byrd is engulfed
in the tragedy of its consuming liquid fire. I promise you, the name of
James Byrd, Jr. will not be soon forgotten in the Chamber of this
House, or in any arena within the supervision and oversight of this
body. Racism is the one disease that all of the brilliant minds to have
passed through this world have not been able to find a cure for.
The famed sociologist W.E.B. DuBois said that the color line was the
great dilemma of the 20th century, as historian and Presidential Race
Initiative Chairman John Hope Franklin has predicted that it will
continue to be so on into the 21st century. Frankly, I stand in awe of
the endurance of color line, and eventually, before more innocent
people have to suffer and die, someone will have to muster courage to
erase it, once and for all. Thank you, I urge the entire House to fully
support this unfortunate, but sorely needed resolution.
{time} 1700
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution
and in deep dismay of the action.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The heinous
crime that we unanimously condemn today is a reminder that racism
continues to be far too prevalent in our society. The brutal death of
James Byrd, Jr. at the hands of ignorant, racist men should serve as a
wake up call to every American and signify that there is still work to
be done to promote and protect racial tolerance in our Nation.
It is unfortunate that we, as a Nation, have yet to appreciate the
diversity of our country. How shameful that we have not reached a
united point of tolerance and respect for our neighbors, judging them
not by their race, color or nationality, rather, by the quality of
their character, morals, and contributions to society. The children of
this Nation should not be the unwitting witnesses to those who continue
to foment racial hatred and violence, and they should be given the
opportunity to extinguish the blemished record of racial intolerance
that mar this century and the ones before it and start anew in the next
millennium.
There is no explanation for the loss of life that was a result of
racism and hatred and I condemn this act of cowardice. I join my
colleagues and extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr.
Byrd and the people of Jasper, Texas.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Bonior), the minority whip.
Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to fathom how people could
be so hateful, so completely cruel, and so utterly evil as to drag a
man behind a pick-up truck until he was dead. This hate crime is a
terrible reminder that racial hatred still infects this land, and it
leaves us all feeling a sense of outrage and a sense of deep grief.
Ironically, for me, the night before I had just finished reading the
beautiful book by John Lewis on his courageous struggle, his memoire of
the civil rights movement, Walking with the Wind, in which he documents
and talks about the courageous struggle by him and others to fight the
ugliness of racism in America.
My colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) has
offered a resolution condemning this heinous crime, calling for a swift
prosecution, and urging all Americans to raise their voice in
condemnation of this atrocity.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I also offer my
deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Byrd.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Turner), whose district this incident occurred in.
(Mr. TURNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, James Byrd, Junior, was a constituent of
mine. His brutal death has shocked the conscience and saddened the
hearts of all of us. The people of Jasper, Texas, black and white, have
joined in denouncing this tragic hate crime.
Local law enforcement officials have called upon the Justice
Department to assist in fully prosecuting the perpetrators, and are
committed to seeking the maximum punishment authorized by State and
Federal law, including the death penalty.
I have personally urged the United States attorney to prosecute with
the full force of Federal civil rights laws. For all of us who believe
that racial prejudice and hatred have no place in American society,
this tragic event is a reminder that much is left to be done, that no
American is safe until every American treats his neighbor with dignity,
regardless of the color of his skin.
Let us today renew our commitment to root out the vestiges of racial
prejudice, that the tragic death of James Byrd be not in vain. I urge
Members' support for this resolution for the Byrd family, for the
people of Jasper, and for the American people.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Jesse Jackson, Jr.)
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by
associating myself with the remarks of all the speakers who have
preceded.
I want, for the 50 seconds or so that I have left, to address my
remarks to the people of Jasper. They are hearing today the outrage of
people across the United States, through their elected representatives,
of what has occurred in their part of the country.
But they alone in Jasper share the burden and responsibility, the
pain of rebuilding the spirit and the soul of their community. It is
now their obligation to move beyond black and white, rebuilding the
hopes of every child in Jasper whose self-esteem will be questioned by
the entire country because of the acts of just a few.
So our colleagues today have come across the lines, Democrat and
Republican, across lines of black and white, of liberal and
conservative, to let you know that we are with you. We pray for you and
the Byrd family during this very difficult time. Justice, we hope, is
swift. We hope it is accurate. There was a time when laws did not
protect people who were dragged across our streets, but we have laws on
the books now that can make the difference.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to continue for 5
minutes to accommodate those who have been waiting, and I think there
is an agreement from the other side to do that.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). So that the Chair is
[[Page H4535]]
clear, is the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) making a
unanimous consent request that 5 minutes be added to each side?
Ms. WATERS. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The majority and minority side will each
have 5 additional minutes.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Elija Cummings).
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to
condemn the brutal murder of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas. This cruel
and evil act is a shocking reminder to all Americans, regardless of
race, that the threat of racial violence is alive and well in this
country.
James Byrd was a 49-year-old father of three children. He was
attacked by men who have espoused white supremacist motives for the
killing. This man accepted a ride and lost his life. He was dragged
behind a pick-up truck for nearly 3 miles. His head and arms were torn
from his body. Lynching in 1998 in any part of this country is totally
unacceptable.
Many may view this as an isolated incident. I am afraid to tell the
Members, it is not. Similar acts have been committed in the State of
Virginia and my home State of Maryland within the past 12 months. I
call for a united, strong, and clear message from this body that this
type of hateful and sick behavior will be dealt a swift and just blow.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Indiana (Ms. Julia Carson).
Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to
me.
Mr. Speaker, I will be very quick, because we have heard very
eloquent and profound statements in support of the resolution. I, too,
obviously, rise in support of the resolution.
Let me paraphrase, if you will, a commentary that appeared in the San
Antonio press. It said, ``The monster of racism is born in fear, it is
fathered by hate, and mothered by ignorance. Byrd's murder is a
reminder that, left unchallenged, the monster grows stronger, always
ready to strike.''
It is important to note, I believe, that the last street on which
James Byrd walked before he was murdered was named Dr. Martin Luther
King, Junior. Dr. Martin Luther King, as we all know, stood for
nonviolence, and the fact that Mr. Byrd has met an untimely fate in the
manner that he has drives us to renew our support of Dr. Martin Luther
King's movement on nonviolence. Indeed, Jasper, Texas, does not have a
monopoly on incidents of this kind. They occur too often across
America. I encourage Members' support of this resolution.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Mrs. Carrie Meek).
(Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and
extend her remarks.)
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my
chairman, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) and my
friend on the Committee on Appropriations on the Republican side for
having the insight to bring this tragedy to the attention of America,
and to help America understand that until we reach across both sides of
these aisles, until we join hands, until we forget about race, color,
or creed, we will not be able to solve the kinds of problems that
caused the murder and killing of James Byrd.
It takes me back to the time when this happened in America very, very
often. I want to plead to my colleagues and to America, do not let this
happen again. Let us not turn back the clock. Let there not be any more
James Byrds. Let us be sure that the ugly head of racism does not begin
to raise its head again.
The only way we can keep it from raising its head is to be sure there
is no one who is perpetuating this sense of racism or alienation.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the
District of Columbia (Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton).
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Congressional
Black Caucus for her leadership on this matter, and the gentlewoman
from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) for managing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, this is the end, not the beginning of the century, but
this crime is a throwback to the sorriest period of American history,
and reminds us that that history is not all done yet. Those who
deprecated the President's race commission, take notice. Race is more
complicated today.
This, however, is real simple. This is the worst of American racism,
this is racist terrorism. I commend the local sheriff who made the
arrests. I ask that the Federal officials remain involved until justice
is done.
At the same time, I remind this body that if these were black men, we
would be rushing them to the death penalty now, and as a principled
opponent of the death penalty, I stand here to ask that these men not
be executed. This country does not need to execute black men and it
does not need to execute white men. I part company with those blacks in
Texas that have called for execution. I ask that these men get life
without parole.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution, and echo the sentiments of all my colleagues who have
spoken.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost).
(Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution,
and to underscore that this act is condemned by people of all races in
this country, black, white, and brown.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I think it is important that we remember
that when one black man is brutalized, every other person of race feels
a greater sense of unease, and rightfully so. The effects of what
happened in Texas will live long beyond one person. It would be
impossible to measure the sense of dis-ease, dis-ease, that black
Americans all across this country feel as a result of this act. Because
of that, it is important that we register our outrage and our agony.
I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for her
resolution, for giving Congress and for giving this body the collective
opportunity to share our outrage. Many white Americans wish that they
had the opportunity to share their sympathy and their sorrow over what
happened.
So on behalf of them, I wish to thank the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Waters) and the Black Caucus for this opportunity, and to share
with the Members the sympathy that so many Americans feel all across
this country, and our commitment to a better America, where this will
not happen in the future.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).
(Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of
this resolution, and join our colleagues on the Congressional Black
Caucus and our other colleagues in expressing our sorrow and our anger
and our sympathy for the family of this very unfortunate victim.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Furse).
(Ms. FURSE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and to
decry with the greatest of outrage the violence and the cowardice, the
cowardice, of this act. I stand in support of my colleagues on this
resolution.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I stand here today proud of my colleagues. I would like
to thank the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup) for joining with
me and others as principal cosponsors on this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, we are very tired. We are very pained, and we wish that
this
[[Page H4536]]
nightmare would stop and it would go away. Unfortunately, we are
perhaps saddled with the responsibility of fighting against racism and
discrimination and marginalization, and all of those evils that we find
ourselves confronted with.
{time} 1715
And while I am disgusted and I am tired and I am pained, I will not
go away. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus will not go
away. And Members who want to live in this Nation in peace and harmony
will not go away.
So to those who would dare think they can frighten us, they can scare
us, they can cause us to want to resign ourselves to the fact that
there will be violence, let me just say that is not going to be the
case. We will never resign ourselves to that inevitability.
We will fight, we will work, we will provide leadership, we will do
everything that is possible to make this Nation what it could be and
what it should be.
Mr. Speaker, we end this week of work with these little cards that we
spread out throughout the United States, and it is just the
Congressional Black Caucus 10-Point Alert, and it gives 10 points about
what to do to avoid violence and confrontation, no matter how much
racism may be any place, any time, anywhere.
I stand here as a Member of Congress, a Member of the Congressional
Black Caucus, knowing that when I leave here with many of the Members
of this caucus that we go to our districts, we go to other places
around this country, we do not know what we will encounter. We are
proud black Americans who intend to make America everything that we
ever dreamed it could be.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to join my CBC colleagues, and so
many others, in support of this bi-partisan resolution condemning the
outrageously brutal slaying of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. on June 6, 1998 in
Jasper County, East Texas. I also want to send my heartfelt condolences
to the family and friends of Mr. Byrd.
I am gratified that this Congress has acted expeditiously to publicly
express its collective outrage at this horrific incident. It is almost
unfathomable that today, in 1998, we are still plagued by this kind of
hatred. When I heard the details of this murder, my blood went cold,
and chills went up my spine. The details are painful to hear, but it
bears repeating so that we fully understand the severity of the
problem.
Mr. Byrd was walking home from his nice's bridal shower on June 6,
1998. As he walked home three young white men offered him a ride home.
They then drove to a remote area 7 miles outside of town where they
mercilessly beat him and then proceeded to chain him to the back of a
pickup truck and dragged him until the torso of his body was torn to
pieces. His head, neck and right arm were severed and located a mile
away from his body. Fingerprints were the only means possible to
identify the body. Mr. Byrd was a son, a brother, a father. He was
known as a friendly spirit. Unfortunately, it was this friendliness and
belief in humanity that led to his ultimate demise. It is unfortunate
for all of us that we need to be suspicious of the kindness of
strangers for fear that they may in fact have ulterior motives.
The three men charged with this heinous crime have past criminal
records and have ties to white supremacist groups. It is easy to
dismiss this act and its perpetrators as aberrations, so outside of the
norm, that they do not warrant much of our attention. But it is exactly
this complacency that has allowed this insidious hatred and violence to
continue to reach into our communities and our young people. This is
not an isolated incident. We have seen hate crimes around this country
escalate. We cannot turn a blind eye any longer. We must act swiftly
and quickly to end our complacency and condemn these acts.
This action is clearly a hate crime and I expect that it will be
charged as one. Justice should be swift but fair. I hope if the accused
are found guilty that they are imprisoned for the remainder of their
lives. I believe in the sanctity of life, even for those who do not
value the lives of others.
These incidents threaten the security and foundation of our
communities and this very nation. We cannot return to the days when
lynchings, and similar acts of brutality, such as this one, were
acceptable. I feverently hope that this horrifying murder will spur all
people of conscience to act within their own communities to ardently
work to stem the tide of hate that invariably leads to these violent
acts of brutality.
Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, it is always difficult for me
to describe my thoughts when my feelings so overwhelm me. I would first
like to extend my heartfelt sympathy and admiration to the Byrd family,
their strength in the face of such sorrow is truly a testament to the
power of the human character. Their pain most of us can only imagine.
All Americans are affected by this tragedy.
This lynching, this hate crime, this murder, is a throwback to days
that remain an affront to our national dignity, to our American way of
life, and we cannot tolerate such actions and still call ourselves
Americans. It is a horrifying reminder that while we have made so much
progress in our quest for civil equality and civil society, we still
have so far to go.
Mr. Speaker, I call on all of us to steal the power of this act, to
twist this tragedy into something that we can use to fight the hatred
that caused it, something that will instill fear in the hearts
hatemongers everywhere . . . let us use this shared outrage, this
shared anger to solidify our commitment to the pursuit of true civil
equality, to real civil rights. And let us make the senseless death of
James Byrd mean something . . . we must not let such actions continue
in America.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my outrage at the vicious,
cold-blooded murder of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, Texas. My
heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family--his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
James Byrd, Sr., his siblings, and his children, Renee, Ross and Jamie.
They are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of such enormous
pain and anguish. May they be comforted by the outpouring of support
and concern from so many people throughout the nation.
Mr. Speaker, sadly, this horrific incident did not occur in a vacuum.
Atrocities such as this happen in part because of a national climate
which is far too tolerant of racial hatred. Militia groups, skinheads,
neo-nazis and other hate groups spread messages of hate and bigotry.
Certain talk radio shows encourage racial division and mistrust. Even
some police officers, who are sworn to be our protectors, have engaged
in racist patterns of behavior by targeting African American motorists
in what has been labeled ``racial profiling'' or Driving While Black.
In my home state of New Jersey, four young black men were recently shot
by two white state troopers after they were pulled over for allegedly
speeding. This was just the latest of a string of similar incidents,
many of them resulting in fatalities. It is time to say ``enough.'' It
is time for all Americans to stand up and say that racially motivated
violence is wrong and will not be tolerated in the most powerful
democracy in the world.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of this resolution
condemning the brutal murder of Mr. James Byrd, Jr. I was outraged when
I heard about the vicious and hateful crime that took place in Jasper,
Texas over the weekend. It sickens me to know that in this day and age,
what amounted to a lynching can still take place in America. There can
be no question that this crime happened because of the hardened
criminal nature of the attackers, who made vile references to the
killing of both blacks and Jews during the attack.
One of the men has already confessed to being part of this senseless
act of violence. All three of them should be tried and quickly
convicted for this heinous crime. My sympathies go out to the family of
the victim, Mr. Byrd, and I hope that the penalties are swift and
severe for his killers.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, race violence reared its ugly head in the
small Texas town of Jasper this past weekend, making it all too clear
in our minds that racism is no phantom of a bygone era. A 49-year-old
father of three children, James Byrd, Jr., appears to have been
brutally murdered because his skin color is black. All of us must stand
up, here in Congress at every street corner across America, and shout
out this hatred from our midst.
The murder was especially brutal. According to local authorities and
media reports, the hate-motivated perpetrators tied Mr. Byrd by the
ankles to the rear bumper of a pickup truck and then dragged him for at
least a mile. When it was all over, only a decapitated and dismembered
corpse, with clothes bunched up around the ankles, remained. It took
fingerprint records to identify the body as that of Mr. Byrd.
The alleged murderers appear to have significant ties to hate groups
such as the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups. These
organizations prey on the disaffected and convert their fears into
venom. They preach of race wars against African-Americans, Jews and
other minorities. Ultimately, they are at war with all of us.
Even as we castigate those who committed this brutality, it is worth
remembering the many good people of Jasper, people of different races
and backgrounds who work and live together in peace. They too are
victims, because this act of hatred has shattered their peace.
We should all take this tragedy and give it meaning by committing
ourselves to fight bigotry and senseless hatred, and to build even
[[Page H4537]]
stronger bonds of trust and understanding among all people. The San
Antonio Express-News in its editorial stated that the ``monster of
racism is born in fear, fathered by hate, and mothered by ignorance.''
We can and must challenge racism. Together, we can chain the beast.
The full text of the editorial is reprinted below.
[From the San Antonio Express-News, June 11, 1998]
Racism and Violence Exploded in Jasper
Two of America's great obsessions--race and violence--
intersected on a small-town Texas street last weekend.
They collided in an act so barbaric as to transform James
Byrd Jr. into the Emmitt Till of his generation.
In 1955, while visiting relatives in Mississippi, the 14-
year-old Till became a symbol for racial violence when he was
beaten to death by two white men who then tied him to a
cotton fan and dumped him into a river.
Forty-three years later, 49-year-old Byrd, a father of
three, was murdered because he was black. Not for acts he
did, words he spoke or for something valuable he possessed.
That is what has transfixed the nation's horrified gaze on
the East Texas town of Jasper.
At least two of the ignorant thugs accused of his murder
sport tattoos suggesting they are members of a white
supremacy group.
When they looked at Byrd, they did not see a human being.
So they beat him, tied him to a pickup truck and dragged
him for two miles until he was literally torn to pieces, his
body parts strewn along a country road.
It's easy to condemn this murderous act and to denounce the
murderers. What's not so easy is to be vigilant against the
more subtle acts and attitudes of racism out of which such
violence grows.
The racism exhibited by these men did not spring full-blown
from their hearts. As long as its seeds are planted and
nurtured, such atrocities will persist.
The monster of racism is born in fear, fathered by hate,
and mothered by ignorance. Byrd's murder is a reminder that
lift unchallenged, the monster grows stronger, always ready
to strike.
The last street on which James Byrd Jr. walked before he
was murdered is named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The distance between King's vision of a nonviolent nation
living in racial harmony remains greater than the two miles
of country road on which Byrd was dragged and murdered.
Murdered because he was black.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to associate myself with the remarks
of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) as well as of the other
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus who so eloquently expressed
themselves regarding the recent outrage in Texas.
Our hearts and sympathies go to the family, friends, and loved ones
of James Byrd, Jr., whose senseless, brutal death has shocked the soul
of our nation. A two mile long trail of blood was left behind along the
road upon which his body was dragged.
While the horror of this tragedy cannot be minimized, it is a lesson
to all Americans--a lesson that we have a long way to go before the
diseases of prejudice and bigotry are finally stomped out. As long as
one American believes that an atrocity such as this is appropriate,
then no American can sleep soundly at night.
We are hopeful that the perpetrators of this horrendous hate crime
are quickly brought to justice, and that they serve as an example that
we as a nation will not tolerate this kind of criminal behavior.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson stated that the murder of James Byrd., Jr., is
especially horrifying because it was ``arbitrary'' and thus, according
to the Reverend, ``worse than a conspiracy.'' Rev. Jackson went on to
state that: ``all of us must be concerned. It means none of us are
safe.''
Let us all in solidarity proclaim our indignation at this assault on
human decency.
Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of House
Resolution 466 I rise to join my colleagues from Texas and across the
nation in condemning the racially motivated murder of James Byrd, Jr.,
in Jasper, Texas.
It isn't easy to find words strong enough to express my feelings and
those of my fellow Texans about this act of evil. Revulsion, shock,
outrage, and sadness are the first that come to mind.
First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, justice must be swift and sure. We
need to bring all federal, state, and local resources and laws to bear
in investigating, prosecuting, and punishing those responsible. At the
federal level, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department
of Justice must investigate this incident as the racially motivated
hate crime that it is. Our society must determine whether this was an
isolated incident or whether the perpetrators were connected to or
motivated by hate groups.
Second, this murder is a wake-up call to all of us that such feelings
of racial hatred unfortunately continue to exist in our nation today.
It is difficult for most Americans to imagine how anyone could harbor
such feelings, let alone understand how someone could act on them in
such a sadistic manner. But this act is a reminder that we continue to
need strong laws to protect the civil rights of all Americans and
strong enforcement of these laws. This is racism at its most extreme,
but we must remember that racism still exists in other settings as
well--our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. We must fight racism
wherever it raises its ugly head.
Third, this is a reminder to all Americans as individuals that we
should not and must not tolerate hatred and discrimination based on
personal characteristics. Government and laws can help, but we need a
transformation of hearts and minds, and the best way to bring that
about is through the example each of us sets, especially for our
children. The people of Jasper and Texas, indeed people across the
nation, have risen in condemnation of this awful act and in outreach to
the family of James Byrd.
But the search for common ground and understanding cannot end when
the funerals and trials do. The best way to honor the memory of James
Byrd is to have zero tolerance for discrimination and hate every day.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). All time for debate has
expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is
ordered.
The question is on the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 397,
nays 0, not voting 36, as follows:
[Roll No. 231]
YEAS--397
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Allen
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baesler
Baldacci
Ballenger
Barcia
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Bass
Bateman
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berry
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Bryant
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Capps
Cardin
Carson
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth
Christensen
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coble
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cook
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crapo
Cubin
Cummings
Cunningham
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Ewing
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Filner
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Fowler
Fox
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Furse
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gilman
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Green
Greenwood
Gutknecht
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hansen
Harman
Hastert
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill
Hilleary
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Hooley
Horn
Hostettler
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kelly
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kim
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Latham
LaTourette
Lazio
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDade
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meek (FL)
Menendez
Metcalf
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Miller (FL)
Minge
Mink
Mollohan
[[Page H4538]]
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Myrick
Nadler
Neal
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Pappas
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Pease
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Poshard
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Redmond
Regula
Reyes
Riley
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Ryun
Sabo
Salmon
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Linda
Snowbarger
Snyder
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Stokes
Strickland
Stump
Stupak
Sununu
Talent
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thompson
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tierney
Torres
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watkins
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Wise
Wolf
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--36
Baker
Barr
Barton
Becerra
Berman
Callahan
Cooksey
Everett
Farr
Gejdenson
Gillmor
Gonzalez
Gutierrez
Hall (OH)
Hefner
Hilliard
Houghton
Inglis
Johnson, Sam
Kasich
Kennedy (MA)
Largent
Lewis (GA)
Meehan
Meeks (NY)
Moakley
Murtha
Parker
Paxon
Riggs
Roukema
Schumer
Shaw
Shays
Smith, Adam
Waxman
{time} 1735
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________