[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HOUSES OF WORSHIP POLITICAL SPEECH PROTECTION ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. EDWARD L. SCHROCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for H.R. 
2357, The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act, which was 
defeated in the House last week. It is my belief that political speech 
is a form of speech that is protected by the first amendment. Churches 
must be given the same rights and protections as individuals.
  I was in my home district participating in the Change of Command for 
the U.S. Joint Forces Command when the House voted on this legislation. 
The Joint Forces Command is responsible for joint service training of 
all U.S. military forces as well as helping transform the services for 
challenges they face in the 21st century. Navy Admiral Edmund P. 
Giambastiani, Jr. relieved retiring Army General William F. Kernan 
yesterday and takes over the command. Kernan retires after a 35 year 
Army career and two years as commander of Joint Forces Command and as 
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, responsible for NATO 
operations in the North Atlantic. Giambastiani spent the past 18 months 
as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's military adviser. I wish General Kernan 
the best in retirement and I look forward to working with Admiral 
Giambastiani.
  Had I been able to vote for H.R. 2357, I would have cast my vote in 
favor of this legislation.
  I was also away from Washington on Thursday, October 3, 2002, 
accompanying the Secretary of the Navy to the Naval Institute Warfare 
Exposition in Norfolk. On this day the House voted on H.J. Res. 112, 
Making Continuing Appropriations for FY 2003. I had hoped to be here to 
vote for this important resolution to keep the government funded and 
operational, and had I been here I would have voted in favor of this 
resolution.

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