[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 25, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, last week Colorado experienced a 
very heavy snowstorm--in fact, it was a blizzard in many areas. This 
was good news for our state, which has been suffering from a serious 
drought. However, it seriously interfered with travel. As a result, I 
was unable to be present for votes on several measures. Had I been 
present, I would have voted as follows:
  On rollcall No. 65, H. Con. Res. 26--Condemning the punishment of 
execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights--I would have 
voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 66, H.R. 868--Nicaragua Property Dispute Settlement 
Act of 2003--I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 67, H. Res. 109--Urging passage of a resolution 
addressing human rights in North Korea at the 59th session of the 
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and calling on the 
Government of North Korea to respect and protect the human rights of 
its citizens--I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 68, H.R. 314--Mortgage Servicing Clarification Act 
(Royce Financial Services)--I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 69, H.R. 417--Cibola Wildlife Refuge Boundary 
Correction--I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 70, H.R. 699--To direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a comprehensive study of the Rathdrum Prairie/Spokane Valley 
Aquifer, located in Idaho and Washington--I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 71, the Sherman amendment to H.R. 975 (bankruptcy 
bill), I would have voted ``no.''
  On rollcall No. 72, the Nadler amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to H.R. 975 (bankruptcy bill), I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 73, the Jackson-Lee motion to recommit H.R. 975 
(bankruptcy bill), I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 74, passage of H.R. 975 (bankruptcy bill), I would 
have voted ``no.''
  On rollcall No. 75, on approving the Journal, I would have voted 
``no.''
  On rollcall No. 76, H.R. 1307--To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 to provide a special rule for members of the uniformed services in 
determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal 
residence and to restore the tax exempt status of death gratuity 
payments to members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes--
I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 77, H. Res. 132--Expressing the sense of the House 
that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Newdow v. United States 
Congress is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the 
first amendment and should be overturned, and for other purposes--I 
would have voted ``present.''
  I would have voted that way because I am not a lawyer and have not 
studied the relevant decisions of the Supreme court--and so I do not 
think it would be appropriate for me to say that the cited decision of 
the Court of Appeals is inconsistent with those decisions.
  Last year, I voted in favor of a related (but not identical) 
resolution. However, as I said at that time, I did so not because I 
necessarily agreed that the Circuit Court's decision is ``inconsistent 
with the U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence'' as that 
resolution said, but because I agreed that ``the Ninth Circuit Court of 
Appeals should agree to rehear'' the matter, as that resolution also 
stated.
  I am proud to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because I personally 
consider it as being neither a prayer nor a religious practice and so 
think its recitation is not a religious exercise but instead a verbal 
expression of support for our country. However, obviously not everyone 
shares my view. And, as I said last year, I am not prepared to conclude 
that the author of the Ninth Circuit decision--a long-serving judge 
originally appointed by President Nixon--was clearly wrong as a matter 
of law, even though as I understand it another appeals court, in a 
similar case, has ruled differently. So, I definitely think the issue 
needs to be resolved by the Supreme Court.
  On rollcall No. 78, the Hill (Blue Dog) substitute to the budget 
resolution, I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 79, the Toomey (Republican Study Committee) 
substitute to the budget resolution, I would have voted ``no.''
  On rollcall No. 80, the Cummings (Black Caucus/Progressive Caucus 
substitute to the budget resolution, I would have voted ``no.''
  On rollcall No. 81, the Spratt (Democratic) substitute to the budget 
resolution, I would have voted ``yes.''
  On rollcall No. 82, on passage on H. Con. Res. 95 (the budget 
resolution), I would have voted ``no.''
  On rollcall No. 83, passage of H. Con. Res. 104--expressing the 
support and appreciation of the Nation for the President and the 
members of the Armed forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom--I would have voted ``yes.''
  I would have done so because although I have disagreed with the way 
the President has handled the diplomatic events leading up to war, it 
is now time for us all to support our brave men and women in uniform 
who are charged with carrying out this mission and to pray for their 
success and safe return home. We all hope for a swift resolution with 
minimal casualties--among our troops and Iraqis as well. And we must do 
more to protect ourselves at home. I am confident that the United 
States and our allies will win the war. That will not be the end, but 
the beginning of the more difficult task of securing the peace. 
Congress must commit to providing aid to rebuild Iraq and the 
Administration must work to repair relationships with our allies. We 
will need them and the rest of the international community in our 
corner to rebuild Iraq, bring stability to the Middle East, and win the 
war on terrorism.

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