[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2759-H2762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H2759]]
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House of Representatives
EMERGENCY WARTIME SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003--Continued
{time} 1600
It also allowed al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations to get
away. I just feel that that is wrong.
People say that this is an emotional issue. Well, logically, it just
does not make sense to reward someone additionally that has done harm
against you. We gave Turkey over a quarter of a billion dollars. This
is in 2003. In the 2004 budget we give Turkey a lot of money. I am not
objecting to that. But at a time where they made the decision of the
aforementioned, I think it is wrong. We did not slap Turkey upside the
head when they invaded northern Cypress and took it illegally against
the law, or the mass murder of Kurds, or the violations against Greece,
or even the deaths of American soldiers.
I would say that I support having Turkey as an ally in the future and
giving them the additional dollars. I have fought along side Turks in
Vietnam, side by side. But if someone at the moment causes a loss of
one of your friends, they should not be rewarded for that, regardless
of how much they have supported you in the past.
The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) mentioned that we have 49
allies in this fight. Only 22 of them are being given aid, and yet we
are going to give a billion dollars to someone who did not support us.
Again, logic says that that is wrong. That will be a billion dollars
back into the general fund. Some of you want it for homeland defense,
domestic, first-line responders, or even domestic issues.
I understand the issues on the other side of this particular issue. I
am torn myself. It is not even important. This is the first time I have
ever come to the well with an amendment that I do not care if it wins
or loses. I do feel the debate is very important, because Turkey needs
to know, and other nations that do us harm, that cause the life loss of
Americans, not to tread on me.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) has 1 minute
remaining.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the remaining
minute.
Mr. Chairman, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the
gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham). I agree with everything he
said. All I disagree with is we should not adopt his amendment for a
lot of reasons.
A letter from the President's National Security Adviser has been
referred to several times. A copy of that letter is as follows:
The White House,
Washington, DC, April 3, 2003.
Hon. Bill Young,
Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for supporting the President's
request for aid to Turkey in the Emergency Supplemental
legislation. Despite recent difficulties, the President is
devoted to maintaining the strategic partnership that has
existed between the United States and Turkey for almost 60
years.
Secretary Powell addressed important military, political,
and economic issues when he met this week with President
Sezer, Prime Minister Erodogan, Foreign Minister Gul, and
General Staff Chief Ozkok. Both sides agreed to an unimpeded
flow of humanitarian aid to Northern Iraq and access by
American forces to supplies sent through Turkey. Turkey
continues to grant overflight rights and has committed to
enhanced cooperation on terrorist threats and possible
refugee flows in the region, without moving additional
Turkish military forces into Iraq. These are very positive
steps.
American and Turkish soldiers stood side by side during the
Cold War and on battlefields from Korea to Afghanistan. The
President's supplemental request recognizes and reflects that
past and his desire to strengthen the relationship further.
This assistance, coupled with Turkey's continued adherence to
sound economic policies supported by international financial
institutions, could play a significant role in bolstering the
U.S.-Turkey partnership. I ask your assistance in advancing
these goals on the floor and in conference.
Sincerely,
Condoleezza Rice,
Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs.
I would like also for the Members to know on page 27 of the bill
there is a long list of requirements that have to be met before the
President can release this money. The Congress is playing its role in
controlling spending and getting accountability. So look at that page
and you will see that it is not just a grant of money to anybody.
Now, let me say quickly that the face of the world is changing.
Alliances are changing. Friendships are coming. Friendships are going.
The President of the United States needs the flexibility to deal with
those extremely important changes. And as far as who asked for the
money, the Turkish delegation visited the President to discuss a
program of $6 billion. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) and I
had the privilege of meeting with that delegation. They certainly asked
for the help.
Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, Turkey has been our friend
and I assume still desires to be an ally of the United States. I have
visited Turkey. It is a beautiful country and they have fought side by
side with many of our soldiers. Yes, they supported our efforts with
Operation Northern Watch. Yes, we support their immerging democracy,
but it is important for them to understand that there are consequences
to their actions.
Mr. Chairman, when we as Members of Congress cast a vote there are
consequences. Earlier this year we asked for their help and they voted
``no''. Well not they want our help and I'm voting ``no''. I think we
spend too much money in foreign aid, money that could be used for tax
relief, building a strong defense, and paying down the debt.
This week, Turkey agreed to help with resupply and humanitarian aid
and assumes that
[[Page H2760]]
Uncle Sam is going to pull out his checkbook and write another billion-
dollar check without batting an eye.
Mr. Chairman, at a time when our veterans have to wait months to see
a doctor and our servicemen in Iraq are risking their lives and
chemical attack for the preservation of liberty, isn't it time for
Uncle Sam to stop sending blank checks to fair-weather allies?
The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).
The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 110,
noes 315, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 105]
AYES--110
Akin
Bachus
Baker
Ballenger
Berry
Bilirakis
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Boozman
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Cannon
Chocola
Clay
Coble
Culberson
Cunningham
Davis (TN)
Davis, Jo Ann
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
Duncan
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Feeney
Ferguson
Filner
Forbes
Fossella
Franks (AZ)
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Graves
Green (WI)
Gutknecht
Hall
Hayes
Hayworth
Hill
Hoekstra
Holt
Hostettler
Hulshof
Jenkins
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Keller
Kingston
Kleczka
Kucinich
LaHood
Lee
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Maloney
Manzullo
McCotter
McNulty
Menendez
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Musgrave
Ney
Norwood
Nussle
Osborne
Otter
Owens
Pallone
Paul
Payne
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Pombo
Radanovich
Ramstad
Rehberg
Rogers (MI)
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sanders
Schiff
Schrock
Sensenbrenner
Sherman
Shuster
Souder
Stenholm
Strickland
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Tiberi
Toomey
Turner (OH)
Upton
Waters
Watson
Woolsey
Wu
NOES--315
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Alexander
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Ballance
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Beauprez
Becerra
Bell
Bereuter
Berkley
Berman
Biggert
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boswell
Boucher
Bradley (NH)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (OH)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Burgess
Burns
Burr
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Cardoza
Carson (IN)
Carson (OK)
Carter
Case
Castle
Chabot
Clyburn
Cole
Collins
Conyers
Cooper
Costello
Cox
Cramer
Crane
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis, Tom
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dooley (CA)
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English
Farr
Fattah
Flake
Fletcher
Foley
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gerlach
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gonzalez
Goss
Granger
Green (TX)
Greenwood
Grijalva
Harman
Harris
Hart
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hefley
Hensarling
Herger
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoeffel
Holden
Honda
Hooley (OR)
Houghton
Hoyer
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Janklow
Jefferson
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Lynch
Majette
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Murphy
Murtha
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Nethercutt
Northup
Nunes
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Ose
Oxley
Pascrell
Pastor
Pearce
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Pickering
Platts
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Quinn
Rahall
Rangel
Regula
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rodriguez
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sabo
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sandlin
Saxton
Schakowsky
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherwood
Shimkus
Simmons
Simpson
Skelton
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Spratt
Stark
Stearns
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tierney
Towns
Turner (TX)
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Vitter
Walsh
Wamp
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--9
Boyd
Combest
Gephardt
Gutierrez
McCarthy (MO)
McInnis
Oberstar
Slaughter
Walden (OR)
Announcement by the Chairman
The CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised there are
approximately 2 minutes remaining in this vote.
{time} 1622
Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. HERGER and
Mr. GRIJALVA changed their vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Mr. PETRI, Ms. LEE, and Messrs. GORDON, DAVIS of Tennessee, GOODLATTE
and HOLT changed their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, today the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are
with our courageous military forces in Iraq and their brave families at
home, especially those families who have lost a loved one or await the
return of the missing and our prisoners of war.
Today, we all celebrate the wonderful and courageous rescue of
Jessica Lynch. We all celebrate her rescue and the courage that she
demonstrated, as well as those who brought her home safely.
As Members of Congress charged in the preamble to the Constitution
with providing for the common defense, we have pledged to give our
Armed Forces the support they need in these difficult and dangerous
days, both to win this war and to win the peace. This supplemental
abides by that commitment.
Sadly, this supplemental does not fulfill America's commitment to our
men and women in uniform at home, our local firefighters, police and
emergency medical personnel who serve on the front lines against the
greatest threat facing our Nation, the clear and present danger of
terrorism.
Time and time again, the President and the Republican majority in
Congress have said that defending the homeland is ``the single most
important priority, our most important challenge and our biggest
responsibility.'' But time and time again, the rhetoric has failed to
match the reality of their proposals.
The reality is that the Republicans have failed to spend $2.5 billion
in desperately needed homeland security funds appropriated by Congress
last year. The Republicans have said repeatedly that they will do
whatever it takes to defend our homeland, but the reality is that the
Governors and mayors from across the country are pleading with the
administration and the Republicans in Congress to give firefighters,
police, and health care workers the funding, training and equipment
they need to protect our communities and to respond to a terrorist
attack. The President said that ``I am going to commit the resources
necessary to defend our freedom,'' but the reality is that this
supplemental has a message that the President and the Republicans have
not been committing the resources necessary to fully defend our
homeland.
Perhaps nowhere is this credibility gap on homeland security greater
than when it comes to protecting our vulnerable ports.
In speaking to the Coast Guard at the port of Philadelphia this week,
the President said that protecting our Nation's ports is essential to
our economic security and to our national security, but the reality is
that the
[[Page H2761]]
President vetoed $39 million to inspect the millions of container ships
that dock in U.S. ports every year. The reality is that the
administration and the Republicans have no funding for this program in
the fiscal 2004 budget or in this supplemental.
With our Nation at the second-highest level of terrorist alert, the
Republicans are shortchanging homeland security. The American people
deserve better. We must do everything we can every day to protect the
homes that people live in, the places where they work, the bridges and
roads they use to get there, and the communities where they live.
I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the
ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, for his outstanding
leadership on this issue and for his efforts to give our States and
communities the resources they need to protect themselves.
{time} 1630
America needs to know that Democrats voted this week to boost
homeland security by $2.5 billion, including an additional $1.2 billion
for underfunded firefighters, police and medical personnel. The Obey
amendment, had it been allowed to be brought to the floor, would have
gone even further than that, and I thank the gentleman for his
leadership.
Americans need to know that the Republicans voted no. The President
and the Republicans owe the American people an explanation. Why are
they shortchanging our men and women on the front lines in our homeland
who protect our communities, while are they giving massive tax cuts
that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest in our country, those who
need it least? This would be unwise at any time. In this time of war,
with our Nation on high alert, it is downright reckless.
Democrats support this supplemental because it funds our men and
women in uniform in Iraq as well as other critical needs. At the same
time, it does not do enough for our men and women in uniform
domestically who are trying to keep our communities safe. Democrats
will continue fighting to give them the funding, the training, and the
equipment they need to protect America. We owe these men and women and
the Americans they protect nothing less.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to propound a question to the
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.
As I review the number of amendments pending, I see 39 remaining
amendments on the Democratic side of the aisle and 6 on the Republican
side of the aisle. As I calculate the clock, that means that if all of
those amendments are only debated for 5 minutes per side, without
counting the time for roll calls, that we would be here until midnight.
If we then have actual votes on those amendments, I calculate that that
would take us till at least 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.. If we have an additional
5 minutes per side or debate on half of those amendments, that would
take us until about 5 o'clock in the morning. And if we have no time
agreements on these amendments, we will be here at 10 a.m. tomorrow
morning. That is the reality of the clock that faces us.
So I want Members to understand why it is that we are going to be
seeking time agreements. Because if we do not, and the leadership has
said we were not going to be here tomorrow, which means we may not
start a session tomorrow but we are certainly going to be here tomorrow
approaching noon unless we get time agreements on these amendments. So
I just wanted to put the House on notice that the gentleman and I are
trying to reach an understanding on time limits and we need those time
limits to be as tight as is reasonably possible, or else Members are
going to be spending an awful lot of time tonight with each other when
they would rather be spending that time with somebody else.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. OBEY. I yield to the gentleman from Florida for whatever comments
he may wish to make.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman, and I
double-checked his math and he is exactly right about the time it would
take us to conclude these amendments.
I noticed where there are three or four, sometimes five amendments
with the exact same title. I am not sure why that is, but that could be
a big time delay. But here is where we are. We have to finish this bill
today, whether this legislative day runs over until tomorrow or
Saturday or whatever. The reason is very simple. We have to have the
weekend to prepare for a conference with the other body early next
week.
Now, if we do not have that conference with the other body early next
week, we do not get a conference report back to the House before the
end of next Friday. And if Members recall, the following week is
scheduled to be a district work period. So if we extend this bill
beyond today, in effect, we cannot get to the conference until next
week sometime, and we cannot have a conference report by the end of the
next week.
So what I would hope is that we could look at some of these
amendments, and if there are redundancies and duplications, why bother
with them? Why do we not just do one on a subject rather than three or
four? I am trying to get this job done tonight to let us prepare the
conference over the weekend, give the membership a conference report
next week, and then do what it is that everyone plans to do back in
their districts during the district work period. So the gentleman is
exactly right.
And if we spend a lot of time hassling over the time limits, that
actually eats into the clock as well. So we really want to try to
expedite this. We need to get this bill out of here. This is a wartime
bill, and our troops are on the field. And I appreciate the gentleman
calling this to our attention, because he is absolutely right.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman,
and I would just ask Members to be understanding of the time problem
that we face and to recognize that we have to ask them to agree to
tight time limits or we are going to be here until the cows come home.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last
word.
Mr. Chairman, it is well known that I am against this war. All my
actions have pointed toward my opposition to the utilization of war as
an option. But I believe it is important to again restate the support
that we have for the troops, and to acknowledge that some have
characterized this as frivolous and that those of us who support the
troops are actually undermining them. As we proceed through this
debate, I think it is important to respect Members who have different
perspectives and, as well, to allow their amendments to be presented
that will characterize the diversity in this Congress.
There was a different vote on the Turkey issue. My vote was to vote
not to penalize a sovereign Nation, a democratic Nation who happened to
disagree with us. I believe in restoring diplomatic relations with
Germany and France and others who have been our friends in the past.
I also believe that, as my leadership believes, that we should do
more for homeland defense and homeland security. I also believe that
there is not enough in this supplemental that deals with creating the
peace, beginning peace discussions and stopping to discuss peace. And I
will look forward to debating an amendment that deals with beginning
peace talks as we speak, for it is important to note that we do have a
difference of opinion but we do want our troops home and we want them
to be safe.
I think if we proceed under these auspices, or this umbrella, then
this will truly be a democracy reflective of all of us that we can
stand proudly in support of our flag and our Nation, because many of us
agree that there are other options, and certainly peace should be one.
So I look forward, Mr. Chairman, to supporting efforts to restore the
diplomacy that we have had with other nations, to ensure that we look
to rebuild Iraq, to be sure we begin the discussion of peace and, as
well, that we support our troops.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that
during consideration of H.R. 1559 in the Committee of the Whole
pursuant to House Resolution 172 no further amendment to the bill may
be offered except:
[[Page H2762]]
Pro forma amendments offered by the chairman or ranking minority
member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees for the
purpose of debate; amendments numbered 2, 7, 8 and 9 in the
Congressional Record.
The CHAIRMAN. If the chairman will suspend. The request being offered
by the chairman must be made in the whole House. It cannot be acted
upon in the Committee of the Whole.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Davis of Virginia) having assumed the chair, Mr. Thornberry, Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R.
1559) making emergency wartime supplemental appropriations for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes, had come
to no resolution thereon.
____________________