[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.

                          ____________________