[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H117-H118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FULL DISCLOSURE FOR CLAIM OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BY IRAQ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me first of all associate 
myself with the very thoughtful message of the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Skelton) in terms of his very plain-talking message about our 
military.

                              {time}  1945

  The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and I had the pleasure of 
visiting a number of them most recently in Iraq and I think a strong 
debate on this question will be important. Many people believe that 
those of us who have a difference of opinion for or against the war or 
for or against the approach that the war took, do not have a total 
agreement on the necessity of strengthening the young men and women who 
are in our Armed

[[Page H118]]

Forces. So I look forward to debating this very thoughtful presentation 
and associate myself with his remarks and the legislative initiatives; 
and I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for his 
leadership.
  Let me say that I also associate myself with the gentleman's remarks 
as it relates to the toughness, as it relates to the battle of our 
Reserve troops and others who have offered their service for a number 
of years and have been called to duty; and many of them are not able to 
determine whether they will be in for 6 months or for a year or 18 
months or 2 years.
  We certainly have the protection of their jobs, but in many instances 
we are still having disagreements or having to advocate for our 
reservists to their various employers, some of whom are concerned or 
unsteady about keeping the reservists' jobs for them and, therefore, 
certainly undermining the family unit and the ability of that reservist 
to provide income and support for his or her family.
  I happen to be a supporter of the legislation that would allow 
reservists to retire at 55, just as we allow the active military to 
retire at 55. It seems unlikely that we would lengthen the time of 
service for reservists who are apt to be called into battle at any 
moment. We have lost lives of those who are reservists in Iraq. The 
numbers are mounting, and they are on the front line.
  When I went to Iraq, there were many who were skilled in many other 
aspects other than combat or police work; and lo and behold, they were 
being used for service that they were not trained for. So I associate 
myself with those remarks and certainly support the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) for his efforts in support of our veterans, 
because we have long been overdue in the full support of our veterans 
who are willing to give their full measure. And as they are able to 
come back to our communities, the very fact that they are willing to 
give the ultimate sacrifice, we should make good on our promise, which 
is to continue to provide them with benefits on a continuous basis.
  Let me also add my congratulations to the veterans hospital that is 
in my district. We just added the Fischer House. Congratulations to the 
Fischer family and thank them for their support and all the leaders in 
Texas that helped bring about this new Fischer House in one of the 
largest veterans hospitals in our State. And that is, of course, a 
facility for the families who have come for the long-term wounded to be 
able to stay at a place of comfort without, if you will, providing an 
unnecessary financial burden when they are already suffering from the 
ills of their loved one, whether they are wounded by way of their 
service in Iraq or suffering with other conditions.
  So I am very grateful to our community leaders who helped bring the 
Fischer House about in my congressional district and commit myself to 
continue to work with them.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we bring sunlight where 
sunlight is needed, and today and in the weeks and months to come I am 
going to take my place on this floor and remind this Congress of its 
constitutional responsibility. And, in fact, I am going to take off and 
challenge anyone, first, take off any discussion of a partisan hat and 
challenge anyone that wishes to make this a partisan issue each step of 
the way, because I believe that this is so devastating and so much a 
challenge to the constitutional integrity of this Nation.
  And, more importantly, in this Congress I believe that we must shed 
ourselves and step away from anyone declaring this to be partisan or 
anyone suggesting it is partisan, because once you begin the partisan 
debate, I know what happens: You immediately cease any sort of true 
effort for the Speaker of this House to address the responsibilities of 
this Congress, and that is to thoroughly investigate Dr. David Kay's 
report that we have heard over the last few days and that of the 
Carnegie Institute regarding weapons of mass destruction.
  Let me just say, Mr. Speaker, that I intend to call for full 
congressional hearings, public hearings, not just in the Permanent 
Select Committee on Intelligence, the Select Committee on Homeland 
Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary, to ensure that we review 
the questions that David Kay has raised the lack of evidence and 
intelligence for weapons of mass destruction and the representation, as 
I close, Mr. Speaker, to the Congress and the American people by this 
administration that we must go to war on that basis.
  Full congressional hearings, no independent commission, full 
congressional hearings.

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