Congressional Record, Volume 151 Issue 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)

[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H303-H310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RELATING TO FREE ELECTION IN IRAQ HELD ON JANUARY 30, 2005

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the
House, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 60) relating to the free
election in Iraq held on January 30, 2005, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of House Resolution 60 is as follows:

H. Res. 60

Whereas in April 2003, United States Armed Forces and other
Coalition forces liberated the people of Iraq from the
dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein;
Whereas at the end of June 2004, an Interim Government of
Iraq assumed sovereign authority over Iraq;
Whereas the Interim Government of Iraq called an election
for January 30, 2005, to elect a Transitional National
Assembly, which will choose Iraq's Transitional Presidency
Council, approve Iraq's other national leaders, serve as a
transitional legislature, and draft a permanent Iraqi
Constitution to be submitted to a referendum;
Whereas tens of thousands of Iraqis signed petitions
nominating thousands of candidates for seats in the
Transitional National Assembly under rules prescribed by the
Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq;
Whereas thousands of Iraqis served as poll workers or
observers;
Whereas a terrorist insurgency used murder and intimidation
in a desperate but ultimately fruitless attempt to prevent
the people of Iraq from exercising their right to choose
their own leaders;
Whereas despite the efforts of Coalition forces and Iraqi
security forces, a regrettably large number of Iraqi election
workers, political party volunteers, security officials,
candidates, and ordinary citizens attempting to participate
in the political process or who

[[Page H304]]

were merely innocent bystanders were victimized by the
insurgency, with some individuals having been killed while
attempting to vote;
Whereas millions of Iraqis nevertheless exercised their
right to vote, despite threats and actual violence directed
against them;
Whereas Coalition forces, in cooperation with Iraqi
security forces, continue to provide security for the people
of Iraq; and
Whereas a representative democracy is more than a way to
settle disputes but, most importantly, ascribes intrinsic
value to every human being: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the people of Iraq, in particular those
individuals who participated in the political process as
voters, poll workers, observers, party workers, or candidates
for the Transitional National Assembly, for having taken part
in the historic and inspiring Iraqi election of January 30,
2005;
(2) expresses its thanks to the Interim Government of Iraq
and the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, Iraqi and
Coalition security forces, and the civilian United States and
international partners of the Government of Iraq for their
tenacious efforts to create the conditions in which a free
election could be held;
(3) expresses its condolences to the families of those
Iraqis who perished while attempting to exercise their right
to choose their government or while protecting Iraqis who
were doing so;
(4) congratulates the candidates who were elected to Iraq's
Transitional National Assembly which will be, when it is
formed, the newest democratically-elected legislature in the
world;
(5) offers its continued support to the people and
political institutions of Iraq, including the Iraqi
Transitional National Assembly, as they deal with the
consequences of decades of misrule by the former regime of
Saddam Hussein;
(6) expresses its gratitude to the United States Armed
Forces for their ongoing valiant service to their country and
commitment to the highest ideals and traditions of the people
of the United States;
(7) expresses its gratitude to the families of United
States Armed Forces personnel, especially the families of
those who have lost loved ones in Operation Iraqi Freedom,
and to Armed Forces personnel wounded in the service of their
country, for their sacrifices;
(8) reaffirms that--
(A) United States Armed Forces in Iraq will remain under
the full authority, direction, and control of their United
States commanders; and
(B) United States Armed Forces will possess all necessary
authority to fulfill their mission in Iraq effectively and to
provide for their operational safety;
(9) urges the people of the United States and other
countries to celebrate this latest step in the restoration of
freedom to the people of Iraq; and
(10) reaffirms that the world is safer when democracy
replaces tyranny.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
Tuesday, February 1, 2005, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will
control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

General Leave

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on H. Res. 60.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important resolution relating
to the free elections held in Iraq on Sunday, January 30. I commend the
leadership for bringing this important measure to the floor at this
time.
This past Sunday, freedom permeated from all corners of Iraq. Iraqis
celebrated their vote. They reveled in it and embraced it. They clearly
demonstrated to the terrorists and to the world the power of the human
spirit. They showed the indomitable will of a free people anxious to
exercise their rights as human beings and citizens. We witnessed women
in this Arab nation taking their place as free individuals alongside
men, their voices and their votes given equal weight.
The Kurdish people, who have been the victims of unspeakable human
rights violations under Saddam Hussein's evil regime, at long last
voted to take their well-earned, equal, respected place in a new Iraq.
Both Shias and Sunnis, through the ballot box, were afforded an equal
opportunity to exercise their rights and a role in their future
government.
Some naysayers have focused on percentages and what ethnic group
voted more than others. I, however, will always remember the images of
the young and old Iraqis, of men and women of all backgrounds, proudly
showing their ink-stained fingers, while hugging and waving to American
soldiers in a show of gratitude.
I have never been prouder to have been an American and know that we
have and will continue to contribute to make these images of hope
possible. It is a testament to the power of freedom that as we
commemorated the liberation of Auschwitz we finished that same week
with elections in a country previously shackled with decades of
tyranny.
It is a victory for those of us who believe that people throughout
the Middle East are not just ready but enthusiastic for democracy. It
is a victory for the principle that human rights are universal and not
gifts bestowed to a select few.
However, our work is by no means complete. From Iran to Libya, from
Saudi Arabia to Syria and beyond, much of the Middle East remains
engulfed in oppression under the iron grip of dictatorships. Only by
securing a decisive shift towards democracy across the region can the
misery endured by the people of the Middle East be relieved.
Simultaneously, we must encourage those governments and populations
in the region who have heeded the call for political and economic
reform to expand those efforts, as they will surely ensure a prosperous
future for their people and a more secure and stable world for us all.
Let us congratulate and commend the courageous Iraqis for defying the
terrorists in going to the polls in huge numbers. Let us honor the
brave men and women of our Armed Forces and all Iraqi security forces,
officials and innocent civilians who have given their lives so that all
Iraqis were given the opportunity to exercise a valuable, cherished
freedom.
As the great communicator, former President Ronald Reagan, said on
January 20, 1981, ``No weapon in the arsenals of the world is so
formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'' This
was clearly evident in Iraq this past Sunday.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to overwhelmingly
support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I first
want to commend the bipartisan leadership of this body for bringing
this resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, the votes are still being counted in Iraq, but it is
already clear that democracy has won. The people of Iraq have cast
their ballots in favor of freedom, including the right to choose their
own leaders and their own fate.
We should not be surprised. We have seen people choose freedom over
tyranny repeatedly during the past 15 years in country after country.
But Iraqis voted in unprecedented circumstances, literally risking life
and limb merely to exercise the privilege that most of us take for
granted and many of us do not even exercise. Their courage inspires us,
reinvigorating our own love for democracy and testifying to the power
of freedom's call.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to have been a fly on the wall of those in
power throughout the Arab world who watched the televised spectacle of
Iraqis freely choosing their own leaders. We do not know yet who will
lead the new Iraqi government, but we know that that government will be
the sole representative of democracy in the halls of the Arab league.
And we know that increasing numbers of Arab citizens in other Arab
countries are already asking why their governments, with very limited
exceptions, are chosen and perpetuated only at gunpoint.
The evident success of the election should boost the self-confidence
of all concerned. Iraqis themselves organized the campaign and
election. They monitored the vote, they secured the polling places, and
now they are counting the ballots.
U.S. forces wisely situated themselves beyond the horizon of the
polling places, but no one should lose sight of the fact that it was
American and coalition soldiers who made this day possible because of
their performance on

[[Page H305]]

election day and for many days and weeks before.

{time} 1145

Mr. Speaker, we must pay special tribute today to the bravery shown
by our fighting men and women, to the commitment shown by our civilian
personnel in Iraq and to the dedication and sacrifice shown by their
families. I am proud that this resolution does just that.
We also acknowledge with respect those who have been wounded in the
prosecution of this war, and we remember with the deepest sadness those
who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Not the least of the gratifying developments on Sunday was the
excellent manner in which the Iraqi armed forces acquitted themselves.
We need to pay special tribute to General David Petraeus for his
extraordinary work in training Iraq's military forces.
Mr. Speaker, I believe Sunday's election is an important milestone in
the democratic development not only of Iraq but the entire Middle East.
But it is also another battle won in the fight against the
antidemocratic terrorists who opposed the election and continue their
pernicious struggle. The impressive voter turnout, perhaps most
impressive in the Sunni areas where antidemocratic intimidation was the
most intense, is the surest sign that Iraqis as a whole are embracing
the legitimacy of their new government and their new security forces.
But we must be realistic, Mr. Speaker. Democracy entails far more
than a day at the polls. The major challenges are still ahead for Iraq.
Can Iraqis ensure that all segments of their nation have the
opportunity to be heard? Will they produce a fair and workable
constitution leading to a durable democracy? Will they learn the art of
compromise that will be essential to their success? Will they be
moderate or will they dig in their heels on the difficult issues such
as the role of religion or the disposition of the contested city of
Kirkuk?
Building democracy in the Middle East will require immense patience.
It surely is a multigenerational project. Even building democracy in
just one nation, especially one with a complicated society such as
Iraq's, is a long-term challenge. But for today, Mr. Speaker, let us
recognize that the Iraqi people have just taken a first but vitally
important step towards meeting that challenge, and let us affirm that
they merit the admiration of all free peoples across the globe. And
last, but hardly least, let us take pride in America's enormous
contribution towards true Iraqi self-determination.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), the vice chair of
the Committee on Rules.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I thank the distinguished
gentlewoman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution brought
forth by our majority leader and others commemorating, celebrating the
extraordinarily historic accomplishment of the Iraqi people last
Sunday.
As our majority leader stated in a meeting where we were able to hear
him speak just a few minutes ago, what we saw, what the world saw in
Iraq on Sunday was more than an accomplishment. It was a miracle. But
it was a miracle made possible by the leadership of President Bush and
the Armed Forces of the United States and the coalition that have stood
firmly for the security of a people who were oppressed for decades and
who made it known to the entire world last Sunday that those thugs who
seek to cloak themselves in some sort of sector of Islamist thought are
nothing but a bunch of gangsters, thugs and gangsters who seek to
intimidate through violence and through terror.
So the world was able to see on Sunday the gangsters and the thugs
for what they are, a pathetic group dedicated to terror and
intimidation. The world has seen and was able to see, by the courage of
the millions and millions of Iraqis who, despite the threat to their
own lives, stood in line and the lines refused to be broken. As our
majority leader stated so eloquently in the meeting that we had, as I
stated before, earlier today, the lines refused to break even when the
bombs came and the attacks came and the injured were taken to hospitals
and the dead were mourned. Yet the lines remained to demonstrate to the
world that the Iraqi people not only seek but appreciate and will stand
for their freedom and that the gangsters and the thugs are simply
pathetic believers in violence.
I am a firm believer in the Bush doctrine. All people want to be free
and all people deserve to be free. There are a handful of tyrannies in
the world. Their day will soon come, also.
Just 90 miles from the shores of the United States there is a tyrant
who for 46 years has oppressed a people, also through the same gangster
tactics that these thugs in the Middle East use. Unfortunately, he has
all the weapons, and his people are unarmed. His day will soon come as
well.
This is a great day for history, for peace that we are celebrating
today with this resolution by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay).
That is why I so strongly support it.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to yield 2 minutes to
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, there have been so many images that have come out of the
election in Iraq that have warmed the hearts of all who love freedom.
My favorite was that of a woman holding up the victory sign accentuated
by the blue ink on her finger indicating that she had voted. That
victory sign stands for victory over dictatorship, for victory over
terror, victory for democracy, victory for freedom.
There have also been some statements from voters showing what they
think of their newfound freedoms. One voter remarked, ``I moved to mark
my finger with ink. I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all
the world's tyrants.''
The Iraqi people have spoken with a loud voice, and once again
freedom is on the march. This is thanks to the dedication not only of
the people of Iraq but certainly for all the service and the sacrifice
of our brave men and women in the armed services.
So I do find it amazing that some on the other side of the aisle and
throughout our Nation are calling for a quick pullout of our troops
from Iraq. We all want our troops to come home, and they will, as soon
as their mission is accomplished, as soon as it is completed. They will
not leave early and allow dictatorship and repression to return to fill
the vacuum left by their departure.
Many of these advocates of an early withdrawal were also in
opposition to President Ronald Reagan when he stood strong for freedom
against Soviet communism. These same detractors say that we should not
overhype the election in Iraq. In 1989, were they saying that we should
not overhype the fall of the Berlin Wall? Tell that to the people of
the former East Germany who now live in freedom, tell it to the people
of Poland, tell it to the people of the Czech Republic, tell it to the
people of Hungary, or to the people of the Ukraine, all of whom live in
freedom because of the steadfast determination of the American people
to spread liberty.
The flag of freedom has been raised high in Iraq, and we cannot and
must not leave Iraq before freedom and democracy take root. Because,
just as in Europe, the idea of freedom will resonate throughout the
Middle East.
Let freedom ring.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), a member of the Committee on
International Relations.
Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution celebrating
the free elections held in Iraq this past weekend. I think it is
important that the world watched as millions of Iraqis defied the edict
of Zarkawi and other terrorist leaders, defied their edict not to
participate and went forward to cast what for most was the first
meaningful vote in their lives.
Thousands of Iraqis served as poll workers. There were thousands of
observers, as this resolution notes. The

[[Page H306]]

turnout exceeded all expectations. Iraqis of all backgrounds celebrated
this milestone in the history of their country, but I believe it was a
milestone for the Middle East and a milestone for the world. Tyrants
and dictators would have people believe that democracy is a charade.
Tell that to the Iraqis celebrating in the streets throughout Iraq.
They rejected Saddam Hussein in a way that they had not had an
opportunity to before, and they actually rejected him with an
exclamation point in this election. What we saw was yet more evidence
that the yearning to shape the political life of one's community and
one's nation is universal. Freedom truly is a human aspiration.
Voting, as we have heard, is a step. The ballots have not yet been
counted. A constitution needs to be drafted. Democracy, if it is going
to work, must respect the interests of minorities. Otherwise, it is the
tyranny of the majority.
In general, everyone wants their own rights respected. The challenge
is to get people to respect the next person's rights. Kurdish rights
must be protected, Sunni rights must be respected, and the rights of
the Iraqi down the street must be respected. As President Bush has told
the American people, this will be a long struggle. Iraq is very
difficult terrain.
The stars of last weekend clearly were the Iraqi people. They put
their lives on the line for a better future. Some were killed. But,
make no mistake about it, there was a key supporting cast. Our Nation
owes a debt of gratitude to the many members of our Armed Forces, our
diplomats and other Americans in Iraq who are also risking their lives
and in some cases sacrificing their lives to help Iraqis and also
Americans.
We have a strong national interest in seeing Iraq become a success.
If this happens, when the history of this era in Iraq is written, these
men and women will be widely revered.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).
Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, insurgents in Iraq this weekend had vowed to wash the
streets in blood. Yet, despite all their threats of people who were
going to get killed and places that were going to be bombed, and indeed
43 people were killed, despite all that, voters turned out, of course,
in record numbers because the election itself was a record.
One voter said on Sunday that each vote was a bullet in the heart of
the enemy. We are defeating the terrorists in coming here, he said
proudly, as he dipped his finger in the famous purple ink. This was
done in over 30,000 polling places. And now the votes are being
counted.
When we look at the turnout, nearly 60 percent, we are not really
sure what the turnout officially is, but compare that to the United
States presidential election just this November of a 60.7 percent voter
turnout. Yet no one was threatened to be killed. That was the highest
turnout in the United States of America in 38 years. Indeed, in my home
county in Savannah, Georgia, Chatham County had a turnout of a mere 48
percent 2 years ago when we elected the Governor of Georgia.

{time} 1200

So for them under these circumstances to have a 60 percent voter
turnout, it is phenomenal; but it is also a huge statement on how badly
people want freedom, how badly they want to throw off the shackles of
oppression, and how they value the opportunity to vote.
The U.S. Marines said that watching voters go to the polls was a
spectacular and a wonderful payoff of the magnitude of the well-
visualized photo of their knocking down Saddam Hussein's statue 2 years
ago in Baghdad. And the people who died, the 43 lives who are no longer
with us, they should all be remembered along with the other heroes who
made the day possible. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
It took the United States of America 7 years to fight the
Revolutionary War to win its independence from Britain, and then it was
not until 1789 that we threw out the Articles of Confederation and
wrote our own Constitution. And yet we fought a Civil War since then
and we have had lots of struggles and lot of amendments to our
Constitution. Indeed, over 200 years later, we are still fighting and
working on this experiment that we call democracy, representative
democracy.
What the world needs to do right now is to support Iraq in this
endeavor. It is time for folks around the globe to say this did serve
as a referendum and a statement; now let us reach out and do what we
can to help Iraq become independent.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi); but before turning the
microphone over to her, let me just say she has devoted her life to
expanding the arena of freedom and democracy throughout the globe, and
we are proud to have her represent us as our leader in this body.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his very
generous remarks and commend him in turn for his leadership and the
determination and dedication that he has given to human rights
throughout the world and freedom throughout the world. Having just
visited Auschwitz and having his own personal sad experience in the
deprivation of freedom, he is an inspiration to all of us. I hope that
the trip was not too painful for the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos), but again his courage and his determination are a lesson to
all of us, and I thank him.
Mr. Speaker, Sunday was a historic day for the people of Iraq. In the
face of violence and threats, millions of Iraqis made it clear that
they want the future of their own country decided by the ballot, not by
the bomb or the bullet. Their willingness to risk their lives to vote
is compelling evidence of the depth of their aspiration for self-
determination. Their courage commands our admiration and our respect.
The bravery of our military personnel cannot be praised highly
enough. Without their selflessness in the face of great danger, the
election could not have been held. Every American is inspired by their
courage, their patriotism, and the sacrifice they are willing to make
for our country.
Iraqis have demonstrated their desire to take responsibility for
their country's future. Our effort now should be to use the momentum
created by the election to help them realize that goal. Iraq needs to
be made more secure. Let us intensify our efforts to train the Iraqi
Army that can provide that security. The sooner we transfer the
responsibility for security of Iraq over to the Iraqis, the better.
Iraq's future depends on improvements to its economic infrastructure.
Let us accelerate the reconstruction efforts that have lagged so badly
and give Iraqis a larger stake in having those efforts succeed.
Iraq's political future depends on the involvement of all Iraqis in
the political process. Let us redouble our diplomatic efforts with
Iraq's neighbors to help create an environment in which Iraq includes
those who have thus far felt excluded.
We know that Sunday's election was but a step on the road to a stable
and secure Iraq. The American people, who have sacrificed so much for
Iraq, are owed a clear explanation by the President of his plan to end
our presence in Iraq and of the standards by which they can judge that
plan. I hope that we will hear that plan tonight in the President's
State of the Union address.
In congratulating the Iraqi people on their achievement, we also need
to acknowledge that the election should signal the beginning of a
change in our relationship with Iraq.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Woolsey).
(Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, on Sunday Iraq held democratic elections to nominate
legislators to write Iraq's constitution, and I want to congratulate
the courageous Iraqi people who voted in the election. My congressional
district, Marin and Sonoma Counties, north of San Francisco, across the
Golden Gate Bridge, had an 89\1/2\ percent voter turnout in the United
States the last election, 89\1/2\. Believe me, we know the importance
that elections play in our democracy.

[[Page H307]]

And now with Iraq's elections completed, we in the United States must
ensure that the people of Iraq control their own affairs as Iraq
transitions towards democracy. In fact, Sunday's election gives the
United States yet another opportunity to get back on course in Iraq. We
can do this by supporting the Iraqi people, not through our military
but through international cooperation to help rebuild Iraq's economic
and physical infrastructure. There are four components to my plan on
how to do this. H. Con. Res. 35, which is co-sponsored by over two
dozen other Members of the House, this plan secures Iraq for the
future. It ensures that America's role in Iraq gives Iraq back to the
Iraqis and actually makes America safer.
First, we need to develop and implement a plan to begin the immediate
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Second, we must develop and
implement a plan for the reconstruction of Iraq's civil and economic
infrastructure. Third, we need to convene an emergency meeting of
Iraq's leadership and the international community to replace U.S.
military forces in Iraq with an international peacekeeping force and
Iraqi police and national guard forces. Finally, we need to take all
steps to provide that the Iraqi people receive the opportunity they
deserve to control their own internal affairs.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly salute the Iraqi people for their
courage in participating in last Sunday's elections. But if we are to
succeed in Iraq, we must utilize this moment as a means to bring our
troops home and a means to return power to the Iraqi people.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Franks).
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, only a few months ago, for the
first time in history, ballot boxes were coming in from remote places
like Khyber Pass in Afghanistan on the backs of mules. What a great
time it is to live in this world.
And last Sunday we saw free elections in a nation whose people have
been crushed and oppressed since the days their country was called
Babylon. We saw young men carrying old men to the polls. We saw one
gentleman whose leg had been blown off by a terrorist bomb who said, I
will crawl to vote if that is what it takes. And one of Saddam
Hussein's former generals said, When I voted today, it felt so good
inside, like I was free.
Mr. Speaker, the United States of America has been a leader in
freedom, and we have now had the privilege of becoming the unipolar
superpower of the entire world. No nation on Earth can actually
challenge us in military, economic, or technological terms; and truly
every nation sees America now as the flagship of humanity. This Nation
now possesses a greater opportunity to promote freedom in the world
than we have had since the Republic began.
But it is because we have had such great victories and opportunities
that more than ever before we must be deeply humble and remind
ourselves that we are only briefly the temporary stewards of this God-
given greatest Nation in the history of humankind. And we only have a
short time to fulfill our privileged and sacred mission of making
America such a beacon of liberty that the light of freedom will some
day fall across the faces of every person on this planet.
Last Sunday tells me, Mr. Speaker, that this is the generation who
lives in the window of time where we can firmly set the world on that
course. This is freedom's day, and we must seize it while we can. And
while I do not often quote Shakespeare, he said, ``There is a tide in
the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
omitted'' or delayed, ``all the voyage of their lives is bound in
shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea, we now find ourselves
afloat, and we must take the current when it serves or lose our
ventures.''
Mr. Speaker, as we take this current to freedom, let us remember that
the best leverage to maintain freedom's march in the world is to make
sure that its foundations are secure beneath freedom's home; and then,
Mr. Speaker, let us take this tide of freedom as it serves so that one
day all generations will bask in this glorious sunlight of liberty just
as it has now begun to dawn on the people of Iraq.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I thank him for always standing first and foremost for human
rights here and around the world. I am not surprised that he would come
forward with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) with this well-
deserved and important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more gratifying to the American people
than seeing people vote, and especially people vote for the first time.
I feel what is happening in Iraq with great and moving nostalgia
because it reminds me of the first African Americans who voted after
the Civil War. It reminds me that this is the 40th anniversary of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 and what it meant for people in Alabama and
Georgia to come to the polls for the first time. There is unanimous
applause for the people of Iraq who risked their lives to come to the
polls. They did not just vote. Many of them knew they were risking life
and limb to vote.
They know, however, and we know where the risk was greatest, and that
risk was greatest on the Armed Forces of the United States and their
allies who made this right possible.
Mr. Speaker, I come forward to say that no people in our country more
appreciate that vote on January 30 than the people in the District of
Columbia. In the District of Columbia, lives were lost for the vote in
Iraq. But these residents are the progeny of 2 centuries of District
residents who have gone to war without a vote. Three of these young men
who were on the frontlines in Iraq came to the House as the House
opened and asked for the same vote for their families and for the
residents of the District of Columbia as their service has given to the
people of Iraq. They asked to start with the Committee of the Whole
where we had the right to vote but the right was taken from us when the
majority changed.
Listen to one of the young men: ``Two of my friends and I earlier
this month asked for the return of the House vote of the Committee of
the Whole our city won during the 103rd Congress . . . Think of what
American leaders and citizens would say if one party were to nullify
the legitimate vote of another party after the elections in Iraq.''
They asked to see the Speaker; the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Pelosi), leader of the Democrats. She saw him. The Speaker and a member
of his staff were unable to see him. Senator Lieberman and I have
reintroduced the No Taxation Without Representation Act.

{time} 1215

Let me leave you with the words, finally, of one of these young men.
``I was prepared in Iraq for whatever came, including service in a
border breach squad charged with clearing mines and anything else that
got in the way to prepare the first troops to cross the border. That
was my duty and I would do it again. However, our country also has an
important obligation to those who serve and to other citizens. One of
the most important obligations is to ensure every citizen that his
representative will have a chance to vote before that citizen goes to
war for his country.''
The third young man: ``My father served in the 101st Airborne in
Vietnam and I am proud to follow him by serving my country in the same
manner. I want equal treatment at home. I want the same voting
representation in the House and Senate as other soldiers and as the
Iraqi people have in their elections this month.''
Out of the mouths of young residents of the District of Columbia who
are on the frontline. I will insert their statements and a statement
concerning their service from the Washington Post in the Record.

Statement of Emory Kosh

First, my thanks to Congresswoman Norton and Senator
Lieberman for re-introducing the No Taxation Without
Representation Act. I also want to thank Mr. Shallal for his
moving words addressed to men and women like me who served in
Iraq and to D.C. residents. During the year I spent in Iraq,
I met and spoke with many Iraqi citizens, but Mr. Shallal is
the first Iraqi American I have met. His words have special
meaning to me and I thank him.
When I watch television and see people in Iraq and here in
the United States preparing

[[Page H308]]

to vote in the Iraq elections for voting representation, I
think of my time in their country. I am proud that I had some
role in the voting rights Iraqis will get there on Sunday.
For that reason, I deeply appreciate that Mr. Shallal has
come not only to thank us, but to join us in the fight for
the same voting representation here in the Nation's capital.
Two of my friends and I earlier this month asked for the
return of the House vote in the Committee of the Whole our
city won during the 103rd Congress that was taken from us
when control of the Congress changed hands. Think of what
American leaders and citizens would say if one party were to
nullify the legitimate vote of another party after the
elections in Iraq. Our vote in the Committee of the Whole
represented the first step toward the goal of D.C. residents
as expressed in the No Taxation Without Representation Act.
We didn't intend to stop there when we asked that this first
step be taken, and we won't stop now. We will work with the
Congresswoman, the Senator, Mr. Shallal and our fellow
citizens until the full voting rights we fought for in Iraq
are also available here in our hometown.
____

Remarks of Isaac Lewis

Congresswoman Norton, Mayor Williams and fellow Americans,
thank you for recognizing us today. I was born and raised in
the District of Columbia and have always wanted to be in the
military and when I graduated from Dunbar High School, I
joined the Army Reserves. As a volunteer soldier I was
prepared for the interruption of my education at Morehouse,
or as it turned out at Bowie State where I was in college
when I was called up. I had to withdraw in the middle of the
semester and the loss of that time will delay for a year and
a half the possibility of law school for me. Yet my service
in the military has helped me meet my dream of a college
education and I am proud to serve my country.
I was prepared in Iraq for whatever came, including service
in a border breach squad charged with clearing mines and
anything else that got in the way to prepare the first troops
to cross the border. That was my duty and I would do my duty
again. However, our country also has an important obligation
to those who serve and to other citizens. One of the most
important obligations is to assure every citizen that his
representative will have a chance to vote before that citizen
goes to war for his country. My buddies and I from the 299th
did not have the benefit of that vote. I come to the Congress
today to ask for that vote before we are deployed again.
Congress can return the vote in Committee of the Whole that
the District won fair and square in the 103rd Congress.
Although this would not be the full vote other Americans have
and that the Iraqis soon will have, I understand that this
vote would be the maximum the House of Representatives can
give at this time. The maximum is what my buddies and I are
pledged to give. We believe that voting representation is not
too much to ask in return.

Remarks of Marcus Gray

Congresswoman Norton, Mayor Williams and fellow citizens,
thank you for honoring us here today. I am grateful to be
back home in the District of Columbia where I was born and
raised after almost a year in Iraq with the 299th Engineering
Company out of Fort Belvoir, VA. My father served in the
101st Airborne in Vietnam and I am proud to follow him by
serving my country in the same manner. I am equally proud to
be a resident of the District of Columbia where I was born
and raised. I am a graduate of Ballou High School and will
soon graduate from Norfolk State University. I was at the
University when I was called to duty. I am back at Norfolk
State to resume the year and a half I lost while on active
duty. I will obtain my B.A. in sociology with a concentration
in Criminal Justice.
However, I could be called again this year, but being
called to active duty is what every soldier in the Reserves
expects could happen. We also expect equal treatment and the
Army tries hard to see that all soldiers are treated equally.
However, I want equal treatment at home as well. I want the
same voting representation in the House and the Senate as
other soldiers and as the Iraq people will have in their
elections this month. Today I ask that Congress make a good
start by returning to me and other citizens of the District
of Columbia the vote in the Committee of the Whole we once
had. This step would make me as proud as I will be to see the
Iraqi people go to the polls on January 30th.
____

[From an article in the Washington Post on the denial of Congressional
voting rights to D.C. residents]

Scanning the distant horizons looking for people craving
democracy.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) be permitted to manage the balance
of the time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the
request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and proud to yield the balance
of our time to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer),
the democratic whip, who has been a leader in the field of expanding
the arena of freedom globally.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
I would like to acknowledge the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole)
and his leadership. We had the opportunity to travel recently to Iraq,
to Amman, and to Israel. Both Israel and Iraq have now passed through
two very historic elections. I had the opportunity of speaking about
the Palestinian election just recently.
Despite the fact, Mr. Speaker, that we have differences over our
Nation's military action in Iraq, I supported the effort and will
support the funding to accomplish the objectives. But I have made valid
criticisms, as others have, of the administration's administration or
execution of the policy. However, Mr. Speaker, I believe that all of us
are united today, hopefully, in saluting the courageous Iraqi people
who turned out to vote on Sunday. I know that every Member of the body
commends the bravery and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform
whose patriotism and professionalism made this important day possible.
We must hope that 50 years from now a future generation of Iraqis can
look back at this election, this event, as a turning point in the
history of their nation and as a victory for freedom over tyranny, for
democracy over despotism.
After toiling under the boot of Saddam Hussein for decades and
weathering a vicious terrorist insurgency over the last 2 years, the
Iraqi people said no, no to intimidation, and yes to the most basic
democratic right, the right to vote.
Sunday's election, Mr. Speaker, in which millions of Iraqis cast
ballots, is a stunning repudiation of those who despise freedom and
democracy. Zarkawi, that criminal leader of terrorist activity and
insurgency in Iraq, said it accurately for the terrorists: They despise
democracy. They despise freedom. They fear the decisions of free
people. That is why they tried to intimidate the Iraqi people.
Having lived under the totalitarian Saddam Hussein regime all these
years, however, the Iraqi people know that the insurgents offer nothing
but further repression and violence.
Last Friday, Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of visiting the out-of-
country voting station in New Carrollton, Maryland, and watched as many
of these Iraqis Diaspora cast their votes freely for the first time in
their lives. The joy and pride on their faces and in their hearts had
to move everyone with whom they spoke. It was a moving moment, it was
an historic moment, and it was a poignant reminder to all of us that
our rights, while God-given, must never be taken for granted; a
reminder that the cost of protecting those freedoms is sometimes high,
and we must honor those with the courage and commitment even for others
across the sea to protect those rights in the realization that
democracies and free people are safer for us here at home than the
tyrannies that have prevailed in history.
Without question, Mr. Speaker, there are difficult days ahead. The
truly hard work that remains in establishing a viable, stable democracy
that is capable of maintaining internal order in Iraq is not finished
by far. But today, today at least, Mr. Speaker, let us celebrate the
courage of the Iraqi people and express our gratitude and pride in the
bravery of our Armed Forces, our men and women in uniform who made that
day possible.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, before yielding back our time, may I just
remind all of my colleagues and all of the American people that we have
been debating three important policy resolutions with a degree of
bipartisan unity that should fill us with pride and joy in the
recognition of the fact that, despite all the commentary of deep
divisions in this body, we stood together, Republicans and Democrats,
supporting the same resolutions and the same policies.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H309]]

Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of our time to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the distinguished Majority Leader
and the original sponsor of this important resolution.
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me this
time.
I just want to say the comments by the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) are well taken; and it is because of his work, and particularly
his work to hold us together and work together on these issues, that
that kind of bipartisan support for these resolution happens. So I
commend the gentleman and thank him very much for his work and his
willingness to work with us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) who
came to the floor because he just returned from Iraq a couple of weeks
ago and he has some very important things to say.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Majority Leader for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, two Sunday mornings I was in Baghdad inside the Green
Zone, an idyllic morning in the cradle of civilization, if you will.
But we had a wide-ranging discussion with Prime Minister Allawi about
what lay ahead for Iraq.
The Prime Minister said that what matters most is the kind of Iraq
that we have at the end of this process. His feeling was that Iraq had
its roots in ancient civilization. He now relished the opportunity for
Iraq to spread the cause of democracy and liberty to other areas of the
Middle East, which will make the cost and the risk of liberating Iraq
worthwhile. Terrorism will continue after the elections because there
will always be those who resist stability, but it will become more and
more difficult to unravel the community.
The Prime Minister became fairly philosophical and said he had spent
the best part of his life fighting for freedom for his country, and now
that freedom lay at the doorstep. He would not allow those individuals,
meaning the Sunnis, to distract the process. He stated that if they
cannot participate now, there will be a space open for them to
participate in the future.
To quote the Prime Minister, ``We don't want the radical forces to
win now, nor do we want the outside forces from Syria or Iran to take
over. I am a practical person. The Sunnis are changing. The process is
slow, but our only hope for everyone is to engage in the process and
distance ourselves from the terrorists. February 1 begins the next
chapter in our country's history.'' From the Prime Minister Dr. Allawi.
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the
gentleman from Texas entering the Prime Minister of Iraq's remarks into
the Record. I think it is very appropriate to do at this time,
particularly on this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, the central point of this resolution is the central
point of America's foreign policy: that mankind is made more secure
when tyranny is replaced by democracy. That is the story of the
American revolution against the old world, Western Europe's liberation
from Nazism, Eastern Europe and Central America's liberation from
communism and despotism, and the Middle East's liberation from
terrorism. The victory of human freedom over human oppression, of good
over evil, Mr. Speaker, is why we are here.
Last Sunday morning, the people of Iraq showed the world that
humanity's will to freedom knows no borders. When I first saw the news
Sunday and saw an image of a woman in Najaf exiting her polling place
alive and well with tears streaming down her proud, smiling face, I
thought to myself, now, this, this is what Operation Iraqi Freedom was
all about. But I was wrong. Sunday's election, Sunday's miracle of
democracy, was about more than that.
I thought about the image of the elderly man in a wheelchair in Basra
who, in his long years, saw revolution and war, tyranny and terror and,
finally, with a joy only possible in a man who had known such pain,
cast the first ballot of his life.
I thought of the image of the little girl with a ribbon in her hair,
holding her mother's hand as hundreds of women in traditional hijab
dress waited in line. Now, this little girl was not quite sure what was
happening, only that the women knew it was important.
I thought of the image of the voters in Baghdad who ducked for cover
as their polling place came under fire, yet whose lines never broke.
There were bullets and bombs and mortar shells, yet their lines never
broke.
These voters in Baghdad, not soldiers, but shopkeepers and
homemakers, knew when they left for the polls in the morning that they
might not come home. They knew that they were targeted, that their
spouses would be, could be widowed and their children orphaned. Yet the
lines never broke. A humble defiance of evil.
And that is when it hit me, Mr. Speaker. Just as on Sunday all free
men and women were Iraqis and on Sunday the Iraqis were all free men
and women. Sunday's elections are not just why we invaded Iraq. They
were why we stormed Omaha Beach and took the Normandy cliffs. They are
why we held Little Round Top and braved Valley Forge.
The lines that formed in Iraq on Sunday stretch not only around the
world but back in time to the moment when 13 British colonies declared
their independence. For the first time, at that moment, a nation
declared itself endowed with an inalienable right to liberty, and in
228 years since, no nation, no nation, no people ever offered a chance
at freedom refused it.
Against all odds and it seemed at times even against all hope, the
Iraqi people, over 8 million of them, all marked by death by the
terrorists, woke up Sunday morning and got into line.
Some people still do not get it. They still do not understand Concord
and Lexington or Gettysburg or Bastogne or the Cold War, or even Flight
93.

{time} 1230

They do not understand why those lines in Iraq never broke or that
every man and woman who ever lived, fought, or died for freedom was
standing in that line with them. They still do not know why we fight.
Last weekend that Iraqi woman in the photograph knew. After a
lifetime of oppression she voted in humble defiance of evil, and then
she broke down crying. And in those tears she is shedding along with
the anguish of how many friends and children lost and how many wars and
prisons are the hopes and dreams of all God's children who still yearn
to be free.
Sunday's elections in Iraq were not an accomplishment; they were a
miracle, a miracle made possible by the resilience of a liberated Iraq,
the mercy of a loving God, and the moral courage of this Nation under
God to stare evil in the face and make the devil blink. Eight million
brave Iraqis struck terrorism a lethal blow on Sunday, replacing
tyranny with democracy, and in doing so they made America and the world
safer, for which it is altogether fitting and proper that we commend
and thank them.
Despite the continued threat represented by terrorists and terrorism
and despite the threat of disgraceful partisan rhetoric coming from
many on the other side, Sunday's miracle in Iraq shows that the dead
who died to free that nation have not died in vain and that even in the
darkest recesses of violent oppression, all who would live in peace and
liberty have yet reason to hope.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr.Speaker, I rise today to join my
colleagues in offering my warm congratulations to the Iraqi people for
the successful elections they held on January 30, 2005.
It is truly amazing to see the Iraqi people take their first steps
toward democracy. To see a people who were once slaughtered and
tormented under a brutal dictatorship take a stand and declare that
enough is enough, shows their unwavering determination in deciding
their own fate by the ballot instead of the bullet.
Despite the predictions of widespread terrorist attacks on election
day in Iraq, 60 percent of the registered voters turned out. Moreover,
the physical courage of the Iraqi people to leave their houses, walk to
the polls and cast ballots under this specter of violence speaks to the
power of democracy and their passion for freedom.
Sometimes in America, we take the right to vote for granted. No one
who watched the moving images of Iraqi men and women proudly showing
their purple-stained fingers will ever make that mistake again.
It is also important to pay homage to the thousands of brave American
soldiers, some of who lost their lives, who held the line. Let

[[Page H310]]

us not forget the bold sacrifices these courageous men and women made
to liberate the Iraqi people. It is all of our hopes that this election
marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Iraqi people, one in which
they enjoy the sweet taste of the fruits of freedom, democracy and
sovereignty.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to commend the sponsors and
leadership for bringing this important resolution to the floor and I
urge an ``aye'' vote.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in
offering strong support for H. Res. 60, commending the free election
held in Iraq last Sunday, January 30, 2005. This historic event marked
progress, hope, and enthusiasm for the future of democracy in the Arab
region.
Iraq held free elections for the first time in about 50 years.
Millions of voters cast their ballots, and the death toll for the day
was 45--lower than usual since the United States occupied the region.
I applaud this administration for the successful free elections held
on Sunday under its auspices. An election with a turnout of nearly 60
percent is very encouraging for the Arab region. However, the fact
remains that American troops have remained in occupation for 2 years,
and the death toll continues to rise; therefore, we must proceed with
caution. The positive momentum that has come from a successful election
must be used as an opportunity to stop the bloodshed and the
expenditure of tax dollars on this effort. I hope that the
administration will use the positive momentum of this achievement as an
opportunity to devise an exit plan for our troops.
Now that the election has taken place, the next step of restoring
independence in Iraq is crucial and must be taken now. Along with 25
other original cosponsors, I joined Representative Lynn Woolsey to
introduce H. Con. Res. 35, a measure to bring the troops home. It
proposes to do this in a four-step process: (1) Development and
implementation of a strategy to withdraw American troops from the
region; (2) development and implementation of a reconstruction plan for
the Iraqi civil and economic infrastructure; (3) creation of an
international peacekeeping force composed of Iraqi leadership,
neighbors in the Arab region, the United Nations, and the Arab League
to keep Iraq secure; and (4) restoration of Iraqi officials as overseer
of its internal affairs. This legislation will help restore
independence in Iraq and will bring our troops home safe.
Since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, 1,423 members of
the United States military have died which includes 1,084 dead as a
result of hostile action and 333 of non-hostile causes. Since May 1,
2003, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq
had ended, 1,269 U.S. military members have died. More than 89 percent
of United States casualties in Iraq have come after this announcement.
The message as to our exit plan must be made clear to the Iraqi people,
the American people, and to our troops.
Mr. Speaker, I support H. Res. 60, and I urge my colleagues to join
me in the spirit of preserving democracy, in the spirit of instilling
international trust and self-sufficiency, and in the spirit of keeping
the American troops safe.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, the right to vote--democracy itself--is more
than a way to settle disputes, however petty or important.
It is, rather, the embodiment of a larger, much more important
notion: the notion that every individual is worthwhile; that every
individual, by virtue of his or her humanity, is worthy of
consideration and respect.
What an important notion. How that notion is disregarded and abused
in so many places in the world--sometimes even here at home.
Where was that notion ignored more systematically than in Saddam's
brutalized Iraq? The Iraq of terror, of mass graves, of mothers and
children killed by poison gas and rotting where they dropped to the
ground?
Yet less than 2 years later, the Iraqi people, under the protection
of an American-led Coalition and their own nascent security forces,
have turned out in defiance of threats and, in some cases, even in the
face of explosions and gunfire, to cast ballots.
When they did so, they affirmed that, as individuals, they were
anyone's equal; they were, in essence, demanding respect from those who
would govern them. And by joining together in public, each with their
one vote, they were affirming their willingness to respect their
neighbors and permit each of them an equal share of power.
Mr. Speaker, as has been said repeatedly, this is but one step in a
long road. The election was not perfect. Elections never are. And yet,
this election may turn out to be a strategic victory for freedom for
Iraq and for its region.
It will, I hope prove impossible to persuade people who have
understood and exercised their rights to surrender them willingly. We
should have confidence that the Iraqi people will continue to defy the
threats, to respond to them with force if need be, and to press fro the
establishment of a state that continues to respect them as individuals.
Such a state will be a good friend of the American people, and a good
neighbor to all within its crucial region.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson.) All time for debate has
expired.
Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 1, 2005, the
resolution is considered read and the previous question is ordered on
the resolution and on the preamble.
The question is on adoption of the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

____________________