[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HELPING THE IRAQI PEOPLE

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the International 
Relations Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation is scheduled to 
review the Volcker Interim Report on the United Nations Oil-For-Food 
Program. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman 
Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the 
subcommittee chairman, for their leadership on this important issue.
  While the United States prides itself as being ``the premier vehicle 
for furthering development in poorer countries,'' its Oil-For-Food 
Program allegedly furthered Saddam Hussein's dictatorship over the 
Iraqi people. During my travels to Iraq, I have seen the numerous 
palaces of Saddam Hussein and the devastation his rule left on the 
people of Iraq.
  I am outraged to think a U.N.-sponsored program designed to help the 
Iraqi people was so easily corrupted and manipulated to serve the 
dictatorship's interests. The diverted funds should be recovered for 
the people of Iraq.
  I strongly support the legislation offered by the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Flake) entitled United Nations Oil-for-Food Accountability 
Act. This legislation would require the United States to withhold a 
portion of its U.N. contributions until the U.N. fully cooperates with 
the Oil-for-Food investigation. American taxpayer dollars should not 
support programs or people who obstruct our efforts to promote 
democracy and spread freedom throughout the world.
  In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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