[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR 
                  ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1268) making 
     emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Chairman, I voted against H.R. 1268 ``The Emergency 
Supplemental Bill for Fiscal Year 2005.'' While it contained some good 
measures, humanitarian assistance for Darfur, funds for tsunami relief 
and aid to support the newly elected leadership of the Palestinian 
Authority, like many pieces of legislation these days, it also 
contained an egregious and completely non-germane addition, the REAL ID 
Bill. I already voted against this bill. It fails to make us safer and 
it does nothing to reform our immigration laws in useful ways. Instead 
of focusing on meaningful reform, this bill makes it much more 
difficult for an immigrant fleeing persecution to find asylum in our 
country, and essentially mandates a national identity card.
  This vote was primarily about our ongoing military operations in 
Afghanistan and Iraq. I supported the use of force in Afghanistan. The 
Taliban regime sheltered and supported al Qaeda terrorists who attacked 
our country and made plain its determination to continue. I wish we had 
committed sufficient troops and resources to complete our mission in 
Afghanistan, kill or capture Osama bin Laden, and commit to the 
country's reconstruction. I voted against the use of force in Iraq. I 
wish I had been wrong, but all that I feared has come to pass. Weapons 
of mass destruction have not been found. Terrible slaughter continues 
and civil war may yet break out. But the ongoing violence in Iraq does 
not constitute a budgetary emergency and should not have been 
unforeseen. We were at war when the FY05 budget was proposed. Why then 
the pretense of a Supplemental Budget?
  I honor the sacrifice of our soldiers and their families and the 
courage of the millions of Iraqis who risked their lives to vote in a 
free election. I hope that their elected leaders will deserve their 
trust and that they will negotiate an inclusive government and draft a 
constitution that respects human rights. I hope they can demonstrate a 
prudence and foresight that our own government has not shown. I voted 
for the FY05 Department of Defense appropriations bill and I hope that 
I will be able to vote for the FY06 Defense appropriations as well. My 
vote was a vote of no confidence in the President and in his conduct of 
foreign affairs.

                          ____________________