[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 100 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 AND 2007

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 20, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 2601) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Department of State for 
     fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes:

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman. I rise today to address H.R. 2601, 
legislation to authorize appropriation for the Department of State for 
FY '06 and '07. While I firmly support the underlying measure and the 
essential funding it provides, I opposed final passage to underscore my 
disappointment over several amendments that were made part of the 
legislation.
  I opposed the Hyde amendment, which will withhold U.S. dues unless 
the international body adopts a specified list of reforms. Based on the 
United Nations Reform Act, the Hyde Amendment also requires the U.S. to 
veto new or expanded peacekeeping missions if the reforms are not 
implemented. Reforms are necessary, but the Hyde Amendment requires 
unreasonable timetables for reform and requires punitive action that is 
counterproductive.
  The Rohrabacher amendment also concerned me because it gives the 
appearance that we support the operations at Guantanamo Bay. I believe 
that our actions at Guantanamo are causing more harm than good for 
American interests as it has become one of the most potent propaganda 
and recruiting tools for terrorists.
  Finally, I opposed the Ros-Lehtinen amendment which would have us to 
stay in Iraq indefinitely. I strongly believe that the American people 
have been misled into war with Iraq and much of what we have been told 
about this war has been wrong. It has created even more terrorists in 
the region. It has not made us more secure. It has made us less secure. 
It has diminished our standing in the world. It has even compromised 
our credibility as a defender of human rights.

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