[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1964-E1966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with 
Representative Jones and my other colleagues in the Congressional Black 
Caucus, in calling for a comprehensive revaluation of our strategies in 
Iraq. I consider the situation in Iraq to be one of Congress' highest 
priorities and there is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive and 
realistic exit strategy. We need to offer hope to the families 
anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones and the men and women 
who risk their lives everyday.
  Next month will be the 40th anniversary of one of the largest 
protests against the Vietnam War. Over a hundred thousand people 
marched on Washington that day, and it worries me that the current 
Administration seems to have learned little from history. A similar 
discontent can be seen on the streets of America today, as more and 
more polls demonstrate dwindling public support for this war.
  I have always maintained the stance that an adequate case for war was 
never made and that military intervention should only have been used if 
all other routes failed. From the beginning, I offered an alternative 
resolution to war. Although we can never know what the outcome of 
alternatives may have been, we have the chance now to change strategy 
and make decisive steps to developing a lasting solution.
  Mr. Speaker, an increase in troop numbers is not the answer. This 
war, commenced in haste and founded on deception, will never provide 
the solutions Iraq needs to establish a strong and lasting democracy. 
We can't secure victory through a war of attrition, and neither can we 
protect our sons and daughters who stand in harm's way in a war that 
was never necessary.
  It is true that we cannot abandon the Iraqi people. But more 
productive ways to help them can be found. In the current international 
climate, we cannot engage in meaningful dialogue on the Iraqi situation 
while the occupation continues. I believe we must allow the U.N. to 
play a greater role in the reconstruction of Iraq, advancing human 
rights and justice within the framework of international law. In my 
work in this great body, I consistently seek to protect the United 
States and its people above all else. However, currently there is no 
absolute proof of an imminent threat. In fact our vulnerability to 
international terrorism only rises every day our troops stay in Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, I am dedicated to providing funding to protect our 
troops, but I refuse to support the failed foreign policies of the Bush 
administration, nor any legislation that will lead to more unnecessary 
deaths. The greatest thing we can do for our brave men and women in the 
Armed Forces is to take them out of harm's way by developing a clear, 
decisive exit strategy.
    

[[Page E1965]]

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, 2007 may be found in 
the Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                              SEPTEMBER 26
     9:30 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the role and impact of credit 
           rating agencies on the subprime credit markets.
                                                            SD-538
       Environment and Public Works
         To hold hearings to examine the impacts of global warming 
           on the Chesapeake Bay.
                                                            SD-406
     10 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine S. 1543, to establish a 
           national geothermal initiative to encourage increased 
           production of energy from geothermal resources.
                                                            SD-366
       Finance
         To hold hearings to examine offshore tax issues, focusing 
           on reinsurance and hedge funds.
                                                            SD-215
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
         Business meeting to consider H.R. 2654, to designate the 
           facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
           202 South Dumont Avenue in Woonsocket, South Dakota, as 
           the ``Eleanor McGovern Post Office Building'', H.R. 
           2467, to designate the facility of the United States 
           Postal Service located at 69 Montgomery Street in 
           Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post 
           Office Building'', H.R. 2587, to designate the facility 
           of the United States Postal Service located at 555 
           South 3rd Street Lobby in Memphis, Tennessee, as the 
           ``Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr. Post Office Building'', H.R. 
           2778, to designate the facility of the United States 
           Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New 
           Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal 
           Station'', H.R. 2825, to designate the facility of the 
           United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main 
           Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the ``Owen Lovejoy 
           Princeton Post Office Building'', H.R. 3052, to 
           designate the facility of the United States Postal 
           Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, 
           Ohio, as the ``John Herschel Glenn, Jr. Post Office 
           Building'', H.R. 3106 and S. 2023, bills to designate 
           the facility of the United States Postal Service 
           located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as 
           the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office'', H.R. 
           2765, to designate the facility of the United States 
           Postal Service located at 44 North Main Street in 
           Hughesville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Master Sergeant 
           Sean Michael Thomas Post Office'', and the nomination 
           of Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be Assistant Secretary 
           of Homeland Security.
                                                            SD-342
       Rules and Administration
         Business meeting to consider the nominations of Robert 
           Charles Tapella, of Virginia, to be Public Printer, 
           Steven T. Walther, of Nevada, Hans von Spakovsky, of 
           Georgia, David M. Mason, of Virginia, and Robert D. 
           Lenhard, of Maryland, all to be a Members of the 
           Federal Election Commission.
                                                            SR-301
       Small Business and Entrepreneurship
         To hold hearings to examine improving internet access to 
           help small business compete in a global economy.
                                                           SR-428A
     2 p.m.
       Appropriations
         To hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for 
           fiscal year 2008 for the President's supplemental 
           request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
                                                            SD-106
     2:30 p.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Michael J. 
           Sullivan, of Massachusetts, to be Director, Bureau of 
           Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
                                                            SD-226

                              SEPTEMBER 27
     9 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         Business meeting to consider pending calendar business; 
           to be immediately followed by an oversight hearing to 
           examine the prevalence of violence against Indian 
           women.
                                                            SD-628
     9:30 a.m.
       Armed Services
         To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Gen. 
           William E. Ward, United States Army, for reappointment 
           to the grade of General and to be Commander, United 
           States Africa Command, Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, to be 
           General, United States Air Force, for reappointment to 
           the grade of General and to be Commander, United States 
           Strategic Command, Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, United 
           States Marine Corps, to be General and to be Commander, 
           United States Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied 
           Commander for Transformation, and Admiral Gary 
           Roughead, United States Navy, for reappointment to the 
           grade of Admiral and to be Chief of Naval Operations.
                                                            SH-216
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine hard-rock mining on federal 
           lands.
                                                            SD-366
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Paul J. 
           Hutter, of Virginia, to be General Counsel, Department 
           of Veterans Affairs.
                                                            SD-562
     10 a.m.
       Finance
         To hold hearings to examine the efficacy of national 
           border security.
                                                            SD-215
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings to examine S. 2035, to maintain the free 
           flow of information to the public by providing 
           conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of 
           information by certain persons connected with the news 
           media, S.J. Res. 13, granting the consent of Congress 
           to the International Emergency Management Assistance 
           Memorandum of Understanding, S. 980, to amend the 
           Controlled Substances Act to address online pharmacies, 
           S. Con. Res. 45, commending the Ed Block Courage Award 
           Foundation for its work in aiding children and families 
           affected by child abuse, and designating November 2007 
           as National Courage Month, S. Res. 258, recognizing the 
           historical and educational significance of the Atlantic 
           Freedom Tour of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, and 
           expressing the sense of the Senate that preserving the 
           legacy of the Amistad story is important in promoting 
           multicultural dialogue, education, and cooperation, S. 
           1267, to maintain the free flow of information to the 
           public by providing conditions for the federally 
           compelled disclosure of information by certain persons 
           connected with the news media, and the nomination of 
           James Russell Dedrick, to be United States Attorney for 
           the Eastern District of Tennessee.
                                                            SD-226
       Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
         To hold hearings to examine human rights defenders in 
           Russia.
                                                          2212RHOB
     10:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine congestion and delays 
           impacting travelers, focusing on possible solutions.
                                                            SR-253
     2 p.m.
       Judiciary
       Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the Google-DoubleClick merger 
           and the online advertising industry, focusing on the 
           risks for competition and privacy.
                                                            SD-226
     2:30 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         Business meeting to consider S. 1578, to amend the 
           Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 
           Act of 1990 to establish vessel ballast water 
           management requirements, S. 1889, to amend title 49, 
           United States Code, to improve railroad safety by 
           reducing accidents and to prevent railroad fatalities, 
           injuries, and hazardous materials releases, S. 1453, to 
           extend the moratorium on taxes on Internet access and 
           multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic 
           commerce imposed by the Internet Tax Freedom Act, S. 
           1965, to protect children from cybercrimes, including 
           crimes by online predators, to enhance efforts to 
           identify and eliminate child pornography, and to help 
           parents shield their children from material that is 
           inappropriate for minors, S.J. Res. 17, directing the 
           United States to initiate international discussions and 
           take necessary steps with

[[Page E1966]]

           other Nations to negotiate an agreement for managing 
           migratory and transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic 
           Ocean, and S. Con. Res. 39, supporting the goals and 
           ideals of a world day of remembrance for road crash 
           victims, and a promotion list in the United States 
           Coast Guard.
                                                            SR-253
       Foreign Relations
         To hold hearings to examine the United Nations Convention 
           on the Law of the Sea (T.Doc. 103-39).
                                                            SD-419
       Energy and Natural Resources
       National Parks Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine S. 148, to establish the 
           Paterson Great Falls National Park in the State of New 
           Jersey, S. 189, to decrease the matching funds 
           requirements and authorize additional appropriations 
           for Keweenaw National Historical Park in the State of 
           Michigan, S. 697, to establish the Steel Industry 
           National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania, S. 
           1341, to provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of 
           Land Management land in Pima County, Arizona, S. 128, 
           to amend the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act to 
           designate a new management entity, make certain 
           technical and conforming amendments, enhance private 
           property protections, S. 1476, to authorize the 
           Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resources 
           study of the Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc 
           County, California, to determine suitability and 
           feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park 
           System, S. 867 and H.R. 299, bills to adjust the 
           boundary of Lowell National Historical Park, S. 1709 
           and H.R. 1239, bills to amend the National Underground 
           Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide 
           additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out 
           the Act, S. 1808, to authorize the exchange of certain 
           land in Denali National Park in the State of Alaska, S. 
           1969, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
           conduct a special resource study to determine the 
           suitability and feasibility of designating Estate 
           Grange and other sites related to Alexander Hamilton's 
           life on the island of St. Croix in the United States 
           Virgin Islands as a unit of the National Park System, 
           and S. 1039, to extend the authorization for the 
           Coastal Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey.
                                                            SD-366
     3:30 p.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
       Federal Financial Management, Government Information, 
           Federal Services, and International Security 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine cost effective military 
           strategic airlift requirements in the 21st century.
                                                            SD-342

                              SEPTEMBER 28
     10 a.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
       Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, 
           and the District of Columbia Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the role of Federal Executive 
           Boards in pandemic preparedness.
                                                            SD-342

                               OCTOBER 2
     10 a.m.
       Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
         To hold hearings to examine issues and challenges facing 
           current mine safety disasters.
                                                            SD-430

                               OCTOBER 4
     10 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings to examine the security of our nation's 
           seaports.
                                                            SR-253

                               OCTOBER 17
     10 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings to examine the digital television 
           transition, focusing on government and industry 
           perspectives.
                                                            SR-253

                             POSTPONEMENTS

                              SEPTEMBER 27
     10 a.m.
       Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
         To hold hearings to examine the fiftieth anniversary of 
           the Little Rock High School desegregation, focusing on 
           ensuring equal opportunity in public education.
                                                            SD-430