[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 189 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3288, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

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                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3288, the 
Consolidated Appropriations for FY 2010. Our commitment to a strategy 
of aggression rather than a strategy of dialogue is evident in the 
State and Foreign Operations portion of this legislation that includes 
billions of dollars in military aid, sanctions and funds for policies 
in the Middle East that undermine the Administration's call for a 
commitment to diplomacy. There are many laudable provisions in this 
bill but I cannot support legislation that includes funding for 
programs and support for the failed policies of aggression and 
disregard for international human rights.
  I oppose the inclusion of the Export-Import Bank provision regarding 
Iran. This section calls on the President to implement the Iran 
Sanctions Act of 1996 and encourages all foreign governments to require 
state-owned and private entities to cease all investment in Iran's 
energy sector. In June of this year, I joined the House of 
Representatives in voting to express support for the people of Iran who 
embrace the values of freedom, civil liberties and human rights. 
Sanctions are meant to destabilize economies and have disastrous 
effects on the citizens at the receiving end. This provision will not 
harm the leadership in Iran; it will harm the people of Iran we claim 
to support.
  I oppose the inclusion of $239 million in foreign military financing 
for Pakistan. More unmanned drone attacks have been authorized in the 
first few months of this Administration than in the last year of the 
Bush Administration. Hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed by 
these predator drones that contravene international law and cement 
anti-American sentiment. Military operations in the region will only 
serve to further destabilize a faltering Pakistan and undermine our 
national security.
  This legislation includes provisions that further undermine the image 
of the United States in the Middle East as an honest broker. It 
includes language that places conditions on aid to the West Bank and 
Gaza that cannot be satisfied in the immediate future. At the same 
time, the bill provides military aid to Israel without investigating 
credible accusations that Israel is using weapons provided by the U.S. 
in an offensive posture in contravention of U.S. law and international 
law. The perception of the U.S. as an honest broker is necessary for 
good-faith negotiations.
  I support many provisions in this bill, such as the $4.8 billion 
investment in transportation infrastructure and $1.4 billion allocated 
for dislocated worker programs. I fully support the $2.2 billion 
authorized for Community Health Centers that provide primary health 
care to almost 17 million patients, forty-percent of whom are 
uninsured. The $14.5 billion appropriated for Title 1 grants for 20 
million disadvantaged children in school districts across the country 
and high-quality early learning programs are to be supported.
  Regrettably, these essential services were folded into a continuing 
resolution with programs that I cannot support. We cannot claim to 
travel the path toward peace when funding for a strengthened diplomatic 
core is paralleled by funding for policies of isolation and aggression.

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