[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the 
opportunity to, first of all, congratulate St. Joseph's Hospital in 
Houston, Texas, in this week of acknowledging the uninsured for a 
briefing this morning to emphasize the numbers of uninsured in my 
community, in Houston, Texas, that draws our attention to the 44 
million who are uninsured around the Nation. I would only say that is 
it not tragic that we have made choices that do not allow us to 
effectively provide the resources for our Nation and those within it.

                              {time}  2045

  And then I would like to acknowledge the World Food Program, because 
they feed 110 million people in 82 countries. It would be wonderful if 
we could focus our attentions on feeding the hungry and ensuring that 
those who need to be insured are.
  St. Joseph's Hospital opened for the first time since Hurricane 
Allison in Houston, Texas, in 2001, their emergency room. But we are 
most glad they are a hospital with a conscience who are prepared and 
willing to sacrifice and work hard so that the doors of their hospital 
can be open to those who are in need.
  This week, we will proceed with debates on a number of health policy 
initiatives. Unfortunately, I think they play right into the hands of 
politics and politicians. Frankly, we have individuals, children, the 
elderly and others who are sick and uninsured, and we need to do 
something about it, which would be full insurance and coverage for all 
Americans so that we can rise to the level that is not with shame.
  I speak about choices this evening, Mr. Speaker, because it is 
imperative that we continue to raise the consciousness not only of our 
colleagues but the American people. I have often said that we can 
debate, as we are supposed to debate in the halls of Congress and on 
the floor of this House, because democracy is the underpinning of what 
these two Houses are about, the House and the Senate, and the three 
branches of government. But I ask the American people, where is your 
outrage? This morning I asked if your prisoners of war were held in a 
sovereign nation and the abuse that was shown over the last couple of 
days were rendered unto those who carried American citizenship, where 
would be your outrage?
  Would you accept the fact that enlisted men and women, no matter 
whether they were from North Korea or some other country, was 
sufficient to answer the question of how these young men and women were 
put in the position of being the only ones that would find themselves 
before courts of law and the military court of justice? Or would you 
express such outrage that you would suggest it went to the highest 
levels of government?
  I ask that question because I believe that is what we find ourselves 
in today. Let me remind you of what has happened. The human rights 
record of the United States is now in question. The United States 
foreign relations and policy is now in question. Adjudication under the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice is now in question. The separation of 
powers is now in question under the Constitution. Adherence to and 
respect for international law is now in question because of the Geneva 
Convention. The state of national security of the United States is now 
in question. The safety of Americans is now in question. The very fact 
that we have military personnel now endangered by our acts is now in 
question.
  Today, tragically, one more mother and one more father lost a young 
man who had gone to Iraq simply to do good, to participate in the 
rebuilding of Iraq. We saw the horrific and terrible indication that he 
was murdered in a most intolerable way. What can we say about this, 
other than the fact that the pictures that have been distributed all 
over the world have contributed to America's demise, with people 
suggesting that we have lost our high moral ground.
  I know the American people have not lost that position in this world. 
We are defenders of peace. We view the importance of life over death 
and peace over war. So, I say to the President and to this 
administration, it goes to the very highest levels of government. We 
are required by the world's sentiment and what is right to be done, 
which is for the removal of all of those who have been engaged, from 
the very lowest to the very highest, Secretary Rumsfeld, Deputy 
Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and others who may be included in this, 
whether they are at the very highest levels of military personnel. We 
must begin the healing.
  Secretary Powell has to be heard on the international arena to begin 
to bring nations together. Condemnation must be loud, and punitive 
measures must be swift. I ask that this Congress not shun its 
responsibility. Shame on us if we do not investigate this in the 
Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on International Relations, 
and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. And these hearings 
must be open to the people of the world and the American public.
  Yes, we are going to hold an international crime trial, but that is 
not enough, Mr. Speaker.
  And as I close, is it not worthwhile to investigate the three women? 
Were they intimidated, were they stigmatized, did they feel they had to 
go along with the boys? What is happening to women who are in combat?
  Shame on us, Mr. Speaker, if we do not investigate this and bring 
this to a point where the world knows that we are ashamed and we are 
moving forward to clear the slate and fight this war so that we can 
bring about the peace.

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