[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     URGING JOHN BOLTON TO WITHDRAW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION AS 
                         AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Price of Georgia). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, this morning's Washington Post reported that 
President Bush's choice to the United Nations, Ambassador John Bolton, 
made a false statement to Congress, stating on a written questionnaire 
that he had not been questioned in recent years by investigators in an 
official inquiry.
  In fact, the State Department acknowledged yesterday that Mr. Bolton 
had been interviewed on July 18, 2003, by the State Department's 
Inspector General about possible Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from 
Niger. Mr. Bolton stated he did not recall the Inspector General's 
inquiry and his form was inaccurate in this regard and that he will 
correct the form.
  Mr. Speaker, with all the attention given to the leak of CIA 
operative Valerie Plame's identity, it seems to me that it is almost 
inconceivable that an event that important could inadvertently be 
overlooked.
  Mr. Speaker, this revelation comes on the heels of a barrage of 
negative reports about Mr. Bolton from those who work most closely with 
him. It has become apparent, as members of his own parties have spoken 
and have very serious concerns about his temperament and his integrity 
to fill one of the most important positions in some of the most 
important times in our history.
  The time has come for Mr. Bolton to voluntarily withdraw his name 
from consideration to be United States Ambassador to the U.N. Members 
of both bodies have urged his defeat, and I commend a Republican 
Senator from Ohio who passionately said that he is the wrong person at 
the wrong time.
  As a member of the House Committee on International Relations and a 
congressional representative to the United Nations, I believe that 
there are many excellent candidates that President Bush could choose 
for this critical position.
  Again, I urge John Bolton to do the honorable thing and withdraw. Our 
Nation is bigger than an individual. Our Nation's needs supersede that 
of an individual. At this time we need the best and the brightest, one 
who will unite and gather support for our Nation in a strong, clear, 
but diplomatic way.
  I ask Mr. Bolton to do the right thing for our wonderful Nation and 
offer his withdrawal.

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