Frank Pallone: “I actually did not come tonight to discuss Iraq or to respond to what my colleagues said on the Republican side, but I…”

“I actually did not come tonight to discuss Iraq or to respond to what my colleagues said on the Republican side, but I could not help but when one of my colleagues got up and showed that book bag and I think suggested that there were over a million Iraqi children that were going to receive that very nice book bag, I just could not help but think, well, what about all of the American children that went to school; I do not remember any of them getting a free book bag. So part of the problem is that when the Republicans talk about all of these wonderful things that are going to be given to the Iraqis, they seem to forget that many of these things, whether it is education or health care needs, are not provided to our own citizens here in the United States. But in any case, Mr. Speaker, this evening I want to mark the 43rd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus. Since the end of 80 years of British rule in 1960, this remarkable island of Cyprus and its people have endured great hardships and great triumphs. Despite being divided for the past 29 years, Cypriots have not given up hope to one day see the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of the island.”