it's unfortunate that we don't have a strong national strategy to do this and that we do have to rely on governors.

on rollcall 378, which I missed as a result of my being detained at the airport, I indicate for the Record that I would have voted ``nay'' had I been here for that vote. ____________________

pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 51, 109th Congress, I move that the House do now adjourn. The motion was agreed to. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 51, 109th Congress, the House stands adjourned…

we gathered here in the People's House today to provide some financial assistance to those who have suffered as a result of this natural disaster. I think it is important for us to remember that those who are suffering most are those who…

over the last few days I had the privilege of visiting in the home of John Bocerri. John Bocerri is a young Ohio State representative. He is the husband of Stacy, the father of two young daughters and just 3 days ago brought to his home…

That is terribly, terribly disturbing, and I think it does point out what you said earlier, a hypocrisy that discredits us in the eyes of much of the world.

as a parliamentary inquiry, does that mean that I cannot make characterizations about actions that are taken by this administration? The SPEAKER pro tempore. References to the President suggesting he obscured the truth are out of order…

I thank the Speaker. I would clarify my statement by saying that I believe the President has mischaracterized the intelligence and that, in fact, has led us into a war that in my judgment has not been justified.

looking at this picture, it almost makes me nauseated. What you are telling me is that Americans work hard, pay their taxes, and this administration, knowing that this kind of terrible torture and human rights abuses are occurring, still…

May I say that the President mischaracterized the intelligence? The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mischaracterizations, without an intent to deceive, are not necessarily out of order.

well, I represent a part of the Appellations region of Ohio. Every time I go home and I think my colleagues here have similar experiences. I talk to people who have lost their jobs. They have in many cases lost their health insurance. They…

What this discussion needs is some maturity. I was just sitting here listening to you, and what you say is absolutely true. But I just will point out that under the President's plan, if you make more than $20,000 a year, you can expect a…

as our Nation struggles with soaring health care costs, bankrupt pensions, and devastating job loss, it is organized labor that leads the fight to protect, defend, and advance the economic security of our Nation. I was recently meeting…

There are several ways we can find the money to pay for veterans health care. For one thing, we can cut back on these tax cuts that have gone to the richest people. There are people in this country who have never served in the military…

as I say, I would invite any of my Republican friends to come down here and challenge what we are saying because what we are saying is the truth.

Why should this government put a greater value on compensating Iraqis than on compensating tortured Americans? It just does not make sense. And it does not fit the image that is usually presented to the American people by this…

I am truly amazed and puzzled. I really do not understand why the President and why the Republican leadership in this House would choose to treat veterans with such disdain. One of the first things the President did after becoming…

I do not think is it is a good message to the rest of the Republicans who serve there. The message is if you challenge us, you are in trouble. So it silences even their own Members. It keeps them from having the ability to speak up and…

the President has sent his budget dealing a blow to veterans health care, and I would like to share with you what the veterans' organizations across the country think about it. Paralyzed American Veterans say the release of the 2006 budget…

reclaiming my time, people can listen to his words and make their own judgments about what he has said. I, quite frankly, think it is shameful.

I want to share another saying with my colleague that came from Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin said, ``If you act like sheep, the wolves will eat you.'' Now, I say to my Republican colleagues, if your leadership could do this to…

No active duty service member in harm's way should ever have to question the Nation's commitment to veterans. This is the wrong message at the wrong time to the wrong constituency. And I would just repeat again, we have lost well over…

Reclaiming my time, I do think this year is different than in past years, because in past years, this House is controlled by Republicans. That means every committee has a Republican as the Chair of that committee. For the last 4 years, the…

But it is my feeling as a Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I am sure the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) feels the same way, that America's veterans should be given a high priority by this Congress. Right now we have…

much of what we heard all day here in the Chamber and we heard from the Special Orders that preceded us was these are tight budgetary times. Well, they are tight budgetary times because of certain things. Now, part of the reason they are…