Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chairman, I am proud to stand in support of this bill. The fact is, these crimes, the victims of which have been Matthew Shepard, James Byrd, Emmett Till over the years have shocked the conscience of this country, and that is why they need special treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a gentleman who was Army Specialist Ervin Caradine, Jr.

Today is the fourth anniversary of the President of the United States announcing ``Mission Accomplished.'' It is also the day of the publication of a book called The Life and Times of Warren Zevon, a biography of a dear friend of mine who was a late, great singer/song writer.

Madam Speaker, there will be a conference committee report by the Senate and the House on the Iraq supplement, and the Iraq supplement will have a requested date, suggested date for our withdrawal.

Madam Speaker, yesterday a great American died, David Halberstam. We had a mutual friend, and through that I got to know Mr. Halberstam. He chronicled and wrote and reported the events of the last half of the 20th century.

Mr. Speaker, we had distinguished speakers on both sides of this issue argue the constitutionality in the Judiciary Committee, both conservative and liberal members on each side, and they both gave arguments it was constitutional.

Mr. Speaker, during the break, I was home in my district in Memphis, Tennessee, and I spoke to 40 soldiers who had been to the Middle East. They were being honored. I asked many of them if they wanted to return. Most, nearly all, said, ``No. Why are we there and what are we accomplishing?''

Madam Speaker, Monday evening begins the Jewish celebration of Passover. Passover is when the Jews remember when they were enslaved in Egypt and Moses led the Jewish people out of bondage and to freedom.