Congressman Owens has many
priorities and positions that are vital to the constituents of
his district, the State of New York, and the United States.
Below are several of them.
African Foreign Policy
There are many issues in African foreign policy of concern to me
such as cancellation of debt owed by impoverished countries;
prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as
Malaria; AGOA, African Growth and Opportunity Act; the genocide
in Darfur and the prevention of inhumane practices such as
female genital mutilation. Currently one of the most pressing
and far-reaching issues on the continent of Africa is addressing
HIV/AIDS. A piece of current HIV/AIDS legislation I sponsored
is H.R. 768 (Rep. Lee). This Act provides for the reduction of
adolescent pregnancy, HIV rates, and other sexually transmitted
diseases, and for other purposes. I have also signed onto
numerous letters calling for an increase in funding for
HIV/AIDS. In addition I have cosponsored H.R. 1130 (Rep.
Waters), a bill to provide for the cancellation of debts owed to
international financial institutions by poor countries, and for
other purposes.
CAFTA
Despite the painful
repercussions of NAFTA for working men and women throughout
North America, last year the U.S. Congress enacted the Dominican
Republic – Central American – United States Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA). Modeled after NAFTA, CAFTA undermines workers’ rights
dramatically in the Dominican Republic, five Central American
countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua), and the United States. CAFTA lacks any enforcement
of core labor standards and no sanctions are attached to any
violation of any labor provisions. I joined the AFL-CIO and my
other brothers and sisters in the labor movement as well as
numerous faith-based organizations in strongly opposing CAFTA.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, on July 28, 2005, I voted
against CAFTA – HR 3045 –. Despite strong opposition to HR 3045
by House Democrats as a voting block, the bill passed the House
by 2 votes. As a result, we can expect a further increase in
the outsourcing of jobs from the U.S. as well as a faster “race
to the bottom” in U.S. wages and living standard declines for
hard working families. The high likelihood of such terrible
outcomes in the U.S. is also most certain to be accompanied by
exacerbated inequality in Central American countries. The
divide between rich and poor in all these countries will
continue to widen. For working women and men and their
families, CAFTA thus signifies a giant step backward.
Caribbean Foreign Policy
The U.S. interests in
the Caribbean are diverse, and include economic, political, and
security concerns. Extensive economic linkages, cooperation on
counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a sizeable U.S.
foreign assistance program should characterize the relationship
between U.S. and the Caribbean. The
U.S. aid helps to support many programs that
strengthen democracy, promote economic growth and development,
and alleviate poverty. In the aftermath of several devastating
storms in 2004, I voted for $100 million in emergency
supplemental funding to support humanitarian efforts and
reconstruction in Haiti, Grenada, and Jamaica. I introduced
H.R. 342, which provides for adjustment of immigration status
for certain aliens granted temporary protected status in the
United States because of conditions in Montserrat. I am a
cosponsor of H.R. 945-New Partnership for Haiti Act of 2005 that
directs the President to work with the Government of Haiti and
international organizations to establish a comprehensive and
integrated strategy to combat infectious diseases in Haiti,
including HIV/AIDS, and to establish a comprehensive health
infrastructure in Haiti. In addition I cosponsored H.R.
1737-HRIFA Improvement Act of 2005 and H.R. 2592-Haiti
Compassion Act.
Child Care and Development Block Grant
Several federal programs support childcare for
low-income families, the principal being a federal block grant
program: The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 amended and reauthorized the CCDBG through FY2002,
and repealed the legislative authority for previous childcare
programs for low-income working and welfare families under the
program formerly known as Aid to Families with Dependent
Children (AFDC). The CCDBG provides funding for childcare
services for low income families, as well as for activities
intended to improve the overall quality and supply of childcare
for families in general. Federal funding levels for childcare
assistance continue to be a source of debate, in the context of
increased work requirements for single welfare mothers, those
leaving welfare for work, and low-income working families in
general. The President's budget for FY2007 proposes the
discretionary CDBG funding of $2.975 billion.
Civil
Unions and Same Sex Marriage
I wholeheartedly support
civil unions as a way to fulfill America's promise of equality.
I strongly believe that gays and lesbians should not be treated
as second-class citizens in a way that we would never dream of
treating African-Americans or other minorities. Ensuring equal
protection and benefits for gay and lesbian couples fulfills the
American Constitution's promise of tolerance, respect and
equality. I am a proud cosponsor of the Domestic Partner
Benefits and Obligations Act. The bill argues that the federal
government is America's largest employer so it should grant
equal benefits to its gay, lesbian and unmarried workers,
comparable to the private sector. In addition I wholeheartedly
oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Amending the U.S. Constitution to exclude a segment of the
American community is the worst form of discrimination. Our
constitutional tradition has been one of inclusion, not
exclusion. In the past, we have amended the Constitution to
protect the rights of African Americans, women and other
disenfranchised groups. Never before have we altered the
Constitution to endorse and legally mandate discrimination
against a particular segment of our citizenry. An amendment to
the Constitution prohibiting gay marriage would violate this
noble constitutional tradition. Also, such an amendment would
undermine our core American values of tolerance, respect and
equality.
Cuba, Relations with
I believe it is important to end
the embargo on Cuba and establish normal relations. This will
result in less hostility and bring peace and a better atmosphere
around the world. For over forty years, our government has
placed sanctions on Cuba and for all of those years they haven't
worked. An end to the travel ban
would transmit American ideas and values. Strong links between
our societies will encourage free-market development, help
individuals and their communities, and build links to the next
generation of Cubans. All of this would serve our national
interest by
promoting an American public policy based on individual liberty,
limited government, free markets and peaceful international
relations.
Death
Penalty
I am against government
sanctioning the taking of human life. I am also strongly
against the death penalty because it is inherently unfair. For
example, it has been shown that blacks in Philadelphia are 4
times as likely to be on death row than whites. The death
penalty is plagued with persistent racial discrimination and is
a cost-inefficient crime deterrent that simply does not work. I
will whole-heartedly support any measure that halts this
atrocity.
Department of Peace
In 2003, my colleague
Congressman Kucinich of Ohio introduced a bill for the
establishment of a cabinet level Department of Peace in the
Executive Branch of the government. I am a proud cosponsor of
this legislation as the Department, headed by a Secretary of
Peace nominated by the President and approved by the Senate,
would be responsible for promoting peaceful resolution to and
the prevention of international armed and unarmed conflicts and
human rights violations. The Secretary of Peace will advise the
Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State regarding these
issues as applicable.
Education Technology
Today's children are growing
up in a period of unprecedented and accelerating technological
change. The skills and aptitudes necessary to function in such
an environment are fundamentally different from those that our
current educational system was designed to teach. While change
is necessary across the nation, this fact is most painfully felt
in our historically underserved minority and inner city schools.
While the Military budget soars unfettered, with full Republican
support for research, development, and modernization, education
technology is a mere side-note to this administration's agenda.
Quality education is a civil right. But by failing to
sufficiently address or promote the potential of modern
technology as a remedy to our current educational woes,
President Bush is in effect Leaving Every Child Behind. That is
why I have dedicated a large portion of my time in congress to
eliminating the "Digital Divide" that exists in our society. I
believe that partnerships between the worlds of education and
business, with government as the facilitator and catalyst,
present the best strategy to achieve this transformation.
Since 1997, as Chairman of the
Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust I have organized
annual two-day symposia during the CBC Legislative Conference
where leaders from public schools, higher education, government,
communities and the private sector exchange ideas and incubate
these partnerships. One such partnership that I consider a
crowning achievement of my career is the E-Rate, established as
a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The E-Rate
provides telecommunications services, Internet access, and
internal connections at discounts ranging from 20% to 90 % to
all schools and libraries. In the 109th Congress, I am a
co-sponsor of H.R. 1742, America's Better Classroom Act of 2005
- which amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit
for investment in qualified public school modernization bonds.
Over the past ten years I have also sponsored the following
school construction and modernization initiatives:
H.R.3896, The
Information Technology Partnerships Act
H.R.3008, The Elementary
and Secondary School Library Media Resources, Training, and -
Advanced Technology Assistance Act
H.R.1570, Improving
Literacy Through School Libraries Act of 2001
H.R.599, To amend the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants
to improve the infrastructure of elementary and secondary
schools.
H.R.2335, The Emergency
Targeted Revenue Sharing Act of 2003
Environment
I am a cosponsor of The
Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 (S. 342, S. 1151, and H.R. 759),
which would reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases from
anticipated levels beginning in 2010. This Act also provides for
a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to
accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the
United States by establishing a market-driven system of
greenhouse gas tradable allowances that will limit greenhouse
gas emissions in the United States, reduce dependence upon
foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading
in such allowances, and for other purposes. I am also a
cosponsor of H.R. 1356-Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of
2005 and H.R. 2391-Safe Communities and Safe Schools Mercury
Reduction Act of 2005.
Faith-Based Initiatives
The Faith-Based and
Community Initiative was designed to "enlist, equip, empower,
and expand the heroic works of faith-based and community groups
across America." It includes increased tax incentives for
charitable giving, an extension of Charitable Choice Rules to
most federally funded social service programs, and the
Compassion Capital Fund, an HHS program. The White House Office
of Faith Based and Community Initiatives gives organizations the
fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete for federal
finding. However, existing evidence shows that only partisan
favored groups have received priority to date. Poor communities
throughout the nation, for the last thirty years, have seen
Federal funds drained from their grassroots organization.
Funding which places resources in the hands of front-line
efforts is desperately needed. All public decision-makers
should support fair competition for community-based grants. The
standards and procedures for the unbiased, transparent,
objective notification, processing, review and evaluation of
community-based programs have been well established by the
Economic Opportunity Act and its successor, the Community
Services Block Grant.
Gays in
the Military
I
support the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prohibits any
homosexual or bisexual from disclosing his or her sexual
orientation, or from speaking about any homosexual
relationships, while serving in the United States armed forces.
Drafted by Colin Powell, this policy has been maintained through
the Clinton and Bush administrations. I support the policy that
as long as gay or bisexual men and women in the military conceal
anything that could reveal sexual orientation, their commanders
will not try to find out their sexuality.
Health
Care
I believe the federal government should take
steps to create a world-class universal health care system that
is not “expensive or restrictive.” Many other developed
countries have publicly funded health systems that provide
coverage to the great majority of the population. In addition
to providing coverage for all, universal health care would:
·
Reduce administrative spending
·
Provide more effective health care
planning
·
Increase emphasis on preventative
and primary health care
·
Produce uniform standards of care
The Democratic Party proposed legislation that
would expand health care for the elderly and create a system
that would penalize overzealous health care insurers. The
Republicans in Congress refuse to address the issue of 45
million uninsured Americans, as this proposal never came to the
house floor. I will continue to work towards legislation that
lowers insurance costs, protects consumers and expands health
care for all.
Higher
Education
The United States spends a far smaller percentage
of its national budget on education than other developed--and
developing--nations. Not only do we lack the skilled workforce
we need; we are accumulating masses of dysfunctional citizens
who imperil our society. The only solution is to aggressively
place education at the top of our federal budget priorities,
where military spending now sits. We must increase the federal
government's share of public education financing from 8 to 25
percent. We have recognized that the mass-production of science
and engineering graduates in China and India is challenging
America's commercial competitiveness. But we're ignoring equally
threatening shortages and systemic scarcity above and beyond
those super high-tech occupational categories. Establishing and
maintaining a first-rate education system will allow the nation
to draw on its greatest supply of untapped human resources: the
children of our inner cities.
Homeland Security
A
large U.S.
military budget will not make our nation safer unless our
country learns from the lessons of Hurricane Katrina. It is
imperative that we focus on developing first responder systems
in our local communities. The Federal Government should give
grants to agencies to employ local residents and train them in
first response training and disaster relief skills.
We have a critical need for translators of Arabic, Urdu, Pashto
and Chinese. There are only seventy Arab studies departments in
our 4,000 colleges and universities, and just sixty-seven
Chinese studies departments. The gap between the need for
linguistic and cultural training and the available resources is
vast indeed.
Historically Black Colleges
In 1986 I sponsored Title III part B of the HEA, which provides
five-year grants to eligible Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCU). In 2004 97 such institutions received $227
million in appropriations. In 2005 the appropriation is $238.5
million. I have introduced H.R. 2931 - HBCU Expansion Act of
2005, which Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include
Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) as eligible under title
III part B provisions for strengthening HBCU's. We are
expecting action on this amendment this year.
Immigration
On February 10, 2005,
Congress passed The Real ID Act. I voted against this measure
because of concerns regarding the issue of
civil liberties, privacy and the government acting as Big
Brother. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which was
introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch, sent the DREAM Act to the
Senate floor. It addresses the situation faced by young people
who were brought to the U.S years ago as undocumented immigrant
children and have since grown up here, stayed in school, and
kept out of the trouble. Under the Dream Act of 2003, most
students of good moral character who came to the U.S. before
they were sixteen years old and at least five years before the
date of the bill's enactment would qualify for conditional
permanent resident status upon acceptance to college, graduation
from high school, or being awarded a general equivalency diploma
(GED). When this Act passes both Houses of Congress, it will
greatly benefit the numerous students who reside in the 11th
District from Caribbean and Eastern European countries.
Medicaid
Funding
As you know Medicaid provides primary, acute and
long-term care to people who are poor and uninsured, which
covers 50 million Americans. Also, it assists people with
disabilities making Medicaid the second-largest federal social
expenditure, next to Social Security, costing approximately $322
billion with the federal government paying $182 billion. In May
2005, the House approved a $14 billion Medicaid cut for
FY2006-2010. I was strongly opposed to these cuts while
Republicans were the main proponents. Under Republican
leadership, the FY2006 budget reconciliation bills passed by the
House (H.R. 4241) and Senate (S. 1932), as well as the
conference report on S. 1932, include provisions that greatly
cuts Medicaid. Of the $28 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10
years, about 75 percent - nearly $22 billion - is due to
provisions that will increase the number of uninsured and
underinsured by raising co-payments and premiums, cutting
benefits, and tightening access to long-term care.
Unfortunately as a result of Republican leadership in Congress,
our seniors, working families, their children, and people with
disabilities will be forced to choose between putting food on
the table and buying prescription drugs.
Medicare Funding
Last November, I joined my
Democratic colleagues to strongly oppose H.R. 1, the Republican
"Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003." It
establishes a new optional Medicare prescription drug benefit
program augmenting with a permanent voluntary prescription drug
benefit program the limited coverage of certain outpatient
prescription drugs and vaccines currently covered under the
Medicare program. The bill is a multi-billion dollar swindle
that promises to provide comprehensive health care but seeks to
privatize Medicare. The "Medicare Prescription Drug and
Modernization Act of 2003" is a dangerous illusion which
undermines the Medicare system while rewarding large
pharmaceutical companies by contributing to the rising cost of
prescription drugs.
Military
Budget
World military spending in 2003
increased by about 11 per cent in real terms. This is a
remarkable rate of increase, even more so given that it was
preceded by an increase of 6.5 per cent in 2002. The main
reason for the increase in world military spending is the
massive increase in the United States, which accounts for almost
half of the world total. The U.S. military budget request for
Fiscal Year 2006 is $441.6 billion. Although spending is still
geared towards Cold War-type scenarios and other such
conventional confrontations, the most likely forms of threat to
the United States would be through terrorist actions, rather
than conventional warfare. I believe that the the U.S.
Government should increase foreign aid and increase funding for
the Institute of Peace, while reducing the military budget.
Minimum Wage
The last time the U.S. Congress increased the
federal minimum wage, currently set at $5.15 an hour, was in
1997. Close to eight million American workers and their
families would benefit from an increase in this wage floor. By
failing to give these hard-working Americans a much needed pay
raise, the Congressional Republican leadership is extending the
shameful practice of full-time, year-round work for poverty
wages. Close to 75 percent of minimum wage workers are adults –
many with children – and at least half work full-time. As the
Senior Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections, I am a joint sponsor of HR 2429, the Fair Minimum
Wage Act. This bill would increase the federal minimum wage to
$7.25 an hour in two easy stages. I will continue to press the
Republicans for a Committee hearing and House floor vote on the
Fair Minimum Wage Act.
NAFTA
In the early 1990’s,
supporters of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
between the United States, Mexico and Canada, heralded it as a
pivotal means of increasing jobs, wages and living standards for
U.S. workers, as well as U.S. exports. Recognizing justifiable
skepticism about the possible erosion of workers’ rights and
environmental standards under NAFTA, then President Clinton
negotiated side agreements on labor and environmental
protections. However, I joined the AFL-CIO in strongly opposing
enactment of NAFTA and cast my vote against this omnibus trade
agreement, HR 3450, on November 17, 1993 in the U.S. House of
Representatives. Now, more than eleven years after NAFTA was
first implemented, it is obvious that the AFL-CIO and I were
correct in predicting a loss of jobs and the undermining of
labor protections as a result of NAFTA. Since 1994, U.S.
workers have lost over 1 million jobs due to our growing trade
deficits with Canada and Mexico. Imports from Mexico and Canada
have outpaced U.S. exports to them by over $100 billion
dollars. This has resulted in displacement of U.S. workers from
jobs in aircraft, apparel, automobiles, and consumer electronics
industries, among others. Also, real wages have fallen and
poverty has increased in the U.S. since 2001. In short, NAFTA
has greatly widened the gap between the “haves” (corporate
executives and investors) and the “have-nots” (working men and
women) in the U.S. At the same time, NAFTA has resulted in the
displacement of millions of small farmers, reduced wages for
factory workers and soaring poverty in Mexico. The only winners
under NAFTA are members of the global investor class in all
three nations.
No Child
Left Behind (NCLB)
It is now well known that
the United States spends a far smaller percentage of its
national budget on education than other developed or developing
nations. The escalation of the mega-production of science and
engineering graduates in India and China offers the obvious
challenges to American commercial competitiveness. I voted for
and supported the "No Child Left Behind Act" because President
Bush promised a bi-partisan, bi-cameral coalition of members
that he would dramatically increase funding for elementary and
secondary education. This promise proved to be a ploy by the
Bush Administration. While the Democratic Party supported a $5
billion increase President Bush resisted any attempt to provide
the money to meet the mandates set in NCLB. The Democratic
proposal would have enabled Title I schools to hire an
additional 6,600 teachers. In addition, I also supported an
increase of more than $1 billion for after school programs. The
additional funding would provide learning opportunities for more
than 130,000 at risk children. I will not support any amendment
that undermines education funding. It is my position that the
Federal share of education funding should be increased from the
currently eight percent to twenty-five percent.
Nurses,
Mandatory Overtime for
As a result of an alarming
nursing shortage in this country, hospital administrators and
others are resorting to mandatory overtime to put a band-aid on
their chronic staffing problems. Even when nurses are paid for
overtime work, when it becomes habitual and a mandated condition
of employment it jeopardizes their ability to provide quality
care for patients. Since the 1970’s, researchers have been
documenting the critical role that fatigue plays in contributing
to health care errors as well as injury and illness among
medical staff. I join the members of the American Nurses
Association (ANA) in strongly opposing mandatory overtime for
nurses.
OSHA -
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The House of
Representatives passed 4 Republican bills on July 12, 2006,
designed to erode dramatically – and in some cases halt –
enforcement of U.S. safety laws by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA). Masquerading as bills offered to
assist small businesses, HR 739, HR 740, HR 741 and HR 742
undermine the very purpose of the OSH Act, which is to assure
every workingman and woman in America a safety and healthful
workplace. As Democratic manager for the House floor debate on
these OSHA bills, I was joined by my colleagues in offering
strenuous opposition to all four. Rather than weaken OSHA, we
must take immediate steps to strengthen it, which is the intent
of my bill, “Protecting America’s Workers Act,” or HR 2004.
This bill would make it a felony when employers – through gross
negligence or willful safety violations – cause worker deaths.
HR 2004 would also require employers to pay for personal
protective equipment (PPE) for every worker, stiffen OSHA
enforcement measures, improve whistleblower protections, and
increase worker rights. Whereas the 4 Republican bills would
further excuse corporate manslaughter, HR 2004 would ensure
deterrence through criminal prosecutions and penalties. With
their very lives and health at stake, America’s workers deserve
nothing less than a strong, effective OSHA.
Overtime Pay
On August 23, 2005, a Bush
Administration regulation took effect that gutted existing rules
assuring American workers overtime pay for overtime work. This
action by the Department of Labor (DOL) reversed a labor
standard that had been a hallmark of American fairness since
enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938. Done at the
behest of special corporate interests who remain large
contributors to President Bush and Congressional Republican
leaders, this action takes away overtime pay from millions of
American workers, including pre-school teachers, chefs, computer
programmers, route drivers, assistant retail managers, financial
services workers, some registered nurses, team leaders, and
others. Despite a successful House floor vote on September 9,
2004 on an amendment – of which I was a joint sponsor – to
rescind this Bush policy, Republican leaders stripped it from
the final appropriations bill.
Pornography
The 1st Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is the best-known provision of
the bill of rights. It provides that "Congress shall make no
law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...''
There are two exceptions that apply to this regarding
pornography and indecency which are illegal.
Preventing children from encountering
pornography
as they use the Internet has always been a concern of mine.
Several laws that address pornography have been passed all of
which I voted for, including the 1996 Communications Decency Act
(CDA), the 1998 Child
Online Protection Act (COPA), and the 2000 Children’s Internet
Protection Act (CIPA).
The 108th Congress passed the PROTECT
(Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation
of Children Today) Act, also called the AMBER Alert Act.
School
Construction
Recent global economic and political developments
have made it necessary for the Federal government to assume a
pivotal role in the improvement of the overall national
education effort. School construction and modernization is the
component, which could most swiftly, effectively, and
efficiently support education with a minimum amount of
interference with local decision making. It is also clear that
the states and local governments where the densest populations
are located no longer have the capacity to finance adequate
school facilities. Congress must appropriate whatever sums are
necessary to build and modernize schools. To keep pace with new
highly competitive economies every individual must be developed
as an important national resource. Adequate school facilitates
capable of exciting the imagination of all youth must be
assigned a high national budget priority. According to the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the unmet need
for school construction and renovation is estimated to be $127
billion, a higher amount than the Government Accountability
Office's previous estimate of $112 billion using a similar
methodology. NCES indicates that three-quarters of the nation's
schools report needing funds to bring their buildings into a
"good overall condition." The Department of Education has
documented that the average age of a public school building is
estimated at 42 years, an age when schools tend to deteriorate.
I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1742-America's Better Classroom Act of
2005 and H.R. 390- Government Reservation Accelerated
Development for Education Act, H.R.
Trade with China
As a Ranking Member of the Workforce Protections
Subcommittee I am against free trade with China until wages and
environmental conditions improve for workers. Trade imbalance
posed by cheap Chinese imports, and concerns that U.S
manufacturing jobs are being lost due to unfair Chinese trade
practices are issues of great concern to me. The growth and
size of the U.S. trade deficit with China is a clear indicator
that the relationship is unfair. China’s currency is
significantly undervalued making Chinese exports to the United
States cheaper, and U.S. exports to China more expensive. This
unfair practice is to blame for the loss of manufacturing jobs
in the United States. I am also against the importation of
goods made with child or prison labor. In addition, China fails
to provide adequate protection of U.S. intellectual property
rights (IPR).
War in Iraq
After the events of September 11, 2001, the Bush
Administration was determined in its quest to invade Iraq. I
voted against this reckless, unprovoked war and I am a cosponsor
of Rep. Murtha's Iraq Resolution (H.J.Res. 73) which states that
the armed forces currently in Iraq should be redeployed, while
the pursuit of peace, security, and stability should be
accomplished through diplomacy. It is now clear that Iraq did
not possess weapons of mass destruction nor did it have
connections to Al-Qaeda. And now this Administration plagued by
lies and deceits wants the American people to believe that we
have set Iraq on the road to freedom and democracy. How else
would the President try to justify over 2,000 American
casualties? Most of these American deaths took place since
President Bush's announcement of "Mission Accomplished." In
addition the estimates for the number of wounded range from
17,000 to over 30,000. The Bush White House disregarded the
advice and opinions of the United Nations and the international
community, not to mention some people in its own Administration
to wage a war against a country that never attacked us. This
clear violation of international law has created a mass
insurgency that is taking American lives every day and a civil
war that is dividing the Iraqi people. With lawmakers and the
public showing greater frustration, the President continues to
preach his rhetoric of "staying the course." "Staying the
course" neither will make the people of the United States safer
nor bring stability to Iraq and the Middle East; though it is
guaranteed to take away more American lives, while leaving our
communities behind at home.
War on
Drugs
The War on Drugs involves a complex set of
issues, e.g., civil rights, criminal issues, effectiveness of
prohibition, funding for treatment, education, law enforcement,
taxes and spending. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) should
intensify efforts on big time drug smugglers and distributors.
Intensifying efforts to stop dealers means improving efforts to
educate users in order to gain their confidence. I am a proud
cosponsor of H.R. 2565, which extends the Office of National
Drug Control Policy by repealing the sunset provision of the
agency's 1998 reauthorization act and authorizes appropriations
through 2010. In addition this bill includes the Clean Sports
Act of 2005, which imposes drug-testing regulations on
professional sports leagues.
World Foreign
Policy
A successful world foreign policy is designed to
help protect a country's national interests, national security,
ideological goals, and economic prosperity while ensuring peace
and stability. The main reason for the increase
in world military spending is the massive increase in the United
States, which accounts for almost half of the world total. I
believe that the U.S. Government should increase foreign aid and
increase funding for the Institute of Peace, while reducing the
military budget. In addition the United Nations should be taken
more seriously and take a greater role in peace building and
conflict resolution. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1130-JUBILEE
Act of 2005, which requires the Treasury Secretary to make
efforts, within the Paris Club, the IMF, and other appropriate
institutions, to ensure that the provision of debt cancellation
to countries is not conditioned on any agreement by such a
country to implement or comply with specified policies that
deepen poverty or degrade the environment.
World
Trade Organization
The goal of the WTO is to promote free trade, but
achieving that through partial and unfair bias toward
multinational corporations and wealthy nations only allows the
rich to become richer through the loss of the general
population. The World Trade Organization is simply a tool used
by powerful corporations in order to advance their agendas. In
the midst of this, the needs of developing nations are often not
met. The interests of the wealthiest nations are placed above
the issues of workforce safety, health, and environment. I
believe that allowing for a body governing international trade
unfairly disadvantages developing countries that cannot
subsidize farmers and take advantage of a flood of cheap goods.
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