OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007

Date: July 21, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Abortion


FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 AND 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 21, 2005)

SPEECH OF HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 2601) to authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes:

* Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman. I rise today to address H.R. 2601, legislation to authorize appropriation for the Department of State for FY '06 and '07. While I firmly support the underlying measure and the essential funding it provides, I opposed final passage to underscore my disappointment over several amendments that were made part of the legislation.

* I opposed the Hyde amendment, which will withhold U.S. dues unless the international body adopts a specified list of reforms. Based on the United Nations Reform Act, the Hyde Amendment also requires the U.S. to veto new or expanded peacekeeping missions if the reforms are not implemented. Reforms are necessary, but the Hyde Amendment requires unreasonable timetables for reform and requires punitive action that is counterproductive.

* The Rohrabacher amendment also concerned me because it gives the appearance that we support the operations at Guantanamo Bay. I believe that our actions at Guantanamo are causing more harm than good for American interests as it has become one of the most potent propaganda and recruiting tools for terrorists.

* Finally, I opposed the Ros-Lehtinen amendment which would have us to stay in Iraq indefinitely. I strongly believe that the American people have been misled into war with Iraq and much of what we have been told about this war has been wrong. It has created even more terrorists in the region. It has not made us more secure. It has made us less secure. It has diminished our standing in the world. It has even compromised our credibility as a defender of human rights.

http://thomas.loc.gov

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