consent for this legislation. so now if i might i would like to ask unanimous consent that the remainder of my time be controlled by another distinguished, a distinguished member of the committee, and my good friend and pal, the gentleman from oregon, earl blumenauer. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. . the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i want to thank and congratulate chairman levin for his leadership on this issue and particularly want to thank him for the gesture of reaching out to the minority on this and hope the a glimpse of things to come and as the chairman indicated, this is one of these areas that clearly all of america comes together. there's ample examples of where

we've done this in the past, obviously with the tsunami back in 2005 and most recently members of the ways and means committee that were on the floor together urging us to change the tax code to accommodate the relief efforts in haiti. this also is really worthy of us coming together quickly in this tax season and allowing americans to make contributions to chile and in fact extending the period of time that their able to make -- they're able to make contributions to haitian relief efforts all in the context of completing their 2009 tax return. why is this important? it's important because in order to bring rescue and recovery in times of great crisis, it takes more than simply the american government working, that's important, but it also takes the american public. i had an event in my district, mr. speaker, a couple of weeks ago where we brought together

folks to discuss haitian relief efforts. and my recollection is that there was a red cross official who was there and she said a very interesting things, she said that the event in haiti, and i know we're talking about chile today primarily, but she said the event in haiti had redefined what it means to be local. i thought, isn't that interesting? here we have folks that have responded incredibly generously, americans have, at the sight and the sound and the visuals of real suffering in our part of the world and what have they done? they've taken their check book out, they've written a check, they've donated online, they've donated on their cell phones. i think it was really poignant when she said that local contributions and the definition of a local tragedy has been redefined. and so here we are today, republicans and democrats together, saying that this is an area where we need to move forward. so, i know that mr. camp, the

ranking member from michigan, would have been here, but as chairman levin mentioned, he had a death in the family and he has that obligation and i know i speak for an overwhelming majority of republicans when saying that this is an area that we should all come together and movery -- quickly to move this legislation and i reserve the balance of my time -- move quickly to move this legislation and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. >> thank you. i yield myself tusm time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. blumenauer: this has been a particularly difficult time for all of us as we witnessed the victims of these two enormous tragedies, attempts to repair the devastation that resulted from two of the largest earthquakes that we have seen in recent times. as we laid witness to the victims of the haiti earthquake in january, i had a chance a couple of weeks ago to see for myself the magnitude of the devastation and as somebody who

was on the scene shortly after the tsunami five years ago i will say that what i saw in haiti not only rifled that but actually was worse than -- rivaled that but was worse than anything i saw in sri lanka. and then just a few weeks later we had an earthquake even larger, an 8.2, rocked the country of chile. but through these tragedies, one thing is abundantly clear and that is the generosity and compassion of the american people. being as strong as ever. it's hard to see -- to explain -- explain really the impact that we see these dedicated volunteers arm the ground, moving to provide services that in some cases were not available at all prior to the tragedy. and then looking at the earthquake in chile last week, the outpouring of american

support is even more remarkable given the fact that everybody put all these resources just a few days before into haiti. clearly there's no compassion fatigue on the part of the american public. we need to take a step back and realize that we're talking about almost a quarter million people who have died between the two and over a million people displaced and we are still finding the definition of the problem. particularly as it relates to haiti, we're going to find that that death toll is likely to grow much higher if we're not able to deal with the problems of water and sanitation. and here again american voluntary efforts from nongovernment organizations are providing critical services and donations, of course, just in haiti alone have already reached $1 billion.

they enable these charitable organizations, nongovernmental organizations, to expedite the care and services needed for those who are injured and homeless, to help our neighbors get to safety and begin picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives. we must be clear that the road to recovery will not be short in either country. we know that we need to expedite anything we can for americans to be part of that process. american families who have given to facilitate the recovery ought to know that we are working to show appreciation of that compassion, to insent further actions with this adjustment, as both my colleagues have made clear, but we need to drive home that any contribution after february 26 and before the 15 to the victims of the earthquake in chile, people can claim these contributions, charitable contributions, on the tax return that they are preparing now for

the last tax year. in addition the adjustment being made for haiti, extending it to april 15, is an important addition. this is in keeping with what we did for the tsunami that struck in 2004. there's a special provision here that i want to call note to because we've watched the innovation take place in the charitable sector, the era of the cell phone and text messaging has made it possible for hundreds of millions of dollars of charitable contributions to be made through cell phone text messaging. it enabled people to do it conveniently and quickly, it speeded the aid along and no doubt in my mind it increased the amount of money that went to these people in need. now under current law, obviously, taxpayers must receive documentation from the charity or rely on bank records to claim a deduction on their

tax return. but when you're making a contribution through a text message the only paper documentation individuals can receive is from their telephone company. and right now it's unclear whether individuals will be able to rely on a telephone bill to claim a charitable reduction. now, as a result of this legislation we are clarifying that taxpayers making a charitable contribution to victims of the haiti earthquake through the text messaging effort will be able to rely on their cell phone bill when claiming a charitable deduction. to be clear, we all know that americans are not doing this primarily for a tax deduction. it is the generous spirit of the american public and concern for men and women around the world who suffer from tragedy. but providing this incentive and clarifying the law makes it a little easier for the families who have gibbon of themselves

and others -- given of themselves and others and i would urge my colleagues to support its passage and i would reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from illinois. mr. roskam: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from florida, a great champion of freedom and hope and rescue in the americas, mr. diaz-balart. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida, mr. diaz-balart, is recognized for as much time as he may consume. mr. diaz-balart: thank you, mr. speaker, and my dear friend he, mr. roskam, for the time and i simply rise to join my voice in praise and commendation for all those who have made possible that this resolution come to the floor. and i think it speaks very highly of this congress.

mr. speaker, there is no more generous nation in the world than the american nation, the american people. and one sees that generosity time and time again. as mr. blumenauer mentioned we just saw an extraordinary outpouring of generosity toward the people of haiti and then we've seen another tragedy and the american people with regard to chile are demonstrating once again that extraordinary generosity and so i think it's so appropriate and that's why i rise to commend all of those that have made this resolution possible, to accelerate the deduction for the donations that americans have made, extend that policy with regard to haiti and

to make it possible with regard to the donations that are being made or have been made or will be made for those who have suffered in chile. our hearts and our prayers go out to those who suffer in both of those neighbor, friendly nations. they're wonderful people, great friends of the united states and so remembering the victims, i think the congress by this action today not only has take an step that's consistent with the generosity of the american people but takes a commendable act. so i simply want to join my voice of commendation for all of those who have made this possible. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back.

the gentleman from oregon. mr. blumenauer: mr. speaker, i have no further speakers at this time. i'm prepared to close when my colleague is finished. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois. mr. roskam: well, mr. speaker, in a nut shell this bill does three things then, it extends the time period for contributions to haiti for attribution to a 2009 tax return, it extends the contribution until april 15 for contributions to chile for relief efforts for the 2009 tax return, and as the gentleman from oregon mentioned, it cleans up this ambiguity as it relates to contributions on cell phones. it's well thought out, it is timely, there's an urgency to it and i urge its passage and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from oregon. mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. i will conclude by just saying that i do appreciate the rapid response of the committee, the bipartisan support to honor the generosity of americans in both

these tragedies, clean up the legislation and move it forward. but i hope, mr. speaker, that this is a symbol of a longer term commitment on the part of this congress, that we match the generosity of spirit of americans, of our partners overseas, we've seen other countries step forward along with charities and other nongovernmental organizations. i'm hopeful that we will exhibit a commitment to follow through after the initial dust has settled to be full partners with other countries, with the people in chile and haiti, to deal with the long and difficult recovery. lives have been traumatized, there are still people at risk from disease, i am hopeful that we in congress will have the support to follow through, to make sure that the united states government is a full partner

with these other critical areas, to make sure that we make life as hopefully return to normal for these people. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oregon yields back the balance of his time. the question is will the house suspend the rules. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise?

>> mr. speaker, by direction of the committee on rules i call up house resolution 1146 and ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the resolution. the clerk: house calendar number 171, house resolution 1146, resolved that upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the house the concurrent resolution, house concurrent resolution 248, -- directing the president of the war powers resolution, to remove the united states armed forces from afghanistan, if called up by representative kucinich of ohio or his designee. the concurrent resolution shall be considered as read. the concurrent resolution shall be debatable for three hours with 90 minutes controlled by the representative kucinich of ohio or his designee and 90 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair or

ranking member of the foreign affairs. to final adoption without intervening motions. . the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for one hour. mr. mcgovern: i all time yield straightforward debate only. i yield myself such time as i may consume. i also ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on house resolution 1146. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgovern: house resolution 1146 provides for the consideration of h.con.res. 248, directing the president, pursuant to section 5-c of the war powers resolution, to remove the united states armed forces from afghanistan. the rule provides three hours of general debate in the house with 90 minutes controlled by representative kucinich and 90 minutes controlled by the committee on foreign affairs.

the rule waives all points of order against consideration of the concurrent resolution and provides the concurrent resolution shall be considered as read. mr. speaker, this is an important day and an important debate in the house of representatives. last summer i had the privilege of traveling to afghanistan and meeting with our brave troops. they are an incredible group of people, proud of their accomplishments, thoughtful, and candid about the challenges that confront them. they deserve to know that we are thinking about them and do not take their lives or their fate for granted. it has been far too long since congress had a full and open debate on the issue of u.s. policy in afghanistan. in 2001, i voted along with the vast majority of my colleagues to go after the terrorists who attacked us on september 11. i believe we must have a comprehensive strategy to

counter the global threat posed by al qaeda and its affiliates no matter where they are in the world. afghanistan, pakistan, somalia, yemen, north africa, and elsewhere. but i also believe we have serious challenges right here at home. millions of americans are out of work. our economy is just now beginning to emerge from the worst recession in decades. our schools, our health care, our tax code, our infrastructure all must be updated for the 21st century if we are to create a better america. mr. speaker, the war in afghanistan has caused u.s. taxpayers well over $200 billion. none of it paid for. none of it paid for. all of that money has been added on to our debt. and those costs will continue to rise as we fund increasing troop levels and provide the necessary care to our veterans when they return home. and our policy has drastically changed in those eight years. we are no longer just going after the bad guys.

we are engaged in a massive nation building effort in afghanistan. now, i certainly don't believe we should abandon the afghan people. but instead of nation building in afghanistan, i'll introduce more nation building here at home. our allies in afghanistan, the karzai government, do not inspire confidence. the recent election there was characterized by widespread fraud and corruption. and just 10 days ago mr. karzai unilaterally rewrote the election law to ensure that he could handpick the members of the election monitoring commission that oversees voting irregularities. talk about the fox guarding the chicken coop. over 1,000 u.s. service men and women have sacrificed their lives in afghanistan. over 670 more lives have been lost by our native military allies. thousands more have been wooded.

many severely in ways that will affect their lives. suicide and posttraumatic stress among our troops and veterans increases. last summer i offered an amendment to require the administration to develop an exit strategy for our military involvement in afghanistan. while my amendment did not carry the day, i believe it demonstrated to the administration that an open-ended commitment was not sustainable. as we know president obama outlined such a strategy in his speech at west point and i believe it is essential that we in the congress work to keep the administration to its word. we must fulfill our constitutional responsibilities by making sure that taxpayer funds are spent wisely and with complete accountability and transparency for every dime and every dollar. no more halliburton and black water scandals. no more projects where fat cat middlemen walk off with the

money while the afghan people go without hospitals, schools, roads or food. mr. speaker, i hope that this is just the first not the last debate that we have on the house floor this year over our policy in afghanistan. the issue is simply too important. the future at stake is too grave. we have sacrificed too much in the lives and well-being of our soldiers and the cost to our economy to wait another year or two or three for congress to do its job. we must continue to ask the hard questions and demand straight answers. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from florida. mr. diaz-balart: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to thank the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. mcgovern, for the time. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgovern: thank you. mr. speaker on sunday the iraqi people went to the polls to vote in their latest national

parliamentary elections. millions of iraqis voted at thousands of voting stations throughout the country. the democratic process is succeeding in iraq. the people there, despite extraordinaryly -- extraordinarily difficult challenges, are able to express themselves in free elections. sunday was a good day for the future of iraq. but those elections would not have taken place but for the decision of president bush in 2007 to send over 20,000 surge troops to iraq in order to establish, and i quote, a

unified democratic federal iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself, end quote. and those elections would not have been possible but for the sacrifices of our troops and their families. just four months ago, mr. speaker, president obama announced a surge strategy for afghanistan. he committed 30,000 additional forces to a counter insurgency strategy that i believe will help to strengthen the government in afghanistan, its security forces, as the surge did in iraq. now, since president obama's announcement we have seen considerable results. for example, last month our

troops began what is known as the offensive, the joint offensive with the afghan national army and coalition partners have pushed the taliban out of marjan and allowed the afghan government to take control of significant areas that were previously controlled by the taliban. this offensive is what general david petraeus, the commander of the united states central command, has described as the initial salvo in a 12 to 18-month campaign to defeat the taliban. now, i have had and i continue to have, mr. speaker, disagreements with policies of president obama, but i have said privately and i said publicly and i reiterate here today that in the case of afghanistan president obama has

demonstrated great responsibility and a sense of the national security interest of the united states. he deserves our support. just as our military is making tangible progress like the offensive demonstrates, just as this is occurring, many of our colleagues in the majority party now feel that it is time to withdraw from afghanistan. the resolution we are set to debate today would require the president to withdraw our troops in 30 days. i believe that that would be precipitous. i believe that precipitously withdrawing our troops would be reckless.

i believe it would allow the taliban to regain control of afghanistan and thereby provide criminal groups such as al qaeda with carte blanche to run terrorist training camps and plan terrorist attacks against the united states. and our allies. i would remind my colleagues that it was the safe harbor and support that the taliban gave bin laden which allowed him to plan the september 11, 2001 attacks from afghanistan against this country. a reconstituted taliban will undoubtsedly do the same and

will pose a significant and grave risk to the national security of the united states. i believe, mr. speaker, that we must never allow afghanistan to once again fall into the hands of terrorists whose sole purpose is to destroy the united states and to kill inknow september civilians. precipitous withdrawal would not only be dangerous, i believe to our national security, it would constitute a mortal blow to the afghan people who are relying on our support. although they have far to go, afghanistan has made demonstrable progress. but if this resolution were to become u.s. policy, all the improvements made by the afghan people would disappear.

afghans would no longer be given the chance to vote in elections. the taliban would rule by the edict of terror. it would mean the return of a nightmarish tyranny to afghanistan. women would see the rights they have gained disappear as the taliban once again made women noncitizens. and banned young girls who for the first time are learning to read from schools. recall mr. speaker -- mr. speaker, i believe that now is not the time to turn our backs on the afghan people. it is not the time to counter the mission of our troops. especially when they are engaged in the first major offensive of president obama's reaffirmed counterinsurgency strategy.

let us send a message to the terrorists that the united states is committed to our mission to prevent the return to power of the taliban. let us soundly defeat this resolution. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. mcgovern: i appreciate the gentleman from florida's comments. he spent a great deal of time trying to compare iraq to afghanistan. i would remind my colleagues that iraq and afghanistan are very, very different countries. different cultures, different levels of education, and different history of centralized government. in afghanistan there is no tradition, there is no history of a centralized government. comparing iraq to afghanistan is not comparing apples to oranges, it's like comparing oranges, it's like comparing apples to